The details of you have blurred
over the years since you've been gone,
but how I miss you still has sharp edges

that cut the ribbons of my memories,
laying them bare and exposed
against all of this night of your absence.

I’ll keep trying to patch the ribbons together
into something beautiful so I can remember you
only as daylight, and the jagged loss hopefully,
with patience, no longer cuts when I visit you.

and still I feel infuriated at myself
concerning squandered funds
passively, senselessly, and willingly
surrendered nest egg
to computer hackers
(imposters, jackknifing, and liquidating)
coercing me to forfeit funds,
whereby yours truly (me) blindsided
thru convincing telephonic dialogue
witnessing unquestioned trust

The community of human kind
Born from centuries long ago,
Have given forth their worthies
So that we could learn and grow.

It takes more than one small village
More than one way to live each day,
As we live our lives forever more
Because of those who paved the way.

From common stock to worldly kings
On strong backs and sweat of brow,
Those that toiled so that we might lead
Give forth their globe; Our time is now.

Written/updated since last year
unlike any other
when out of this world
outlandish accouterments
people did wear
hermetically sealed
of even faintest tear
to avoid contamination
against coronavirus pandemic
air supply difficult to spare
when wing and prayer
soul saving amazing grace
frankly against scalpers, marauders,
and fraudsters steeling
themselves to profiteer.

Bathe these dreams in argent moonlight
Illuminate all the forgotten corners of my psyche with a silver glow
That I may find a way back to an illusive somewhere
A spiritual home that has never existed

A constantly stirring nostalgia for places I’ve never seen
A deep powerful longing for something more, some underlying truth
Incessantly pulls me in one thousand directions
Splinters me into infinite fractals
I exist in every space
In every time
I am a multitude

Pain.
I must see you,
And feel your touch,
Taste you,
I need to smell you,

Pain.
Embrace me
Consume me,
I crave you,
In my flesh and bones,
I need to know you.

Pain,
Crush my mind,
Burn my heart,
Drown my soul,
Mold me,
Into you.

Spouse of my eldest sister
marital bond fixed in place
strong as mortise and tenon,
he hales of hearty Irish stock
genes of said septuagenarian
analogous to pith and marrow
wrought courtesy divine providence.

At present aforementioned brother in law
recuperating after orthopedic surgeon
alleviated severe pain
NOT linkedin to damaged, injured,
and ossified rotator cuff
as initially surmised, nevertheless
temporarily forcing kinsman
to become a southpaw.

Chartreuse lace mists a shadow branch
Spring makes her annual advance

Stronger sunlight than months gone by
Fair weather ushered through needle's eye

The air is cool though, even yet
Winter whispers "never forget"

“I hope I die before you”, she worries.
“I don't want to be alone.”

“But you'll have the two dogs and some family.
Besides, I'll need you to host my Celebration of Life,
and read a poem for me. Maybe this one.
And play the music I liked for everyone;
maybe tell a joke or two, so things don’t get too somber.”

“But you won't be there.”

“Yeah, more or less, that's how I see it too my love.”

Stone
Written by Kelly Ann Wilson

Before I could get my license
And learn to drive a car

Before I could walk across the stage in a cap
And hold a diploma in my hands

Before I could wear the white dress
With the buttons down the back

Before I could find my direction
And purpose
And what I was meant for

My body started
Turning to stone

And soon, I couldn’t move
Couldn’t walk
Couldn’t run
Couldn’t reach

And even though I was still young
I would never again be free.