One More Try

Insecurity steps in and
closes my door with
a chill wind bringing a shiver
to my wondering instability
the way she’s looking at me
unsure with a half-smile

In those sad eyes I can see
too many disappointments
have splintered a heart she wears
on a damp sleeve; I fear its
left her seeking without
clarity nor direction…she feels
she continues to lose
her precious pieces of love
stolen to the whims of fate

I smile before her hesitation
offering tender assurances
Her brow smoothes slowly
replaced with a look of
hope and maybe, dancing
in tearing eyes of fading doubt

She accepts my openhanded
timid caresses, cheek pecks
and pleading promises
It’ll take time we
both understand…
Her baby browns ask
Simply and sweetly…Just
love me*
　

Sunday Dinner

At the old house again
the aromas waft out
from a slightly cracked window
the feeling is known well…
Grandma’s been cooking!

Inside, her tiny kitchen
spills over with
Uncle Rudy’s tall tales
sisters, aunts, womenfolk helping
simmering kidney beans
pan cornbread and fried chicken
and much laughter and…
Grandma’s sweet yams
So good you could
hurt yourself…really!

I’m the last arrival
Hugs, kisses and handshakes
Then the family sits
Cousin Melvin says grace
Giving God thanks

Love spreads
Warm as butter and
Settles in Grandma’s eyes
With a matronly sigh she
Looks over us, then
smiles*

Fruits For Public Service

The machinations of
meritocracy achievers and
money mongers, thieves
hustlers and soul-reavers
bring the world to its knees
leave us stranded in the midst
this economic freeze

Weigh down and laden
every citizen's dreaming
of lives of comfort and ease
allow only the hand-picked few
will see thru the forest
for the trees

That we no longer believe
in America's seeds...
will never grow beyond
her manufactured confusion
nor, prosper the needs
our nation in regression
revealing our mass delusion

When will the bell ring?
freedom's piercing toll
calling to one and all
come and lay thy burden
and suffer no more

Lies from the Hill crash and
burn like deadly comets and
further separate the seekers...
longings for better days
wallow in lost hope and
long forgotten desires for
"my ship will come in"

Greed always wins*