Monday, October 26, 2015

Houdini in Chains




Houdini had been born in a time
when belief in magic was strong and common place
like water to wine
and the mystery of electricity

Handsome and devilishly deft in the ways of human nature
he sought not so much as to trick, as to astound
subtle manipulator, but not enough strength
to escape the binds
of wife and mother

Both laid claims to his body and soul
Mother by birth               Wife by fire
neither one cared to untangle the chains
of female bondage
encircling his heart and mind
with duty and desire

Houdini escaped the obvious magician props:
Those ropes never held
These chains are child's play
The Chinese Water Torture; a gift of life

His mother preceded him in death
but he never escaped his wife
who continued to call his name
and summon his body
until she too reached eternity

Desire always wins out in the end
But Mama got there first

Saturday, September 26, 2015

The Tourist Train

my thoughts are like a tourist train
slowly moving out of dark forest
towards the limitless ocean
the cars filled with beings
who don’t live here, just visiting
happy children waving
parents cautiously smiling
grandparents tense,
they know where this ends
I sit and watch
suppressing the desire to climb on

Friday, January 2, 2015

New Years Walk




He has a sure and steady stride
like one I used to Love

More like a lope really
a slow giddy-up kind of walk
unburdened by sickness
or frailty
a Knowing is his gait
and a place of purpose to go to

Its all purpose;
the dark blue jeans
the camouflage jacket
the mirrored sun glasses

He is moving through this parking lot
like he owns it

My gaze lingers too long
He turns around to see me
I dont return his look
instead I stare at the blue blue sky