Sunday, August 29, 2010

The Water's Edge

With my back
to the sun
at the water's
edge
in Cape Ann
the fringe
of the sea
is so clear
it seems
the sand
is rippling
beneath.
Facing the sun,
it explodes
as it strikes
the fluid
bridge between
continents
and as far
as my eye
can see
out to sea
it seems
there are
fireflies
beneath.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Fred or Vicky?

I feel like a rebel
as I eat alone
in a brick-oven
pizzeria
full of families
and endearing couples
engaged
in conversation
while I just sit
here scribbling
on the back
of a paper napkin.
It is rather nice
for an eatery
in the corner
of a mall.
Even the menus
are olive-oiled.
Dim light glows
from candle-bulbs
through the scent
of garlic bread,
marinara, cheese,
and buttery spreads.
The volume-
its just loud enough
to drown out
spousal smacking.
I sip my wine
and miss my wife
and wax romantic
wondering
why I seem
so much better
at that
when by myself.
If she were here
would there be peace
or bickering
in-between us?
Either way
I think I'd like
to have her
with me now.
Between ups
and downs
like boxing rounds
what we have
is glorious.
Hmmm. . . Yes. . . . .
I must decide
if my next stop
will be Fredrick's
or Victoria's.

Friday, August 27, 2010

The Silver Pot

In a booth alone
I sit and stare
At a silver pot
Just hanging there
For a second in
That half-a-sphere
I think, "Could Escher
"Paint me here?"

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Under Clouds, Over Breakfast

Its raining hard
on me today.
But luckily not
on my parade.
My eyes lose focus
on parking lot puddles
in a constant
chilled simmer.
I wonder how bright
it might be on top
of the dripping
gray fleece
overhead.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Untitled

There's a verse in my head
like a little black monkey
with an ice pick,
desperately bouncing
off the pale white walls,
chipping at them nervously.
So I pick up the laptop.
Jenn wants to talk,
"I just got off the phone with Soandso."
I try to listen.
The monkey stabs me-
hard in the back of an eye.
I mumble feebly,
so as not to sound mean,
"I'm going to write a little. . .?"
Her bubbly voice gets louder
Her soft green eyes open wider
"Just one thing-
"its in my head!
"I need to get it out!"
I can so relate to that.
So I stare back,
Trying to damper the stink-eye reflex,
The dad-gum laptop's hot,
already making my thighs sweat.
She smiles brightly,
Relishing my reluctant captivation
like bittersweet chocolate.
My anticipation peaks.
Jenn's body slumps
into the leather couch cushions-
"Darn! I can't remember. . ."
My eyes dart fearfully back
to the pulsing cursor,
still standing at attention
in bright white space.
The monkey's dead.