Like the Sphinx Igor lies regally With eyes closed off To the world. He finds his zen

Last night remains a scent Remembered at slow length— Drawn from the air, lingering abou… A secret kept under my breath. The union of your soft lips

On Havana’s white shore – With each salt-infused whirl That agitates its border— Every sand is a potential pearl.

My spirit cannot be bridled For it is as wild as fire— As innocent as a child And in secrecy, has desires. My body cannot contain it—

Bless each palo verde bloom— Those cuplets kissed by the sun My vision wants to consume That thus have raptured my love. See how they speckle the tree

Good morning, fair cardinal— How are you? How are your children? Your plumage is nearly outdone By the sun’s golden hue.

Music starts my little church And bids us goers “come forward” - Timid and cleansing at first - Bringing voices to one accord Then Chris’s voice waxing loud

A swirl of amaretto Revolves in my coffee - Like a galaxy - Shimmering and slow. Dawn is utterly quiet;

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—

Forgive me, young dandelion. I did not feign disinterest. My mind has running thoughts That stole my attention. You only meant to be a friend.

Among hills Apache red Where damas and vaqueros Built up a homestead Past the mercados And hills with a vague past

Happy eyes need not the sun For they, like yours, have a light… A cutting light the demons shun That confesses to a kind, ageless… Brown upon brown, they draw me in;

How capricious it is To follow the tail of a comet And skip across Saturn’s rings - To wade in endless streams - Cloaked in ether’s blanket

Old age doesn’t exist for all Because many claim its presence; I submit that living goes on Through many-hued firmaments. A shade of love lives here

Like gold of Havilah God is true and straight. I can exhort Adonai For his tender heart. Be it ambivalence