generosity

divine love, is
sun beams, releasing
anger frustrations, and
all tensions, from
crevices in my body, with
no expectations, only
generosity.

"God damn it, you’ve got to be kind"

Kurt
Two days before you died
I discovered a new book of essays by you
one of the few English books in a store -
in Lisbon.

You’d probably say that it was pure coincidence
but maybe you wouldn’t.

Either way
over the years
I’ve grown fond of you
your sense of humor
your original thoughts
and the fact that you said
“God damn it, you’ve got to be kind”

if I had met you,
I’m sure I would have fallen head over heels –
maybe even literally.

I wonder what it must be like
to have breakfast with you?

Do you have a short temper
or none at all?
What’s the worst thing that you ever said to anyone?

What would your son, The Doctor, say about you?

Are you in heaven?
You know I had to say that :)

Wherever you are
You’ve changed the world
my world, anyway.

How could you die?
I wasn’t ready –
April 11, 2007

...and, so it goes...

ghost limb

she touched the arm to feel the pain
except
there was no arm there
only a memory, a ‘ghost’ limb.

she touched his arm to feel the comfort
except
there was no arm there
only a memory, a ‘ghost’ lover.

it had only been a few minutes
since the tiger had chewed it off –
all of it.

it had only been a few days
since he had chewed off the ties –
all of it.

one moment
a few seconds
her right arm.

one moment
a few seconds
his entire presence.

a trusted friend
yet a tiger after all
tasted blood and couldn’t stop.

a trusted friend
yet a man after all
tasted blood and couldn’t stop.

The Walls

1915, The Mending Walls, Robert Frost
“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall"


1989
it came tumbling down
in a feast of pleasure
and possibilities…
…riots of colors on the free West
the painted wall
now preserved in pieces at the border.

1992
an egalitarian internet browser
tears through the barricades…
…a chain-link reaction of eroding borders
with virtual highways and bridges.

2000
Chinese and East-Indian faces
populate the valley of silicon dreams
east-west differences
melting away in the heat
of hi-tech passions


2002
Israel completes the construction
enclosing more space than occupied
marching ‘forward’
via self-preservation in self-isolation.

yet,
tears and blood flood the wall
overflow into the homes of the world
a category-5 storm of human suffering

2005
my country, my home
steeped in melting pot, salad bowl
metaphors
wants to build a wall
to stop the migration of people
who lay down the bricks everyday
in our backyard—
who is it that we want to keep out,
us or them?


1915, The Mending Walls, Robert Frost (laments)
“Good fences make good neighbors.”

restless

orange gladiolas
and crisp rain drops
outside on the terrace
in a vase
in a glass vase
thin glass
sqare shape
like a large cookie jar

soft smell
fresh

closer up.

ummmm...

crash!

orange gladiolas
and the perfumed hardwood floor.

Idol Worhip

in the temple
where the symbols of God

breasts
hair
earlobes
feet
underarms
penis
neck
palm
vagina
lips
eyes...

demand endless sacrifice
we bring offerings of Listerine and Soap
mixed with immortal wishes and mortal desires
we forget.

we forget that we had come to the temple
to find something else
and leave disappointed...

the ecstasy of seeing the statues
worshipping them with all our strength
leaves us exhausted
we mistake the statue for God
and leave in despair
blind, innocent,
like a child not knowing that the worship is just the beginning...

not the end.

love, lies, and implosions

“Do you want to explode?”

The word reverberate
R-e-s-o-n-a-t-e

From the body
to the soul,

On June 6, 1999
Promises of Love, recklessly offered.


And taken away -
no warning, no protection

Words…
like escapees from a prison;
unleashed onto the innocent.

Leaving behind
…rippling implosions.