Forever

March 26, 2025

Where do parallel lines intersect?

When do diamonds lose their luster?

For how long will the Sun rise?

What does it take to end true love?

I thought eternity was a friend

I thought everything was quantitative

I thought about forever

However, forever never thought about me

My time, from my POV, is lengthy

Awash with chronological representations

Of weeks, month, years, and decades

Substantive to those who covet substantive things

But forever scoffs at such thoughts

Not even a sig fig in any calculation

Forever dwarfs all life

Forever dwarfs all

So, how vast is the ocean?

So, how many stars in the sky?

Forever will always be there to calculate

I just won’t forever be there to hear the answer

Either

March 24, 2025

Either I can fish or cut bait

Either I can put up or shut up

Either I can go big or go home

Either I will love you or I won’t

Either I will succeed or I will fail

Either I will live or I will die

Either I will live it or I will leave it

Either you take me or you don’t

I know what side of the proverbial fence I am on.

What say you?

Last Man?

March 22, 2025

I don’t remember yesterday

Perhaps there is a reason

I don’t see another

Maybe I am the first

If I am the first of my species

Will there be another?

How will I locate them?

Should I even make the attempt?

Under the same bright stars

Another may have the very same thoughts as I

Serendipity might permit an intersection

Only after years of loneliness

Until then, I have only myself to live for

And I intend to live for it all

To find me, look for adventure

Then just follow the laughter

However, should I prove to be the last

May this be my last will and testament

The world belongs to

Whoever can hold it

Learn from our mistakes

Learn from our successes

Be a better steward than we were

You have no other duty

Succulent Sufficed

March 20, 2025

Sweet nectar

Mine for the taking

So daring

So fresh

So ready

No resistance offered

No persuasion required

My experience showed

Inviting was the word

And the word was good

Nicknames are not chosen

By the person who needs one

These are monikered

By those in attendance that day

Informally, “Succulent” sufficed

Woman in a Prom Dress

March 19, 2025

Despondent

Full of Despair

A declaration of loss

Left at the altar

Wearing the prom dress

She wore when she was

Stood up that night as a senior

Everyone has since departed

To return gifts

Before they stain both

Giver and recipient alike

The food slowly spoils

In the summer heat

Inside the small church without AC

The Parson asks if she needs anything else

He has to ask twice before she answers

Sees her gown does not require dry cleaning

She can wear it once more

“What is your busiest season for funerals?”

The Parson replies, “The Fall.”

“Book me for October” is the last thing she says

Sunrise On All of My Tomorrows

March 19, 2025

6 am, time to start the first day

Of the rest of my life

I might follow the path laid before me

Of intelligent design

Most would take this option

I, however, am not most

Perhaps I should travel as the sun travels

From east to west

Either warming my back

Or lighting my way

A good friend to have

But, my path needs no friends

I will walk the walk of few before me

Some will call me a wanderer

Some will wonder if I am lost

It matters not where I currently reside

But, if I finish where I want to reside

When I am ready to finally reside

Until then

I have the time to take in a few sights

Maybe ask a few questions

Someone may spin a yarn for my pleasure

Or fix me a plate for the road

Either way, I give thanks for the thought

So, if you see me passing by

In this journey called life

Consider the interaction an opportunity

Not to guide me

Rather to inform me

Of esplanades and avenues yet to be trod

Open the Box

March 17, 2025

For Knox

From whence it came, from whence it may remain

A parallelepiped flooded by light

Curiosity drawing me forward

Having no other recourse but to write

What is inside? Why is it still inside?

So many questions, and so few replies

I witness the birth of majestic truth

Parrying dithers, to what this implies

Why have others not seen what I have seen?

And if they have, previous to this day

Why not set it free, for all to discern?

Or by holding fast, keeping all at bay

I will open the box and break the lid

Never will any not know what I did

Asperatus Clouds

March 15, 2025

With a foreboding precipice

These ominous clouds

Move with a purpose

Known only to themselves

Are they the mythical

Fifth Horseman?

Or just a vanguard

Of events yet to transpire?

Watch the deserving

Cower with justifiable fear

Wonder why the innocent

Wonder if they are truly innocent

Asperatus clouds result from

Disturbances covered by their opaque cloaks

Few really desire to know this reason

Few stir are brave enough to discover as to why

I see a demon descending to devour those of moral turpitude

You may see something less retributive

Let the last man standing offer their explanation

I like my odds

The Loneliest Picture

March 13, 2025

Over 50 years ago

One man, Michael Collins,

With one camera

Took a selfie of all humanity

With the Eagle in the foreground

And Earth in the background

Every human in the universe

All in one shot

Worth the effort

Worth the risk

Worth the cost

Worth doing again and again

For the Inner Emily D in all of Us

March 12, 2025

Because I could not decide on colors

The colors decide for me

They gave me choices for red to blue

And divisions to infinity

My paddling went so slowly

My vision grew to wide

I collided with the frozen water

Reconfirming all of divinity

I passed the shades, I passed the tints

The tinctures and the hues

I passed on the chance to depart this place

An action that just would not do

So I spent my hour, I spent my day

Astonished at all I see

No other kaleidoscopic main event

Defines sanguinity