last night

Last night seems so far away.

Time has gone by the wayside.

The morning has arrived. Now,

what’s left are memories from

what was done. Time to look

ahead as I build up the courage

to get out of bed. Dreams, sleep,

and time separate last night

from this morning. Now, birds

are singing. Most are soaring.

We never know when last night

will be our last night. Wrong

or right, the transition to day

brings us closer to the light.

Life isn’t promised or guaranteed.

Tonight could be my last night.

Odds are it won’t be. But, life

is unpredictable as entering

the void is inevitable. Still,

I do what I can to love: to fill

my soul with love and passion.

Don’t forget about last night,

but enjoy the morning. Enjoy

the past, the future, the present

before asking where the time went.

Memory Bank

Deep in my mind, memories get stored.
My brain is a steel trap that opens
and closes. It’s impossible not to
remember a burning fire and how
it came from an ember. My mind
is a bank that will never be blank.
Blank checks and recurring thoughts
do not need to be bought. My mind
does not idle. Boredom often rivals
constant brain activity. It’s on file.
Memories deposited take refuge
in the deep depths where thoughts
of life and death intersect. Accounts
of my life stay full as good moments
fill my soul. Overdraft fees bring me
to my knees and memories do as
they please. My memory bank fills
up like a cup that never spills.

In My Eyes

In my eyes, I have seen
shapes, colors, hues
of light. To my surprise,
I have realized life
is a movie played from
a projector in the sky.
In my eyes, I have seen
highs – lows. Anything
goes when no one knows
the difference between
the weed and the rose
or the heat and the cold.
Like a bank, my brain
stores large amounts
of memories that can
bounce or go blank
from time to time.
In my eyes, life unfolds
and ignites a light
that burns through
the night. In my eyes,
I see you as you should
be seen: a special fire
that will always rise.


Souls and Spirits

Life is full of surprises, new heights,
and sunrises. Life can shine a light
that will follow us through the night.
Life is full of lost souls and spirits.
The energy those put into the world
will stay around, make sounds, and
will never die down. The feeling
we are left with provides healing.
Souls and spirits roam free. Souls
and spirits attach themselves to
those who don’t quite feel whole.
These aren’t ghosts. They’re friends
from the past: those who once lived.
They are gifts providing support
we were never given. Those living,
feel your soul. Never stop giving
spirits your attention. Keep living
a life that will leave a mark. Now,
know you are never alone as we
are with those we will never see.


Memory Lane

Today, the car is in cruise control.
I take it slow and go with the flow.
Today, I take a ride down Memory
Lane. I revisit past pain and travel
through time frames: different days.
I unravel. I tear up gravel to navigate
an unknown fate. I carry weight;
I talk to my shadows: old versions
of myself. Sometimes, I ask them
for help – words of advice. Miles
into Memory Lane, I face pain
and embrace joy all the same.
I see old friends of mine the way
they were before I last saw them.
I notice houses I used to live in;
I recognize yards I used to play in.
I begin to see places I have been.
Today, I met with Father Time
and rode down Memory Lane
before any new memories came.