When Ben Comes

He climbs the whole of you again,

your exoskeletally-gifted friend,

the beige and naked Ben, while

Rupert stands behind, a trifle miffed.

When Ben comes, there’s a shift.








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Halloweenie

He was a failure as a spook.

He tried to be offensive --

but when you took a look,

all he was was pensive.












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Gladnesses and Pleasantnesses

Gladnesses and pleasantnesses –

plural happy awkward abstract nouns

dressed up like bursts of sunrise

in their gold-flecked azure gowns --

defend against tense brows and frowns

the way your mommy did when you

could tell she needed you to love

the birthday party she had baked

and made for you when you were seven.

Thank heaven for it all – that call for

sentimental happiness, its sappiness

of gladnesses and pleasantnesses –

bred from yearnings, improprieties

and messes of the darkened heart’s

immersion in the night. Tell that heart

there’s brightness, there is light.

 .

The Charm of Being

It may look like you are waiting

when you feel the charm of being

but you aren’t waiting – you are seeing

the elating circumstances of the soul

without the least experience of knowing

what they look like. This does not

bewilder you at all. It keeps you very

still. You think you might just stay

this way forever. One day you will.








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