Burying the Old Soldier

by | Oct 13, 2011 | Poetry

I boxed Dad’s suits starched white shirts two pairs of black shoes stacks of white handkerchiefs Crammed plastic bags with pill bottles, Metamucil, Ensure, hospice fliers, Depends. Shed tears at ashtrays, carved pipes, a humidor: he hadn’t smoked in decades still, it...

outRage

by | May 31, 2009 | Poetry

Veterans, return from war broken, stunned, unable to navigate the labyrinth set up to help, sit on the floor by the tubes in the cities: hey missus, hey mister gimme, gimme, give me—SOME—thing; these lost ones grab at subway riders, who shake them off before diving...

desert war

by | May 31, 2009 | Poetry

sunday death sandbox tanks cinnamon sands shivering shadows simmering mirages shimmering shapes sharp grief stop before one more spirit is weaned from it’s body

Homecoming

by | May 31, 2009 | Poetry

When you come home there’ll be huzzahs¬, drumbeats. If the only thrum is of my heart, I’ll imagine yours in concert. When others hear Taps, I’ll hear Reveille and know you’ve returned draped with honor as...

Nameless

by | May 19, 2009 | Poetry

Politicians from many countries meet at a table and speak of acceptable losses. The rest of us wrap our loved ones in our flags get back in line to catch the next son, daughter. sister, or brother, the lover, husband, or wife who’ll fall quickly and dead. Named, are...