lower the flag,

softly knocking on the door….or maybe it’s a train,on some distant track,hurtling somewhere with purpose….or maybe just winter,blowing hard against autumn,wrapping all that has been life…in the silence of the snow….or maybe it’s tomorrow,returning today to yesterday….this moment of living to memory.or maybe it’s just my heart,calling out to my soul….listening for an echo….you return…

i say the stink of the homeless body,to you who quote perfume.i say the baby being born,to you who shout invasion and conquer.i say silence,to you who preach success.i say equality,to you who strut religion.i say justice,to you who would win.i say suffering,to you who live indulgence.i say family,to thee who carry nations.i say then…

whose voice whispers in the quiet?whose hand upon your shoulder?when the show is over,and they roll the credits…will your name be called?what will they say you have done?did you feed someone hungry,throw a blanket over the cold?did you wipe away a tear?did you hold the hand of a frightened child?did you stand against the wars?did…

until we find peace within…men who are not at peacewithin… start wars, fight wars,and kill innocent people.the whole journey begins andends within… when we strayfrom the path we become the toolof suffering… we become fear!the poetic experience seeksto free us from our fears…and it begins by being a mirror!

contemplates.blackberries, strawberries,and blueberries mingle on a plate,perhaps plotting upheaval.the leaf from the oakblown onto the needles of the pine,his brothers yell, ‘dont be too long,you might be converted.’rainwater running from a rusted gutter,repentance, absolution?the leaf being formed, an unseen bud,on a snow covered limb…DNA?the stray cat lays down with the dogs,neath the spider’s gigantic web.the…

the lost sounds of libertythe last honest prayerif Jesus died for my sinsthen why do i still hurtcant justify where i’ve beendrawing circles in the dirtdoes love have a faceor no face at allyes, and is there any placefor the little man to falland if God still careswhy are things so hardcrosses burning in the…