Monday, August 8, 2016

> 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

Sunday, July 17, 2016

> 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


Monday, April 25, 2016

> 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

Thursday, March 31, 2016

> 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

Monday, March 7, 2016

> 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


Sunday, February 14, 2016

> 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

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

>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