She raises her head
and parts her silky lips to
receive the sky’s kiss

There have been 5,600 years of written history and 14,600 wars have been recorded.

-James Hillman

I can see from the sparkle in your eye,
from the way you sidle up to me
that you’re looking for a new conquest
and I’m on the radar screen.

You’re on the prowl, so very virile,
lost youth hidden in your coy smile.
Hints drop from your lips like pebbles in a pond,
making waves that echo empty promises.

Dreaming of the trophy you’ll bring home,
you cast your line baited with innuendos
and wait for the slightest tug to reel me in,
to eviscerate me, stuff me, and set me glassy-eyed
over your mantel to collect dust.

I draw so near to you it hurts
(My hair tickles your cheek and
my perfume makes you dizzy)
then blow the words like bursting bubbles
into your eager ear
“Prove it”
before walking away.

Happy Birthday to
creative inspiration
held in One Deep Breath

“What you need is sustained outrage…There’s far too much unthinking respect given to authority.”

- Molly Ivins

hidden underfoot
a hundred-mile labyrinth
home sweet home to ants

*****

Of wax, bees fashion
a structural masterpiece
brimming with sweetness

*****

a tower of cards
balancing on hope—one breath
and they all fall down

“Je ne comprends pas pourquoi vous refusez de croire en Dieu, car il est impossible de croire aux hommes.”

-Balzac, La Duchesse de Langlais

The goddess’ fingers caress the mountains,
melting glaciers with a touch.

Drops trickle down her bare body
and mix brackish on her sea-soaked toes.

Her bosom swells to feed her children
rice and spices and unfettered hope.

She chases away tears and thirst
with her outstretched arms and an embrace.

She cleanses bodies and souls, cures disease,
forgives sins, paves the way to Heaven.

Just another mother doing her job.