*
*Intrinsic Flame*
Slowly, the golden sphere peeks out
From his cave at Spring
Returning once more
to his beloved global canvas
A skillful stroke here and there
From his solar paintbrush
Then home again to his sanctuary of mists
Before he slumbers, the celestial curtains are drawn
And night engulfs the sky
Ever so gently, he whispers to his children
Setting their minds at ease
Alas, there is no rest for my foolish heart
A slave trapped in its own painful throb
Its intrisic flames refuse to kindle
First ignited by the star
that shines brightest in my world
*
*Breaking Point*
This pyre
Great mass of fire
Rages within
Sparks give birth to sparks
That are contstantly burning
Churning
Together, the choir rings its song
It cannot be contained for long
Explosion
The silence is broken
*
*Shadows of a Forgotten Summer*
Long ago, you were a child of the sun
A burning torch of Poisedon
Dancing in your hair were flickers of gold
Cheeks that glistened like rubies in the cold
Radiant smiles that lifted spirits
Growing like seeds in passion's garden
Until winter's breath drew near
Reds to grays, golds to white
Snow fell deeply
In the garden remains a dead willow tree
Hanging gray
Tearing the sky
It twists and coils in brittle pain
Yours is the luster of kindled coal
Summer's lost radiance is buried in the snow
The flame is gone
Forgotten story of old
*
*Galaxy*
Drifting in space
Weightless and free
Our meteors collide into one
Complex fractions become chemical reactions
Igniting a million sparks or so
Combustion lights a tiny dot
An eye awakened from a deep sleep
At last~ creation, formation
A masterpiece ever changing
My Saturn awaits your ring's embrace
The smiling comfort of your moon
In the sun's death
There will be new life
We will reunite in another galaxy
*
*Steel Feet*
Just stand there
Because you have nothing better to do
than to stare at my steel feet
Carrying a truth so bitter
They are candy for your eyes
After all, it's not you or a friend
Who is struggling to stand
A little dose of drama
makes life more interesting, they say
But I'm not a clown
And I did not request an audience
I am riding a silver chariot That's driven by angels
So please hold the door open
They are taking me home
*
*My Dear Sage*
Unlike those enrobed in fine silk
And bathed in imported jasmine
My dear sage tells stories of old
And men who died of old age
He knows the loss of wealth
And the wealth of loss
He knows when to enter
And when to leave
He is the one who appears intoxicated
While holding his tongue
And appears straight when he bends
To him, there is no justice
For there are two sides to every story
Tao embraces all
And so he embraces all
*
*Upon a Winter's Night*
Here upon a winter's night
Even the deepest depths are but a shadow
Never are they deep enough
The white blanket that spreads before
Beckons me to my non-existent throne
Each of the millions of ice crystals
(Those humble stars)
Winks for a second
And then slumbers
They, too, have forgotten me
Like the sun
Like the moon
Leaving nothing but white before
And a parade of footprints behind
All is white up ahead
To the left
To the right
And blowing coldly against my face
This must be what they call eternity
*
*The Holidays*
I'm surrounded on all sides with Christmas cheer
The glow of a jeweled conifer
The rustle of wrapping paper
And the voice of Johnny Mathis
Rule my scene, at least for the moment
But I am sitting on the throne
Of the mighty, furry, whiskered one
With one long, elegant leap, she attacks
To which, my wine glass bows
And I become enveloped with the bitterness
Of white Zinfandel
*
*My Appeal*
Forgotten by a torrid spotlight
Grudges consume the soul
Resigned to the acute darkness
Ambition lacks humility
Relegated to minimmum impact
Grieving is futile
Gluttoned with unrealized potential
And so I make my appeal
I am but a human
(So to the forces that find it suiting, I say:
Damn the pain!
Damn the suffering!
Damn the consequences!
For who is to say how much is enough
And who is deserving of their terrible sting?)
*
*Celebrity Audit*
We try to create heaven in our celebrity audit
Just "Be like Mike"
And wear the right sneakers
Or paint your face like Cindy Crawford
"Because you're worth it"
It's a plastic goblet
Full of tears and hollow promises
So make a toast and drink it down
It unleashes its venomous sting
Full of pity
Taste the need
Then close your eyes
And smell the incense
*
*My Vermeer*
"Where's my good little girl?"
I'm still right here
Even though my body's broken
I never left
Please be my Vermeer
And paint me as perfection
For women are goddesses of the Earth
Say you're proud
And my heart will be yours
Lovers in loyalty
Forever entwined
Man is woman's connection to the divine
*
