Full Bloom

I wrote this for my sister for her birthday.

O little sapling!
You came but two summers after me
And grew in my shadows,
But this was no hindrance.
You took that shade,
And made it your sun.

Spring and Summer are long gone now
And to say the least,
You are unlike the others.
You are still in full bloom.
Mother Autumn’s chilly whisper
Left you unscathed;
The icy breath of Father Winter
Passed you by,
And not a petal is dropped.

Don’t let the lesser flora
Break your branches
Or loosen your roots,
For you are a spectacle
Of Nature’s fine hand.

Even after I return to the Earth,
After every other tree akin to you is gone,
There you will be,
Standing proud, standing strong, standing resolute.

O little sapling!
It seems you have an admirer!
A little girl is staring up at you and wonders,
“How did you get so big and strong?”
And through a gentle breeze, you answer,
“Because I am loved.”

The Invalid's Strength

This poem was created after i saw the movie "Everything Is Illuminated". Its a fabulous movie, really powerful and really funny, but ultimately heartbreaking.

I am a hollow Jew,
Rattling with the echoes
Of the invalid
That I foolishly call Religion.
And though he is weak
Somedays he walks
With me,
With a heart stronger
Than the one I carry.

I Must Return

I must return
I must go back to the broken bed
And the concrete walls
Of higher learning.
Who will be waiting
For me there?
I can't say,
But I hope its
No one.

Along A Path Of Orchids

This poem was inspired by the Georgia O'Keefe painting "Jack In The Pulpit IV".

I met a stranger
Along a path of orchids.
She drew back her hood
To reveal
Nothing
But a solitary blue candle
Breathing
A white flame.

She spoke to me,
Like a thought,
And drew me
Into her.

What lies beyond
Her abyss?

I reach to touch
The unknown
And find
But a wall,
Fragile and trembling.

My greatest fears have come true.

Quilts

This poem was inspired by Gustav Klimt's "Death and Life". Its an awesome painting, go find it.

This is the world
As I see it.
A place of wavering
Uncertainty caught in
An unescapable gyre.
Within the eye of that swirl lies
Flaccid equality, kept
Under organic lock and key.

But as they are whipped about
The fragrant winds, many a soul
Finds its place
Amongst the
Extant patchwork,

Until their needles no longer
Carry a varicolored wisp, and
Drop,
Rusted and dull
Into my cold, timeless hand.

And though it may be
Wonderful
To live,
I think it fine
To be
Where I am.

For I have my own quilt;
More glorious
and ancient
Than this
Huddled amalgam.

You shall be part
Of mine
My friend
In time,
In time.

A Rare Vigil

This was written on a sleepless night, when I was surprised to find the dorm lobby empty, a rare occurrence indeed.

A rare vigil tonight.
The lobby is empty,
And I am calm
In the silence.

The early hour
Does not deny
Sound or motion,
But tonight,
Only the building
Breathes
And my pen
Scrawls.

There is nothing
More splendid
Than detachment
In a place where

Solitude

Is not possible.

Makin' A Stand

This is a protest song.

Revel all you sinners
In your politics
And war.
Proto-punks
And neon chunks
All cry out for
More.
I just wanna know
What makes you think
That you know?
How much a life is worth
And when they should go.
So tip your hat
To the coffins
And the band, yeah,
Cause that's me
At the front
Makin' a stand.

Well I know you
Got your book
And you believe in it too.
Why do you ask
Abraham or Jesus
What to do?
Oh yeah, that's right
They wouldn't've agreed
With you plan.
So you lie to the nation
And tell 'em it's
For the good of man.
But I'll just mark
Another tick
Up on the wall, yeah,
Soldiers just like
Dominoes,
They fall and fall.

So don that black pin-stripe coat
All sable and foul.
Wear that plastic face
You use to hide the scowl.
Cause there's nothin'
Better than a blind nation,
Ready to do whatever
You want 'em to
Whether true or petty.
Now go stand before them,
The proletariat.
Oh my their faces look
rather angry!
Are you scared yet?
Oh, are you yet?

Oh I know you'll be around
For another year.
That's just enough time
For you to instill some fear.
Fear, oh no, you got that done.
C'mon, just another one.
Just one more soldier.
Ah send 'em over there, ha!

Revel all you sinners
In your politics
And war.
Proto-punks
And neon chunks
All cry out for
More.
I just wanna know
What makes you think
That you know?
How much a life is worth
And when they should go.
So tip your hats
To the coffins
And the band, yeah,
Cause that's me
At the front
Makin' a stand.