in marketing at the dot
com company but also in
another company – of spiritual seekers
giving voice to collective consciousness
through theatrical expression – rare to
find a person who will openly
mix business context with
an inner quest like that –
admirable although I don’t share
interest in that particular path

on the wall outside her bathroom,
photo enlargement, framed – just
her, black bathing suit, sparkling
blue pool water, position loosely
fetal – reborn from nothing into
ultramarine stardom – her singing
from the rocks lures the public
to complacency, her irresistible appeal
draws people round her fishbowl
where they smile and cheer

poetry personified – if you’re
a poet in Connecticut you know
her – also one person who has
bicycled the length of
the East Coast Greenway on
the “Utter Folly Tour” –
intimidating to attempt to write
a post about her – standing here,
hat in my hands, humble before
her museship, Artemis Rising

he gave me pep talks
promises of recognition and reward –
did I really believe him?
honestly – no, knew he was
taking advantage of my yen,
self-sacrificial on the altar of
that system – he gained reward
and recognition (good pep talker)
I gained? … not sure, I finally
tired of that game

even on a project called
a “death march” there were
hidden oases of refreshment where
our laughter bubbled up abundantly
shared silliness over otherwise
unmemorable moments – Blaine
and the copier, Eli and the tree,
my pearls more fake than yours –
still funny years later when
I visited you in England

when we were young there
was so much to envy –
your pony, your ability to
drive, skills your father might
have taught you, little roughneck –
as we grew older, there
was less – failed marriages, rough
living, home in Texas, no studies,
no sophistication – haven’t seen
my cousin in so long

My dear HPs, I want
to tell you “I believe”
in the immanent divinity and
“I invoke” the four directions
and “I join” the circle
but, ashamed to say, I
backslid, closed my ears to
the ancient whisperings of my
ancestry – I don’t have your
guts, your focus, Blessed Be