All Hallows

Blow out the jack-o-lanterns.
Put tired children to bed
in costume bits, capes for blankets.
Clean kitchen and eat chocolate.
Keep the light on and try to deny
the hollows, the hallows. Outside
the waxing moon knows the veil is thin.
Death rides close tonight.

Glimpse

Carved crooked grin.
caught flickering light
bloody image of wine bottle
smashed on sidewalk
thump of head, death gurgle
as someone's son died in gutter.
Image vanished fast as it came.
just a jack-o-lantern

Writer's Block

so easy to construct
tile by tile
too busy
too tired
too worried
not in the mood
muse absent
not good enough
depressed
don't feel good
family needs me
people might see me
people might not

Never Big Enough

Big you say
I'm big.
I'm fast.
so fast.
I'm strong.


Help me you say.
Hold me.
I'm afraid.
Keep me safe.
I'm little

Same for me sixty
as for you at two.
I'm big, strong,
competent, brave.
Please God keep me safe.

Cardiology Waiting Room

I see gray walls,
gray chairs, gray heads.
Paintings monotone.
Faces tired, bored.
I imagine red blood pulsing.
hearts beating out the history
of lives remembered, lived,
hopes and dreams still strong.
I want to paint gray walls with
sunshine, open ceiling to stars,
laugh, cry, record evey story,
live hard and happy until we die.

You Sleeping

I see you sleeping
in pile of bright pillows,
shining hair fanned out
in pale early light,
breaths even, quiet,
all promise, potential.
Dreams seem so real
in the morning.

Unsettled

Waves and currents
toss and tangle
lines of connection
with beloved, divine.
Hell. I can't even
find my purse or shoes.
World swirls unmanageable.
I force slow breaths,
hands open, feet on floor.
I remind myself nothing
is really wrong. No one died.
The pantry is full. No one
is shooting at me or mine today.
Still I fight to move, to stand
against waves and currents
I don not see or understand.