He is a young man But his life has been destroyed by drugs He looks so lost, tender and confused The short high from the drug is not worth it, because it gives you a short life in the end.

Moonlit walks across the horizon,
I pray my knees don’t give in.
I’m trying.

Send me a flare because I feel like I’m dying.

For old times’ sake,
won’t you come and find me.

Burnt Offering



You tear meat from bone with carmine lips,

Pour the thick red wine down your pulsing throat

(a misdirected drop follows my gaze between your breasts),

offer me the rest as the fire bellows.


Your gown, your hair,

your limpid eyes:

lust lies like a hungry tiger between us.

Its tail flicks

and an argent candlestick clatters across the room.


A crow breaks from cover -- your chandelier is reeling;

the swinging crystals, sky diamonds, burn to ashes as

you glare at me,

Dragons keep your sheep well-exercised.

Dragons keep beer flowing,
conversations lively,
and peasants paying taxes.

Dragons breathe fire--
ferocious flaming fireballs of fire
that flambé foolish fellows.

Dragons are reluctant to tell you
where they have hidden their treasure.

If they have any treasure in the first place.

Which most of us don't,
because the biggest dragons take it all.

And you really don't want to bother _them_,
because those dragons are as old as they are big,
and they'll talk until your scales drop off.

hotel honeymoon suite
unfolding the towel swans

(First published in The Asahi Shimbun, Asahi Haikuist Network, 30 June 2017, and included in old song: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 2017.)

Can’t you see the scars on her face?
Created and caused by their brutal grace
Scarlet red as the eye can see
But her parents just stand there and let it be
The bruises, the cuts, and the aching black eye
All of this pain and she doesn’t know why
Why her own her blood would treat her this way
With the harsh violent actions that go on everyday
She ponders and wonders….as she’s treated like crud
Are y’all my family…or are y’all just blood

Can’t you see the cuts on his neck?
Can’t you sense the obvious neglect?

While you sleep...

I gaze upon your face
as I breathe in fragrance
hanging off  contours
along telling, arching,
angling lines of your jaw.
Your skin that spans
into a valley broad
met by a dipping chin
across a flat but strong visage.
I feast on your deep set eyes,
luring, provoking,
tantalizing cocoons
of hypnosis
as they rest away tired
dreams of the day.
Their closed sensuality
flickering embers
of a sweet mating game.
Those lips pout
to alluring culverts
where desires vegetate,
lingering, forming,

The beat of my heart
Dances like a drum
Once filled with rhythm and grace,
But now beats at an irregular pace
Innocence is pure,
Oh yes
But heartbreak can damn near leave you numb
A curve molds my mouth yet tears fall down my face
The pain is hidden underneath
It’s all tucked inside of me
So you only see what I want you to see
But in due time
I will find a better me
Like playing hide and seek
I’ll search low and I’ll search high,
And I’ll search everywhere I might find
A once again happy me
Who has lived through and defeated this misery

When will enough be enough?
How long can we blame it on the excuse of mental illness?
Every day pushed closer to the edge
No one to care or listen until it's too late

Why can't we find more compassion to prevent something tragic?
It's gone too far when someone feels they have no other choice
Lingering resentments should never be allowed to boil over to murder
Letting someone hurt so much they feel they have no other recourse is unacceptable

The time is now to make a change
However hard it may be

Speak no more For in this war Silence is what is forced Silence that forgets the land Silence that becomes like sand Slipping through our hands and lost forever "Forget the troubles of the past" Do not let this war last "A war fought for nothing" A war fought for everything Silence stings the night Do not give up, "Do not fight" "Speak no more" Speak from your core For this is war