I Met Myself Today

I met myself today
a young girl
running fast and fleet
along our path
eager seeker
certain of her course
toward impending adventure

I wished to borrow her spirit
albeit briefly
to ride the thrill once more
of unadulterated play
at full speed
with no limits
imposed by others

I felt renewed
reminded of livelier days
exploring
chasing the sun
living close to the moment
truly in synchrony
with my soul.

Grammar Games

He, she and I
now English waifs

casual discards
in grammar games

easy forfeits
without enforcers

me, him and her
ubiquitous winners.

Quiet

When the conduit for sound empties
quiet is

hospitable
embracing presence

invites connection
portal to something

reaching
beyond corporeal

to completeness
amen.

Fall Foliage #2

Sun-drenched, seasonal days
alternating with lesser light

casting off late summer’s green
for technicolor makeover

filling up forest spaces
scarlet reds, orange, yellow

alchemizing northern woods
every other leaf turned golden

amassing autumnal riches
to appease the winter gods.

Summer Gossip

Katy can, Katy can’t
Katy does, Katy doesn’t
Katy will, Katy won’t

Katy was, Katy wasn’t
Katy would, Katy wouldn’t
Katy could, Katy couldn’t

Katy shall, Katy shan’t
Katy should, Katy shouldn’t
Katy did, Katy did, Katy did.

Meditation

If this is my last day
I am content
sitting outside in weathered chair
a spectator among wondrous gardens
colored with pastels and neon flourishes
zinnias, cosmos, phlox, cleome
and one leftover pansy

if this is my last day
the reds are particularly red
the greens rich and deep
the blue empyreal true
the air hums its late summer tunes
a single lemon lily among exhausted blooms
invites my undivided attention

if this is my last day
I want to hitch a ride upon a bee’s wing
to see beyond the impenetrable edge
to hear the cosmic carillon
to touch dark, enchanted matter
to find another planetary rock
circling an above-average star

if this is not my last day
I am content.

Weekend with Edith

Act One
Date: 1905
Characters: Lily and Lawrence

Lily, beautiful Lily
first to arrive
festooned in full dress

gallant Lawrence
bachelor on call
for weekend parties

pawns and playthings of local gods

measured glances
fill her face
keen for admirers

resides at fringes
of snobbish scenes
with bemusement

ancients, moderns with same stories

cultivated for grace
ornamental task
lightly anchored

observer status
omniscient
except for self

assigned to hierarchic roles

inchoate hunger
feelings suppressed
playing charades

moments of passion
in Lily’s presence
without touching

scripted for restricted choices

his probing words
briefly ignite
nascent desire

her vacuity
his insecurity
neutralize love

no trespassing on tribal rules

shed by her caste
helpless to rebuff
society’s customs

social outlier
unable to muster
against the grain

human sacrifices required.

Act Two
Time: 1913
Characters: Undine, Ralph, and Elmer

A blurred flourish
ego precedes
then Undine

ineffectual Ralph
living fossil
clearly labeled

brash, eager Elmer
bender of rules
nothing to lose

parvenus astride gift horses

eye-catching
eye-arresting
upstart beauty

listless, pale
bluish tinged
half-blooded

no pedigree
just wits and charm
in fact sufficient

in anti-deterministic plots

magnetic face
snapping male eyes
to attention

highly evolved
niche too narrow
almost invisible

rich, garish color
of his new money
easily blends

up for sale at social auction

good for half hour
perhaps bit longer
of banal chatter

mismatched husband
from Washington Square
with Miss Midwest

nouveau collector
of antique wealth
for social ascent

repopulating haut monde stage

always looking
for next best bet
no interest in love

her nuptial fix
for several years
until another

mephistophelean
with clever schemes
to win Undine’s favor

inauguration of self-made epoch

covetously wanting
more and more
just for herself

honor besmirched
with loss of son
no raison d’etre

catalyst for greed
modern financier
with swindling risks

Ego and Mammon triumphant.

Act Three
Time: 1920
Characters: May, Ellen, and Newland

May in motion
classical style
old New York assets

cousin Ellen
estranged countess
on drawing-room stage

dependable Newland
analytic yet
keeps the covenant

clash of primal needs and wishes

performs her role
with perfection
bowing to all

no naïve maiden
light years ahead
of familial kin

loyal son, friend
brother, lawyer
colleague, relation

trapped inside society’s cage

sees clearly
within her sphere
what must happen

ignores own heart
wanting solace
comfort and safety

flies near flame
of Ellen’s face
but unrequited

nurture of self or chosen others

happy with choices
unbeset
by social strictures

confidently stepping
upon convention
her beauty prevails

erstwhile dilettante
in arts and theater
no bohemian he

attracted to exclusive options

marries well
quite content
with one-sided love

without illusions
charms well honed
for survival

trapped by duty
accepts his fate
cannot escape

in pursuit of Socratic virtue

knows her feelings
acts without malice
noblest of lot

explores the heart
arts, metaphysics
in Parisian salons

lives with regrets
thwarted romantic
coupled with sweet May

well tempered with existential truths.