freedom in green blades
the softest sprig of Spring
brains before marriage
stretched out under brightest sun
nestled in serenity
The ides of March are upon us,
With spring to follow closely in step.
As we begin to welcome St. Patty,
And all those Easter eggs lie ready to prep.
Seen and heard is the madness of basketball,
Collegiate craziness to never end.
As the hoops are tallied to an adding machine,
While would be champions begin to spend.
A renewed beginning is nature's way,
That brings some warmth to open eyes.
As daylight savings slowly unveils,
and longer days lead to nights demise.
Fresh upon this cycle of growth,
The lengthy passage yields few rules.
Only to follow a path moving forward,
Eventually to end...with April fools.
We spent the day together reliving
old stories of collegiate escapades
Reunions, however small, resurrect
vigor that dies on the vine of retirement
Wrinkles and hair define with prominence
updating mental avatars
But personalities remain unchanged
while living on the carpet of decline
The last time we met all was before us
and now it is mostly behind
Profound is the difference
Pronounced is the movement
that time forces men to follow
as death captures the weak
while others languish
while living on the carpet of decline
COLLEGIATE MANTIS
solo stick figure genuflects at the knees
leafy green, prophet-like.
petitions God with a tenacious grip -
of the windshield wipers,
assiduous antennas flapping in the breeze.
holds on to the lord’s favor,
even as i send his pew flying
this way and that.
with intense stereo-vision he sees far into the future…
like jiminy cricket, his friendship is vital.
peripheral vision perfect, judiciously looks both ways.
o miraculous mantis -
sentinel of paradise,
keep watch over my child.
4th place winner
8/17/2016
contest: Praying Mantis
sponsored by: Anthony Slausen
yesterday arrived at my doorstep
flashing her exuberance
through contagious smiles and sculpted features
painted images flickered through my memory
as seasons remembered
the autumn colors that bordered concrete
structures paying homage
to this choice of knowledge
the textbook carriers scurried hungrily
from door to door
and unlocked pent up furys at
local dance clubs
the white that fell blanketed the ugliness
w/ virginal qualities
pure driven
and i mask the emotions that lie far from dormant
which soon give way to fluorescent colors
promised by springs birth
discard the hatching of words and expressions
i wear like clothing
and embrace the celebrations shared on sandy shores
where bronze bodies lie glistening under summer suns
toe-tapping to the sounds of canned Muzak
while games of limbo attract young , agile
flexing forms
the rhytmatic tides played background to
laughing children, playing under the safety net of watchful
parents
far removed from urban wear and tear
grateful for weekend sanctuaries amist loved ones
these images flourish inside my head