John had problems.But so did all of us. This is not my storyto tell -yetthere are girlswho wentto his house tosee if he was kidding aboutbaking himselfin his mom’s oven,and they learnedthat he woreboxer shortsand slatheredhimself with oleo margarine,and in fact,could hardly geta leg in the pre-heatingoven before tipping the whole thingforward ontothe linoleum with … Continue reading Belly Burns
Shoreline
Up northwe glideon clear watersmeant for loonsYou in the bowmuscling to shoreI steer-am stearnafter hardportage stumblesyou pull I pushwe move in synclike swans-it appears effortless to those watchingwhile underthe surfacewe churn a deepwe cannot seethis journey, my friendrugged and smoothwe move toward shorethe shoreline moves us
Copenhagen Misses You
The mermaid by the canal is crying. These cobblestones, they’re a hazard, my clogs have yetto break in, so my feethurt. All I want is to sip kaffe with you, watch the rain drip down the windows, lean acrossour warm little table to wipe thecroissant crumb from your cheek. Come back. Come back.
Platonic
Your voice on the page rides ethers strong familiar comforting dear old friend I cherish memory our alleyway bicycle adventures back porch story telling the ache as your family drove down a street I thought meant goodbye Ohio forever. But here’s a photo 50 years hence hip to hip wild-haired on your Napa hillside or … Continue reading Platonic
Albeit
It was years ago, albeit (yucky frog word!) could have been yesterday your peer edit in the margins of his Joseph Conrad paper made me laugh out loud but I don’t think I’ve used the word ever in anything til now. And frankly, nobody uses it much these days. Or then. Come to think of … Continue reading Albeit
Vanishing Point
As children, we peered over black music stands, deep eye flirtations across a roomful of glinting brass. You liked my long brown braids, I liked your Jack Purcell sneakers. You hid poems In my locker. We grew up, went walking, and heat rose in the spaces between us where we never ever touched. And all … Continue reading Vanishing Point
Thank You For Everything
Napo Day 11--Write about something huge... Yesterday, sparkling blue, gradual warming, another tease. Drew said “Good thing I love the first day of spring. I think this is the 12th first day since Equinox”. I agreed with the great clouds, the breeze on my arms, the seasonal inch promising more days daffodils will surely prevail. … Continue reading Thank You For Everything
Day 19 Lunch Anyone?
It peeves, it bothers, agitates annoys, it irks, exasperates It nettles, riles, galls, and vexes Pisses me worse than careless exes The back and forth on email, text is Only trying for a luncheon plan A walk, a meeting, where and when Just name the place, we’ve got the time The back and forth on … Continue reading Day 19 Lunch Anyone?
April 18 Saturdays
Long ago and semi far away There was one day of every Seven set to side step stress First thought: No School, Make it count! Second thought: Fruit Loops Cartoon mornings, PJ’s Til chores, which started Out lousy, but ended up with A ticket to fling open windows to the waiting neighborhood and a free … Continue reading April 18 Saturdays
Day 17
Dad sold me the yellow Astra for $1 in 1983 Already the end an era that junker we listened to Jim Croce sing Operator on a barely-functioning 8-track tape deck my sister and I drove my broken heart east. On the Pennsylvania Turnpike I entered a phone booth with a slip of paper (also yellow) … Continue reading Day 17
Early Morning Poems 