Long Rooftop Poems

The Sandless Sand Castle

Let me tell you about my eldest brother.

I am: the "Scram!", the "Beat it!", the "What you looking at?!", and the "Turn around and watch the movie!", younger brother. As you can...

Read More

This was last Saturday night. We were at a rooftop party in downtown New Haven thrown by ‘DocHouse.’ Doc-House is kind of a frat-house, owned by Dr. Melon, where he and seven doctoral students live....

Read More

Lisa and I finally tested covid-free! When we saw our results, we began an impromptu dance that felt like levitation.

Although my covid case seemed much milder, Lisa’s been nothing but supportive. Why just yesterday morning,...

Read More

For years, Tim had the visions
Seeing things that no one could
If he spoke of them, he's crazy
He kept quiet, like he should
Just normal, little, visions
Of people who were dead 
Just wandering in places
He knew weren't...

Read More

Mine slovenly unkempt appearance spelled embarrassment

spurred by most recent therapy session 
with Renee Cardone
whereby thematic thread
stitched how yours truly sewed
coping modus operandi,
viz avoiding emotionally volatile situations
courtesy mine trademark signature reactions 
rather than be in compliance...

Read More

Lisa and I had a party to hit-up. I can’t stay inside all the time, not on a Friday night anyway and a rooftop is the perfect place to mull over big questions and get...

Read More

I order an audience, I command an audience
but it's a shallow demand
so all I ask is for just one
only one person come to me please
hear me out
erase my loneliness even if only for a brief...

Read More

“You play on my every weakness from my past, 
As a heart-wrenched spirit of truth caresses your comrades
They are perturbed as you are by the magnificent light,
To challenge your heart, is to render the fight…”

A...

Read More

“Let my heart be still a moment and let this mystery explore”  
                     ...

Read More

I’m so afraid, oh, so afraid, a melody I sing.
I need to find a way back to the North Pole? 
I shouldn’t have sneaked on Santa’s sleigh. 

I was all excited, I had made plans...

Read More

III. Ecological Awareness 

In this fragile eggshell
I will call life
for security's a mirage
I chase.
Existence is a gamble I take
a wild and
desperate gamble.
Not a problem –
to dissect, I say
but an eagle’s call
heard.
A life joy-filled
sorrow
I feel every...

Read More

It was Christmas Eve, not a soul made a sound,
And not so much as a mouse could be found,
The children had hung their stockings on the hearth,
As a quiet, peacefulness gently fell upon the Earth,
My...

Read More

Belize was where her father chose to live.
She was his one offspring, and he, a businessman. 
His grocery store/saloon always bustling,
Attention getting womanizer, he pulled her early from school.
She was young, hardworking, and loved law...

Read More

Harumph To Holiday Hoopla – Phish Pshaw!

Relieved of fatherhood Saint
Nick schtick found me
to relinquish ratty outfit, and stow away zee bras
like padding and "FAKE flowing beard,
ah...don't remind me,
those well worn faux paws

of each dear deer...

Read More

This is about San Francisco,1967

Oh, yes that city had its own song!
It was a siren's call that sang;
"Here, Panagiota, is where you do belong!"
And my dearest poets, the sirens 
call was not wrong.

It sang a...

Read More

The Great Escape

Perched on a rooftop terrace in glorious sunshine he watches ahead
Floats on his sky looks inwards and ponders the magic path unravel
           ...

Read More

It’s siesta, yet one can hear from the second floor of the house the animated sharing of juicy news some visitors have brought to the gracious host, the lovely widow of a wealthy sugar planter....

Read More

"I truly feel that it is only when humanity can genuinely show love and
         respect, by nurturing and protecting the environment and all forms of 
 ...

Read More

Her hair was red, frizz with frost
Crisped, solidity, warmth was lost

Porcelain skin, eyes of deep blue
Hair falling in wisps, reminds you of someone, 
you likely once knew

how her voice danced, twirled dangerously in a box
of...

Read More

Sitting on the rooftop, wavy hair billowing
In the wicked wind, fluttering away like herself
She clasps to her neck the silvery heart-locket
Before looking down from her shady alcove
She has no more time to waste, and, deciding...

Read More

I was a knowledgeable color expert, with a degree in enthralling color theory,
And was proficient with color related software, like evening sun grown weary.

With cognizance of color psychology, and emotional effects of different hues,
I created...

Read More

ZEN DEATH HAIKU V

These are my modern English translations of Japanese Zen Death Haiku. 

A cat in heat
can't catch a mouse? —
pathetic! 
—Kinpu, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

It's getting to the point
of sucking on...

Read More

`

I opened the rusted iron gateway
bound in chain and wire, to find a landing
caked in muddied footprints, scattered about like roaches
Magpie shadows course the rain soaked streets
and puddle patterns reflect temptation as light flickers
from second...

Read More

I was born in the waves of music
so long ago now 
when the music was faint.
barely audible almost silent.
I was a accident a beautiful one
but still an accident.
She was a concert pianist
he was a guitar...

Read More

What if I wanted to break...what if I already have
The scattered pieces of my farce of a heart
have retracted, signed the lease of residency
returning by magnets to me, the magnets of sadness
when all I want...

Read More