Death, to me, is a stranger;
  I know not his whereabouts.
I’ve seen him but haven’t heard –
  I know of him but we’ve not met.

He spoke at length with my elder
  And convinced him to go.
I got to say good-bye before
  He left, but of Death, I don’t know.

He seems so popular among
  Celebrities – distant and queer.
With the sickly, too, he throngs –
  Too important to come here

Although once, without persistence –
  Death did rap upon my door.
I was busy – I did not answer

An inhospitable truth I have
  To carry throughout my life
That must stay buried in my heart –
  What a terrible truth!

It dances on my tongue
  When I feel somebody knows.
On the scale of history – it nags;
  On a bone – it gnaws.

It’s the shadow that follows
  My genetic path incurably.
It will follow me into death
  And be the Ghost beside me.

The treetop glimmers outside my window
  As light, dancing upon the leaflets -
Shimmies about in affable yellow.
  My gaze can't help but be captivated
By light, pure and perfectly aglow.

In the wind, swaying charismatically -
  Every leaf is twirled as a ballerina -
Playing with my fragile jealousy.
  I think I hear an underlying viola -
Oh, light - would you dance with me?

The Arizona Queen of the Night –
She is a most mysterious flower –
The one seen dancing in the moonlight.
The Arizona Queen of the Night –
In a pale gown, appears near June’s height.
Have you been lucky enough to see her –
The Arizona Queen of the Night?
She is a most mysterious flower.

See there marches Orion
  With Sirius close at his feet
Tarrying not long in the air
  To begin the midnight hunt.

His quickened breath congeals –
  His boots crunch the fallen snow –
His eyes attempt to discern
  Between tree and furtive shadow.

Mark the occasion and time
  Of this harvest moon's fair
And note the dog's primal talent
  For smelling blood and fear

Not to bring down a mighty elk
  To quarter and tan its hide –
What they instead come upon
  Is Aries in a clearing field.

So that you will be blessed
I pray more than you are aware
For you because you are
A friend of many friends.

May age not break your stride.
Remember all of your days
And on your tongue have praise
For those on whom you relied.

May God look down and see
You at play like a child
And like a parent smile
When their child shrieks in glee.

A mist of yellow
Gold upon the curtains
Blinding is its glow
The breath of calm winds
Birds silent like they know
Things muted by grayness
A wide, blue shadow
Trees black in the distance –
This is how the sun sets.

in unrelenting deep purple Depeche Mode crisis...

the yeast you could do
for a crusty and crabby old man,
(who I know
like the back of my clawed hand),
albeit well bred wordsmith doth wonder,
whose person analogously baited
courtesy being at the receiving end
of one after another phishing schemes
whereat identity thieves stole
loot linkedin with checking account
making out like Smokey and the Bandits
appellation Matthew Scott Harris
whose finances compromised and rent asunder,
hence, he desperately needs

I have nothing to offer
   Except this small heart of mine.
You come with laughter.
   I have a past much maligned.

You come with true stories
   And many talkative siblings.
I have few good memories
   But a face that’s serene.

Interesting things about the world
   I remember very well.
If it’s not a bother
   I will teach instead of tell.

Where have all the gentlemen gone?
Worldly thoughts have led them astray –
Desiring neither love nor brawn.
Where? Have all the gentlemen gone?
Tho’ my days are short and nights are long –
I hold my breath, take note and pray:
Where have all the gentlemen gone?
Worldly thoughts have led them astray.