LEGACY

Sometimes it may seem unlikely that you matter

and that you too matter

yet you both do

when the dust settles and

the drumbeats of war drowned and

the ghosts of companionship stand appeased

by the steely silence of an empty seat at the top of the dinner table

when the roaring ambition dies

to be replaced by complacent acceptance 

of fate as it shouldn't be

you still will matter

rest then

in solid solidarity of oneness

knowing too that you too matter not only now

as you were but then as you'll be

always.

for in the fullness of time, when the thunder dies and

the skies clear and

the props drop and

everybody recedes in the bitter-sweet aftertaste of farewell....

only you two must carry the legacy

shall carry the legacy

carry the legacy

the legacy

my enduring footprints in the sands (mud?) of time.

© August 2016

FLANNAN

So sure i now am
we could
should do beer one of these suns
or smoke expired weed together
in some dingy corner of this
great
and emotionally suppressed city

come back on into life
won't you now
dump care in the pits of abandon

come seize
these crystals of freedom
crush and let them
slip and slip through
our tired but shared fingers

© May 2016

ROSA

You are
of the mysterious flock
i call you the agile one

but now i know
like they know that you know
suave beyond salvation
yet not without damnation
you are just but a practising psychologist

in this game of minds
minds of hearts touching, soothing
directing
without breaking
this swathe of rampant human emotions

you are but an accomplished scientist
proficient in this lab of human emotions

you are Rosa
of the mysterious flock
i call you sistah from the lighter stock

why then
are you such a fleeting shadow
so long a ghost of positive torment
must i retire or choose life without fear

i too am a survivor
and though the war is far from over
i triumph in these battles
irredeemable sense of pride uncrushable
a strong will exerts itself over the weak

are you brave?

© April 2016

SOLDIERS NEVER DIE: El Adde

Mortality as immortality

though the State might dither
sometimes
though the enemy might celebrate
sometimes
though the world might move on
sometimes

we know you are among us
in a place safer than that night
of chaotic transition

we remember you
and honour your galant sacrifice
that we may live
we remember you
and honour your blood

that we may breath.

soldiers never die

you too are among us.

© April 2016

EUGENE MARTIN: a belated memoriam

Good teachers never die, they say
they live on in the solitary yet shared memory
the gloom and cheer of academic hallways
and the confident gait of successful graduates

and now they say
you took that long limitless walk among the departed
how can it be that Summer '08 was a farewell
the final dinner @ adams morgan
the lunch @ the malaysian
the chinese and russian and indian embassies

so much fun. so much knowledge. so effortlessly delivered

good teachers never die Gene
they reside in the hearts of their brilliant students
the roaring laughter and periodic nostalgia
so you went

what more can orphaned fans do but cry
in silent acceptance of this pale reality

walk well among the spirits
be well among the elders
see down through the clouds

great teachers never die.

© March 2016

JANUARY 13: LAUGHTER

How can it not be
that our happiness intrinsically ties

to the laughter of innocence

slipping thru' the tenderness
of those supple vocals

staggered words uttered
in ridiculous imitation

rolling in defiance of all
all but limited linguistic limitations

two seasons of welcome
to this, our world Naimah

to laugh and cry in equality of blissful measure

blood is but liquid life
and the feeling?
this is eternal
we found bliss not just in breathless materialism

but in the joyful, infant rhythm of your beautiful small heart

two steps for two seasons
laugh on Naimah
the universe takes note.

© January 2016