THE ABSENCE OF SOUND

there is beauty
lost in the wind

passing through the
leaves of a birch
nonexistent.

eventually,
everything finds a home
in the absence of sound:

a field of crickets
as you walk by, the
settling of dew
frosting over, even the
light from a star
quiets down
finally catching
an eye from travel.

what was once there
is not, though
everyone is the wiser.

on a birch,
places that rattled
just a month ago
packed bags as tight as buds
waiting to be born again.

in the spring
they'll open the door
like on an old t.v. show
in black and white...

the cold takes off
its coat and hat
mentioning

"honey, i'm home"

we can always hear
what is missing,

but only after it's gone.

KEEPING ME IN DEBT

blow on the coals
will you?

before the fire's out...

'cause that's what you
have to do
to keep someone in love around.

and it starts up again
as though it never left.

this is the way
that you keep me in debt:

taking advantage of all i'm not

blowing kisses to who i've been

poking fun at how i fall

only loving the idea of me.

THE TROUBLE IS

then all of a sudden
there was nothing

and peace and quiet
was a song
i couldn't get out of my head,

so i hummed along
all day as i worked

cutting back lilies
and raking up leaves.

part of me
is so lost for words
that i end up talking
incessantly.

the other part
is so sad and lonely
that it refuses
to ever talk again.

we have more in common
than not
and that's what brings
a hand to the side
of our faces...

(embarrassing isn't it?)

to look the other way,
to hide in shame.

we all want to be beautiful
and unique,

the trouble is,

is that we're all the same.

HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY

...people always ask me "how are you doing today?"...i think that from now on i'm going to answer, "sunny side up."