BY THE NUMBERS

You Can Approach Me Now

my intent
for this to be squeaky clean
content acceptable for any poetry contest
or submission to any literary magazine

edible and palatable
safe to enjoy like cotton candy
make your foot tap to Miles Davis
snap your fingers to WC Handy

this was supposed to
make you nod your head and blankly agree
to any wrong doings in the world
your neighborhood and country

I tried to make this
politically correct and middle of the aisle
have the token in hand and ready to insert
as you glide through the subway turnstile

make the cashiers happy
as you get to checkout with correct change
observe insurrection and injustice
and never once think it strange

the intent of this thing
listenening to you talk and take it all in as fact
and I use great internal restraint
‘cause my parents taught me how to act

this poem is to
...

Rain Check

I promised no one in particular
besides me
that I would sit myself down
flip the light switch
listen for the sounds of my computer coming to life
wait for desktop icons to appear
the moment is silent
someone is waiting for me to write something that I never promised to do today
wasn’t on my
to-do list
my
honey-do list
I procrastinate
again
maybe 
I’ll get around to doing it tomorrow
but I am in front of this thing
lit up
dressed up
awaiting my command to address society
impropriety
blackness
whiteness
anything to do with
my love for you
for us
for our people
maybe a prayer to Him
if I die before I wake
please don’t take away my pen
until I finish what I promised to no one in particular
that I would write something today
half glass empty<...

Miss America

to read my poem

gonna cost me ten dollars

find another trick

Not Too Much To Ask

gimme the sounds of soft jazz
when the evening sun goes down
street lights shining around me
as I cruise about the town

gimme a tall glass of wine
filled with sparkling chardonnay
sipping quietly in my chair
as I slowly end my day

gimme the evening news at six
the bad mixed well with the good
present it to me in such a way
that it can be easily understood

gimme me her touch in the morning
as she slowly opens her brown eyes
please fill my bowl with hello's
and an equal sized bowl of goodbyes

gimme the mysteries of religion
unanswered questions I will ask
unfiltered and all raw truths
revealed from behind the mask

gimme all the unrest and violence
along with peace and tranquility
let me get Windex for the mirror
so I can get a better look at me
and seek pen and paper
to write about it

Publish Me

pages of my life 
turning faster than October leaves
falling
chased around the backyard with a rake and plastic bag
armfuls gathered
attempts to dump them inside half open
mischievous plastic containers
silently cursing the sudden breeze
shaking it
closing it
suddenly closing its mouth
just as I am about to feed it
treacherous twigs bursting through its thin frame
leading handfuls of leaves to freedom

hours passing
days
years
pages turning
too busy to stop and proofread

I am older now
pages continuing to turn
as I grudgingly submit to change
tears
earmark the beginning of new chapters
and I am wise enough to know
that some day
my book will be completed

God

I hope it is a best seller

Confidential

you don't know
you assumed
went and told the whole story
holes in the beginning
middle
the end
chapter not closed
but left ajar
once upon a time
and
happily ever after
false narratives
because you didn't ask somebody
and certainly
didn't ask me
because you know
would have got nothing from me
started the day with house money
played all day
and never come up with three cherries
bars
lucky sevens in your slot machine
went home with the house
taking all of your money
because
you don't know
didn't ask somebody
'cause you do know
I would never tell you

PawPaw's Prayer

to be the best PawPaw I can be
and shower you with love and kisses
until the right one comes along
and transforms from miss to missus

to be your umbrella in the rain
and provide to you an arch of safety
to give you the freedom of expression
and always satisfy your curiosity

to be the bridge you never see
if mommy is not able at the time
to be the period in your sentence
and be the last word in your rhyme

to be the sentinel with a shotgun
standing ready at the front door
when those approach with ill interest
want to exceed what you are ready for

to be the loudest voice heard
watching from the stands while you cheer
to dry your tears when you are afraid
and know that PawPaw will be near

to know that mommy will be the light
shining upon the path you tread
clothing and shelter and comfort 
always providing the daily...

She Made Love To Me

she made love to me

I couldn't help myself
my will was weak
my spirit
vulnerable to impending moments of passion

let me tell you all about it

she wanted to make love to me
but didn't know how
after the evening meal was consumed
we sat in the living room
looking at each other
two restless panthers in a circus cage
feeling each other out
looking for the perfect opportunity to pounce

the Smokey Robinson CD never fails
but it did tonight

the incense and candles would always have us on the floor
knocking over chairs
lamps
anything that wasn't nailed down
prompting knocks on the door
or the floor
from angry neighbors downstairs
but tonight
she wanted to make love to me

so we sat there
and it began to happen

a conversation began about something she saw in the news

**PSA***

I Know Nothing About Pork Roll

slice it in the morning
with scramble eggs with cheese
wheat toast with butter
and a cup of coffee, if you please

we still have a cozy diner
in every county of the state
some are second class
but most of them are first rate

let me throw on some shades
Parkway south to Atlantic City
or points along the Jersey shore
where the water is cool and pretty

flexible lawn chairs and coolers
house music played in Weequahic Park
fireworks in the sky will begin 
at the Meadowlands fair after dark

free concert outside at NJPAC
tickets sold out at Prudential and PNC
found a close parking spot for lunch
overlooking the Statue of liberty

or you will find me downtown
Broadway Pizza for two or three slices
Market street and Main Street
checking out the latest sale prices

Hinchliffe Stadium up the hill
Baurle Field, ...