poem twenty-nine

has it already been half a year?
it doesn't seem like it at all

i can still remember frantically packing
the first night before i left
not knowing what would be in store
nor just what to expect

rising to the sound of the five o'clock alarm
drifting in and out of sleep
as the cornfields passed me by
farm after farm after farm after farm...

after farm after farm after farm after farm...

and before i knew it, i was alone
and before i knew it, i was in a crowd
and before i knew it, i was home

theater meetings
awkward greetings
more numbers in my phone

talking about nothing
and suddenly everything
while standing on the edge of star fountain

movies on the mall
lost in jordan hall
80s prom
pantless tom

it's four in the morning,
and so, goodnight

being lost in the city
rickety pizza vans
"this looks legit..."
i suppose?

"whatever you do, don't look"
"to hell with this calc book!"
"did you just throw a book out of your window?"
"yes. well, no. well, yes..."

a moon so bright
not too shabby a sight
as stars fell on indiana that night...

has it already been half a year?
it doesn't seem like it at all
as i run late and cut through jordan hall

poem twenty-nine

a beginner's mind

i close my eyes
and defamiliarize
lose my thoughts
as to unlearn

approach the world
without preconception
and see it like this
for just what it is

lack an understanding
of surroundings
so as to perceive
what has been in front of me
all along

a touch
a talk
a moonlit walk

unlearn to understand
live deliberately
and love

poem twenty-eight

To the Moon

Glowing white
In the starry night
Lingering high above

Watching life below
In luminous glow
Whiter than any dove

When I’m getting dressed
Or over-stressed
It’s there, and then I think of:

“What do you want?
You want the moon?
Just say the word,
And I’ll throw a lasso around it
And pull it down.”

“Fly me to the moon,
Let me play among the stars.”

“Moonlight becomes you
It goes with your hair…”

And it goes on to glow white
Against the starry night
Illuminating the above

poem twenty-seven

Leaving Chicago
It’s a lot like leaving home

At least it was

The snow
Chilling me to the bone
As I get on the bus alone

The snow-covered rooftops of suburbia pass me by

City lights
Father’s rights
The businessman
The bum

I leave it behind
Only to find

More snow
Chilling me to the bone
As I get off the bus alone

City lights
Father’s rights
The businessman
The bum

Faces I recognize
That’s where my heart lies

And the funny thing about it is I’m home
But what I call home isn’t home
Not actually

I wander to wonder
And vice versa

If home is where you hang your hat
Then I suppose I’m hatless

But, honestly, what do I care?
I’ve always liked the wind in my hair.

poem twenty-six

i borrow the car
drive too fast
too far
but i can't give it a second thought

if only i could forget
the pain
the regret

until i'm on the edge of the lake's shore
and can drive no more

as i linger near the water
and remember the last time
i've managed to sneak away from reality

it's gotten colder
i've gotten older

i toy with the sand
ice cold in my hand

and i realize how empty the place is
and that i shouldn't be out at a time like this

but who am i to be rational?

as i wonder alone
i toss in a stone
and can't help but grin at the splash

i kick off my shoes
there's no time to lose
and into the water i dash

it's icy, it's free
it's been waiting for me
as the waves further on slowly crash

making me wonder what lies further on...

i put on my socks
while i sit on the rocks
and stare at the stars and imagine

from daffodils, a happy home,
to sonnets, or a day in rome
or what color my hair is at this exact moment

until, hesitantly, i know it's time to go

i don't think an officer of the law
would look too kindly upon a reckless dreamer

but i can't help but imagine.

poem twenty-five [adapted]

in my heart
there's only room
for love divine
i've seen orchids
try to bloom
like love divine

golden hair
and an angel face
spring for me
is in his embrace
what a glow
to know that he is mine
how divine

beautiful to look at
are my lover's eyes
bright as stars
when only two
are in the skies

when there's lover
there's melody
while there's lover
there's love for me
and the sun will shine
love divine

poem twenty-four

we say goodbye at the darkened doorway
and i can hear voilins start to play
a melody, sweet
rhapsody, discreet
as the moon lingers on

and everytime that you leave
you tug at my sleeve
and wish there were more hours in a day

as i lovingly stare
snowflakes collect on your hair
and i wish all the more that you'd stay

but this love of mine
can weather the storm
since i know i've you
to keep me warm