Black Birds of Autumn

Autumn's crows have fallen out

Solemnly resting on branches barren

Silhouetted in the blushing dawn

Warming their damp feathers

Brooding, chanting their awkward song

In funeral attire, they gawk and morn

The end of Summers sweet berries

Big fat bugs 

Bombing windshields

Pranking the squirrels

Backs to the wind 

They sit and sulk

Reminiscing on gentle showers

Stealing cookies from drowsy babies

Scintillating flowers

Dark sentinels though they be

No admiration do they seek

They only party with their clique

Sharing a joke now and then

That always ends in loud guffaws

Acquiescence

'Acquiescence'

Bring me vellum and charcoal bold
  Then lay awhile in tepid light
Humming and winking
  Fresh and naked as a newborn foal

There used to be music
  Fall and winter spring and summer
Comes now the doors rusty report
  With landlord's cheeky process server

Bring me parchment and indigo ink
  Then clear the table, strewn in waste
No checks will there be drawn
 On this counter of buckets singing with rain

There used to be words
  Cherished and clever
Before this rasping hollow 
  Conch shell echo of airwaves absurd

Bring me wine and honey pears
  But stay a while
Making love on slightly clean sheets
 Knowing the master has left in despair

Hold long the dog-eared page
  The remnant pencil with bitten point
Passages of heroism that no longer cleanse
  You and I in this failing light

Bring me the linen and fine silk thread
  Await to step in the crimson gown
Tunes on the radio acclaim your face 
  Hand in hand with the dystopian dead

Playground Polka

^{There had been}

^{No explanation}

^{Only incredulity}

^{Naturally I reacted}

^{Shoved that flaccid excuse}

^{Right back at her cold hard indolence
I stood in the door}

^{There was no finely polished floor}

^{For her to drop her proud ass on now}

^{Kicking her protestations}

^{Like the spoiled brat}

^{What now! I said}

^{But the silence went on}

^{A vacuous adagio of wind pipes}

^{Her weeping}

^{Could not have been sweeter}

^{So here she will play}

^{Grinding it out}

^{On that lysoled expanse}

^{Her own concrete}

^Playground

^{There it was}

^{Like a sail on the horizon}

^{Getting smaller}

^{Us, it, everything}

^{The door opened and closed}

^{With a loud metallic clang}

^{Let the dancing begin}