Lightning

From my bedroom window 
I can see lightning
flash above the mountains
like the paparazzi cordoned
off from the celebrities
hoping to catch a
glimpse of their chagrin
having been caught unaware
popping off like proud
parents at bad concerts
and embarrassing bat/bar mitzvahs
the dance of lights
like winks across a
room of strangers sent
by one received by
another some land quietly
while others strike and
ignite interest and passion
a brush fire moving
from eye to stomach
to loin causing flush
and dreams of desire

BeforeDoJustDon’t (for Raphael)

I have learned in
my life that one
must be happy with
oneself and find oneself
attractive and love oneself
unconditionally before they can
even attempt to find
someone else the same
way coveting what another
has be it beauty
things or even love
simply reminds you of
that which is missing
within yourself sure at
first it’s exciting but
as heat does to
milk so does envy
do to your attraction

Cigars

And so uncle Manny
smoked cigars and whenever
at the age of
three we visited their
home in Port Washington
I remember opening the
door and being struck
by that manly associated
aroma followed by my
Aunt Jeanette’s arms and
Tippy’s cold wet nose
Cigars then became to
me and continue to
do the odor of
family and love and
of support for while
my own family life
was abysmal filled with
hate bigotry and ignorance
there in Port Washington
and with the cigars
came love and affection

ItUs

And it’s funny when 
I think about us
I don’t think about
it it just happened
and continues to happen
and when it happens
enough then that it
becomes us an expression
of us the meaning
of us so it
is what we desired
and us is what
we intimately eventually came

Wellspring

And there are some 
which carry me away
from even you farther
away than even you
can find me though
by now you’ve learned
that I must go
but I’ll be back
I always come back
and I never go
any farther away from
you that I lose
my way for although
forward is an adventure
back is my wellspring
upon which I drink