> untouched

When you surrender

to tongues unfamiliar
leave me as leaves
that fail to fall

still, untouched
by circling breaths
gently blowing
away your smile

leave me again
randomly lost
where memories
once prevailed.

-dp-
8-8-16

> off nights

long nights
when I don't sleep

I slip from bed

and walk softly

to my balcony

                          

there, alone

in the deep
clear silence

of morning

I count the lights

that linger

between me

and the base

of the foothills

a short mile away

sometimes

there are

as many as forty-three

other times

as few as thirty-two

it matters

little to me 

so long as

the mountains can bear 

the stars I can't count

-dp-

7-17-16

> quandary

if I found myself in a quandary

with a Charlie Chaplin mustache
in a burning bunker, with friends
like Eva Braun, dead or poisoned
inside

if the Allies were banging and bombing
at the door, seriously upset 
I might reconsider my options 
maybe panic and ask to be
redeemed

seek a savior to forgive and forget
wash my hands, let me carry on
as if those bad things never happened 

someone to take on my sins

but then

how could I hang with non-Aryan folk
in a heaven with those less divine
soar on the wings as the fuhrer 
maybe run into some upset Jews
oh, Christ!

-dp-
4-25-16

> clocking winds

when you surrender

blow gently
to tongues unfamiliar
scatter, but randomly
in clocking winds

leave me as leaves
dry, descending
dancing gently
with soft grace
in gentle breeze
 

-dp-
3-31-16

> unfinished

if I could dream

only dream

of you

and sleep

always sleep

in your arms

then pass

as you passed

from my life

to dream

another dream

still with you

-dp-

3-7-16

> two-fourteen

one day

when this poem
is complete
when the words
seem right
and the lines
breath true  
in verses
well matched                
and it sings

of our love   
I will give it to you

-dp-

2-14-16

>toast

toast

more than
golden brown
a little burnt
at the center

brittle edges
crackly
crunchy
crust

this once    
pure white
Wonderbread
lathered     

now soaked
near through
with butter
topped with

strawberry jam
gritty seeds   
running on
about you
                             
-dp-
1-27-16