CLEAN

A frontier of waves with form breasted my ankles with coolness borne from dark fathoms. Water and foam spread like dust on the shoreline where it flows blue and green over sand broken from ancient mountains. The aroma of tumbling water runs strong over me; a ripe fruit unchallenged. Threads of a blue heaven hold the … More CLEAN

RELEASING WORDS

The life in words is the poem yet created.  An unrefined treasure, a stone of beauty desperate for cutting, a tree to be pruned. It’s a labor of decision until the pen strikes open the curtain of memory and a visionary dream bursts to the surface under curious hands. Songs of souls live on the … More RELEASING WORDS

CHARLES MINGUS

          Wisdom reached down heavy ignoring the dark brooding on earth’s face. Mighty power touched heavenly long black dancing fingers with a dream. A fat willing wooden bass fell in love with the hands of his youth. His jazzed sounds leaned strong pushing sweet his voice through strings.    

VIOLIN STRENGTH

The passion of the violin stretches into a rising sound when applied with an exactness and faith, encouraging the verses among the notes, a clever idea of grace filled twice. The air salutes with respect the song, wishing it could play through the branches with such ease; even thunder boasts over tympani. The cherry orchard … More VIOLIN STRENGTH

A FEW LEAVES

          Broad lines of clouds lay discarded like fallen ladders under a sky reaching into forever.   A flock of birds, specks in motion, possess the width of an open horizon; their sounds become absorbed in distance.   A few remaining brown curled leaves hold fast to gray branches; they rattle … More A FEW LEAVES

SCRATCHITY SCRATCH

        Swirling breezes push hard with jumpy hurricane winds slapping fast like mosquitoes flying round sticky music buzzing wild in your head that can’t be trapped like a scratchity scratch you just can’t reach with itchy fat fingers so instead you start to hum and make a way for the song to … More SCRATCHITY SCRATCH

SERENADE

The sound of a guitar holds cool night air hostage as the notes drift over the sidewalk below like soft linen draping the skin, holding tight while retaining the heat.  An easy changing of chords reminds me of ocean blue days and warm sand or the aroma of approaching storms. The music breaks the bonds … More SERENADE

CHANGE

The sound of newness lingered. The stem of an autumn leaf resisted its position of a summer passed. Voices within the winds slipped over branches like silver moonlight defying the eye of morning. August roots fail against the appetite of September and the cloak of October. Cool winds move in, forcing doors to close. The … More CHANGE

THE GOTS

I know where I received the “gots”, The Big Easy baptized me with night, blessing me with jazz, filling my cup in City Park where benches hold court and whispered spirits and suitcases full of dreams speak the Creole with gumbo warming the soul as I wander to through Jackson Square and past magnolias where … More THE GOTS

LIGHTS OUT

Night pushed in.  Cool air brushed over me.  Crickets start.  Clouds look cold.  Shadows fade.  Porch lights start.  Empty swings.  Windows close. A cat sits by the door.  A few leaves fall. Toys in the yard.  The last slivers of dusk.  A screen door closes.  Laundry on the line.  Baseball on the radio. A distant … More LIGHTS OUT