Poem #2-2011

In our culture
we hear
"He was thinking with the wrong head"
to explain a misguided dalliance

Men know that is a lie

In the warm shower -
even with the slippery advantage
of lavish suds -
there is no reaction
to the most knowing self-touch
unless the mind engages first

The penis is simply an emissary
awaiting instructions

Like most things
It starts and ends with the mind

Poem #1-2011

Who is to say?
Placeholder? Maybe.
Or perhaps it's a big
bony fist right up your ass
and you don't even know it

Right reverence
is owed.
Your snarky blathering
reveals all

When someone steps up,
and you do not,
sit back
and
shut the fuck up

There will be a next time

Poem #27-2010

2010 was.
As 2009, 2008
and so on
Blurry as usual

Some hopes were crushed
aspirations fulfilled
pettinesses punished
kindnesses returned

Love remained a varying constant
Aggravations - self-induced - appeared and
then were forgotten

Someone asked,
"What was your year's most memorable moment?"
Since one does not jump out,
does that mean I didn't have one
or that it was an endless stream of bliss?

I had some pretty damn good orgasms
and that's not insignificant
But, you can't talk about that in polite company
Sorry

Getting tenure was an upside moment
Spending time with my son and meeting his girlfriend
Seeing Crystal's face when I bought her flowers
Playing at a big festival
Reading
Swimming nude on deserted Green Island
The new addition to the house, and the deck
Charlie's book winning first prize
My new banjo arriving
My song catching a record exec's attention
Surgery going well

It's trite but at this point
not seeing myself in the obits
is a pretty memorable
and daily moment

We'll just say it was a good year
Tempered by the knowledge that -
for many -
it was another drawn-out nightmare

Perspective alternatingly
thrills or saddens

A lot of ups
a lot of downs
a lot of "what-have-yous"

Abide

Poem #26-2010

In private,
as an experiment,
I have called my cat
the foulest of
names.

To my knowledge,
it leaves absolutely
no impression on his brain,
no memories created,
no biases toward me whatsoever.

He does not meet me
conditioned by language,
but rather by how I
treat him.

He does not judge me by
the words I use,
the beliefs I espouse,
but rather by how I
love him.

He has no images of me
to relate to,
but relates to me
anew in each moment:
an enlightenment lesson for humanity.

I don't know about tigers.

Poem #25-2010

When all hope is gone
conflict ends
and joy can enter

Poem #24-2010

Random
randy
Tongue-tied in a hair forest
jacked off
pulled out
put away

Trespassing with permission

No man's land
a forbidden spot
pleading for abandon

There is no saving yourself
nor vindication beyond
damp pleasure

Poem #23-2010

Chickadee,
despite your omnipresent ubiquitousness
(redundancy for the redundant)
I marvel:
at your heartiness in Maine winter
at your persistent gatherings
at your fierce social order
at your voracious appetite
(for insects, but most of us don't know that)

For most watchers
thrills are reserved for the uncommon -
cardinal, grosbeak, pileated woodpecker

But I thrill to see you
I thrill to see life lived
and need no comparisons

Such only make me a warmonger