disillusionment

on the commute
home
the ivory elephant
walrus
on the street
corner
turns back into
my
broken and discarded
futon

the universe is expanding

the bird on
the corner
of the roof
opens his
mouth

from it's mouth
space is born
that the bird
must fill with
sound

cliche (but true)

sometimes,
the surf
pounds the
shore, some
times it
recedes,
sometimes
it storms.
but it
is still
constant.

hurt

do not
chew
gum on
an
empty
stomach

the truth about the human mind
it hides the fear of human kind
blocks it out as if to blind
the people from themselves

it fills the void of daily life
it aims to end the shame and strife
yet cuts through judgment like a knife
and makes us second guess

if only for a second, two
I may have caught a glimpse of you
but as my mind intends to do
I seem to have forgot

if man can fail so easily
to rid the world of misery
then what will be the fate of me
when trouble comes to call

we can't distinguish right or wrong
the words we're preached in speech and song
but we will stay where we belong
as if we know no better

so when the judgment day does come
and they surrender, they succumb
to hear the single beating drum
that pounds within our hearts

maybe then we'll see the day
when we rise and stand to say
that this is ours and we will stay
no matter what the cost

for in my soul I know it true
the good of man lies within you
whatever you intend to do
plan to march with me

into the light of sanctity
for you are what empowers me
to be the man I want to be
and I thank you for that

brother ken

I.

i know you
were hurt by
the limp you
had sunday

i know there
were only five
of us there
only a mass
for close friends

but i liked
your sweat pants
and flannel
more than your
long white robe

II.

maybe all
priests should wear
sweatpants and
ride their bikes
to breakfast

III.

i smiled when
you held the
host and i
could see your
long white socks

silence

sitting in
the chapel
the silence
was so whole
i almost
surrendered

I.

On my mom's birthday, I put on my best suit, I get my haircut.

I pretend she's coming home.

II.

I have paid my grandmother's phone bill for the past year.

Just so I can hear her voice.

III.

We bet him five dollars that he would drown.

A bittersweet victory.

Alles gute kommt von oben

I.

Ach ja, aber wo ist oben?
Ist oben hier?
Liegt oben am Berggipfel?
oder unter dem Meer?
Was ich nicht weiB
Mach mir nicht heiB.

II.

Ich weiB wo,
oben ist hier.
Oben ist höcher als der höchest Berggipfel.
Oben ist dunkler als die dunklest Meer.
Oben liegt im deinem schonem Herz.
Alles gut kommt von deinem schonem Herz.

translation:

All that is good comes from above

Ah yes, but were is above?
Is above here?
Does it lay on the mountaintop?
Or under the sea?
What I do not know
do not make me name.

I know where,
above is here.
Above is higher than the highest mountaintop.
Above is darker than the darkest sea.
Above lies in you beautiful heart.
All that is good comes from your beautiful heart.
-for mere