Poems from a Friend

FROM THE INDIAN GIVER*

Life is a gift from an Indian giver.

Use It well; relish what you can

Of this imperfect present

Aware, at any moment

There’ll be a recall

From the manufacturer.

*also appeared 2003 in Bibliophilos Poetry Annual

NO REGRETS

For paths I never followed, loves I’ve never borne

For dreams I never dared, opportunities forsworn

For all I missed in life or never knew was there

No looking back – pleased am I with all I had to share.

The sweetest words to say when final curtains nigh

“My life was full and good, so no regrets have I.”

DEVASTATION**

Oh what devastation man has brought

His pride exceeding all normal bound

His cry of I consistently resounds

From barren space caused by wars he wrought

By striving for full mastery he sought

Since first he subjugated woman, beast

Environment as well, caring least

For those whom this destruction left distraught.

Then nature, with uncontested power

Strikes at most unpropitious hour

Fierce flood, wild fire, tsunami’s whirling thrust

In one wild burst of fury, one great gust

Erases myriad constructions of mankind

Will he now see or be forever blind?

** appeared on Yellow Bat website 2005