The Dissolution of Marriage Number One
Published in Tryst


The silences which were 
Comforting once
Became stilted
And tense.  The calm voices
Quarrelsome
Loud and screeching.
Arms fell to the sides
Rather than find their
Way around another.  Lips
Lay silent
Unsmiling and still.
Lastly the thoughts
Turn.  From sweet
To temperate
To the dull monotone
Of day to day melancholy.
A higher happiness comes
From the successful
Shopping trip than from
A sharper enjoyment from
The television monotony
A keener feeling from
A good night's sleep
The death knell can be
Heard if one but
Listens
Beyond the
Carelessness of the moment

   And the 3-D Postcard Jesus
Published in Tapestry


And the 3-D postcard Jesus
rests silently on the dash board
amid the clutter of
straw wrappers and

discarded Happy Meal toys
Super glued over the most
obvious cracks which
decorate the sun bleached

plastic.  He moves
from time to time
with the rhythm of the Bass
In tune with the

curves of the road
the squealing tires
Like fingernails across chalk boards
His altar

of stuffed toys and dead insects
amassed around the back
speakers
Pressed against the rear

Window
awaits in wonder for His Words
Awaits in awe of His 
Majesty

   The General's Theater
Published in The Scruffy Dog Review


The theater opened for the second act
Over the moon pale battleground
Consecrated in the blood of innocence
The rituals of rancid remembrance
And the human parade dressed
In ribbon heavy uniforms, adorned in
Corsages of scarlet, weary, bruised,
Danced through the drama
In step with the General's Procession
To once more save the core of civilization
To defend in the name of something sacred
But to which side should the victory fall
For this performance
To which contender do the accolades belong
At which cause should we lay the martyrs
Bloodless remains and declare
An Outrage has occurred
As the players continue to dance in
Carelessly assembled and diminished grandeur
Mere symbolism masquerading in a
Facade of function