Gizzwurf

Gizzwurf
lives

again,

with

strangled

steps it
crawls.
nay,
my friend,
gizzwurf
slithers
as it
goes
beneath
the
covers
to find
your toes.

Sailorman

i know a shroud from a halyard
and a rope from a line,

i know when you got the right of way
and when it is mine,

i know a jib from a genny
and a stay from a sheet,

i know a keel from a rudder
and a clew from a cleat,

i know the difference
between "ahoy"and "avast",

i know a puff from a squall
and a boom from a mast,

i know port from starboard
and the bow from the stern,

i know the helm from the tiller
and a tack from a turn,

i know i like sailing
out on the blue,

i know the wind
and i think i know you.

1975

the lurking cat . . .

kitty,
kitty,
laying low,
watch
your step
as you go,
she waits
upon
the winter
mouse,
who from
the cold
is in her
house.

1990

Birthday Poem 2008

i was born in thirty-six
and now i'm seventy-two,
seems a little mystical
like an oddly numbered stew.

four eighteens are seventy-two
or eight nines in a row,
numbers in a conga line
they tell and also show.

six twelves will also get there
or thirty-six neat deuces,
all these things will make my day,
no lovers, war, or truces.

2008

the blue earing

the blue earing 1972

the depth of blue . . . .

. . . .gazing into
your eyes

is seeing into
the blue kaleidoscope
'
of your femininity . . . .

October 1986

bluenude

Bluenude. . .. 1974

Octobermoon

above us, all the while,
the octobermoon
sat smiling
as we explored
and said unheard
things . . .
stared into each others eyes,
and considered unknown thoughts,
and all the while
the octobermoon
was glowing just outside
the pool
where we
just like slippery fish
became ourselves . . .
10-19-1986

Fish on a plate

Blue plate special 2008

In the greenhouse

visual image of beauty
mysterious and private,
i push aside the door and enter,
your scent is a pungeant pleasure
combined with loam
and blooming bromeliads,
the door is damp and slippery inside,
there is a sigh of surprise
as i close the door behind me,
you say its not the same,
some specialness is gone,
i say its always special
when its only you and me,
you stare at me with
diffident eyes
then slide outside
llke warm air
through a cracked window pane;
slipped away to ne'er return again.

1986 wintertime

Ahead of the gathering storm . . . .

A tall sloop footing for home . . . 2006

Too many womens

ah loves too many womens
it what ah always do
ah loves them otha ladies
but still loves only you. . .

ah loves too many womens
ah knows its all too true
ah loves them otha ladies
but remembers onlyyou . . .

ah loves too many womens
ah get so down an blue
ah loves them otha ladies
but still loves only you . . .

ah loves too many womens
ah really got no clue
ah loves them otha ladies
but its really only you . . .

1980

At the dogfights

The sport of thugs . . .

yelladawg in 2008

self-portrait 2008

Plateaus

somewhere, standing stealthy,
is the thing i'm waiting for,
what it is i'll never know,
i'll only know that it is,
that it always will be,
and that i'll always be
waiting for it. . . .
the times of waiting
are the rungs
of the eternal ladder
that we all
must ever climb
step by step'
the endless ladder called Time . . . .

1986

Houri en blue

Or, the girl in the red kariks 2008