A WINNER

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

-- Calvin Coolidge

SAILING

There's always been
always will be
this three masted schooner
sailing
this endless cold sea
in its thick manifest
all the dates
all the names
of we who have played
loves cruelest games

WIP [
 

Starting over

I ask myself

If  I could go back

would I give it all up

all the good

all the bad

for an unknown dream

an unknown future

a chance to start

all over again

would I do it

And, although

I don’t remember

I think

I already did

Old Man Out Walking The Night

Stars keep on shining
they don't understand
old man out walking the night
Searching for footprints
in washed away sand
old man out walking the night

My Foe, the poet

That most despicable foe
who was a brigand
you know
IQ lower than mine
- of course -
both of us
on par
with our horse
But from
his wee aberrant brain
leaked (I suppose this proves it)
wisdom
- He said it, He did -
irrefutable... intelligent... thought
that in my
criticism
of him
lurked
envy

The Mountain

A thousand years
and a whole lot more
cross wave tossed sea he rowed
his punishment
to move the mount
one grain of sand each load

For countless years
and countless trips
contrary winds he fought
but the seas grew calm
and the mountain flat
and his pardon he had bought

My job is done
across the sea
now stands
your mighty mount
the jailor smiled
one detail left
how many grains
did you count

The Dark Of The Night

I told the old man
I didn't understand
his porch light
being on all day

A little sixty watt light
isn't that bright
compared
to the light of the day

And at best
even at night
it has just enough light
to be seen a block away

So he turned out the light
and its dark out at night
since the old man
moved away