I live a life 
of certainty having too
often gambled on maybes
maybes might be thrilling 
for some maybes might 
bring their juicy excitement 
but maybes are by
their very nature maybe 
this and that and 
when what where maybes 
enjoy being maybes they
are slick and slippery 
they frequently trash and 
rarely treasure they come 
and go with little care
regard or caution maybes
cousins might kinda and
sorta come along too
all of them just 
carnival barkers hawkers and 
convincing snake oil salesmen 
give me certainty I 
can build on certainty 
I can erect things 
on certainty whereas on
maybes oh never mind 
how can anyone build 
anything upon a breeze

I’m torn 
a letter 
in two 
the first 
part praise 
the second 
a series 
of whynot’s 
some days 
I read
the top
while others 
with frequency 
I read 
the bottom 
I should 
throw out 
one or 
the other 
I know 
but both
are different 
sides of 
the same 
fallen leaf

To wish to be 
or even to have 
that or maybe those 
or who’s and whose 
is an interesting idea 
it always seems better 
be it food home 
career body or spouse 
something be it situation 
or life or style 
always appears more alluring 
or attractive and definitely 
appealing why then do 
we even ever settle 
for anything frequently less
if we know that 
having more is better 
perhaps it is easier 
to covet than it
is to fail for 
failure means never getting 
at least this time 

Being apart causes
ache for me 
like the cold 
that settles deep 
inside of bones 
unable to locate
its precise location 
where to apply 
a warm towel 
a hot shower 
hardly ever helps 
like your letters
that do comfort 
but once read
that gnawing chill
returns like the 
frosty winds of 
November reminds me 
that summer’s gone 

Lips two curtains 
hiding the window 
of your smile 
they part frequently 
when around me 
either to laugh
or tell secrets 
or express passions 
unlike your eyes 
which divulge everything 
with a glance 
your lips hesitate 
they pause think
cautiously and carefully 
before they continue 
they often conceal 
and when closer
open like shells 
and let out
sighs like the 
delicate humid winds
of seaside hamlets 
moist slightly salty
and always warm