New Eyes (sonnet)

Keeping New Eyes New
Suzuki taught us to keep beginners’
minds. Each moment a new reality,
ancient as the world, yet newborn. Did he
assume new eyes? Imply that beginners’
minds see with fresh eyes? Yes. And each dinner’s
only in this moment—reality
perpetual in the now, here. No gritty
cynicism. No jaded-heart sinners.
 
We learn together this ever-giving
renewal, despite flashing delusions
that hint impermanence. [...]

Dionysus of a moment

Pouring Wine
This is my sacrament
nobody’s blood—
save maybe Mother Earth’s—
simply an elegant wine
full of the richness of life
and incomplete
without the ambiance
created by this gathering
fine folks sharing in common
this wine
this moment
this evening.
 
For this moment
in this conscious action
I become Dionysus
to drink my own blood
and know
that we are all
holy and blessed
in the sacrament
of this communion
this wine
this moment
this evening.

Recycled Poetry

REQUIEM FOR THE CHILDREN OF A GOD NOW DEAD
Like tides, theories wax and wane; funeral
one leads to rise of others. Tangential
hypotheses tumble consequential
to debunking of dependant theora,
which in turn belie once-golden data,
and follows new empirical versions
of what was thought before. Still the questions
proliferate. A house one brick short imperfect?
Or one extra? But if it shelter [...]

Dawn Roams Naked

 
She Rises to Lilies & Dew
Dawn, as woman, rises before daybreak
to dance among the lilies, to amass
dew-diamonds-consecrate this day and pass
her blessings among tender flora. Ache
as she does for innocence, she must make
her rounds in twilight, leading that huge brass
chariot which is Helios’ charge. Grass
and clover and lilies rise for her sake,
to bless her day [...]

Patriarch Patina

Oh Father that I am Not
Oh yes. I stand here fists on hips, adamant
and demanding. But within, I am the turmoil
inside Vesuvius. Friction among want and will,
wish and compassion, judgement and forgiveness
broil within my gut to dam my visceral reason
and beg pity for one move false and foolish . . .
Cannot love overshadow this fell [...]

Another lovely room

Song for Lyalla Ellylandrastyn

Do your dreams whisper dread? What hope-filled song
Are you singing, daughter? What tune drives dance
Urgent as heartbeats, needful as the chance
Gained by prayer and faith? And for how long?
Have you sung, dreaming where you would belong
Thought destiny? Prophecy! Circumstance
Entreats you to change; Providence’s glance
Reminds dream too long absent—far too long!
Daughter of gone [...]

From 7 Years Ago

Fifth Street Prophet 
We rode in silence
contemplated something now gone
and gave each other smiles
she, daunted with my need
for silence wanting to touch me
me—out of touch and seven miles gone
wanting for epiphany
I parked the car roadside
She looked me questions
“Back soon”
she wasn’t comforted—too concerned
                        best watch him—
devil got him sure ‘nough
I walked to a shabby man on a [...]

Zenitizing Genesis

 
In the Beginning 

Nothing
And yet
a nothing charged with potential
and from the potential
All.
And All, knowing in this moment
I AM
said, “There is light.”
And there was light
and it was good.
I AM
searched I AM
and coming to Self-knowledge
said
“Here is creation.”
And it was good.
And in this moment
All
and
nothing.
Yet
The nothing was never
void
for the void was full always
with potential
whence creation
in this moment
manifests into perpetuity—
which is
this [...]

Sestina: Dharma Freeway

Freeway Called Dharma
On this road to constant discovery,
the present remain present and grounded
to the concrete while spirit wanders free
learning each moment in its moment, each—
ember in Eternity’s combustion—
shooting, star-like, through cosmos in cosmos
infinite miasma of One collective cosmos
at whose center is each discovery
and discoverer. One combustion
of life into life, and all life grounded
into one. Myriadic [...]

Nude Bathsheba

(”Bathsheba” by Willem Drost)
Bathsheba! What Gentle Sadness?
What is your sadness, dear love? Do you pine
for a husband lost to war and a king’s
machinations? Do you ponder those things
lost to lust and indiscretion? (What fine,
cream-smooth skin! Sublime! Middle of that trine—
womanhood in its fertile phase.) What rings
do you wear now? Your symbol that of king’s,
or the [...]