half is here the other half/ is somewhere else

half is here the other half
is somewhere else

isn't that they way things go

though you always figured  

we'd be full 

but time cuts us in half

days cut more slices 

i tally the score

it halves the half

and sometimes more  

but on the other hand

my brain is full

stuffed through busting

at the seams 

i should let it

all hang out 

fill all my fictional halfs

and imagined strain

-----

the ocean is the color of green stone

the ocean is the color of green stone

with some birds crying as they fly

i watch deborah enter the water
duck under a series of waves 

she swims alongside vigorous 

bull kelp with strands 

bigger than your arm 

the bulbs of the kelp bob

so does she 

when she comes out

and is shaking the water

from her arms and legs 

a bystander says

"that was well timed!"

this beautifully deceptive day

 

currents give and take 

a water can drag you down 

my darling puts herself out there

every time she goes

------

Portuguese beach, Mendocino

the statue of buddha falls

statue of buddha falls

head breaks off 

rolls under the bed

what a beautiful day 

----

12.18.25

thursday before christmas

thursday before christmas
a murder of crows circle  

cawing loudly flying up 

flying down but not landing 

i watch them from

the kitchen window 

it reminds me of 

this plastic skull i have

almost life sized with 

lights inside it 

the skull is black and 

sinister 

the lights glow gently

change colors slowly 

deep blue purple orange

yellow blue green 

burning in the depths

i always wanted to show

this skull of mine to a

dear friend 

i think he would have

liked it 

he would have understood

i keep it on my desk

i think of my friend 

the crows have gone 

------

For Jack W