A Lullaby Prayer

A Lullaby Prayer

A Lullaby prayer

After the funeral

Came news of the newborn

Later
In the deep
I saw them

In the waves of time

Standing in the light

Of my childhood home

Asking -how have you been

And -what’s been going on

Would you like a cup of coffee

She asked, but then
I left out

In the night
Of the city
Looking

For someone,  
A brother

Of a different mother

But lost in the concentration

I stood among them

On the terraced hills and streets

Throngs of youth

Waiting, watching, cheering

For a concert, football or some event

Once again
I was at a loss and lost

To put together my way in life

But comforted by the display

On the faces of the future

And the hope shown there

Eyes aglow
And smiles in their words

Contrasted by the despair

Like a negative reflection

On the surface of darkened alley ways

O’er those hills and peoples I flew

In the silent craft of surreal circles

Aware of a need

A nagging feeling that

I had an appointment to keep

With yet another loved one

Should I be surprised in

The light of morning

That the times past

The experience present

And the vision future

Are joined in one place

As Family, babies, friends

Life, society, death

With the cold moonstruck dew

Rising into day

Spiraling, Ascending

Toward Completion

In the brightness

The flash of heat

From eternal shores

To infinite oceans

Pure, white

Spirit’s breath

And sight

Creation’s

Flight

Old

To new

Set

Aright

Counting On Florida

To southern Florida 1 2 3

Let’s go there just you and me

Take a hot tip for a nice trip to Miami

White sands, t-shirts and dolphins to see

4 5 6 clear jellyfish on the shining sea shore

Hammerhead sharks just above the rich sea floor

We’ll walk the green croc and the occasional alligator

As we stomp down hard on our fan boat’s accelerator

7 8 9 feeling so fine in a comfortable sweltering recline

Sipping up some bubbly sweet ice cold Moscato wine

Sleeping on a sunny beach, or snorkeling the blue coral shell

Dancing, Kissing, romancing, strolling in damp night back to the hotel

Clouds haze rolling past the moonlight’s gaze upon a glimmering ocean swell

Tides overwhelming our secret silky silent spell, hours slipping well past 10 11 12

Fireworks and starfish flung far above lighting up across the humid coastal sky

Heat lightning flashing throughout purple velvet making the heavens cry

In darkness deep lay a swimming waves keep where nothing can be seen

Only faces, feelings, visions and reelings of memories that we dream

Until foaming the waters flee away from day’s brilliant dawning gleam

White gulls and pelicans preening and teaming after fishes keen

Way down in the crashing slap of a Floridian spray and steam

Far below our perch 13 14 15 levels high up in the game

16 17 18 breathes the tanning, playing surfing scene

19 20 21 winter, spring, and summer fun in FLA’s sun

22 me and you, 23 see the sea, 24 + 1 lines, 25 alive

Add food, friends and family to join in the revelry

So I say to you old chum, away to that Shangri-La  

In happy total sum, always count on Florida.

Tiffany Song

Tiffany honey

You are so lovely

Mellow as the month of May

Tiffany honey you are my sunny day

You’re in a quandary

We’re having a baby

We got no money to play

Tiffany darling everything’s gonna be ok

Sometimes get moody

Happy and angry

Colder than a winter’s day

It doesn’t matter, we work it out anyway

We could get married

With friends and family

Wedding bands and everlasting vows

Dry your eyes Tiffany, let me see you smile

Now we’re together

It’s not always easy

Wouldn’t have any other way

Sweet loving Tiffany and kids, we’re a family.

Precious Sail

Precious sail on whom the winds did prevail

When you were but young and pale

Filled you up and carried you in heavy gale

Who can tell of the hell cast in the open sea

When far out the wind cries away with thee

When black clouds the hull enshroud

And you reach out a friendly hand noble and proud

As you list from side to side in the heave and pitch

What devil, what witch would sling thee into watery ditch

But you were beautifully made and strong

Who would have predicted you’d round the horn

Not once, not twice but so many, many times in life

Only to spy the ice at the poles and the equator slice

No matter the sea squalls and ice, you had been tied thrice

Set tall and wide along the splintery oaken mast

From the time the silk was sewn your life was cast

Made like a morning mist ‘neath the sun, of finest silk

Embracing ocean’s breath with cloth, coursing o’er the wavy depth

Were you running away from terror or pursuing a dream

Both perhaps, in sailing’s up and down stormy scheme

With bell overhead and rippling flag the sound did nag

Bell Ringing, or tolling, then clanking out like a sea hag

Flag snapping, and cracking or hissing of something wrong

Yet sometimes happy like a bird you sang a joyful song

Sounding the depths and anchoring sunny safe harbor

Set about by children and pets playing in grass and arbor

Until the next journey to the cape should begin

Another battle with storm and sea to be won

The little seaside town kept vigil for your return

Spyglasses peering, tracking horizon up and down

Fiery sunset turned blackest night to reddened eyes

Then dazed sunrise catching salty hearts by surprise

Whitecaps riding sweeping gusts of shrieks and cries

Brought news, the lighthouse stood in disbelief and sighs

Your vessel had broken in violence against the reef

Sliding down watery embankments in tempest deep

But you, it is said, were broken free of moorings and taken

Carried up on high in beautiful display a by whirlwind in the sky

Dolphins, Terns, gulls, pelicans and pipers yet travel sea and coast

Hoping to see you in windswept coat and then to the world of your glory boast

But you are sure to be found in the heaving hearts of friends who loved you most

For Maggie May in fond memory of M. Shelley