Sonnet: Sunset of Old Sun

Admit you might have done much more with your day:
sought out that beauty bringing her to wive
along the linear line of progress strive
and clang the bell of success, thereaft array
in splendor time's remainder to convey
an echo memory of thrilling life
recall that vibrates but cannot revive
a dormant spirit old passions would betray.
So dip a foot in the water's edge and think
of days, horizons, drowning or just breathe
the air of regret, you alone until
aware that others on the shoreline spill
unhappy thoughts in hope of cosmic ease
awaiting sunset of old sun to blink.

Sonnet: Rent Control Cage

That lo! a landlord letter these walls shake
the flimsy wood the rent control cage
where in a blink the generations age
then pressure antecedent lives unmake
the piled sand upon the joy and ache
a blend judged right accorded retro sage
insight that hardly shields against the rage
the roiling real estate the money quake
as upstairs in the vacancy current
of air or footprint of a cat or ghost
the shadow doubt of who or what to come
whose onset would evoke relieved welcome
though minutes creak for those affected most
the one who sent the one awaiting rent

Sonnet: Jane Warner Plaza

Jane Warner Plaza glittered in the sun
at Market-Castro where the concrete cove's
red metal tables beckon those on the run
to stop, sit, admire that urban trove
and eat a sandwich, sip some coffee, light
another joint, or bare one, then observe
the passersby who gawk, express delight
as F-line cars rumble round the curve,
but then the city renovated the joy
a meeting spot reclaimed as thoroughfare
a skateboarder's dream absent a chair
nowhere to linger for a girl or boy.
They killed it, said a local in disgust
as litter's lifted high on a foggy gust.

June 2015

Sonnet: Breathless Hour

Comes round again the breathless hour, blindfold
and ties on worshipers of sunny light
now carnal freight through chill unconscious night
and the promises of golden dawn withhold
when crossing mortal checkpoints frightful cold
not knowing whether pass or lie in sight-
less sleep without farewells to set scores right
where memories and moments lapse untold.
But blow a breath and rub your startled eyes
the sleep not deep enough to hold in thrall
this time although in time another test
when sunset of the falling star and rest
those stretching shadows shape a stealthy pall
the fitting end before the grave surprise.

 

Sonnet: Get On Here

The Time bids "Get on", Circumstance nods "Here"
So mounted on the fragmentary floe
Whose steady movements beyond his knowledge go
Man daily strives against the mortal fear,
Meantime the journey launches his career
With heartstings of joy and weary woe
Distracting from accelerated flow
Till death pronounced climbs onto his bier,
But pitched from side to side it's not yet done
Made seasick while bound in wood on land
Awareness dawns of Time's impelling thrust
Which sounds infinities of heat and dust
Cascading mountains grind to grainy sand
Minutest manmotes puff below a sun.

Sonnet: Unmet Time

O unmet Time astray in vast beyond

Bold actuality of breath and blood

The cold ideal stillborn in the pond

Of dreams whose frozen aspect hoards the flood,

As nears the date so real my wish but lost

In broken earth and bridge, in labor fight

Unscented aromatic bloom at cost

To vagabond on pause before his flight,

Through visions in the night and daylong dream

I see you young and surging yet again

Approach our meeting with your passions keen

And close to touch ---- again in vain,

Eternal separation fashions view

Tormenting hope of ever loving you.

Sonnet: Buyer Gratification

Not three days gone since making my decision
for Barnes and Noble's Nook HD the plus
I sit awaiting buyer gratification
now crossing country in truck train or bus,
For five and change it could have been a jet
and playing now or had delivery
same day if in Manhattan yet
still pick up at the B & N near me,
But San Francisco doesn't host a store
so layaway the frantic buy-and-fetch
impulses: anticipation from my door
to Edison New Jersey an awful stretch,
And in that interval ---- should I die
those store-wrought energies arise and sigh.