We neither
feel nor hear
the wind;
we remain
dry afar
from rain;
we safely
sit and wait
on board
as the storm
its fury
expends
on New York
where journey
will end.
8 September 2012
Midway Gate B-3
Southwest 1945
Category Archives: Poem
Held at Midway
The herder
Ideas swirl through his mind,
thoughts career,
snippets of conversations,
fragments of emails,
shadows of intentions,
vaguely misremembered promises,
each representing
a task,
a responsibility,
something to do.
As though propelled by
some force unseen
they crash, collide,
then fly away to disappear
leaving chaos in their wake,
increasing anxiety,
provoking paralysis.
He struggles to slow their frenzy
that he might pluck them
one by one from the maelström to
name them,
ponder them,
weigh them,
value them,
in order that he might strip them
of their power to intimidate
and herd them into
some coherent, prioritized order
upon which he will act.
21 August 2012
DL 1817
ATL – DEN
Doing, working, being
“What do you do?”
came the question.
“What do you do?”
Answer after answer named
where we worked –
not what our work involved –
nor what we do when we work –
simply the name of our office
perhaps our title.
“What do you do?”
The words that we said
left others unknowing,
uniformed, unaware.
The words that we said
left me wondering:
does the question,
do the responses
address who we are?
16 August 2012
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Poem
What we need to know
Truth breaks in,
when friends say
what we already know,
what we do not want to know,
what we need to know.
In such moments,
may there be grace to hear,
wisdom to understand,
courage to change, and
strength to grow.
15 October 2011
Shire on the Hudson
Flying Marvels
Massive metal
technological wonder
mechanical behemoth
gleaming red and orange and white
pulls into the gate
spews forth passengers and cargo
sits patiently
waits to consume more.
Tiny flesh and
bone and
feathers
dusky brown and grey
flits across the gate,
lands in the rafters,
sits
surveys
sings
and flies to who knows where.
28 March 2010
MIA, Gate J11
Sunset
Behind gray green mountains
burns a brilliant golden pool;
light sabers stab the sky
then fade to wisps of brown
as day ends.
Summer 2001
West of Albuquerque
How much pain
I cannot imagine the pain
I witness from a distance
I have no first-hand experience
And yet,
as I hear the news from
Milwaukee
Aleppo
the Nuba Mountains
Aurora
Rutshuru
Damaturu
As I know
that violence
random
planned
systemic
structural
violence
harms
my sisters and brothers
nearby and far away
My heart breaks – anew – tonight
my heart breaks – again – tonight
my heart breaks – still – tonight
And I wonder
how much pain
can the hearts of
individuals and communities
ripped by violence
endure
5 August 2012
Shire on the Hudson
Manhattan
Filed under Current Events, Poem
Unsheltered
The lightning’s reflection
danced across the East River
as I looked from my office window.
Shadows, caused by lightning,
played across the uptown skyline
as I departed the 1 Train.
I smiled at the sky-show’s beauty
until I remembered
those whose work takes
them into the elements;
those with no home, no place, no shelter:
sisters and brothers
who ride out the storm
unsheltered.
26 July 2012
Shire on the Hudson
Manhattan
Silent witness
Faced with horror
beyond my reckoning,
yet possible within
the imagination and execution
of others, I stand
silent.
Easy words and quick answers
do not pass my lips;
no facile explanations offered;
yet never do I turn
away.
With battered heart and tear-filled eyes,
with bruised soul and deep sighs,
I watch and listen
as I grieve and ache – I bear
witness.
22 July 2012
DL 1776
MCO – LGA
Filed under Current Events, Poem, Travel
In memory, E.L.W.
I remember courage.
I remember faith.
I remember wisdom.
I remember grace.
I remember sorrow.
I remember tears.
I remember grieving.
I remember fears.
I remember laughter.
I remember song.
I remember welcome.
I remember joy.
I remember hard work.
I remember toil.
I remember changes.
I remember pain.
I remember caring.
I remember hope.
I remember sharing.
I remember love.
I remember you, my friend.
Thank God,
I remember you.
22 July 2012
DL 1776
MCO – LGA
Along the Graybeard Trail 