The Insecure Man

 

Radiant, smart, and beautiful.

He kept her for himself…

Like a firefly in a bottle,

A trophy forgotten on a shelf.

 

He blindfolded her in public,

Plugged her ears from TV news.

Banned magazines and papers,

Hiding other’s thoughts and views.

 

She never was allowed outside,

Fearing she’d smell fresh air,

That might ignite some memories

Of a larger world “Out there”.

 

His macho plans to control her failed

To keep her silent, dumb and dutiful.

He overlooked the major irony;

She was radiant, SMART, and beautiful.

 

Ghosts at the Table

 

Old friends sometimes sit at my table,

We toast each other with steins of beer…

Sharing memories of the old days;

Those nights we were all near and dear.

 

We laughed well into the night time,

Recalling each other’s embarrassing stories…

Celebrating well deserved praise for heroics,

Contrasted by exaggerated glories.

 

I fell asleep remembering,

Each other’s favorite love song…

Waking up to realize this morning,

They’re all ten years dead and gone.

 

We used to discuss Armageddon,

I built a shelter under my home.

What an errant judgement I made,

To build a future all alone.  

 

 

 

 

I Was the One

 

I still hear my mother’s voice,

“Michael!  It’s lunchtime, come on home”…

Although she died in my 50’s,

I didn't feel like an orphan, alone.

 

I was the one risking my life,

Dodging traffic on a busy road,

Filling up my metal bucket,

With every migrating baby toad.

 

I was the one with the garbage can,

Full of water and gasping carp,

Transporting them to a safe place,

To a well preserved State Park.

 

I was the one who rescued,

Injured animals on the street. 

Seeing they got some medical help,

If they had only a faint heartbeat.

 

I was the one who voted,

For every promise of equality.

I also considered heated issues,

Promising some measure of frivolity.

 

I was the one when my parents died,

When we sold the family home…

Who realized I wasn't homeless,

I at all times had my phone. 

 

I was the one with heroes,  

Merle Haggard , told my story...

Leonard Cohen, told my deeper side,

With both the bitterness and glory. 

 

I was the one who chose this Photo,

The meanest in my box on the shelf…

I didn’t want to appear a kind man,

In order to protect myself.