Love’s Mark

Your grave does look newNot just the polished markerI see the way the green grass spreads out behind itTo a … More

The Cave

Then out of the gloomy forest came first that burning yellow glow. Those eyes.As the feline figure sauntered toward us, … More

Opening Wounds

One of the deals with the Lutheran Church was that after you slogged your way through Catechism and Confirmation, you … More

Rock of Ages

You remember that Carly Simon song, “There’s Always Someone Haunting Someone”? I suppose she could be talking about actual ghosts, … More

Here There Is No Light

For us, two hells might await us at the end of our existence. One is to be consumed in fire. … More

A Book of Hours

My legs go numb standing thereGrasping the wooden edges to hold meSo long that the usher behind meClears his throat … More

Echoes

Climbing Yellow MountainWe take our turnsShout outThis place famous for echoesHow long will our “Hello”sLast?I manageA solid bellowVoice of an … More

And I Miss Him Now

Teaching tough kidsIn a notoriously tough schoolCan be tough on you It was well knownHe only came to campusFor my … More

Life Cycle

When I was a kid in HonoluluEvery funeral in town it seemedInvolved a huge motorcadeThat moved by in slow motion … More

I  Would Die for You

My love for you is a little likeA red, red rose — and moreIt’s a tornado in my brainEverything whirling … More

Lesson

Someone far away speaks somethingClutching the eagle-taloned lecternBird of prey perched upon ball of earthMinistering to us down hereLooking downMy … More

Living Ghosts

Are always more spookyThan the dead onesThe ones who are church serviceSealed and deliveredTo the great beyond Still breathingThese hang … More

Autumn Colors

Leaves turn their truest colors in the fallNo longer overwhelmed by chlorophyllThose cloudier months promoting natural huesThe greens all giving … More

Memory Word

I wait a long timeBut it’s only quietFor a last wordA stone carvingKneeling silenceRust in the rainNo heart creaks joyThe … More

Look Up

New York is a stare-up cityI stand awed all over againThe tallest buildings jammedA million odds-on calculated gamblesOf engineering and … More

Note to Self

I believe every story has two endingsThe first once I’ve read itThose images swirling in my mindWords and echoed lines … More

Down the darkened hall I see

a distant little door before whichyour message sits, like you, I wonder,waiting.  The journey from herewill take an hour, from there … More

Walk to a Dreamless Sleep

Just before you sleepYou may hearThe road you’ve wound downTalk to youTell you the tale of your stepsHow it’s heard … More

My brother Sangtiennoi not being there

A manwho has sweated many timesin his fighting careersays blood is only red sweat But nothing hurts morethan a mentorin … More

On the Beach

A steeple dynasty palm grows its spiked shadow umbrellaover sand’s losing battle, washed out by thin skimming water. They scatter, … More