splash

i'm watching the rain
dancing silver flashes
under an unrelenting slate sky
while the asphalt reflects
and cars splash by
like a symphony of water
the larger puddles host bursts
quick ripples of wet on wet
the noise lost to most
streams begin to form and flow
slowly into hungry storm sewers
streetlights burst to life
though the night is far off
a world lost in distraction
i pull my coast closer
wonder at the musical
peaceful roar ignored
yet beautiful nonetheless

hunger

my constant companion
sometimes near or not
speaking loudly or still
like arms wrapped tight
around my waist it's here
regardless of my moves
it pokes me and prods me
never letting me forget
that i'm neglectful
i know what could stop it
but i resist in hope
so much more waits
could i but push through
see
filling comes in many ways
i want to feast on life
more abundantly
find the fullness
that never ends
until someday this thing
stays here while i depart
and i eat food i do not know
hasta siempre

caffeine withdrawal

first i thought it wasn't so bad
the fingers of pain behind my eyes
then it spread to the rest of my head
as if a boa constrictor formed a turban
massaging the temples i prayer for release
sat warming my pain by the heat
until suddenly the escalation
came without warning in nauseous waves
over and over until i was sure i.
that's it just i and the end
for a few moments before it broke
i knew i would lose it and hurl
but body and soul are still together
may this discipline alight my spirit
it's drastic enough to do so
when all else fails take away
the crutches the habits
the noisy little foxes
make way with palm branches
though my head still throbs
i'm clinging to hope
and tomorrow's promise of less

when's day

the rain forecast
came like a mouse
timid and small and rarely seen
i read again
some words of hope
basked in a sudden sunbeam
my quiet eve
is filled with talk
friends near and far who called
i brushed the edge
of winter past
long filled with things recalled
my creaky bones
a silver hair
belie my youthful heart
yet all i see
beyond the vale
speaks joy now to impart
when dusk begins
i hear a song
beyond the shadows growing
as if a voice
strong yet still
told of a love worth knowing
i tremble like
a reed that bends
to wind's caressing force
the dance so fierce
the move so strong
a rushing river's course
could i but learn
to match the curve
to find the way to living
would i then be
one newly born
forever one forgiving