-
All We Can Do (Poem)
because the tidal overwhelm of war remains,
and women cry until they have no voice
and orphaned children die in cratered streets
and everywhere men kill other men because they can.
I sit with my back straight and become glass.
all the grief of the world washes through me
and through you, a darkened ink of light.
we breathe. all we can do.
because the common squabble of life constantly rains,
and this one accuses that one over something
and words become harsh here there everywhere
and bitterness becomes ordinary coin.
I carry kindness in my pockets to give away
as do you, little bits of good to see us through the day.
we smile. all we can do.
we all do what we can. that is all we can do.
-
Tanse’eryth (The Language Of Trees) (Poem)
because the language they taught me
was not enough, a paltry thing used only by them
and I wanted to talk with trees, I made my own
words reached into the sky, not grasping like hands
but open like branches, with silences so that birds could alight
and not be scared and so share their stories
though most thought me solitary even friendless
I laughed at this, being only alone
when I had to go out among them, and I felt pity
for all they could not hear
-
The Bayou (Poem)
I am not there will never be again
yet know how the water can be so dark so still
the trees leaning over the banks from either side
an arched leaf canopy to block the sky
a refuge for those weary and unable
to live up to the pressure of a summer day
the constant expectation of carefree childhood
placed even on me
who always always knew that a lie
