she says shes embarassed
to talk to me
when shes been drinking

she says
Im a bad example
because not drinking
is so easy for me

she says I just dont get it

I know shes young
and that she dont know
what she dont know
but to say that
I dont get it

she has no idea

theres a special section… Read full post »

G

perforated his skull

with a bullet

and cured himself once and for all

of his addiction to alcohol

that was three years ago

and his daughter

has been drinking about it ever since

I saw her today

and couldn't help but think of her old… Read full post »

I meant to write

but life got in the way

and I was gonna call

but I didn't know what to say

  Read full post »

my mom

grew up with nothing

and learned

to make something from it

these days she has more nothing

than any other time in her life

some would say

her nothing is really something

but she doesn't see it that way

and probably never will

in spite… Read full post »

you pull back to throw
another promise at me
and tell me to go deep

I cut and run
my usual pattern
down and out
but I feel good about this one

I go the distance
hope churning, desire burning
and I raise my hands
to catch your oath

as I look back over my shoulder
I see your grip loosen
and w… Read full post »

Jesus Christ has been warned to stay out of Arizona cancelling a possible 2nd Coming. Due to the states's strict new imigration law, which was signed on Friday by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, God expressed concerns that His son may be picked up and deported as he was born in Palestine,… Read full post »

I was there when the waters receded

I was there when the city was homeless
it's streets empty like FEMA's promises
houses smashed like the dreams of their owners
into a million razor edged pieces, shards

of a broken mirror that we'd all peered into
hoping to find our slice of the americ… Read full post »

look at me

listen to me

pay attention to me

see me

hear me

acknowledge me

help me prove that I exist

because I dont you know

not unless you say I do

without a smile

a hello

a question that requires a response

Im not… Read full post »

its cold and grey outside

a storm is moving in

the view from my window

through its century old glass

is rippled and slighlty distorted

the trees are still leafless

but a crocus has popped up near the sidewalk

eager it seems

to put old man winter to… Read full post »

the two most powerful words

in the American language

are abortion and guns

they polarize, chastise, politicize

and galvanize

like no two other words can

they manipulate, segregate,

and all but eliminate

civil discourse

they are wielded to divide

and to conquer

as&n… Read full post »

my friend Larry

is burying

his 29 year old son today

he died

from a very treatable

form of leukemia

he died

because he couldnt afford

health insurance

he died

because he couldnt afford

the privilege of good health

thats what you get… Read full post »

and we came face to face

with those who prior to that moment

had no faces

and we heard stories

that had waited a lifetime

for an audience

and we trembled

and we wept

and we were human once again Read full post »

 (this is a re-post but it fits)

I write because

no one listens when you shout

 I write because

 all you have is a sword

 I write because

 I’m not afraid

 I write because

 ink is forever

 … Read full post »

When you hand me my morning coffee

I'll look you in the eye when I thank you

I'll actually see you for a change

as you hand me mine

I'll pass you a few bucks

instead of passing judgment

on why you're standing there

holding that sign

When… Read full post »

you made it to your forties

are you suprised

I know you never thought you would

too much sartre and camus

you need to stop drinking

NOW

I know you think its harmless

but youre going to pay dearly for it

forgive your dad

he did the best… Read full post »

I lost it with him last night

I yelled and I think I scared the hell out of him

I know I really hurt him

And he didn’t deserve it

He’s eighteen now

And anxious to assert his independence

But he still lives under my roof

So his… Read full post »

Today is a shitty day, on the heels of a shitty week, with the forecast calling for more shit to come.   Don’t stop reading yet, this isn’t a rant.

Someone, somewhere once suggested that when you’re feeling down you should remind yourself of the things you are grateful for… Read full post »

This Valentine's Day should have been special.

For one thing, I remembered the stupid holiday. That should count for something. I made dinner reservations and bought candy, balloons and stuff that stinks good. Hell, I even shaved a couple of days ago and put on a mostly-clean shirt. I think I know… Read full post »

you’re a bottle blonde

but who isn’t these days

you’ve nice cheekbones

a small, straight nose and

a thin-lipped yet pretty smile

your plastic jewelry and plastic shoes

betray that your tastes

are more extravagant than your means

your laugh is pleasant enoug… Read full post »

 I write because

 no one listens when you shout

 I write because

 all you have is a sword

 I write because

 I’m not afraid

 I write because

 ink is forever

 I write because

 injust… Read full post »

my aunt just entered a hospice

after

2 ½ years on chemo

my brother was just laid off

after

5 ½ years on the job

my mom is beside herself

after

76 years a sister and

38 years a mother

it’s difficult to talk to her… Read full post »

pull yourself up by your bootstraps

they like to say

self determination is all you need

be sure to tell alice

she has two sons

her husband walked out three months ago

she lost her job

just before christmas

her eviction is scheduled for 5 pm… Read full post »