Smiling Eyes

We wear our masks
But still can’t hide
The quiet gleam
Of smiling eyes

Our masks might seem
To dim sunny vibes
But eyes don’t lie
That doesn’t jive

Don’t ask me why
I do not know
But happy eyes
Just seem to glow

So keep your guise
But remember this
Your laughing eyes
Reveal your bliss

I Miss, No. 2

Laptop resting
Next to beverage and biscuit
On coffee shop
Table top

Customers eyes passing
Through text and tome
By themselves
At various book shelves

I am sitting
At my pulpit and post
To write what I privately spy
As patrons browse and buy


I get it: this poem’s title isn’t parallel to the first one in this series. Rules are meant to be broken, right?

These were

supposed
to be
our days
to come
together
to unite
and
to embrace
empathy

Instead
we fought and
faced
curious choices
between
forced freedoms
and
reasonable restraint

And
networked
figures
convinced followers
that faith
in science
and living
responsibly
was a sign
of
fear

And
we turned
our phones
against our neighbors
to document
and denounce
those
who
made excuses
to go
maskless
posting and sharing
their sin
spreading their
shame

And
saying
Black Lives
matter
somehow
devalued
the worth
of all souls

And
holding all
police
to the highest
of standards
meant
you were not
a patriot

Some
cried
to open
businesses
and
schools
yet
closed
hearts
to those
forced
to risk lives
to just
do
their
jobs

And
online agitators
continued
‘gramming
and
tweeting
to
trigger and troll
the slushiest
snowflakes

And
they continued
pushing lies
Big Lies
meant to
breed
burn and
boil over

If only
we would listen
and learn
instead of
squawk
and spew

We are blessed
with
a new day
a new choice
a new tomorrow

Will
we join
fractured forces
eager to
undermine
pleas
to unite
?

or

Will
we
listen
learn
love
?

We have a choice

Will
it
get
better
?

I have
hope

I Miss… Pt. 1

I miss

Crispy romaine
spinach
spring mix
and kale

Carrots
cucumbers
croutons
and scallions

Sunflower seeds
sprouts
sweet peas
and corn

Mushrooms
and
Mozzarella

Bacon bits
boiled eggs
beets
and bleu cheese

Placed pleasingly under plexiglass sneeze guards
then
plucked and piled on my plate
for fine-dining pleasure

Click here to read more of my poetry. Fat Bomb, I Confess, and Lime-erick are some of my favorites.