Some Peace

We meet our elderly guide in the late afternoon,the graying skies adding to the somber atmosphereoverlaying the double-named London/Derry landscape. … More

Stories of My Grandmother

Sometimes my maternal grandmother visits me,I’ll come awake gradually, know she’s sitting there,silent guardian at the foot of my bed, … More

We Meet

That night I saw you firecracker starburst red,ablaze in a beautifully carved body,an exquisite silhouette scribed against the dark,your hand … More

Transistor Days

On the square, silver Sony radiowith the cheap black leatherette wrist strapI always feared would snap,our soundtrack falling lost into … More

It’s Not Me, It’s you

It’s been a while.I wish you were here.How have you been?Life hasn’t been the same without you.Do you miss me?Do … More

Too Patient

It’s been harder for me to step across that line.You’ve been waiting there for me for such a long time.If … More

Family Tree

I’m sleeping, I think; this has the vivid feeling of a dream.Before my house was rebuilt, a huge mango tree … More

How To Screw

In my younger days, it was so easy, so straightforward.Really, in my house there was only one way to do … More

All the Hours of the Day and Night

I don’t know which of the 12 hours I love more,the half that’s a.m., or the half that’s p.m.I’d always … More

No More Nice Things

Crayon and magic markers that never came off the walls;paint on the carpets and doors;knife and screwdriver carved furniture and … More

The Fruits of Love’s Labor

May I write a song for us?Maybe about our family tree?How about our hawking birds and stinging bees?The scheme of … More

Not Everything Is Broken

If I were Bob Dylan, I could tell you everything that’s broken.If you know that song, you know his list is … More

Youth Must Be Served

I’m watering the yard, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticea branch of the plumeria tree bend; … More

Mind in the Time

Remember that, she says, as we sit sipping coffee, I was all whipped-cream nosed. It has been 40 years since … More

London Stairs for Going Down

“Mind the stairs, mate,”he shouts in a harsh tone.I look up, he down at me, his facethat of an angry … More

Self Help

As agreed, I am waiting in the Self Help section of the bookstore.I read in a randomly selected book that … More

Envy

Someone says, “Mine is better than yours.”It’s that old schoolyard boast,the anger instantaneously rumbling up,separating two children playing to fierce … More

Where There’s a Will

A pint can’t hurt.Why do I always think that?More likely a pint can’t help. This writing implement depresses me.They are … More

Scorpio Rose

The moon wasn’t in the second house, nor did Jupiter and Mars align. The planets weren’t guided by peace, and … More

Land of English Only

I was born in a land of English speakers,where parents believed speaking Englishwas the key to success. My father was … More