Chest Out ... June 27, 2008

with thoughts preoccupied
I stared blankly outside
my 12th floor window
not really aware
how the sun and clouds
made merry pictures
against less than blue skies

the occasional irate driver
blasting his horn
indignant at this cumbersome halt
hardly broke into
the meandering motions of my brain

straight ahead in line with with my gaze
is a white wall of the building opposite
interspersed with blue metal lattice
hiding ugly knick knacks of long
occupied office premises

for a better view
I crane my neck forward and look right
and there before me the artificial greens
peppered with noon time golfers
as sunlight glints off the ripples in the pond

out of the corner of my eye
I catch a distracting motion
and with some deliberation
I look left

there behold on the outer sill
a feathered creature
dirty brown
with a tuft of yellow upon its chest
what piercing disdain
from those ruby red eyes

I am not convinced
that this winged creature
acknowledged my uninvited stare
as it tried to inconspicuously preen
hopping to some trance like tune

then there it was
right before me
separated by glass
rudely holding each others' gaze

almost a stand off
we each
refused to look away
and as if in disgusted dismissal
it gave me one last up down
chest puffed out
spread its wings
took flight
following the wind

such arrogance
such freedom
it made me for a moment
wish
I too could spread my wings
and fly

One Night ... June 26, 2008

shadows flicker
in response to movement
induced by gentle breeze

a branch shakes
eerie images cast
upon glass windows

I lay in silence
listening to nothing
yet hearing everything

the rhythmic breathing
of all slumbering
inhabitants

all lost in their dreams
that take them through
journeys unknown

the night is rife
with happenings
the eyes cannot see

copulating cats
insects incestuous singing
like crescendoing lust

my eyes grow heavy
lulled by the cacophony
just beyond my grasp

sleep overcomes weary body
soon introducing another element
into a night on a brink of a new dawn


~.ani original~

Destitute Living Sept, 1999

a simple man and his wife till their land
hard muscles frame every inch of his body
she void of expression toils beside her man
testament to their life of labor, the sun beats down on his already
darkened skin. the sweat and salt of his body falls to the earth...
readily swallowed by the parched soil he tills. children bear the yoke
of labor bravely... aged before their years illiteracy reigns...
squashing any means of escape from their squalor. a shiny four wheel
machine draws near. the man stops his labor... the children run
excitedly toward this sleek symbol of wealth, laughing at their
reflections upon its shine. out of the cool comfort a haughty face
emerges, a sneer poverty at the poverty twitches at the corners of the
unsmiling mouth a piece of paper waved words harshly barked out
fear descends upon the family of simple peasants
their future unknown "make way you peasant folk
your presence is an UNWANTED OBSTRUCTION to the progress of this
nation make way,
i care not for your discomfort nor your uncertain future
all that MATTERS to me is gold to keep my coffers full
and your family starves, all the matters is that my coffers overflow

Expectant Anxieties Sept 1999

i can feel you move within me
strange undescribable sensations
i wonder if you feel my anxieties
as i ponder our future

i must try to be the best
hoping to give all that i can
trying to make sure you are never wanting
i continue to work myself into a frenzy

come little one into our lives
be that torch that shines on the path
that we must tread hand in hand
as we make the journey together

Destiny - undated

it is with great regret that i view life with a slice of malice

for without hesitation she has oft had me trod upon
even as a child, i had the brutal force of man
so rudely implanted within me
my cries were in vain, for the world labeled me trash
a child with nowhere to turn, written words my only solace

as i flourished into womanhood
the scars were deep and would not heal
trust was something i had little to give
love was something i found hard to find
life throws her pitfalls so constantly
i wonder if there is a story no one has told me

rude awakenings, forced attentions, the word "abuse"
has my name to it, for the slime of nature ceaselessly pursue me

i lie here now all naked and torn,
i will never mend again, i know
still i feel that destiny has but played me another cruel hand
for i still lie and breathe
when all i desire is to feel
earth's weight upon my coffin