Excerpt

A Single Cicada

A single cicada
sings forth in the night.

Some severe glitch
in Nature's engineering
caused him to emerge early.
Dearly crying out
for company,
he does not yet know
the fright of being alone.

For Forever

This day,
when automobiles
mangle each the other,
multi-colored silicone shot through with silver chrome,
polyester smolders to slow burn as crimson flow
dyes concrete a darkened burnt sienna...

or, the day ago,
when Lockerbie was littered with the falling remains
of airborne seasons greetings that were never said
forward flight halted, turned to searing orange-red ornament
stopped in midair to became a luminous flaming star
while the bearers of glad tidings decorated rooftops...

or, the day years ago,
when a random gigantic mountain of ice
ripped open the fabled ship that would never sink,
sent an un-looked for deluge of frigid water,
shockwaves through uninformed revelers with no place to go but down
and precious place settings moved in disarray on floating tables...

it is not forever that is incomprehensible,
but the reprehensible day after persists as mystery.

His June Wedding

The wedding was beautiful. Gorgeous June day -- flowers and folderol -- glowing bride and nervous groom -- vows exchanged and pronouncement made -- down the aisle to celebratory hugs and kisses in the vestibule -- bouquet flying amid giggles of glee -- limo departing.

Inside the darkened church, a lone man sits in the back row of empty pews. There are tears in his eyes. No shuddering shoulders, no spasmodic weeping; only salty rivulets streaming down his sunken cheeks.

Eighteen months ago the doctor told him of the invasive cancer destroying his liver; such devastating news at such a happy time of his life. He had found his one true love and she had loved him; the same radiant girl who had just left with her new husband.

He had called in December -- the pain of the memory gripped his already weakened heart -- "I've met someone new, " he lied, "we are leaving for Dallas in the morning." He knew all too well if he told her the truth, she would insist on staying with him, wasting a good portion of her life. Bowing his head, a prayer of blessing for the joyous couple silently issued from his quivering lips.

The cleaning crew found him the next morning, lying on his back in the pew with hands folded across his chest. It seemed as though he had prepared himself for his own funeral. His heart would ache no more.