***Too Late***

The paths of life unveil changing road turns
Some long, some short, some surprisingly curved
Seconds, minutes, days, months or even years
Can make the difference in fate’s defiance

Attraction, curiosity and lust blend
When true souls connect with spark-filled magic
As lovers seek to fill the emptiness
of their lonesome, passionate, yearning hearts.

You smiled at me and my shield fell away
Doubts gave way to longing, fear to resolve
You found the way deep into my essence
And touched the marrow that holds my substance

To the flow of love we let our hearts dance Unaware that the bend was sharply curved A moment too late, a little too soon Our stars seemed not under skies auspicious

What began with hope now entwines with gloom
Love is a leap of faith, a twist of fate
The heart alone must endure the burden
Of love suppressed, masked with indifference.

***Chasing After the Wind***

As ocean waves lash out with the fury of a tsunami
So burns the fiery passion of new-found love
But just as the ocean tides quickly become quiescent
So love also, fatigued, transforms into cold, lifeless ashes.

Where does love go when its object of affection becomes disdained,
When the apple of its eye transforms into an undesired burden?
What is love if not a pretext for vanity
To conceal an uncurbed instinct to conquer, control and condemn?

What does it profit when synergies effuse in love expressions
Yet leave no trace of warmth when the dawn breaks?
How does love fill a heart with hope and life
Yet soon leaves behind only emptiness and desolation?


What is love when one nourishes and another ravages
When one prays for love and another preys on love
When one hopes and another disheartens?
What is love if not a pretext for vanity?

***Serendipity***

Serene blue skies over a tranquil river
Green meadows bordering impressionist landscapes
Evanescent drizzles of an early spring morning
Sprouting flower buds promising a vibrant summer
Pecan-filled ice cream


A caress on the cheek by a warm ray of sun
The sound of thrills from a colossal rollercoaster
Candlelights and a warm, scented jacuzzi
A medley of old tunes transpiercing the air
Discovery of the will to resile

A child’s embrace with the words "I love you"
A friend who states "three strikes you're still in"
Mother's voice saying "count your blessings"
An unswerving gift of loyalty, albeit undeserved
The human touch


Happiness sought afar
Curiously, yet serendipitously,
Here it has always been.

***By the Window***

I’m standing here in a silent reverie
staring out of my window
Its double-pane glazing deafens me
to all sounds from the outside
I look down from where I am
and observe the empty road below

I spot a deer or two taking a leisurely walk
across the woods beside my home
I watch as two squirrels take tentative steps
towards the bowl on my porch
for a promised ration of nuts and corn

The snow is falling ever so lightly
On the frosted glass tiny snowflakes slide down
But for the blue spruces out in front
everything outside is white or brown
Monet would never have found a better spot
to create a winter masterpiece


I hoist the window slightly for a whiff of winter’s breath The wind swooshes by softly playing a melody of lullabies

The distinctive aroma of burning wood drifts through my window from the neighbor’s chimney . . .

I succumb to a spellbinding wave of nostalgia
that ties my inside into tiny knots

My gaze drifts to the stone fireplace beside me
Its cold and somber facade
once again reminds me
that I have forgotten
to place some logs and chips on the hearth
to light the fire


Perhaps I did not really forget
Perhaps I didn’t really want to do that . . . yet
Something’s missing here, you see
and that is you

This wistful feeling I have invariably brings back to my mind thoughts of you


Two recliners lay adjacent to the fireplace idle, vacuous, quiescent waiting for you


If only you were here
to light this fire, to share its warmth
to watch the harmony dance of the flames
to roast colored marshmallows together
to listen to the crackling of the wood
to laugh over a joke as we sip hot cocoa

What a difference it would make
if only there were you
Life just could never be perfect
until there’s you.


I slowly return my gaze to the still window
I pull down its panes to shut out that . . .
. . . overpowering aroma
before I fall even deeper into my solitary


I rock myself on a rocking chair, and I pray that when I open my eyes, please don’t let me be . . . . . . without you.

***Looking***


I spotted you sitting down alone
At a corner table in this restaurant
Just across from me in a busy room
You were reading the menu and I watched
At first sight, you did take my breath away
Magnetized, I could not resist looking
You have a face that makes me want to gaze
A well-sculptured countenance and kind eyes
A rich, dark, smoothly polished complexion
Teeth gleaming as you spoke to the waiter
Your shoulders as broad as my eyes can see
An aura of coolness and elegance

Discreetly, yet boldly, I dared to dream . . .

Are you lonely, looking, just as I am
Or do you have someone waiting at home
Have you had a good life, with luck in love
Or are you broken and disillusioned
By love’s trials and sudden betrayal
Do you have the strength to try love anew
To rekindle the passion in your heart
And embrace the joys that this life offers
Will your shoulders be mine in times of need
Will your lips caress my troubles away
Will you give selflessly and endlessly
Will you love truly and generously

Suddenly, you turned, and your eyes met mine . . .






End of Excerpts.