Oh, pickle jar
turning, twisting, trying
hard working for gherkin

If dinosaurs could talk, they'd surely swear
At comets hurtling down out of nowhere
Demise from space, turning the day to night
Rage rage, against the dying of the light

Crusty Calico Cat
Tired, Turning Twenty
Slowly Slipping, Senile
More Midnight Meowing

Brittle Bag of Bones
Gangly Greasy Geriatric
Mere Months? Maybe?

Just One More Summer.
To Lay in The Garden.
To Sleep in the Shadow.

In Smell and Shade of Tomato Plants.
To Bake on Stones, Heated in Summer Sun.
To Chatter at Birds, Many Years Younger.

Just One More Summer.
It was Heraclitus the wise
who never set foot in the same river twice
While Parmenides would have objected
that change is not to be expected.
Thus everything stayed as it was
and nothing ever came to pass.

God omnipresent - where then can I hide?
my sin and filth; my buried deeds conspire
There is no refuge, none! Not far nor wide
Deo volente, divine grace or ire
My breath constricted by this turtleneck
Head to the store, perhaps they'll take it back
The curtains in the window billow free
Sometimes I count to four, sometimes to three

My love, this fruitful garden grows for you
But would you mind if I grew roots here too?

"The speed of Nighting"

My candle's flame, a call to heal the sick
Many are dying, better make it quick
Help dying people - it's what makes me tick
You were not meant to swim but a wave pulled you in
The frigid salt water pulled you from your slumber
How can you get back if you don't know how to swim
Sometimes you can feel it is pulling you under

This terribly tiring and terrified thrashing
drifting further out as the waves keep on crashing
attempting to stay where the sea and land meet
fighting spirit fading, resolutions recede

Submerge in the dark, and fight to draw breath
sans strength succumbing, preparing for death
engulfed by acceptance, confronting your fate
you float to the surface; the water is great!

Outside, last day of summer
Fall's first drops falling
A breeze picks up
Raincoat, my old friend.

Crown nails and a spear
Swallowed down just like Jonah
Get out in three days
Come join the church, beckons that kindly Pope
Reverse the Reformation, it's a cope
I cannot sola fide, got no hope
I'm shelving that Calvin