Lonely Heart

The house is too quiet when you’re not here

The bed is too big when you’re away

My heart is too lonely when you’re not near

I’m so glad you’re coming home today.

January 1993

Stampede

Glasses cockeyed on Tommy Toucan’s nose 

Awkwardly, he pushes them back in place;

Hannah hippo gracefully touches toes,

Ev’ryone’s getting ready for the race.

Gina Giraffe’s with her chiropractor,

Angel Armadillo’s looking so-so,

All watch for Vinny Velociraptor,

No one claims to have invited him, though.

Timmy Tortoise creeps to the starting line;

Harry Hare vows he won’t dilly again;

Bristling at all is Peter Porcupine;

Enough with waiting, let the race begin.

Gun shots put Pam Panther into the lead

Get out of the way, here comes the stampede.

September 2016

Persistence At Heaven's Gate

With an infirmity thirty-eight year

He lay without help at Bethesda's pool,

Fretting and alone with no savior near,

Destined to live with his sickness cruel.

When the waters were moved he arrived last,

Coming to the pool with submissive sighs;

Then back to his bed when the moment passed; 

Yet he made an effort to claim the prize.

A man came with an unfamiliar face,

"Wilt thou be made whole?" He asked as they talked;

Resigned the sick one explained his sad case,

The One said "Rise, take up thy bed and walk.”

Thirty-eight years is a long time to wait

Persistence when begging at heaven's gate.

September 2016

In Your Black Maxima

In your black Maxima you flew out west

And left behind a lonely, longing friend;

This move for you is what you felt was best,

You knew that your friendship here would not end

But stretch across the solitary miles

Back to your lonely star here in Big D,

Where memories fresh always return smiles

And your lonely star accepts what will be.

But don’t think that your move is permanent

For you were born to achieve greater things,

And you can't live in weather inclement

Where it is as though they have clipped your wings.

So take care of business then hurry home

Because your lonely star can't be alone.

March 1993

The Innocence of Youth

The innocence of youth has flown this nest

To time and place not to be recovered,

Time has moved on, always to the west

Where things once learned can’t be rediscovered.

We’ll never learn to ride a bike again

Nor will the arm forget the way to throw;

The awkwardness the body felt at ten

Is long since past with few scars to show.

Even the things I don’t remember learning

Cannot be brought to new fruition;

Things such as crawling, talking and walking

Can all be performed without attention.

But one thing I learn anew, one above

All else: the height and depth of mother’s love.

2003