MiseryClouds

The clouds today 
are like tufting
laid out lengthwise
on a table
one after another
like the corpses
of fallen warriors
on and on
as far as
the eye sees
this morning’s clouds
herald a misery
not only seen
but silently felt
for anyone knowing
them this way

Pain

On this 
my journey
I’m present
to pain
of others
but not
from reality
I’ve noticed
that their
pain comes
mostly from
their avoidance
of it

Pension

Most of my friends 
now live far away
except for the one
for whom I moved
closer to be near
he him that one
has known me since
college and I like
a pension is his
to keep to spend
and to enjoy throughout
the rest of his
and my life he
and I being both
besties and our retirement

JustOneMoreLog

I have loved 
and been loved
so many times
in my life
that I feel
like an embarrassment
of riches and
that when I’m
asked why I
don’t want another
I often say
why chuck another
log onto an
already tall fire
I’d rather you
take the log
yourself and build
your own fire
attracting those who
want to be
warmed by it
I’d rather stay
cold for awhile