it is easy to fight

it is easy to fight

just disagree

-

my knees make a mountain

my knees make a mountain
when i lay in bed and read
i look over my book sometimes

this night i see a yellow one

i've climbed many mountains

this way with my eyes 

the route up can be dangerous

from avalanches of memories

tonight it is clear at the top

from that summit i could see

all the way back into my life 

almost to the beginning

but i choose not to look 

so far back or turn my gaze

searchingly into a new vista

lit equality with light or gloom

raised up the eyes find
what they seek

the wisest discover
their heart's delight

-

but for me i find it clear

the ground is frozen
at places ice translucent
blues and greens 

as if going in mid flow

then deciding to stay 

and hold snow 

some say this is

the hardest part of the year

but for me i find it clear

all i see and be

is firm yet flowing 

glittering full of halos 

glowing sighing

lit from within almost 

yet black is even darker

starkness holds us up

presents one side or

the other both mirror like

----

A very short story

 I do not want this to be my last sentence, but it is.

*

in the/ irish hills

in the
irish hills it rained
we gathered your great grandmother's
rocking chair
small raindrops fell
even a bit on the wood  
or like on us
when you placed flowers on graves
beneath a leafless tree

by the big cross 

with nothing to anchor us

the mind begins to look everywhere

at everything 

because we are strange

yet also family here

as your grief flowed 

we drove home

saw a few flecks of 

snow by those pillars

of rock like giants 

or the people we loved

and memory grasped them

in the forests all around them

then when the grey seemed eternal

the sky lifted and showed

blue purple and yellow

then gold 

*

for deborah

the ice stayed

the ice stayed
and a small pine bough fell
scattering green and yellow needles

countless small animal tracks

crossing there with a fox following

stalking them

seen last evening late

out the back window a sleek

dusky red animal with a tail tipped with frost 

seven inches of snow

projected to fall 

*

on this day of threats and promise

on this day of threats and promise
how big is your mind? 
whatever the answer
it contains everything 

in emptiness 

look at the sky 

see how it mingles

sustains or blows

with everything 

but not touching 

we work play or worry

in plain view of the mother

or father who sustained us

with the sacred or profane

unseparated purity 

always a feast 

no matter what

+

this day frozen bright and white

this day frozen bright and white
the snow in shadows a hint of blue
as if i had never seen this before
the whole world ready for us

not everyone is nice/ nor helpful or kind

not everyone is nice
nor helpful or kind

but everyone deserves 

to be treated with kindness

we live in a hell 

of self sacrifice otherwise

and our supposed virtue

in this like chains

*

flexibility to share

flexibility to share

and feel accurately

cooperate with cross people

technically minded

and slyly knowable

bringing out the best

from bad situations

with a pinch of excitement

and everlasting love

*

you were raised

you were raised

with a marvelous mind

keep looking

fall in love 

with everything

X

i want to see everything

 i want to see everything
in myself like i see in that
beautiful moon framed by a blue
deep dark night inescapable beauty

-

there is the sky endless

there is the sky endless
then there is the writer

what separates them
is lack of feeling in the person

though no separation 
ever occurs

and the sky is this

with no thinking

gradually gathering the 

wanderer below

through display deeper

than any discursive dream

season after season

in concert with the earth

--

i saw the line of black trees

i saw the line of black trees
silhouetted 
behind them a hill of snow rising up
the bottom was in shadow 
but still brilliant 

all around being built and soon

this peaceful glade will be no more

its simplicity 

yet carried on in my memory

i drove along the mighty parkway

passing all the homes 

their yards with a soft blanket of snow

and many tracks from play and pets

shadows on the sides of them all

but still brilliant 

everything is in motion going

everything is moving and will

not stop

i look inside to the horizon

to an infinite line 

seemingly unattainable 

but then suddenly crossed

almost like going through a shadow

ever infinitely brilliant

where all beauty goes

is gathered up

and sent back

carried on in memories

we all walk the trail of recollection 

if i remember this

i can be kind and go on

eventually go nowhere

and be there still brilliant

so empty i am full

just like the sunlight on the hill

or the shadows at the base 

every house being built

trees growing minds moving

that eventually stop

with no regret and no ending

just plain clarity that doesn't mind

--

Halloween

excited vampires
confused ghosts
dancing bats

parents behind them

i hand them candy

some want two 

if they are nice

i'll give them three

there's a half moon

under the deep shadows

of the porch lights

leaves everywhere

off they go

with flashlights dancing

in the dark and later

guilty teenagers knock

reminding me

the last time i trick or

treated about 14 

with a big pillowcase

i give them the leftover

candy and say have fun

they laugh and run

to the next house

---

Exotic Specimen Portion

It wasn't my problem, and the solution was not an exotic one. We simply needed to get the appropriate specimen. We'd wire them into the cage, and extract a portion quickly, they'd barely feel a thing. 

8

a yellow leaved tree

a yellow leaved tree

between two evergreens

all about the same size

tall and slim

leaves vibrate

in a bracing wind 

& pines swaying gently

almost in unison

let my worried mind be 

with these things

thought is 

wrought

these simply 

move 

uncomplaining

as the world steers cold

even sprightly

touched by flecks of snow

---

Complete Unique Similar

The aliens that escaped the containment fields were all complete, unique, and yet similar. 

Dr. Maarten was eaten first, there was something about Mrs. Ktech that caused them to totally disregard her. 

#

Resignation Whisper Article

In resignation I stared out the small window, on that long fall day. The world was full of color, dazzling yellow leaves twirling past my view. As a renunciate, I was permitted only to whisper if someone came close enough to my square porthole. It was the only light into the tiny cell behind me, with a small table, a cot, and a large holy book. In article XXII, I was permitted to look out this window between the time of noon, until the sun touched the tower over the sanctuary. I had no idea how long I had been in here, but my hair and beard were down to my waist. 

*

Division Rebellion Preoccupation

Not being native speakers of English, my parents decided to name my little sister Division Rebellion Preoccupation. It did not matter how much I pleaded, or begged, for them to reconsider. To them, from the small place they came from, these words sounded exciting, powerful, compelling. Which happens to be my name. I sign it as "X". My parents are deeply in love, and so happy for us, even so silly, that I end up forgiving them. 

-