BINGO lingo

July 8, 2006

when our parish has BINGO
I wonder:
how can we call birth control
unnatural

1982

Perhaps… 2

July 6, 2006

our lives
are the
hands of God
kneading Love
into the protoplasm

2005

Ask Mister Helpful

July 5, 2006

Question:

Dear Mister Helpful,

I love to eat at McDonalds because it is cool and the food is really really good. But every time I eat there I feel sick about 45 minutes later. What should I do?

Signed, Nauseous in Nashua

Answer:

Dear Nauseous,

Try eating 45 minutes earlier.

I’m lovin’ it,

Mr. H.

where then?

July 5, 2006

it may seem
as one gets older
and friends
begin to die off
and associates
begin to die off
and siblings
begin to die off
and unknown age-mates
populate the obituary

it may seem
life has become a game
of musical chairs

2004

In Walked Sid

July 3, 2006

This is a fantasy of the mind,
a song of the heart,
and a reality of the soul.
It is a true story:

IN WALKED SID

the saxophone cries harshly
where is Sid
where is Sid
where has that cat gone?

the piano starts to pound
where is Sid
where is Sid
who will play our song?

for so many years he gave anew
what he had received

never held back a single note
while through the reed he breathed

a reality to be understood
an affirmation
that life was good-

to listen not in the way we are told
but in a way that was rather, bold.

JAZZ was his religion
more than any other
saying in a million ways,
you gotta love your brother.

and as a singer never tires of song
and a bee never tires of flowers

we always dug that special man,
we were so damn glad he was ours.

So when we heard that he was gone
we went blue funk into black

as we began to realize
the cat
ain’t ever
comin’ back…

then imperceptibly at first
before we could hear
or see
a song washed onto this shore of souls
and some bop began to be

we couldn’t help but begin to smile
as the sun began to shine
and everywhere a cat could see
things started lookin’ fine…

then Sid blew out a rainbow of notes
to say everything is cool

out here we’re really cookin’ man
and Charlie Parker’s teachin’ school!

1999

breathe peace

July 3, 2006

breathe peace
into your soul
with every step

it is
the way
God is
in this world –

Spirit

2006

inspired by the writings of Tich Nhat Hanh

come dance with me

July 3, 2006

we can dance
in the meadow
of yellowbells

and pink jump julies

we can sing
amidst the lamoreux
and love me trulies

we can giggle
wiggle and pop
bouncing off each cloud

like a wild rain drop

2006

If I do not
speak up –

who will?

If I do
speak up –

how will I feed my family?

If I do not
speak up –

how will I sleep?

(in front of the tv)
(clutching a beer)

Lucy got the shoot,
Sears catalogue
maternity bras
at least it’s a job

and more exposure,
she has to smile
and wear one side
partially unzipped.

that’s all we know
at this point –
around 150 pages in.
I am so jealous…

Work Dog

July 2, 2006

My dog would love
to work
like me.
I dream
of staying home
like him.

He gets too little
car time.
I get
too little
sleeping in.

He can go to work
for me.
As well
as I,
he can labor.

While I stay inside
our
cozy home
and bark at
every neighbor.