Saturday, May 30, 2009

free

the years go by
and leave us dazed
that those we love
are bound to die

but love will always still remain
when those we love are free of pain

peace is the absence of defeat

the sun goes down
the lights go out
the wild dogs howl

enemies determined on destruction
friends with something else to do
israel continues to defend and prosper
in a world where hating jews is nothing new

only on ourselves can we rely
to see them all retreat or die

Saturday, February 21, 2009

suspension of self-control

love to love you, baby
without a bit of maybe
all-out loss of self-control
keeps the whole world whole

suspension of control

watching the world
without intervening
is relaxation
with a deeper meaning

and having written ...

i return
to margaritaville
to learn
if i prefer a sip of wine
or just the sea and sand by which to dine

* ****** **** ****** *

remembering "i call your name"

imperfection

The story of my life, so to speak:
going by the letter,
it couldn't have been better;
going by the spirit, well, the flesh was weak.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

a benediction

Nellmezzo

That first year I was Orthodox,
I was in law school too
(it's true men become religious when they are frightened enough ...);
and there I was at Christmas in sultry L.A.;
no tree and no presents;
no energy and no time.
This is not how Christmas is done!!!

But there were special candles in my neighbor's windows,
behind the smoggy haze;
it was dark early and a bit cool in the days,
and a benediction settled down on me and the mute lights:
the behemoth of Christmas passed us by, but not the Spirit.


Urban Poet

There are corners of the world
where people sit and rest
avoiding public prayer
and public fest.

The spirit of the season
cannot wait till Christmas time.
It must follow us through life and death
whatever our background or our troubles or our crimes.

There is a Way
to follow, every day.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Gonna be a heat wave -- or maybe not

The New Ice Age was all the rage,
then Anthropogenic Glowball Warming came of age,
now Climate Change has turned the page
on days of different weather every day!
So what's a simple guy to say?
-- Al Gore, enough already, go away!

The Arctic Ocean opened up
and melted ice floes drowned the Great White Bear.
We see the same sad fate will overtake each helpless seal pup,
-- if you believe this Chicken Little scare.

Friday, December 26, 2008

My time here is just a glimmer

Watch the sky at night and see
the nothing we will come to be
when at last we all are free
to enjoy eternity.

Count the value of a word
nothing else is so absurd
forgotten soon as it is heard

only friendship
is worth the trip

be with me

January 7

Now the Christmas rush is ended
past the business season's peak,
Orthodox joined in devotion
celebrate a later week.

Then without commercial frenzy,
no distraction from The Word:
peace on Earth, mankind's salvation,
Christ is born is all that's heard.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Close Encounters of the Hallucenogenic Kind

Whistling dizzily overhead,
the saucer spins, I leap from bed,
the little green men float eerily,
I watch them waving, wearily.

It's always the same, they seem to say,
we're glad we came to Earth today;
but, don't you wonder, won't they stay?
They drift and tilt and go away.

It's always the same, they never speak:
I never hear a peep or a squeak.
Quietly staring, whatever they seek,
their alien eyes are always bleak.

It's always the same, I seem to dream,
like smoke that gleams in a fading beam,
their eyes aglow, like wisps of steam,
and time goes by like a stagnant stream.

Whistling languidly, singing goodbye,
I wish you a pleasant trip, I cry.
The little green men float eerily,
I watch them waving, wearily.

* ****** **** ******* *

saucers spinning overhead
draw me from a troubled bed

tossing turning aching dreaming
listen to the aliens screaming

see them fly above the town
get your rifle shoot them down

Monday, November 10, 2008

One more time, my hot little lizard

I never saw a purple cow
boogy with a lizard
but I could boogy down with you
and melt the coldest blizzard.

Country is as country does
and that's why God made honky-tonks.
They may be loud but the beer is cheap
and they're friendlier than policy wonks.

It's a new world, whatever that means.

So let's step out and cut a rug
and don't let voting bug ya,
it's time to party till the dawn,
and when we leave and say goodbye,
before I go, I'll hug ya.

Good night, Lizzie.