UNNATRURAL DESTINATIONS

Born in the capital of
states but raised in
the states of mountains.


Price of tuition won
in a game of chance. All
to take naps and drink
Kool-Aid in private.

Good grades and awards
fed the teacher's pet. School
was just a break between summers.

Sacrifices were offered to
alter of the playground with
particular homage to diamonds
not fit for jewelry.

Ships for scholars were offered
but vessels were chosen
that sailed close to port.

Test scores reflected a
bright future for
tomorrow's medical savior
yet life is not choreographed.

Swerving to avoid someone's pet,
a car became a plane
that crash landed.

A nap of eleven days
unawakened by medical alarm
clocks. The soul rested but
the future fractured. Miracles remain.

Now short of gifts,
plans. Residuals provide an
income of faulty perceptions.

All is not lost, a voice
remains. Graduate school completed
at the university of life. Diplomas
granted by professors of the public.

Marriages come and go, like pages
turning in a comic book. Father
of two from marriage number three.

An unscheduled arrival
at destiny's station. Time
to heed the conductor's call.

HOW TO HEAR

Most eyes see a
crippled mime, silent
in a loud world.

Words on a page
give voice to
all my thoughts.

Read what I write
to hear what I say
so I don't fade away.

POETIC FINALITY

A poem is not
finished until the
reader has read.

The writer may
write in a language
all his own.

Until the message
is shared only
silence is heard.

VISION QUEST

Just a poor, disabled poet
but more than often
I see pretty clearly
the way things truly be.

To what do I owe
this gift? Does it
come from some
well earned advanced degree?

Forget all that, I'll
tell you now. The
price of poverty
has set me free.