RHYMES WITH DUCK

Duck, duck, duck, duck
it would be so much better to be
hit by a truck
than stuck here
with you
baseball glove
broken sou
venir

AUGUST 24

The sun shines on
the just and the unjust
and the world
goes soldiering on

--2008

EVERGREEN

The orange light in the cemetery
made me slow and made me stop
I hoped to find a way inside
after passing the entrance that I knew
so I turned away and wound around
and found myself climbing the hill
to where the light was particularly mellow

It's the eighteenth of November
and finally cold enough for the leaves to die and fall
but I marvel at how the leaves on some trees
still remain green
while the sun falls just low enough
to let me see
and let me go
_____________________________________
* Previously published in the Fall-2008 issue of the Insight: Rivier Academic Journal 
http://www.rivier.edu/journal/RCOAJ-Fall-2008_table.htm

ISLANDS OF CONVENIENCE

I saw a man
in a red polo and a name tag
walking along the side of the highway
on his way to Burger King

I suppose he could bring his lunch
and eat it in the break room
rather than venture across asphalt   
for fast food and freedom

There is no siesta or sidewalk café
for this way of life
In this artificial community
with landscaped parking lots
and few footpaths
there is little beauty
and no rest
____________________________________
* Previously published in the Spring-2008 issue of the Insight: Rivier Academic Journal  http://www.rivier.edu/journal/RCOAJ_Spring_2008_table.htm

WHAT I REMEMBER

When my parents celebrated their 25th, I was two years old
I don’t remember much about their silver years
but I was around when their marriage turned to gold

I missed the floor casserole and Casey number one
I missed the neighborhood fairs and some of the fun
but I didn’t miss the family room or cutting down the tree
and I didn’t miss Enfield or throwing out the tea

I missed skating on the driveway and Dad’s muddy hair
but not Cursillo weekends or the LaSalette Fair
I missed the camping trip from hell and trips to Manomet
but not the camper trip from hell or visits to Cotuit

I missed some of the loving
but I missed some of the fighting
I witnessed the day my dad gave up drinking
because my life began the day my mom got drunk

I missed the day she kicked at him
when he was "horsing around" with force
I may have missed their wedding
but I thank God they missed their divorce

This is what I’ll remember
and what is forgotten, I’ll never miss
as far as the heavens are from the earth
in the sea of forgetfulness

--Written for the occasion of my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary, 2004 (with edits by my Mother, 2011)

WE BURNED WHITE-HOT

I can think of no other way to say it

After eighteen days
We said I love you

I made your heart bounce
You made me picnic lunches at work

After twenty five days
We made I love you

I wrote you extemporaneous poems
You sent me love songs through texts

After thirty days
We said I accept you

I painted you the Sacred Heart
You did my laundry

After fifty-six days
We said I want you

We played guitar
We played darts

I loved you
I let you go

I can think of no other way to say it

--August 25, 2008

I WANT IT ALL

I would be happy with him;
I would not be happy

I want more than he has to offer
I want what God has to offer

2008