New Poem: CAN’T SAY IT IN 30 SECONDS

 received the invitation to summarize

 my brief stint in community theatre 

 as both teenage student and volunteer 

 turned on the video recorder red light

 said it too slow, tried again

 delivered it rapidly, a little better

 but I don’t have that special skill

 of highlighting one year 

 in the space of a TV or radio commercial 

 >

 if I had, say, five minutes to

 discuss the plays I’d seen,

 some of the people I met

 and how the experience was positive 

 it probably still wouldn’t be enough 

 but I’m glad someone asked for a testimonial 

 

 

New Poem: FRAGILE

 impressed with your confidence 

 but wasn’t alert to your shades

 of discomfort discontent dissociation 

 just thought you’ll have a good life

 doesn’t matter if I’m not included 

 years later, didn’t expect your obituary 

 read the funeral home website guestbook 

 plenty of condolences for your partner 

 but only three people mourning you

 >

 wish there had been more true friends you trusted

 to confess I’m in misery I’m broken I want out It’s too much

 and have them drop everything to come to

 your side and help you find ways forward

New Poem: KEEP REPEATING

 neglect absence anger

 helicoptering

 demanding not explaining

 hovering

 hit hard say it’s a love pat

 screaming 

 give you some of what you want

 beseeching 

 if I could I’d pay her to date you

 belittling

 study hard harder 

 encouraging 

 don’t trust you not to be your brother

 discouraging 

 spend the summer away from bad people 

 limiting

 love me regardless of how you turn out

 trying 

 really really trying

 too afraid of your disappointment disapproval 

 accepting 

 accepting

 way too accepting 

 just can’t say no to you

 

New Poem: HOSPICE

 pencils down, no closure

 look at my mother 

 who almost never speaks

 existing but not living

 I’m in the hospice room 

 three days of visiting

 she only says my name once

 hospice nurse calls in from another location 

 involved with an assisted suicide 

 my mother would never want that

 sometimes she eats and drinks water

 but after I flew home to California 

 she stopped eating, water unswallowed

 waiting to see whether this changes

 or if I need to tell the hospice nurse

 to begin the morphine treatment 

 >

 when I patted her hand covered by blanket 

 she briefly opened her eyes 

 

 

New Poem: ALL ABOUT THAT OIL

 all about that oil that oil that oil

 see price per barrel go up up up

 if a hard-liner takes over, Donald doesn’t care

 CIA tries to manufacture people’s rebellion 

 just you wait for Donald and Benjamin to walk away

 because it’s all about that oil that oil that oil