Category Archives: POETRY

SOFT TOUCH

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Touches can be tough and hard to unravel,

like tangled skeins of thread woven with hard feelings

they pinch and grab until we hurt.

So needy are we for touching connection

we often forego our own protection

against those touches which do us harm.

We must teach ourselves to crochet and knit together

the fabric of our lives with love and self-acceptance

until our skin glows with health and satisfaction.

And if I touch you, then, while my soft skin glows,

my touch will heal your pain and calm your fears,

and together we shall share something of the divine.

I place one of my hands in yours, my lover, my friend.

I place the other over your heart, where our love starts,

and eagerly await the feel of your loving hands on me.

How fortunate are we that we feel silky strands of delight

as we clothe one another in blessed and loving light.

Touch can be tough and hard; but not ours, never ours.

It takes courage to be a soft touch and open our seams

to disclose the person below the cloth masking our souls.

Soft touch is made for lovers and friends, the only touch which mends.

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AGES OF LOVE

Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev on Pexels.com

No one tells us love takes time to ferment,

like a yeast bread, or fine wine.

The heady fermenting scent unsettles us all the while;

and, we fearfully seek avenues of escape

from the changes in its composition.

Love’s growth challenges our position.

We stop and wonder how we got here;

even though we still do not know where we are.

Thus, such questions make us feel like fools.

Patience is a virtue because it is so rare.

Kindness and faith in one another is the only rule

to follow on the route which keeps love alive.

Blindly, we stumble past years of discontent.

Only after decades of loving do we realize

we carried one another’s hopes and dreams,

like a heavy sack upon our back until

we reached the destination where we could build

the life we were each destined to lead.

Hand in hand we stand and view the space

which has become our most sacred place;

the place we hesitantly share, breathing the same air,

remembering the same joys and sorrows,

hoping for just one more tomorrow

of loving communion and contented union

of two bodies now made one, finally.

We look around us with wonder.

We finally know how to love, over and under.

Love takes time, yours and mine.

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NIGHT TERRORS

Night closes in

tightfisted, grasping,

leaking tears from the sky

mingled with snow,

cold and deadening

of all senses, and all sense.

until we are afraid to let go.

At this hour dawn seems too far away

to make any difference at all.

Too much can happen while held tight

in night’s eerie thrall;

and bound thus, body carefully trussed,

will-power to overcome threats

has no power at all.

Words cannot fully replace fear

as unexpected threats draw near,

in dreams stuffed as pillows

embroidered by past ill deeds

viewed on media screens.

Knowing even worse lies ahead

who could remain in  bed?

It used to be we welcomed each new day.

Now, we stretch out night’s hours

to avoid awakening too soon

to hear the new day’s notice of doom

spewed by text and on X

all night through.

Hate will soon raise its head, right on cue.

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ONE CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com…..or at least, always want it….

When did having enough

become having… too much?

Too much… to notice

the unmet needs of others.
Too much… to stop considering

all persons sisters and brothers?

Too much…to vote in elections

and engage in democracy’s protection?

Too much…to pay close attention to news

and recognize propaganda as our muse?

Too much…to keep our eyes open wide

to the manipulation of our grievous pride?

Too much…to fight for workers in unions

and buy American products in communion?

Too much…to protect all our children’s progress

from sexualization, gun threats and media stress?

When did having enough 

become… too much

to pause and consider what the future means

instead of what meaning we hold in our future?

We did not arrive in this time and place

of utter ruination and near-total disgrace

simply because of one man and one political party.

We got here all on our own, so sorry.

We  rugged individuals reach the top all alone.

We see and hear this truth in every tome and tone.

Overcoming all competition

without a need for contrition

that we forged ahead 

without dread

of the kind of world we were creating;

only self-entertaining with no room for debating

that there might be a better way.

In stead we chose to play

video games and  gambling on games.

We have no shame. We simply whine and complain.

Can we finally admit that it is time to quit?

When did having enough

becoming having…too much?

Our commander-in-chief 

has never learned that lesson

His belief mirrors our own belief.

It is bringing this nation nothing but grief.

When did having enough

become having…too much?

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PURE OF HEART

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com St. Anne with her young daughter, Mary; The grandmother and mother of Jesus of Nazareth.

On  this Holy Day

no obligation takes part

in the love and respect I feel for you,

dearest Mary, Queen of Hearts.

No need for men to declare 

you are woman beyond compare.

Nor need to justify your place

with convoluted tales of grace.

You bore the heavy pregnancy gait

and the seemingly endless 9 months wait,

a grueling trek by foot and donkey

away from safety and into mystery.

You sheltered in the meanest space

and kept up with Joseph’s heartier pace

as women are so often wont to do

for men and children in need of you.

You entertained guests who came to view

the wonder of Light renewed by you.

When you likely most needed rest

you gave your all to all your guests.

And then you fled as Joseph’s dream

must have made you want to scream.

All to keep your loved ones safe and sound.

Your strength and love are so profound.

And still you give to all of us here now

your grace and love and keep your vow

made through Angel Gabriel in ages past;

a promise that to this day still lasts.

“Behold,I am the handmaiden of the Lord;

Let it be done to me according to your word.”

Such a pure heart needs no more explanation.

The Light always carried within you is our salvation.

A feast day for an Immaculate Conception

sounds like a useful mansplain deception.

I overlook my useless eye-rolling emotion

and give you, dear Mary, my full devotion.

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ROCK-A-BYE,BABY

Photo by Marisa Fahrner on Pexels.com

Get rid of the cradles.

Make America strong.

All day long,

the same twisted song.

No cradles for children sitting at their desk.

Run, hide, fight until your death.

No cradles for special needs learning.

Defund dollars which fulfill childhood yearnings.

No cradles for child workers at night.

Employ them younger and later, even on school nights.

No cradles for the hungry, the homeless and poor.

SNAP and low-income housing supplements are no more.

No cradles for immigrants, nor refugee asylum.

Go back where you came from. You are mere scum.

No cradles for a republic and voting rolls.

Gerrymander away voting rights, for sole control.

America is no longer the beacon of old,

no longer the cradle of democracy, so we are told.

America refuses to follow any rules.

The Rule of Law has become a dictator’s mule.

Americans are almost put to sleep,

distracted by fables, eyes nearly closed.

A nation of immigrants seeking their rest.

Too weary, now, to even try to do their best.

Their minds drift off as their eyelids drop.

Their minds close down as they simply stop.

Rock-a-bye, baby, 

On the treetops.

When the wind blows

The cradle will rock.

When the bough breaks

The cradle will fall.

And down will come baby

Cradle and all.

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KILL THEM ALL?

Fraud plot in which some Somali immigrants participated? All Somalis are garbage so get rid of them all.

Criminal activity in which some African-Americans engage? All African-Americans are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Investigations and questions by journalists you find troublesome? All journalists are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Some women refuse your advances and sexism? All women are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Venezuelan boaters survive an illegal attack at sea? All Venezuelans are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Democrats pass legislation restricting corporate greed? All Democrats are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Military heroes remind military personnel to refuse unlawful orders? All military and veterans are garbage. Get rid of them all.

CEOs defraud, overcharge for goods and services, underpay workers? All CEOs are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Some White people commit crimes? All white people are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Some men abuse and rape women? All men are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Some bankers hide criminal gains, make money off the deposits? All bankers are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Hate has no logic except its power to destroy.

Hate has no reason except its delight in abuse.

Hate has no goodness in thought or in deed.

Hate is a damning influence and creed.

Hate is the one thing no one needs.

Some people hate? All people are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Hate until no one is left alive, no one at all.

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LEVEL 2 EMERGENCY

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Snow fell.

Quiet reigned

aboriginal and free

amid snow’s mystery.

Only the rabbits

left their tracks

to let us know

life still goes on

despite levels of emergency

tossed to and fro

by weather-casters

who took over the news

while Ukrainian children were bombed,

while fishermen’s boats were blown apart,

while military heroes were called traitors,

while brown and black people were secreted away

to secret places behind fencing and weapons,

while scientists were silenced by conspiracy,

while money poured in to false fronts

put in place by false leaders spouting false claims,

while real drug-runners, insurrectionists, rapists and worse

were pardoned and promoted to prod us to succumb

to the darkness weighing down our days as well as our nights.

And still,

the snow fell.

Pure and white,

it covered up every dirty secret.

It hid all sin from our sight.

it made us believe again.

In what? 

What happens when it melts again,

as it surely will,

as it has since the Wampanoag

and every tribe lost its place,

as it has on every plantation

where enslaved persons 

plotted to run away,

as it does now with every bonus paid to an ICE agent

subduing a person of color and hiding them away.

It snowed last night.

It is freezing and cold today.

Snow did not create an emergency.

We did.

And, we keep trying to cover it up.

It snowed last night.

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THANKS GIVING

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It is good to be thankful.

It is good to be free.

It is good to hope 

and dance so merrily.

It is good to be thankful.

It is good if we can see

it is good to keep trying

to save our beloved country.

It is good to be thankful.

It is good for more than me.

It is good for every “other”

who turns I into we.

It is good to be thankful.

But I want so much more.

I want each of us to lift 

the light beside an open door.

I want each of us to hold and defend

our sacred declared text and constitution.

I want each of us to pledge

we will begin again

and set aside fearful pride

alongside those who deny

the Rule of Law and all it means,

as it loss threatens the safety

of ourselves, and every sister and brother.

I want each of us to vote the bums out.

I want each of us to cry freedom and shout

“We ain’t buying it !” 

to all those who sold us out

so they alone can dance merrily in a ballroom

built on East Wing destruction,

giving in to autocrats’ seduction.

It is good to be thankful.

It is good to be free.

But, only if we all can be

and only if we all 

can dance so merrily.

Too many did not think this is how it would be.

They ignored the liberal thinkers they deplore,

and wholeheartedly ignored

the warnings and pleas to face reality.

Instead, they refused to see,

they refused to look into the mirror

of their own racist, sexist depravity.

It was easier to look away.

They knew they would not like

what they would see.

They felt affirmed and at their ease.

But only for a moment.

Now, this is where we are, but need not be.

It is good to be thankful.

It is good to stay free.

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ODE TO SISTER ROBERTINE, O.P.

Dominican Sisters taught me in grades 1-12. Sister Robertine was my Latin teacher, but so much more. She was the woman who taught me what feminism looked like. She could outwit and outplay our male principal, the priest who thought he ran the school. He did not. She did. She explained, “It is a man’s world; but, a woman’s heaven. Still, you can make it yours.” When we heard clicking rosary beads (we heard her before we saw her) we knew to stand up straight and behave ourselves. She gave no quarter. I wish I had her photo. I wish every child had a Sister Robertine to love them into goodness and greatness. She has been gone many years but her words still resonate; as she explained, words always do. There were two cornerstones at our grade school read: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Sister Robertine struck that fear in us; then told us only the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it could be.Thank you, Sister!

Words create the reality we fear,

or one in which we can rejoice, and hold dear,

and spend our lives, seeing more clear.

Words have power to describe us,

inflame us, excite us, 

or kill what is inside us.

Words can kill when taken in

by others’ hearts mired

in grace or sin.

Sister Robertine said:

Be careful what you read,

what you see at the movies, or on T.V.

Garbage in is garbage out.

That is what words are all about.

She knew A. I. before it was accelerated

by techno wizards, not the Divine

who works at a slower pace

to afford human-kind much-needed grace.

Sister Robertine said:

Dress how you want to act,

How you hope to be,

how you want to be seen.

You can create each day,

play the part in your own play.

You will soon become 

whom you hope to be.

Dress with self-respect 

and respect you will get.

Sister Robertine said:

only “X” or “BIG X”

when our answer was incorrect.

No rewards nor praise

for getting it right.

Working hard to get it right,

to see it through

was the least we could do.

Our reward for seeking knowledge was integrity.

Our reward for dressing well was respect.

Our reward for working hard was strength.

Our reward for seeking hard truths was character.

We could then write our own play,

play our chosen roll, on our own stage.

We could live lives that mattered,

live lives in which lies were shattered.

We could live in the spotlight of grace and power

to change the world for good, hour by hour.

Like all good teachers, Sister Robertine directed the play.

I am grateful for such a teacher every single day.

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