Distinct Colors

December 24, 2024

Presenting Holtsós, Iceland

A black beach

Adjacent to a blue ocean

Next to yellow river waters

Flowing through green fields

Each color is distinct

Clearly demarcated from its neighbor

Each with its own purpose

Closeness sans blending

Both formative and summative

Ground Zero for serious geological curiosity

In my new year

so versed that you think i'd have learnt

but me liquored up ways made me turnt

come the song and the dance

cast me pants lapsed in trance

on the beach where me weenie got burnt

12/19/2024

I’ve walked with my thoughts

Next to my shadow

Wondering

While wandering

Thinking I knew

Where I was going

Yet my thoughts

Were actually my shadow

So I spoke

But did not walk

For if I moved

I’d be chasing my thoughts

As if shadows on the walls

My thoughts have me enthralled

What happens

When the lights go out?!?

Sometimes a Mirror is Just a Mirror

December 19, 2024

To Julie,

At least something, maybe not someone, notices all of the hard work.

Must've been

Kindergarten

Livin in a

World

yet to

harden

me

Woman in the Theatre

December 18, 2024

A cheeky lass

East End by the accent

Lived for the theatre

Devoured cinema

Endured live performances

Preferred the avant garde

Experienced them all

With only four of her senses

Thought of vision

As too "Bourgeois" for these venues

So she sits

Or leans

Or, better yet,

Gracefully makes her presence known to all

Gracefully encountering all

Her admission ticket would permit

Dressed for the occasion

Hair, makeup, et-al

Ironically requiring others

To use their sense of sight

Whilst she remains aloof

To such pedestrian activities

Her review of the evening's production

Always includes the words

"Spectacular" and "Meaningful"

But never the word,

"Visionary"

For obvious reasons

The Woman in Theatre

Mimicking her end of

"The Creation of Adam"

By some painter

Whose name she cannot ever spell correctly,

Awaiting her ascension

For duties performed,

Still waits

Receiving no encore

Nor "Playbill" recognition

For any performance

Past, present, or future

To Run

December 17, 2024

Once, when I wore a younger man's clothes (thanks, Billy Joel)

I ran

I ran instead of walking

Instead of driving

I ran because I could

I lost weight

I gained speed

And strength

And stamina

I ran because I heard the whisper in my ear

That I could soar

On gossamer wings

I would not set records

Except those that held myself accountable

I ran to release

I ran to escape

I ran think

Then I stopped

I had been nearly 30 years

Since I ran

Two nights ago

I got the urge

It was more of a brisk walk

It was more of an endured pain

I had cramps, aches, and shortness of breath

Death laughed at me

Not because it was my time

But, because he enjoyed my self-inflicted misery

Tomorrow, when I am healed,

I will run again

A little farther

A little further

Toward a goal

Known only to three people

Namely me, myself, and I

If Death wishes to join me

I hope he can keep up

I am old

But, he is older

I like my odds

Livin In this world

I dont know much

Out of if place

Gettin' Out of touch

No opinions

on this

or that

Can't say that I do or dont know Jack

The well runs deep

Runs all the time

Til one day i woke up

That well ran dry

Don't know what happened

Don't know why

The only moisture that wells got

Dried up my eyes

Accismus

December 15, 2024

Gerald accepted the invitation to Heather’s wedding.

He didn’t want to, but he told himself, in doing so, he could be a gracious man,

His time with Heather was brief and passionate. He told her of his dreams. She wanted to be part of them all. Their future was assured.

Then came Frank.

Within a mere month, all that Gerald was, was not enough. Frank had more. Frank was better in every way. Frank was the man Gerald was not.

And Frank took Heather to be his bride.

“Perhaps it was for the best,” Gerald reminded himself. “I will find another.” “There are other fish in the sea.”

His friends knew these were all lies. Gerald put on a brave face, but was dying inside. It was only a matter of time before something had to give.

No one knew what was going to give, but smart money knew when and where it would give.

In the days leading up to the wedding, Gerald purchased a new suit and browsed the bridal registry. He purchased that espresso machine for the pair. He used to watch Heather delight in hearing the sounds and smelling the aroma emanating from the expensive device. It was to be their Sunday morning start of the day. It was now to be shared by another.

On the day of the wedding, Frank checked himself in the mirror and began the short walk to the chapel. He donated his wedding deposit instead of retrieving it. The minister could use the money he told himself. The minister could use the money. He purchased some paint and spruced up the quaint building for today’s ceremony.

At least Gerald could take it as a tax deduction, the minister told him.

Gerald entered the chapel cautiously, wondering how things could have been. His car could have been draped with the chotskies of the event. Usually, he kept his car showroom perfect. Today, he would have let that lapse.

The organist played the song perfectly as the bride entered back lit by the late morning sun. Heather looked radiant in the gown Gerald paid for. She never brought up the subject during the breakup. She assumed it would be a topic for later.

The small congregation seated themselves for the vows and exchange of rings.

Only,

Both events did occur, but not with the bride, but the bride’s maid. Frank met Dolores last night at the rehearsal dinner and the rest is history. The name on the marriage license was Dolores, so the minister already knew. Perhaps he needed a new roof for his silence.

So much is possible with a tax deduction.

Heather began crying. Frank and Dolores finished their ceremony and departed as man and wife.

There was an awkward silence in which Gerald had the opportunity to act. He could save the day. He could step up. He could be the hero.

Only,

Gerald decided otherwise. Being closest to the door, he departed without interference. He waved goodbye to the new couple and began his walk back to his apartment. He understood the collected eyes of EVERYONE in town were on him now. He would suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune for a while. Then, things would settle down. Heather would tire of the gossip and move to parts unknown. There would be future scandals to shake the foundations of the town.

Today would pass.

Gerald decided this was to be as he unholstered is Beretta 92FS, removing the magazine, and then removing the 15 rounds of hollow point 9mm ammunition. For the brass inscribed with the names of the minister, Frank, Heather, and himself, Gerald pulled the bullets, cast the powder to the winds, and collected the brass as the useless garbage they became.

He never discovered the taste of sour grapes after all.