to my late wife (8 yrs today)

4 by 3

we lay together on the lawn

and watched the northern lights

you said they looked like dancers

swirling around in gossamer gowns

i disagreed

i said they looked like neon curtains

rippling and ruffling in the cosmic wind

 

we swung together on the porch

and discussed our future plans

you said we should put money

away for our golden years

i disagreed

i said we probably should spend

it before somebody else does

 

we waded together at the beach

and gazed out over the water

you said there must be a god

being the good, trusting one

i disagreed

i quoted hemingway, i think

being the know-it-all ass

 

now, i’m sitting here alone

under a beautiful full moon

and i’m thinking that if you

were here, you’d tell me it’s

made out of green cheese

and i’d agree

i would so agree

 

withdrawal

resized withdrawal

what was i thinking

i went back to drinking

and now i lay stinking

at home in my bed

tossing and turning

my stomach is churning

my fever is burning

i wish i was dead

been here for three days

as everyone prays

that i’ll change my ways

i really do too

there’s just nothing worse

than the alcohol curse

and i hope that this verse

is a warning to you

just breathe

river2

i close my eyes

to meditate

and i breathe…

just breathe

 

i’m floating

on a winding

lazy river

in a wooded

valley of

timelessness

 

and i breathe…

just breathe

 

occasionally i

catch a glimpse

of myself up

around a bend

i think to wave

but we both

know there is

peace of mind

to be had here

so we breathe…

just breathe