When I Knew the Makes and Models
I could walk down Hamlin street,
name them all: 1939 Lincoln Zephyr,
`41 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Coupe.
A boy, ten years old,
alone in his world of cars.
Month / April 2010
Dakar, Senegal
nside the white mini bus. Twelve seats, all facing Dakar’s cacophony of human wanderings, roadside. Lemons, oranges, bananas. Cloth dolls and fabric passport-purses balanced in flat baskets on heads of moving women swathed in vibrant prints. Upholstered sofas wrapped in plastic for outside sales. Pens of goats awaiting slaughter—Mrs. Camara’s dinner. Fathers, mothers,
Continue reading… "Dakar, Senegal"End of Summer
Sitting in a children’s circle, one began:
“I am going on a trip, and I am packing into
My suitcase … an apple.” And the second child
Repeated, added.
I’m Just Telling You
So, I’m telling you,
Them shoes you wearing,
Them ugly shoes caked with concrete and torn up,
If you was married, you’d be wearing better shoes.
Self Portrait
Start with bright colors
bold, black strokes.
Notice the eyes
on the blue side of hazel
Continue reading… "Self Portrait"Blessing the End
Sweet dark graces me with grief
to mark the bits slipping into strange hands –
the champagne shades, the old chipped dresser,
the table with the children’s scars.
Continue reading… "Blessing the End"Writing as Exploration
As writers, we are inspired by just about anything under the sun – and moon – because we know our writing will take us places. Often, we don’t know where we’re going when we start but we stay along for the ride, moved to explore new terrain or dig deeply into old places. If we do think we know where we’re going when we begin, it’s not at all unusual to be surprised at where we actually end up.
Continue reading… "Writing as Exploration"