Poetry

a pilgrim’s doxology

a prayer 

morning’s light barely registers
but with a turn of the wrist light
floods the room

the shock of emerging from 
a comforting womb mitigated 
by socks and a puffy coat

down the stairs where with four
pushes of a button a stream 
of gas and flame warm the frames

of a home whose foundations 
were set well before my parents 
lived and well within the years of theirs

another button and water warms
another button and beans grind
another turn of the wrist and water pours

the warm elixir finds its mark as 
words from an open Book call
and draw forth songs

for the heart melodies with 
ancient rhythms lost in translation 
but just as real today

Covid Blues

Some go out

and some stay in.

The only connection 

between us are

sun-bleached 

sidewalks with 

occasional

puddles.

What slender 

grasp we had

on culture is

fading as

quickly as

snow in

Van

cou

ver.

My Pillow

there once was a commercial
that made my granny laugh
at odd moments she would re-enact
a short sniff, a long snnnnnniiiiiiffffff 
a raised eyebrow 
before declaring in a voice 
with condescension dripping
“This pillow stinks!”
and then she would laugh
we all laughed too
until stretching out in bed
to realize, the stink, it’s here. 
It’s my pillow too!

Stump Throne

A chair with roots.
A monument to what?
No pride can reign 
in those who occupy 
its rings. So, all would 
do well to sit here 
quietly for a time.

brunswick stew

judgement shall not be suspended
measured with colors from your heart
black and white with no grey
humility could have saved us
at any moment before
you were at home
you were at home
saw a black man jogging
grabbed your gun
unlocked your truck
put in the key
turned the ignition
reverse then drive
a neighbour joins you
started down the road
drove past him
parked in the street
exited your vehicle
released the safety
waited for him
we can only suppose
maybe more or less
but here he comes
ambushed him
weapon fired
now he’s fighting 
for his life
he falls he dies
you go home
we can only suppose
damn stew
so familiar
you eat it cold
with your
father
…………………………..
Ahmuad Arbery’s blood cries out 

On 23 February 2020 Ahmaud Arbery went jogging in a community outside of Brunswick Georgia. He was shot dead by a father and son who chased him down. Justice seemed suspended until cell phone video was made public.