I asked my dad about 40 years ago

“What does it mean to be a man?”

Because I knew that I was missing something.

I was on the cusp of adulthood but had no idea what it meant to “Be a Man”.

He was a sailor and all his friends had served so I figured he must know.

He said “Handling your responsibilities makes you a man.“ 

I admit I was disappointed.

I wanted a magic bullet.

Now I’m older than he was when he gave me that advice.

Handle your responsibilities?

What responsibilities?

What if I don’t want those responsibilities?

Oh. 

Wait. 

Maybe he said Be Responsible. 

Maybe he said love your wife and love your fellow man. 

Maybe he said don’t judge. 

Maybe he said Be The Best You Can Be

And do the best you can

Because that’s all a person can do. 

Maybe he said don’t be like me. 

I don’t think he said any of those things

And it doesn’t matter what he said 

Because what he meant was

Have faith in yourself.

Be a good person. 

Have courage. 

Speak the truth. 

Be responsible. 

That was about a month’s worth of poems and there towards the end I was recycling old love poems and backdating posts so I guess that’s enough of that. Thanks for sticking with me although there was no dirt or sawdust involved (I sweat every post).

THIS BED IS TOO WHITE

This bed is too white. 

Where are my sexy brown feet,

My long brown legs?

Where is my beautiful brown ass,

Belly, and back?

Where is my pretty brown face

Telling me good night?

This bed is too white. 

LIES

I hate her long brown legs 

And her feet (rubbing them is horrible). 

I hate her ass in pants and dresses 

and especially naked. 

I hate to slap that ass. 

I hate her breasts (her terrible nipples)

And her ugly neck. 

I don’t like her long pretty hands 

On me in the morning 

Or ever. 

I don’t like touching her.

Nights with her are lonely  

Mornings with her are hell. 

BAGGAGE

Why is this bag so heavy?

What am I carrying?

Underwear and old girlfriends. 

Shoes.

My past and old fears. 

Wires to charge things 

I no longer own.

Shirts I don’t wear and 

Books I don’t read.

Things I don’t need!

I took off the backpack

And spread my wings 

And flew!

I never saw the straps

Until you cut them. 

THIS HOUSE 

This house could be a horror

With the basement Dracula and 

Me being a Frankenstein 

But it’s a fairytale castle 

With you by my side. 

I am a jungle and

You are my native tribe. 

There is a luscious pink flower

In the heart of this jungle

Dripping sweet nectar. 

Vertigo is the illusion of momentum 

But I’m dizzy with your love. 

SO THE LITTLE BIRDS

So the little birds

Can’t be together 

But they miss each other 

And chirp all night. 

Are you all right?

Yes. Are you?

Yes, but I miss you. 

I miss you too. 

OK. I’ll be right here in this tree. 

You’re still all right?

Yes. Are you?

Yes, but I miss you. 

I miss you too. 

OK. I’ll be right here in this tree

All night. 

   10 BEGINNINGS 

Your long brown legs…

You are my…

Your long brown skin…

Your feet…

Your eyes are like stars…

Your smile…

You glow in my dark…

Your laughter is bells…

Your ass…

I love you…

FAT GIANTS 

These two fat birds,

These two Giants on a branch,

This pair of lovebirds sing

Of the green gardens of spring and

The happiness of sticks and twigs. 

Happiness is within us,

Waiting to be awoken,

And while others might seem happy

And our shit might seem broken,

On our own we must stand

To revel in life’s pleasures:

Hard work and a job well done.

Happiness may fly away 

Like those two fat birds 

But Giants fly as well. 

THE ASTRONOMER

That SPIRITS sign is a bright beacon

Beckoning my business but 

I’m no longer a drunk and

My business lies above. 

That red-lit window is a bright beacon 

Beckoning my business but 

I’m no longer a trick and

My business lies above. 

That dark window is a dark beacon

Beckoning my business but

I’m no longer a burglar and

My business lies above. 

Above the liquor store,

Above the whore,

Above the dark third floor,

The roof is where my business lies. 

Everything eventually dies and 

Under these unending skies

I can finally rise

Above 

My past.