Two Of A Kind

How alone is a dead man-
We see his scarred hands
And think life is difficult-
His sagging mouth can't explain
Or tell jokes
Or kiss grief away-
His feet can't walk to her side
And hold him steady
For her weakened body

What fortune does death provide-
Some courage maybe
Or another memory to forget
And then remember
On selfish, solitary evenings-
I miss my grandfathers
Because they lived long
And made beautiful mistakes
And grew forgiveness in their gardens

The Route Returning

My home is a carving on a fireplace
And cold winter tiles
Under slow-morning feet
The safety of regimen and compassion
Of not doubting breakfast will be delicious
In sunrise dappled kitchens
For the children of good parents
Trying to be better
With their confident words
And broken hearts

My home is losing sight of home
Of being lost in the world
When the engine of youth fails
And the beating heart turns back
From its narrow path
Feeling the seeds of the past
Breaking through
And discovering once again
What it means, not just to want
But to need shelter

Disassembly Required

Dear, if you can feel me
Please send a kind word
I'm so tired of these conceited mornings-
Put me together again
Like these dawns never will
Crawling along on their rusty tracks-
I used to imagine what you'd look like
Naked in your middle age
And wonder if you'd still want me
After some quiet infidelity
Or the loss of a child-

Hotel Sensibilities

Ambition is carrying you away
Beyond my poor gentleness-
I hope it brings you something
Warmer than words-
A song from L. Cohen
Images by Marquez
And a lover stretched out
Under sunlit curtains-

I would have pretended
As long as you needed me to-
I'm an actor, you see
Well mannered and made to suffer-
Mostly son, or brother
Or tattered lover
Best new male romantic supporter
But never much for the final scene-

I'm afraid this morning
Of all the girls in all the cafes
Along Roncessvalles avenue-
Your shelter was too much for me
And my soul is cold now
Like a February night,
Spent organizing photos
For lack of company-