Choose Another Path

The path to a broken heart

Is short

Straight

Flat

And Wide.

It is no trouble to travel.

The path is

easy to find

And hard to leave.

It is a well-worn path.

And there are many companions

To travel alongside,

To entertain you

As you stroll on

towards heartbreak.

Wish Upon... Whatever You'd Like

Wish

Make a Wish:

Wish for a little more time….

…to linger between the sheets

….to keep them little longer

…to share just one more kiss

Wish for the best of luck…

…that a first date leads to a second

…for a steady voice on opening night

…for a successful tomorrow

Wish for time to fly…

…so that it will just be over

…to finally see her face again

…to finally hold him tight

Wish for good fortune…

…in matters of the heart

…in your professional endeavors

…in good old fashioned fortune

Go ahead, make a wish.

The Leaf

The leaf,

Having given life,

Now gives it up,

Releasing a tenuous grasp

On that which it sustained

For a season or so.

Gravity takes hold,

As does the breeze,

And the amber ember

Floats slowly and serenely downward.

Then—just as the dear ground

Is within reach—

An ominous rumbling

Briefly precedes

A chill, silver rush.

Whipping the leaf upwards,

Whisking it away,

Thrashing it along,

Tossing it to and fro,

Intermingled with leaves of all sorts

And various refuse along the way

All a Little Crazy

This is a poem for the beautiful oddities of the world.

"All a Little Crazy"

What's so wrong with crazy?

Don’t you like my weird?

How can you deny us,

When were here 

and here 

and here?

Who says strange is bad?

No one I'd listen to!

Yes, we are the crazy people,

And you're crazy people too!

Dried Flowers

A few weeks ago, I went to visit my super-crafty aunt.  By super-crafty, I don't mean cunning and scheming, I mean she could make just about any inanimate object into something beautiful if you give her a hot glue gun and a few hours.  She's impressive, especially when all her works are on display.

She was showing me some projects in her work room, and I remarked on the number of dried flowers around the room.  I asked her where they all came from and if any of them had been special.  She couldn't remember the stories behind most of them, and it struck me as a little sad.  

And, of course, I wrote a poem about it.  (I know, you were expecting an interpretive dance number, but I thought I'd mix it up.)  

"Dried Flowers"

They hang from rafters

From hooks here and there

Left suspended

Spectacular

Lifeless

Beautiful

They are delicately preserved

Their memories and beauty

Faded

Dulled

Lifeless

And Fragile

They were bound to die

Destined to end

But are now

Determined to endure

Despite depleted aromatics

diminished aesthetics

And dramatically decreased value

At any attempt to move them

They whisper their dismay

Shuddering their objections

Brittle and unyielding,

They maintain their stance

A collection of shriveled shells

Of former beauties

Breathtaking in their time

They still bring a tear to the eye

Same eye,

in a new year,

with a new tear

Videos!

I've decided to start doing video readings!  I was working on some fresh material for tomorrow night's reading, and I realized that, as wonderful as a public reading is, I don't have to wait to read my work to people in person.  Hello, YouTube!  I have three of my poems posted, with more to come.  Enjoy watching!

The Creepy Continues

This poem could quite easily be interpreted as either pessimistic or optimistic.  The ultimate choice is left up to my readers, but for me as the writer, I like reading it in an ominous tone.  It might be the piece I choose for my public reading at DogStar Books this week.

"The Miracles Room"

This way To the Miracles Room

The Miraculous room

The room of the miraculous miracles

Yes,

This way to the Miracles Room.

Be prepared, my good people,

To be amazed.

Astounded

Astonished!

Ah, My dear,

A tear

In your eye

Already?

No, we’re not there yet

This way to the Miracles Room

The Miraculous room

The room of miraculous miracles

Yes,

This way to the miracles room

Steady yourselves, lads,

And be ready to give aid

To the ladies of the group

You may stagger

They may swoon

Don’t stumble,

My good fellow,

Hold fast

We’re not there yet

This way to the Miracles Room

The Miraculous Room

The Room of Miraculous Miracles

Yes,

This way to the miracles room

Ahh.

Shh.

Here.

The Miracles Room.

Head right in, folks,

Plenty of Room in there

Fill up that room

The Miracles Room

The Miraculous room

Fill the room with miracles

As you step right in.

Yes,

This way to the Miracles Room.