Tribes

Connected by microfiber 

Arching ‘cross the continent 

Talking cyborg semi-conscious

AI -driven nightmare of verse

Across the continent connected

Every road to every where

(Unless you’re headed to Ogunquit

No, you can’t get there from here.)

Prop plane flying overhead to

God knows where this hour of night

Propellers working hard to stay aloft, To offer refuge, offer flight

Tabla conga sitar feedback

Take me home with you tonight

Tabla conga sitar feedback

Take me home with you tonight

So many sad and disconnected souls

Seeking comfort, sharing hate

Or fear, it’s hard to tell;

Feel excluded then accepted

Yeah, acceptance does real well. 

Tribes of hatred

Tribes of love

Tribes of love

And tribes of hatred 

Not so different from above

Not so different from above

Connected by microfiber 

Arching ‘cross the continent. 

Apologies To George

The snows came in today
No not by a long shot

That's how very far gone we're gone 
The winds whipped in from the west

Not deep enough

But with a distinct northerly chill

And a good ten inches fell

When the snow came today I felt a chill

As many others did

It barked and clamored to take hold

Though I knew it never would

We see, we hear, we smell, we touch

We taste the bitter stillness

Like an echo of ancient battles

Can you not simply let go?

And let it roll

Let it roll

How many prophets must you kill?

Oh let it roll

Let it roll

Cause I know you have the will

Yes the snows came xtumbling in today

They shrieked and squawked and fell

And tomorrow we'll be scraping off

And listening for that knell

To call us home from our misgivings 

Back to dipping from the well

So let it roll, let it roll

Let it wash all over you;

Let it roll, let it roll

C'mon children ring that bell

Just let it roll, oh, let it rolll. 

Poseidon

If we could play, I'd play with you

Take it deep, take it down

Where it burns and wants to show

How everything still turns to gold

By pounding beats, reciting psalms
Though gods be sleeping
Not yet deaf

Still busy dreaming, new worlds brewing, twisting strands, combining forces

A new continent connecting 
Shore approaches
But I sail on wary--landing's just too final--even though the sand's inviting
Poseidon breathes, the skies retreat, in solemn lines of cirrus 

Reckoning 
Surprised and shaken
Taken aback at such a fury
Holding tight to the distant

Steady bearing through the darkness
Hold that line!
Breathe in deeply now
Taste the salt, it's come to find you
Take it deep, take it down
Four winds caress you

Ever coaxing, teasing, pulling, knowing, never telling, pushing gently, disappearing 

Only for a heartbeat to remind you

Hold tight! 

The near distance even unseen

Still approaches. 
Hold that line, just hold that line

 

Jupiter

Jupiter ascends, dangles, teasing proximity. While elsewhere humans starve. 

A good lens refracts all, from the source, bending reality to suit the eye. We behold the majesty, the despair, heartlessly, heartfully. 

"Tearful at the falling of a star," she said. Knowing many more would fall and leave us mourning, especially for those who never saw it streak and fade, exhausted from just Being.

Still Jupiter ascends, leaves no trail, makes no promises. Dangling there like a lie.

I just want to believe it, I'm so fucking tired. Just a shill--take me down a notch, howling at the sky, getting no reply, not soon enough anyway.

Can't you see I'm that star you saw? Supernova burnt to a micro-crisp. Trailing tears for those who missed the show.

Jupiter! Rise to your station, all truthfully radiant. You charmer, you vigilante. I'd follow if only you pointed the way. 

Titanic

Surfing channels
Sipping cordials
Goldfish pretzels
Ocean liner
TV pipe dreams
Quartet playing
Liner sinking
Tastebuds yearning
Lifeboats flailing
In the darkness
Hundreds drowning
As I'm thinking
North Atlantic
Prayers floating
Floating upward
Drenched in sorrow
Have we made it?
Am I waking?
Hold fast children
Unforgotten
Hist'ry's waiting
All must tumble
Frozen lips now
Take a deep breath
Let no anchors
Pull us backward
No erasing
No repenting
Sleep in kindness
Sleep in kindness
Sleep in kindness
Sleep in kindness

Brethren

12-19-19

Filled
Almost to bursting
Truly
The love between us
Brethren unexpected
Casual easy high fives hugging
Men together seeking solace
Understanding all that passes
Finding all yet hiding a little
Open welcome telling stories
Toasting the moment
We are here
Underlining that
We are here
Still filling the voids
Almost to bursting
Unexpected
Such is love

Buffalo Smoothie

In 1978 I was blending smoothies in the student union at Tufts, in Medford. Growing up in Swampscott and hardly traveling at all, I had never even heard the word “smoothie” before, though maybe it was a fairly new thing. It was so pleasant making them—mainly yogurt (which roommates and I also produced in our apartment), banana, peanut butter, honey, wheat germ, milk and/or orange juice. Probably some granola for good measure. I know for certain the banana was essential and gave it structure. 

Wish I could remember the undoubtedly clever name of the smoothie stand; it was “crunchy” as hell and we were all in for the power of natural dairy and protein. I could have lived indefinitely on these smoothies. At least that’s how it seemed. 

About that time I also became aware of things called “Muenster cheese” and “tortillas,” since we also sold veggie wraps. The profits benefited the “Roots and Growth House,” a campus housing unit where I would sometimes hang, helping make and enjoy vegetarian meals. 

Bob Marley could be heard on any given spring day pumping out of apartments around campus. This was another revelation—Reggae. My musical tastes until then had skewed bi-coastal: New England folkie (Dylan, Tom Rush, Bill Staines, David Mallet) and L.A. folk-rock (CSNY, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Youngbloods, Eagles). I’d largely ignored a lot that friends had main-lined: Stones, Floyd, Zeppelin, Tull, Black Shabbas… Since I was emulating my brothers and playing acoustic guitar, that stuff just felt too far afield. Yet somehow I had been entirely oblivious to Reggae! This music—with its positivity-even-through-hard-times ethos and a beat that seems to meld with the rhythm of the heart—felt like a perfect accompaniment to the flow of liberal arts college life in the late 70’s. Mellow, with a beat.

The blending of a smoothie takes a little time. Today you can reach into a store case for a bottled one, but where’s the satisfaction in that? At the stand you could see and customize every ingredient going in. Thicker, thinner, sweeter, peanutier. Watch it all meld together. You spoke to the maker, and they spoke to you. You interacted with the food, the environment, the vibe. And you let Bob Marley ease you through the morning.