Free at last

I had a dream
that one day
we would hear
church bells
clanging
like the love
in our chests

that we would
no longer
walk alone
but be an oasis
beckoning
each other
across the desert

--


November PAD Day 26 - free (blank) or (blank) free

Eclipsed

You eclipsed my view of the stars
when I put you on that pedestal,

leeched on like a remora to a
wretched, self-immolating man 

lost in the sun.

--

November PAD Day 22 - use three: ideogram, remora, casket, eclipse, selfie, wretch

S.O.S.

I never sent
the letters I wrote you
turns out that

the scribbled words
were really more for me
than for you


--

November PAD Day 21 - secret message

Baby

How do I
hold on to one who's
outgrown my embrace?

How do I
embrace letting go of the
grown man before me?

--
November PAD Day 19 - love or anti-love

Always a bridle

Hold your tongue
and stay the steady course
for the win

Don't dream of
letting go of the reins
to run free

--

November PAD Day 20 - Always (blank)

Alchemy

Sparks may fly
but I cannot turn leaden
heart to love


---
November PAD Day 17 - element

Maybe

Maybe
we would
be laughing now
rolling on the floor
like the children we are

Maybe
we would
be holding each
other's hands as we
journeyed into old age together

Maybe
we would
be bouncing babies
on our arthritic knees
remember our own little ones

Maybe
you could
forget the words
that drove you away
and remember this life instead

--

November PAD Day 18 - forget what I said earlier

What child is this

For all the homeless kids in Hollywood

Who are you
that send your lambs
to slaughter

The City of Angels
is no place
for children with dreams

Hope litters the sidewalks
like shards of
the broken bottle laying

at your baby's feet
as he sleeps
on the cold stoop of the YMCA

dreaming of a place
and face that he used
to call home

---

November PAD Day 15 - what (blank)

little explorer

she grew up
on the shores of discontent
dipping her toes

in the stagnant
waters and scraping her feet
on jagged rocks.

she breathed in
the poisoned air of temper
tantrums and adults

acting like children
instead of looking after those
in their care.


--
November PAD Day 14 - exploration

Anima

Inanimate: not endowed with life or spirit 

Empty 
chambers in my chest
fill 
with blood that cannot 
bring
back what's been lost. 



--
November PAD Day 8 - inanimate object