Betty Lou

 it was in her eyes

that she could see all the beauty

that most would overlook

and she held all that beauty

within her prairie sky blue eyes

the sparkle that shone when

she first saw a young boy climb

from his family's wagon

and knew she'd marry him someday

that sparkle grew when 

that someday had come and passed

and both her heart and arms were full

with husband and daughters

and chicken dumplings on the stove

and hot rolls she'd make famous in the oven

the sparkle in her eyes grew

through the dark nights and loss in life

when her hands that had been baptized

in prayer, hard work and doing for others

had to let go to let birds fly, even to heaven

but she was always there to take care of

not only her own but the many lives

she had touched when she took up a nurse's torch

while the sparkle in her eyes stood watch

in the dark nights of others

the joy of rat terriers, church hymns, roses

and of course grandchildren

was a well-deserved treat

for her to savor when her body grew old

she watched as her grandchildren

had their own children

and seasons turned farm houses into fields

she watched with that sparkle in her eyes

as she said goodbye to that boy from the wagon

just a little over a year and a half ago

she sat and watched nurses do

what she had been called to once

and with that sparkle in her eyes

she still saw all the beauty

that passes most others by

Fuhrer Fear

his robes move within shadows

well in fact his robes are the shadows

light doesn't last long in his presence

and he savors the smoke of an extinguished wick

one can look into a mirror in the dark

yet never see any reflection of his image

the empty unmoving void within that image

could be said to be his true portrait

but no one has ever set eyes on him to know

yet any one could identify him in a split second

most say he wears a personalized persona

for each and every living thing in the world

perhaps for every thing not living too

though Beelzebub's death mask is a favorite

he wears all the crowns of the hellish thrones

and even the feathers of certain heavenly hosts

judgement is his scepter and ignorance his song

and once the very hint of his melodic tune is heard

his stealthily planted bomb will soon explode

when his victory is gained all are found guilty

for all have responded and played into his unseen hands

and just as the first light sweeps the dark from the land

he will have vanished with his feast deep in his belly

  

Last of August

 it's just the blushing maple leaves

that fall in this heated August breeze

that curl the hairs on his neck

that beckon back to the chilled moonlight

full crystal flutes he sipped from

in waiting to hear from the void of night

a distant, quiet voice called his name

luring him from civil slated order

into the wild ravages of the unknown

and he was pleased to succumb to the call

and fall just as these blushing red leaves

brush his cheek in this heated August breeze

Thirteenth of the eighth

 the blood slithers down his fingers

a nest of crimson serpents trying to find the floor

drip after drop

his image lays in pieces

where the sanguine splatters pool

the glass shards looking up at him

in the same shock and devastation

his attempt to pick himself up

has wounded him

the release and shatter are numbing

turning July sun

into December night

after each month in between

is slowly counted alone

in nocturnal rains and regret

he waits there alone with his shattered self

hoping to find some glue someday

 

Nameless

your eyes appeared in the glass

a flash of lightning in the mirror

reflecting into my chest

mine met you before yours

crashed into my gaze 

I was a sun licked lily petal

in the July sun

melting as candle wax

into the bleached grass blades below

my absent breath carried off

my heart in a waltz out the door

leaving my statuesque soul

in the grips of the moment

eagerly snared as we stared

into the tunnel of our recognition

it was over quickly in its eternity

and just as you came

you left as mysteriously out the door

taking with you my hunger

and your name 

African violets

 she grew these plants

with leaves that had the finest hairs

they were velvet to his touch

and most mysterious when he came to visit

his mother cleaned the grower of these plants

house, and the boy and the elderly lady often 

preoccupied each other while she did so

the woman's house was already

an intrigue to the little boy's mind

being situated near a pond with trees

that seemed more like a sea and jungle

to his young blue eyes

and the toys she had in her possession

were better than the other ones

he would find at the other houses

his mother would clean

I mean, she had a castle with

knights, and royalty, and even a dragon

but on top of that, she always had a bag

of chocolate chip cookies waiting for him

made by her own hands and put away for

special days, such as when he came to visit

and though his mom was there to work

he was there as a guest and made sure

to be on his best behavior

always listening to what his hostess had to say

and he remembers that talking softly and singing

to your plants makes them grow, still to this day

Owls

 the owls whispered something

in the night

the other night

in the woods where wind was dancing

the arms were reaching

and fingers trembling

between the trunks

and shadows lurking

the owls whispered something sweet

in the fire light

the other night

when neighbors were passing

down the street and vanished

out of sight

after the sirens had sung their song

and twirling lights had come and gone

the owls whispered their sweet ignorance

they already knew

before questioning who

 

Hitchhike

 it's just a moment

when all has dimmed

a flicker of sun flitters

through the trees

catching your light flesh

in the darkening world

I'd let you hitchhike

for now if you ask

the night is lonely

without the moon and stars

and this road, well

it just doesn't see many cars

and I'd give you all

the past again if you ask

the breeze still whispers

what we had missed

it's just a moment

when the final rays

settle on your eyes

blinding me to you

daring to step in the dark

so far away and out of view

I'd let you hitchhike

giving you my feet for your shoes

and my heart for your drum

letting you thump around

in a life we once had