Joyce’sKitchen

In my neighborhood 
there’s a mother
to more than
her daughter she’s
a mother to
whomever is hungry
be they Crips
or Bloods and
in her kitchen
on Sunday evenings
they put away
their guns and
differences and eat
I think that
they then realized
as do I
that despite being
enemies on street
when in home
and specifically kitchen
we are indeed
one big family

ParisMorning

There’s this one 
song which reminds
me of you
you and me
when in Paris
on a cold
morning pulled together
just enough money
to buy just
one espresso and
one chocolate croissant
and we shared
both of them
huddled closely together
next to the
Seine and under
that one tiny
red striped awning
naming the place
but like the
song and place
I cannot remember
their names but
who and what
and where then
I’ll always remember
that soggy simple
silly Paris morning

RickD’sBDay

Today is was
my older brother’s
birthday there hasn’t
been a single
day that I
haven’t missed him
he’d have been
sixty-eight had he
been given the
chance he’s missed
so much and
I have also
death is a
part of life
but the living
often shoulder the
burden of those
taken too early
rest in peace
my dearest friend
my best brother
see you soon

News

It’s the news that 
you know is coming yet
you never wish to
hear it’s never uttered
by those involved but
shared by someone else
he’s dying I’m told
it’s a sucker punch
you think of him
first naturally but then
as the shock washes
over you you think
of yourself and remember
it’s the remembrance that
pulls the air out
like a vacuum picking
up dirt and dust
and then they come
the tears oh the
tears not because of
sadness but of joy
for then you know
that he will go
and he will remain
a part of you

NeverEverAgain (to Melvin)

I just found out that a friend of mine was dying. Our last conversation was a terrible argument that ended things.  Today I was reminded of this saying: “Never be mad because you never know when.”