Poems

God’s Acre ’NEATH the spiring of spruces Above the blue sea, Lo, a field of white crosses, A garden of grief! —And a riot of roses, […]

On the Just and the Unjust OUTCAST, a horror to his kind, At night he to the forest fled. There, the birch-bark made fire for him, […]

The ‘Mary Ross’ ‘What was the hardest hour’, you ask, ‘Ever I had at sea?’ There was that in the wreck of the Mary Ross Is […]

The Greatest Gift IF of us two might only one be glad, Pain I’d pursue, and struggle to be sad. If of us two one only […]

The Old Place SO the last day’s come at last, the close of my fifteen year— The end of the hope, an’ the struggles, an’ messes […]

Bukowski Poem I started writing this poem where Pamela and I are sitting in a bar in Santa Monica and she shows me some of her […]

Handcuffs: With my wrists locked in front of me, no matter what I’m doing, it always looks like I am deep in prayer. Thank you, God, […]

Slave Sonnet #1 I’ve been a shit and I hate fucking you now because I love fucking you too much; what good’s the head of my […]

Slave Sonnet #10 The name stamped onto the lock says, “Master.” But the keys are yours, Mistress. My body, wrapped in this neat little package, is […]

Slave Sonnet #7 I’m an instrument. I’m a clarinet. Maestro, I’m an oboe if you say so. An animal if music’s not enough. Dog on command, […]