SUMMER'S FINAL SIGH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
golden leaves descend
falling softly, twirling slow
summer's final sigh
It’s not final,
If the person placing a flower by the grave…
Watching my hand reach out of the ground and grasp such flowers.
Grabbing them and pulling myself up like it’s a foothold…
Finality.
When something is final.
It’s like the last soccer game you played in high school.
It was nice.
She’s grabbing my ankle from the grave.
Just because I thought she was gone.
She’s not the zombie I would have expected.
Just has a flower.
I gave it to her but didn’t expect it to be like this.
Finality.
She has that flower still.
It’s been three days since she came back.
Rear the Axe
Drop the Blade
Chop the Tree
Clear the Glade
Dry the Tears
Hide the Blade
Stab the Sky
Fry the Shade
Mute the Sun
Burn the Sand
Spurn the Moon
Shoot the Band
Scrape the Grass
Oil the Sand
Soil the Seas
Rape the Land
Time
the ultimate
arbiter
of good and bad
Time
the final judge
and jury
— of right and wrong
(Dreamsleep: August, 2025)
clouds think of stars
my Milkyway bars
motionless water
on
heart open
to
blue skies
the trees are still green
well whatever
I look at the mirror in total disgust
And I hate the Man looking back at me
There’s not a thing I like about him
He’s worthless as far as I can see
I hate myself for the things I’ve done
And I hate myself for the things I’ll do
To be honest, I’d be better off dead
That’s the one thing I know is true
When my kids needed me the most
And we’re desperate for me to be around
I might as well have been a million miles away
Because I was nowhere to be found
And there is no forgiveness for that
At least there isn’t any for me
I feel they would be better off
If my existence would no longer be
Every day of their life has been a struggle
Because I wasn’t there for them to turn to
It tears my heart apart that I wasn’t
So I write in his poem as my final adieu
The last curtain came down
one evening at nine
its drapery falling
to signal ‘it’s time’
The theater dark
all stagehands have gone
alone in her presence
my final swan song
The exit door opens
a new crowd appears
applauding me onward
past laughter and tears
With one final bow
but never so sure
eternity clapping
— forever’s encore
(The Bryn Mawr Theater: August, 2025)
Still hope we can cope
With the nope
Don’t give a damn plan
From that Tandoori tan
Obscene Tangerine dope
Jackanory Mandarin Man
That trope..like to be Pope
Go out on a limb..got the vim..scope
To make him of the grim...dim..whim..mope
Just give Mr Grope enough Rope
Opined women..a frump
If they mind.. some bump & grind
Half inching while pinching their rump
The darkness descends
Besotted with anything cosseted
Rotted or garrotted by design
But sign on the dotted line
Raise a 'Stein" of wine
Knaves..slaves.. saved
From the craze & blaze
Of this moral maze & haze
Extinguished by depraved waves
From distinguished graves
Denies his demise is nigh
Popularity sky high he lies
Bliss as the remiss abyss
Of hiss and diss ends
Thanks to a sly bit of
Wry Fab Four rapport
No not you say hello...but yes I say goodbye
Off with his head the French might have said
Cos we've read we'll get by instead
With a little help from his (dead) friends
Our final test will be graded
When our breath has dissipated
Life itself is our final test
Final grade when we’re laid to rest
Taking the test may make you snore
If you don’t care about the score
For the next one you’ll study more
Then it hits I’m dead on the floor
There’re no more chances to improve
That was the final my last move
What can I say when at the gate
Please let me have a later date
Your name is not here take a look
Only those saved are in the book
We set upon a journey
That would make us great
We decided to love our neighbors
Instead of embracing hate
We opened our hearts to the poor
A roof over every head
We measured our speech
Considering what we said
Discriminating unacceptable
Not afraid of history
Truth not a fabrication
Helping others our ministry
We took back handouts
The rich had enough
Money for education
medicine and other stuff
We protested for others
Sacrificing what we could
It was not just about us
We considered the greater good
Right mixed with left
Divisions all blurred
America became Great!
“We the People” had the final word.
The above is my hope for America.
dear readers
let me be an invitee to read these files
about the same place where you live but
chose to live in complete denial
don't be a traitor, don't ignore the cries
this place gave you oxygen, water, air and
every source meant for your survival
even in the adversity of times
dear readers
our house is on fire, the ice is melting
you're breathing smoke, and million species at risk
and each day a new revelation in these files
the man who drink champagne after
signing deals that harm your land
he lives in a palace built by his greed
while the future generations search for their place
Cooled off to take a sip; two.
Greedily waking up; fading
of the whole cup - butterflies,
trees, flowers; drips touching
the final vestiges of Antigua.
Fear ascended into the canopy,
slid along the line; work gloves,
gripping. Incomplete instructions,
lack of common sense, slowed
me down, with my feet off
the ground. Grounds remind me,
in this creamy, courage cup
to not give up, keep going with
support. I had to leap, to land
but otherwise I had support.
She, too, had courage, sans
my tears, my heart-pounding,
insane fear of flying; her words fly;
she’s shorter than I. She lands
on her feet. I’m behind. My friend -
a curious word; we shared a towel,
kissed dolphins; I hit her in the head
with a pingpong paddle (playing
doubles). Too close, these icons
of finance (we sailed upon a -ship
with). Friendship ebbs and flows.
You sea, you don’t need to pay.
Breach causes a realization. Suck-
cession of time and space, happy
place, but I soak in the memories
of once upon a time. Sipping,
sliding, incomplete instructions,
gliding, gladdened by adventure;
and even the brevity of affection.
I left because my body broke,
And weighed with grief, my spirit spoke.
I told you oft, I made things clear,
Yet pressure came—not care, but fear.
No shame I bear for what I owe,
I acted true, as you well know.
The key I left, the money too—
What’s lost beyond, I never knew.
I paused before I took my leave,
Awaiting peace I could believe.
No secret kept, no silent flight—
I walked away, not into night.
If coins are gone, then search and see—
The lens can tell who came, not me.
Let truth be light, let blame not blind,
Let justice speak, but also kind.
It is not my nature to love gold
More than the hearts I gently hold.
I always choose what’s just and true,
Without stepping in someone’s shoe.
So please—in Jesus’ holy name—
Let us be kind, not cast out blame.
Let grace prevail in how we part,
With no more weight upon the heart.
If threats persist, I will defend,
With truth and strength, I will not bend.
But still I hope for peace to reign—
For all to walk in love again.
a crashing and thrashing
slamming and jamming
they fit together like lithium batteries in a robot
drummer is smashing the drums
cymbals crash
their eyes meet
forces beyond their control urge them
they are in each other’s arms now
a predestined destiny
a coupling magnified by crashing and thrashing
slamming and jamming
beyond steampunk
final destiny
No matter the subject or topic
tho' it may burn will I ever learn
would it hurt if my lips were to close
as whatever I submit suggest propose
she will be myopic
nay-say gainsay contradict oppose
may as well hold my breath
as every word I utter
receives the kiss of death
and melts in my mouth like butter
should I assert it's what she does it's her wont
'No I don't,' is her depiction
in contentious rebuttal
thereby confirming my conviction
and morning noon and night
she'd like to be I'll also mention
tho' none too subtle
the epicentre of my attention
is it a female thing or only her compulsion
for at the end of the day
it's not the last word she wants
it's the final say
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