Essential Tremors

the 3 a.m. knock

text or call

screen flash

DO NOT DISTURB

disturbed forevermore

there's that

essential tremor

who wouldn't shake

straight to the grave

hands heart feet soul

shoelace signature shaving

rendered impossible

who wouldn't

feel those quakes

down to one's essence

having heard the news today

oh boy

brother, who wouldn't

but what about

all the others

so-called nonessentials

the barking dog

curling cat's ears

birthing every hellish fear

in ordinary time

the never ever reply

those Carrara marble moments

cold and hard

Van Gogh granite

smooth as sin

hiding the fissure

threading through

our ancient bloodlines

 

I Always

I always

want

need

surrender

I always

don't

want

need

always

hope

harbor

harvest

always I

bow

before

what is

world without

end

amen

I Never

I never thought it'd come to this

Truth as lies

Lies emblazoned

On a confederacy of dunces

I grow old without my trousers rolled

I never imagined so cold

An insurrection's unkenneled rage

The dying embers of another age

January 6 that old time Epiphany

Showing Three Kings and all that

I never saw

My eyes so closed

I never knew my pledge of allegiance

So hollowed out

I grow old, so old

I can't remember that boy

Palm over his heart

Reciting the flag-soaked prayer

In a classroom

Shadowed by Joe McCarthy

I never expected

He'd never die

We never escaped

That America

Did we