Saturday, March 16, 2019

reflection on the passing of W.S. Merwin

even as melancholy swoons
within lines of sacred elegy
this poet a man whose influence 
showed me how to listen to my own 
voice through his shall be missed

Sunday, March 10, 2019

But Smile

You are very smart aren't you
And very proud of your intelligence
You wear it like a mask,
But smile, I see through your mask
To the sniveling insecurity
Of your scornful soul.

Some of the others may be fooled
By your self-righteous dog and pony
With the floppy shoes and
The big red honking nose as you
Feed me your disdain by spoonfuls -
But I am immune. Bless your heart,

As I once heard it said, lest some
Part of it survive the rot that is
Your brain, after the maggots
Complete their scavenge, I assume
Was meant in polite company.

This malice you serve is petulant,
So portions of service I return,
But I have known more maligned
And stared directly into bleaker eyes
Cold and dark and thoughtlessly mean,
So say what you must, But smile
As I do, amused by naivete.