Poems & Prose
For You, With You, Wherever You Are
Whatever comes beyond this point today, I leave it in the queue. For you, I stay where I am…
How to Feel a Feeling
You tell me to give you my heavy feelings. You tell me you will hold them for tonight, and that if I let you guard me from them, they will be returned to me in the morning, appearing as something else. They will make a little more sense.
A Poem for the Victims
A special poem for victims and survivors of violent crime.
If A Sun Star
If a sun star / Blew up in my face / I would fly to the galaxy / To discover what it feels like / Without the only warmth / I’ve ever known
Mi Padrastro
Dibujé tu imagen ayer / Tu foto me recuerda días felices / Quiero escribirte una carta / Quiero entender la verdad.
Question Shovel
When I used a shovel / At the beach / I thought I would find / The other side of the world
Write Enough
All I can say is to / Write enough / Before you go / Enough that no one / Will ever be able to / Read it all
Picked Up A Book
The woman at the shelf picked up a book / And read aloud, head in the clouds.
Libraries Are A Home For Everyone
Libraries are for anyone who wishes to find their way there.
Living With You
I dream of having a house with you / Snowfall shoe-puddle stains mark the floor / because of the bitter winter.
Five Letters to My Heart-Capsuled Grandfather
I just dove into the deep end / subsequently swallowing mouthfuls of water / screaming, flailing / remembering that my limitations / may very well defeat my ambitions.
Family Dysfunction
I tried to ride down the iceless, frostless hill / but I didn’t get too far. I could not see past / the trees, the real, genuine trees.
Playground Castles
You showed my playground castles / where a Royal Family is not defined by social status / but by the bonds that echo inside their palace
Father/Figure
Dedicated to Howard C. Shmaruk, 1961-2013
A Little Boy Walked to the Sky
He said farewell to purity / As his emotions would present obscurity / First concern was to feel good / No one was misunderstood.
Disputes
Somebody once told me / I should never disagree