Forbidden

The forbidden City
is forbidden no more
soon to be the scene
of the world's elite.

So they paint the chipped walls gray
and brick in the alleyways
and post the army
to keep out those without tickets.

Mongolians

The great wall
snaking like a dragon
filled with the bones
of those who built it.

To keep out the Mongolians
the sign said.

So why is this Mongolian farmer
following
trying to sell me some chopsticks?

Beijing

A sleeper to Beijing
a cabin filled with smoke
the country moves beneath us
like an earthen treadmill
I wake in the forbidden city.

Shanghai

Shanghai
the people buzzing
like a million flies
on scooters
in cars
on feet
People weren't designed for cities.

Paper Dragon

The Paper Dragon
slumbers in a billion paper hearts
bound by chains
she first struggled against her iron bands
until they cut deep
and she slept.

The dragon awakes.

Twin Bridge

The wind
of a thousand years
blows through cobblestone

Young feet
chase young feet
over and over again.

When is this place
under the Twin Bridge?

it doesn't matter.

Hi-Five

I have to smile
I'm a bit frozen otherwise
yeah, you'll work for now
but beyond that?
I don't know
nothing personal
I'm going to bed.

Pirate IV

Oh the pirate's life
isn't so bad.

Yeah there's the scurvy
and getting stabbed
the hardtack, lice, and mice
sun blisters, and the boo box.

But nobody will tell me to put the seat down.

ARRRR!

(Sorry about the bathroom humor, I couldn't resist the pic. It's a toilet snorkel in case your house catches fire and the only air you can breath is subterranean)

Paint Me

Paint me the colors
you dare not paint
the ones that never see pallet
but stay in the box.

Paint me the colors
that others don't see
because they have grown old
and no longer play.

Paint me the colors
that will never fade
because they do not only reflect
but glow.

Paint me.

China Roads

I'll be in China soon
my feet winding ancient paths
carved into mountain
brick
and earth.

And as I walk
I'll think of you
and other paths
we once raced.

Pirate III

I have heard many reasons
that Captain
wears a patch
across his eye.

Some have said
that it's so evil
that if left uncovered
the sea would boil
like a pot of piranhas.

Other's say he lost it gambling
and is bent on revenge
to the three-eyed rouge
who still wears it.

But the truth is
his Ophthalmologist
told him to cover up
his good eye
to let his weak one
straighten out.

Pirate II

It sure is rough
being the quartermaster
for a man
who Arrrs and avasts.

He can be difficult to understand.

So that is why
Captain
has a ferret on his shoulder
and I am about
to do a dance across the keel.

I hope you have better luck than I!

Pirate I

I wonder
if deep down
the pirate is self-conscious
of his wooden leg
and smelly beard.

And when he calls me
a land lubber
before he pushes me down
the wooden cliff
to be kissed
by hungry sharks
he really just wanted
me to accept him
for who he was.

Brace for Impact!

There are six people
in our family
and all six were asleep
as we barreled down the median
in our 89' Chevy Suburban.

I imagine Mother was first to awake
and of all the things
she thought to say
"Brace for impact"
was what we heard.

I was asleep on the floorboards
and had nothing to brace against.

There are six people in our family
and all stayed awake
as Mom drove us home.

Abraham's Accident

I remember
when you broke
Abraham's neck.

You cradled him
and wept.

Don't worry
that's what luthier are for
and he still plays fine!

Aloha Track

Aloha Oregon
we walked around the track
closer than friends.

"Is that your girl?"
a schoolmate asked.

We looked at each other
and laughed.
"No, she's my sister"
then we bought nachos.

Smile

When you were strained
tighter than the E
on your violin
that you knew better than your own laugh
you wrote a paper
for a class project.

Years later
I read it
-sorry for the invasion-
and in it
you said you had a brother
that made you smile.

Well I'm here
and I will do it again.

Immortality

A million men
and a million ways
to live for ever.

Recycled
Remembered
Regretted
Reborn

Some tell themselves
and move on
others-
obsess
and forget to live.

I Will Fail

I have lost sleep
alone on my couch
tottering between awake
and asleep.

I will fail.

It is absolute
with no argument
it is truth.

But when I wake up
Everything seems better.

Palouse Falls

I met a German
Canadian
today on a trail
I thought a bit rough
and steep.

Not him-
He was seventy-five
and used to climb mountains
with sisal rope
and piton hammers.

Experience makes many things relative.

Canker

Let it go friend
the canker will consume you.
I know I am young
and you are not.
The naivety
of inexperience
is my balm
and my strength.

Trust me
let it go.

It's hard for me too.

Dr. Minor

Professor Murray:
Dr. Minor!
This must be you,
in your leather throne
and palatial estate.
I want to thank you
for helping us write our dictionary.

The man in the chair:
Err...I am not your doctor
but the warden-
welcome to Broadmoor
He is quite insane
and killed a man
-that wasn't Irish-
but you're welcome to visit!

(Click on the title for more information)

The Desert of Sinai

Send me to the desert
I am a rebellious child
My clothes won't rot
I'll be fed every day
I will spend my time
wandering
through arid sunsets
and craggy, windswept wild.

The wind will blow into my ears
Your promises
curses
and secrets.

Was this supposed to be a punishment?

Destiny

I do not believe
that each of us has a path
mapped in a cosmic GPS
where we need to wait
for a pleasant recording to say
Turn right, 300 yards ahead.

But that we are the captains
of our soul.

We make our own way.

Jumper

I wonder what he dreams
as he falls
does he replay the wickedness?
Sadness?
Regret?
or Happiness?
Does he enjoy the thrill?
Or is he filled with terror?

Unfortunately there is only one way to find out.

McDonald's

When I don't feel like cooking
and get hungry
I go to McDonald's
and order a bacon cheeseburger
and a McChicken.

And as I eat the pillowy bread
spongy meat
and bite into the little cubes of onion
I feel guilty.

Late

Sorry team
I was five minutes late
all will be ok
don't freak out.

Green

A little photon
with a billion friends
pushes an electron up a ladder.

Then the electron falls
like a hot potato
passed from enzyme
to enzyme
Making the legos of life.