The Grandeur of a Saint

Acknowledgements: I am published in Ursa Major Literary Magazine,

which was under the direction and supervision of Mrs. Dowling, with help from
the Creative Writing I, II, and III classes, as well the FPHS’ art students who
provided artwork and photographs. I was published in 2014, 2015, and 2016 for
Terra Incognita, From the Ashes, and Kaleidoscope, respectively. In Terra
Incognita, I made a poem entitled, “Light Lapse,” while I made a poem (“Natural
Doubt”) and an essay (“There Is Always More to Do”) that are in From the Ashes.
Finally, I made a poem entitled, “What Hope Gives,” for Kaleidoscope. I am also
published in George Mason University’s student literary and arts journal, Volition:
for the poems, “Silhouette” and “In Nature Grand” in the Spring 2021 edition. I
have my own Quora space: Alphabet Tutoring. It will hopefully gain more
followers gradually. I am a contributor in The Joy of Poetry space. I am a Medium
writer as well, and I have been published in a few publications on Medium: Prism
& Pen, The Orange Journal, Blue Insights, Move Me Poetry, The Book Café, &
New Writers Welcome.

Table of Contents

"Descent of Darkness" ………………………………………………….. 5

“Tribunal” …………………………………………………..6
“Elemental Harmony”…………………………………….7

1
“Once Friend” …………………………………………………………….. 8
“And Waves Are Crashing” ……………………………………………… 9
“What Hope Gives”………………………………………………..10
“Once More” ………………………………………………….. 11
“In Nature Grand” …………………………………………….. 12
“A Silhouette” …………………………………………… 13
“Memory” …………………………………………………… 14
“Poetic Prowess” ……………………………………………. 15
“Kindness” …………………………………………………… 16
“Forgotten” …………………………………………………. 17-18
“Supernova” ……………………………………………… 19
“Tortoise” ……………………………………………………. 20
“Shift Perspectives” ……………………………………………. 21
“Words that Cannot Be Spoken” ………………………………….. 22
“The Luminescence of Life” ……………………………………23
“The Rebirth of Love” ……………………………………….. 24
“Winter’s End” …………………………………………… 25
“Opposites” …………………………………………….. 26
“Synonyms” ……………………………………….. 27
“Popcorn” …………………………………… 28
“List” ……………………………… 29-30
“Can You Imagine?” …………………………………. 31
“I Don’t Understand…” ……………………………. 32
“Listen All Around” ………………………………….33
“Flower” …………………………………………34
“Tree” …………………………………………..35
“Food for Thought” ………………………………36
“Gold Digger” ……………………………………37
“Persevere, My Dear” …………………………………38
“Light Lapse” ………………………………………….. 39
“Out Blanked” ………………………………….. 40-41

2
“Feather Fiesta” ……………………………… 42
“Snowfall” ……………………………………. 43
“Natural Doubt”………………………………..44
“Sunset Sphere” …………………………….45
“An Enslaved Person’s Dream” …………………………46
“The Musical Part in Each of Us” ……………………….47
“Eulogy of Oneself” …………………………………..48
“Chopin” ………………………………………….49
“Beethoven” …………………………………………50
“Debussy” …………………………………………………51
“Allusive & Elusive” ……………………………………52-53
“Fall” …………………………………………………..54
“Winter” …………………………………………….55
“Growing Up & Realizing the Importance of Relationships” ………………. 56-57
“Rainbow Spectrum: How We’ve Overcome” …………………… 58-59
“Disabilities in Our Societies” ……………………………… 60-61
“Spring”…………………………………………………62
“Summer” ……………………………………………63
“Transitory Trance” …………………………………64
“A Grandmother’s Heart” ……………………………….65
“Bright Yellow Smiley Face Emoji”…………………………66
“A Hydrangea, Sunflower, and Pansy”………………………..67
“Oh, the Indignation!”……………………………………………..68
“What All of Us Want & Need”…………………………………69
“Laborious Proportions”………………………………………70
“Healing Begins with Dialogue” ………………………………..71
“Animal Kingdom: Meeting at the Wild Wisteria”…………………..72
“Grieving Is a Lachrymose Process”………………………………73
“What’s It Like to Be on the Dating Market?” ………………………….74
“The Specks of Nature”………………………………………………75
“An Ode to Nihilism” ……………………………………………….76-77

3
“When Stars & Stripes Decay” ………………………………….78
“In the Fold” ………………………………………………….79
“A Farewell to Modernity” ……………………………80
“What An Adult Is to Me” …………………………………81
“Compliments Are Like Candy” ………………………….82
“Momentous Musicality & Superb Spirituality” ……………..83
“The Seven Sacrilegious Sins” …………………………………………….84
“The Stars and I” …………………………………………………………….85
“A Royal Rook” ………………………………………………………………….86-87
“The Perfect Photograph”………………………………………………………..88-89
“Transcendental Trips” ………………………………………………………90-91
“Promises of Friendship & Woes of Leadership”………………….92-93
“Wishing for Wagner” ………………………………………………………..94

"Descent of Darkness"
1/15/15
4
Dust, dirt, and debris--these are all I see.
This rickety house, down the street from me.
King proves to be Ivy, a plant's poison plea.
How could this happen? Who let this happen?

Glimmers of beauty, lost in the ugly,

Catch my eye in spite, a time forgotten:
Paintings and woodwork, the grand piano,
Ruined they now lay; none is left I say.

And who is to blame for such a horror?

When time has been distorted, and when space has been contorted,
When poison is cure and when you're not sure,
That is when it falls—when darkness crawls.

"Tribunal"
5
2/7/15
Court is in session
A true verdict must be made;
Truth must shine through

"Elemental Harmony"
2/7/15

6
Fire shines, and earth makes.
Water rushes, and air soars –
The four elements

“Once Friend”
11/24/15
A friend may turn acquaintance:
One sardonic response, like the venomous viper,

7
May well pierce through the flesh, ingrained in one’s existence,
As the wicked Grim Reaper.

A friend may turn enemy:

Circumstances altered, and all alliances changed,
Eyes locked at the distance, at a goal or destiny,
Letting one’s friend be estranged.

A friend may turn forever:

Faulty acts magnified, words as tangled as the boas,
Deeds twisted into lies, and then cut and sever
All loose ends and phobias.

"And Waves Are Crashing" 11/17/15

When silence turns to noise, as hearts become stone.

When ice begins to crack, as fires begin to rage.

8
And death will want to reap each skull and each bone

With the greatest finesse, to act upon the stage.

An echo will resound, and a drop will ripple,

As brothers and sisters, sons and daughters

Peck and claw like crows, leaving all crippled,

Making vacant forests, making tainted waters.

Nights are dawning, and days are falling,

And lights are fading, and waves are crashing,

And winds are rushing, and fears are crawling,

And eyes are watching, and mouths are hushing.

A pillar of cloud, a pillar of fire,

To be led safely past man's desire.

A bed of grass, a blanket of snow,

To feel, to love, to heal, to know.

"What Hope Gives" 6/27/15

What love instills, loneliness kills.

9
What joy gathers, hatred severs.
What trust creates, sadness takes.

Constant, forever. Over and over.

And on this earth, on this land,

Here you are, here you stand,
Forgotten, hated, crying.

A smile lost, a teardrop.

Yet, what hatred takes, trust creates.

What sadness severs, love gathers.
What loneliness kills, joy instills.

In this way, this time, this day,

No smile is lost, no tear dropped.

"Once More"
10/15/15

What is right may lose its sight,

10
But what is true will continue.

This time, this age, the hate, the rage,

It’s sickening, it’s poisoning

The hearts, the minds, what lies inside:

The purity, the sanity.

To move forward, to go onward,

And yet fall down, again, again.

But until then, no matter when,

You may begin, again, again.

“In Nature Grand” 2/25/16

In winter harsh and winter dark

Comes golden light on golden bark—

11
A silent, subtle symphony
Of color in ecstasy.

In spring renewed and spring refreshed

Fall small petals on a small nest—
A wilted, withered agony
From feathers to destiny.

In summer heat and summer light

Rain waters swift as waters’ flight—
A bursting, blasting great geyser
Of power, like an amber fire.

In autumn cool and autumn brisk

Sprout flowers’ joy from flowers’ frisk—
A swaying, twirling ballroom dance
On winds’ gentle, tender expanse.

In nature full and nature grand

Grow trees and plants across the land,
With light and water on the ground,
As the four seasons abound.

“A Silhouette” 3/2/16

A puddle of water,

12
Collecting dust and dirt,
May now be a slaughter,
A death of all my hurt.

Faces fade one by one—

A childhood friend from all
The days of golden sun—
In darkness as they fall.

To seek with no response,

The forgotten faces
Lost in the nonchalance
Of heart-to-heart traces.

From my tears and my sweat,

From the corner of my eye,
Appears a silhouette:
An exchange of goodbye.

"Memory"
When music can't be heard,
When passion fades away,
When colors turn to grey,

13
I'll always still love you

No matter what you do,

No matter where you go,
I'll follow to and fro.

When autumn leaves fall down,

I'll offer you my crown.
Your heart so bright and pure
Your smile I will adore.

And in my heart I know

Forever I will go.

In times of agony,
In times of apathy,
Head onward farther North,
And in glory go forth.

And in my memories
May you journey past seas
Of fire and of cloud
With your head fully bowed.

"Poetic Prowess"
Instantaneously, you diverge on a path.
14
Simultaneously, you converge on a road.
And ever so slowly, your heart engenders wrath
To the central pathway – to prophesy and forebode.

Instantaneously, you pledge your allegiance.

Simultaneously, you take umbrage at flags.
And ever so swiftly, your mind upholds aegis
To the spiral staircase, as your feet begin to drag.

Simultaneously, you become a true saint.

Instantaneously, you become a divine son.
And ever so calmly, your spirit acquaints
To the sliced water's edge – from one to everyone.

"Kindness"
The kindness people show
Is sure enough to go
15
Up in flames, burned to ash –
A crumpled piece of trash.

The futures that they seek

In a day or a week
Like whirling wisps of smoke
Collapse from one swift stroke.

The kindness people show

Is sure enough to go
And the smiles that they wear
Will fade into the air.

"Forgotten" 3/17/15

A time forgotten—where time and place lay

16
Forgotten someday of days jubilant
And where has it gone? To where does it go?

I have forgotten; I can’t remember.

It lies somewhere deep, somewhere desolate.
It rots somewhere vile, somewhere villainous.

The lost happiness, the forgotten bliss--

Memory of this in the dark abyss,
In the fading mist, and somewhere sometime
Someday I might know, I might recollect
That something special: the friends forgotten.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Certainty of your doubt, of your indecision--

And you really believe, truly and actually,
That you have forgotten, that you have forgotten
All the days hilarious and the jokes horrendous.

Certainty of your doubt, of your indecision--

And you really believe, seriously do you?
That you have forgotten, that you have forgotten
All the years sincere and the laughs and tears.

17
Certainty of your doubt, of your indecision--
And you really believe, truly and actually,
That you have forgotten, that you have forgotten
All your friends, each and every one, including me?

"Supernova" 3/7/15

An angular shape with gold-studded lace

Sits there forgotten, lies there neglected.

18
Surrounded by blue, and showcased art, too,
A star silver-bright dulls in a glass case.

Yet a star is more: it is hopes and dreams.

Ignored not adored—nothing but décor—
A star past the air, like many up there,
Glistens and glimmers; in the night it beams.

Just like a true friend, sincerely it gives.

For you it does shine—the one stellar sign
Of God’s grace and love, of peace like the dove,
Of hope like the rain. Thus, for you it lives.

And to disregard such a cosmic form,

Such a saintly shape, Heaven’s silver cape,
Would prove most sullen, sad and crestfallen.
When darkness descends, when sinister storms

Shadow all you know, the Light still shines bright.

When feeling sickens and reason weakens—
And all tears apart—look back to the start,
Where hopes and dreams rest: the star at its height.

19
"Tortoise"
3/5/15
Time moves rather slowly—seconds, minutes, and hours:
From the rising of light to the falling of rain,
To the swimming of fish and the flying of crane.
Meditation you do, and contemplation, too,
For you are like Buddha and a piece of sutra.
You have been perfumed by Zen gardens of flowers.

Yet time moves rapidly—weeks, years, and centuries:

From the whispers of wind to the shrieks of the night,
To the aging of youth and the fading of sight.
You experienced all, whether immense or small,
Whether melancholic or many a frolic.
You have felt all of these mixed, motley memories.

So, with skin of leather and with shell of iron

May you always weather and subsist as the Sun;
May you never dismiss, that you may reminisce:
Tortoise’s life of bliss, on all of these and this.

20
"Shift Perspectives"
3/10/15
Life wears many attires—events, places, and people:
Attending festivals, funerals and weddings,
Meeting Alex in March and Nature as it sings.
Sleeping and eating you do, and relaxation, too.
For you are like a sloth with beds and pillows both.
You have forgotten time—that it is ephemeral.

Yet life wears one outfit—delight-filled and love-willed:

The raising of a babe to siblings fighting,
From a couple laughing to seniors reminiscing.
Life’s dance completes its waltz, all moves not being false,
All moves sincere and true, all moves of them in you.
You have danced your very best, and life is now fulfilled.

So, with skin of human and with your hair of black

May you always know when and constantly look back.
May you never forget that you may always let
Life’s many vignettes—love and joy’s true duet.

21
"Words that Cannot be Spoken"
There are words that cannot be spoken—
In silence, forever they will be unbroken.
There are hearts that cannot be mended—
Bonds of love, like ashes, will be ended.

There are dreams that cannot be realized—

After death, they will be very prized.
There are roads that cannot be traveled—
Knots that cannot be unraveled.

There are names that cannot be recalled—

Forgotten, they will be memory-hauled.
There are lives that cannot be rescued—
They will be silenced from the multitude.

There are words that cannot be spoken—

In silence, forever they will be unbroken.

"The Luminescence of Life"

There's a heart that yearns for more than this;
There's a life that seeks a greater bliss.
22
It is deeper than the deepest ocean,
Filled with passion and emotion.

The luminescence of life -- lost

In the frozen fields and frost --
Is far from grasp, far too distant,
Like the stars, bright and brilliant.

When wondering where or why,

The very question becomes awry,
And when considering each fact,
It resembles either artifice or artifact.

Upon further scrutiny and analysis

Of life's intellectual paralysis,
The truth appears definitively:
Minds must think inquisitively.

“The Rebirth of Love”

On your father's back, dreaming of world peace:

23
The hope of mankind, as God had designed--
The Garden of Eden to begin again,
When all of nature cheers without cease.

Yet, it is us now who fall onto your back,

Who cling to your legs, who scream and who beg.
This earth has lost its shimmer, its shine and glimmer,
Fading and falling into a heart of black.

With teachings of love and of family,

With projects of peace and of unity,
You have sought to substantiate true love,
Coalesce true life and commence true lineage.

Confusion remains and fear lurks about,

Yet, forward we go and onward we march.
Here with True Mother, we face True Father:
A “Happy Birthday!" to you we do shout

"Winter's End" 2/2/14

Frigid air freezes everywhere.

Cold nights, come ice.
Winter weather—eternal, forever.

24
Alas, the bone-chilling coldness
Fades with the seasons.
The fiery inferno, the effulgent
And luminescent—the Sun.

With the power of one, it melts me.

With the power of one, it defeats me.
With the power of one, I am done.

Liquid tears drip from my snow-face,

Falling fast across my carrot nose
And my big black buttons.
I sag sharply, like the face of old
The years run by me.

I fear for my life. Valor vanishes and the

Daunting dawn draws ever nearer.
The ball of fire, the ball of doom—
Oh it comes too soon!

My stick arms, my triple-ball body –

Rendered useless.
I am not fixed, I am not firm.
No, I am but a snowman,
And I've reached the end of my term.

~ “Opposites”
2/15/14

What is the opposite of music?

25
The melodies and harmonies turned sour,
The chords and measures resound
A discordant, strident sound.

What is the opposite of music?

Maybe it's a vacuum,
Devoid of sound--a lack
Of beauty; truth held back.

What is the opposite of music?

You would think it's deafening silence--
But the lack of a person to hear it,
Proves much more definite.

What is the opposite of wisdom?

Maybe it is knowledge of the modern;
The 'smarts' that vice one with arrogance and pomp;
To be blinded and stuck in an idiotic swamp

26
~ “Synonyms”
2/11/14

SYNONYM
Same word, similar saying, identical idea
A mirror image, matching in visage

WATER
Aqua, liquid, fluidity
A stream that never stops; a raindrop

~ “Popcorn”
2/20/14

27
 What is that familiar smell?
The sweet n' salty aroma, the
Warm and enticing persona, the
Popping, cracking, and snapping, the
Spinning, twirling, and whirling of a
Microwave craze galore pulls me in,
Wanting more, more, more!
Why, of course, it's the kettle-cooked
Popcorn shells!

~ “List” 2/24/14

28
 Pages slip past my fingertips,
Actions and deeds gain life through my lips—
Breaths of life, poisons of death
Civilizations cringing, blood flooding,
Empires rising, doom dawning,
Misery ecstasy, happiness reminiscence.

A stain, heinous and with many a face;

A sparkle, artful and with many a face;
Hidden secrets, like that which lies at
The end of a luminous-deprived, distance-driven
Tunnel—mysteries in the histories—
Of races, of men, of
Dynasties, reigns, regimes, and
Monarchies. The famous and the infamous
Both dwell in its heart of hearts. That which is
Of number and of name, knowledge with
Wisdom – all neither the same.

The tear in the page cuts me,

Drawing blood to the horrors which
Drink it: The explorers of a world,
The founders of an age,
The thinkers of a time,
The leaders of a place –
29
 The rise, the fall, like the
Dynastic Cycle of the Zhou.

Followers made leaders; leaders made followers;

Peasantry and infantry; divisions and incursions.
But...I see beauty brush my fingers,
Here and there, a decade, a century...a moment –
Specks in the epochs of historical tragedy and
Misery; of patterns in tatters, of human
Nature at its worst; of the suffering
God and His desperate thirst, for the
Specks to spread to all of humanity in
The struggle to Him and sanity.

~ “Can You Imagine?”

Seeing your children suffering—
2/26/14
not being able to end their wandering
Longing to form relationships—
30
none to kiss with your lips
Enveloping agony for eternity—
a parent's heart personally

CAN YOU IMAGINE...

Sorrow so shocking it's sickening—
children calling, beckoning
Identity crises never ceasing—
blinded without direction, chasing
Desires of falsehood and wickedness—
the hopes of all senseless
Love of truest virtue—
never capable of giving, too

CAN YOU IMAGINE...

None to receive your heart—
breathing, but not living from the start
The heart of your Heavenly Parent—
the one you cast aside and sent?

~ “I Don't Understand...” 3/6/14

I don't understand
why school is a sham
how hunger has happened
what drives the avaricious
31
 when someone can't mend
where it all began

But most of all

the eruption of corruption
the fog of ignorance
the drizzle of negativity
the wave of arrogance
the earthquake of enmity
the wildfire of seduction

What I understand most is

the purpose of life
the promise of tomorrow
the power of loving
the hope after woe
the happiness after enduring
the healing after strife

"Listen All Around" (Ekphrasis) 3/25/14

The air has a sense of musicality;

It blares with the tuba’s charge;
It vibrates with the harp’s stampede

An opera of clouds—the soft silky touch

32
Blankets the music kingdom, marching,
Moving with one accord

An element of harmony;
It sings with the small and large;
It stirs with the diversified speed

A need, an ardent instinct

For the balance of life--
The life of balance, is the great
Wonder—a most wondrous thing indeed!

A plucked string, a sound as such

A chorus-filled band, playing,
Parading with one concord

The want, the passionate desire

Thus, a discord of death--
A death of discord, is the amazing
Fear—the most fearful thing indeed!

3/12/14

"Flower"
Picturesque flower
Blossoming color spectrum

33
A rainbow effect

"Tree"
Brown trunk centers all
Thin branches soar through the sky
Roots dig deep below

34
~Senryu
3/14/13
"Food for Thought"

Hurry and be swift

35
Leave the others in the dust
The lunch line scramble

"Gold Digger"

I turn left and right—

Is anyone watching me
As I pick my nose?

36
~Tanka
3/12/14

"Persevere, my dear"

37
Glimmering beauty
Aurora Borealis
Neon brilliance
That guides our path along streams
Of iridescence supreme

11/13/13

"Light Lapse"

It forms a spiral, digging deeper and

Deeper. It journeys past birthdays
and holidays. It slides past failed

38
 tests and quizzes. It flutters, reaching

The ecstasy of a moment -- the dream of a lifetime.

It is light: it offers a helping hand when all
is lost and life slips you by.

It is sand: it drifts down an hourglass, ticking,

tocking, all the years spent frolicking.

Through life, through air, through the years of care--

It is the memory.
The light may dim, its glowing aura but a
wisp, enveloped by darkness.
Despite it all, a faint, still-presence,
Beckons it forthright.
You call, and it wanders off.

A spiral digging deeper and

Deeper, hoping to one day reach

The spring of everlasting memory!

"Out Blanked" 9/26/13

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken
glass."
—Anton Chekhov

39
I write, but all that another sees is
White—plain, dull words that have no
Shape—lost without form, without depth, a
Gap—something missing, something
Gone. I write, but something is
Wrong.

I write, but all that another hears is

Black—eloquence, melodious in the highest
Lack—monotone, boredom, with great
Profuse—imperceptible, inaudible; words
Confuse. I write, but something is
Wrong.

I write, but all that another feels is

Grey—no pain, no joy, no
Dismay—numb to the flowing
Tide—no coolness, no warmth on the
Inside—sorrow, despair, all fall by the
Wayside. I write, but something is
Wrong.

I write, but all that another tastes is

Colorless—flavor and seasoning

40
 Nothingness—saltiness, sourness, spiciness
Canned—twang, zing, and tang turned
Bland—piquancy and poignancy
Nonextant. I write, but something is
Wrong.

I write, but all that another smells is

Brown—mud, dirt, and stinky
Renown—sweet, perfumed aromas
Pall—the rancidness and putridness
Appall—sensory of the words
Smite. I write, but nothing is
Right.

~Ode to Turkey 11/27/13

"Feather Fiesta"

Fattened up, plucked of

Its feathers and its dignity. Sent
to the store--away to more
Better days.

41
 To be eaten, to be digested--
Such is the life of a turkey.
Gobbling for clemency,
Wailing for saving--
What's near and dear
Flies far and away.

The feather fiesta: festering,

Decayed, denied, decomposed.
Oh, no! Oh turkey!
How short is thy life?
But a day, a year, a decade?
No. Your succulent flesh
Is the impetus for
Butchering and carving;
For slicing and dicing;
For eating and indulging.
My highest sympathy,
regarding thee.

“Snowfall”
10/10/13

Snowflake falling down and down,

Moving slowly round and round—
Gravity pushing and pulling,
Flinging the flake of snow earthbound.

42
Leisurely lowering, not fabricating the faintest sound.

I wonder, “Will it reach me?”

Like an effulgent photon it floats –
Familiar to the breeze that blows.
Its brethren mix on in.

Snowflake falling down and down,

Moving slowly round and round--
Wind exhaling and inhaling,
Sending the flake of snow any which way.

Falling softly, not wishing to be found –

I wonder, “Will it hit me?”
For there it floats, inches away.
Its brethren disperse on out.

Snowflake falling down and down,

Moving slowly, round and round.

“Natural Doubt”
9/21/14

The trees' sheltering hands

Seem distant in time
As you travel to faraway lands,

43
Searching for some sign.

The winds' gentle touch

Now blows harshly against
Your weathered soul – such
Sorrow, sadness, torment without sense.

The Sun's welcoming warmth

Dissipates away,
And what once was a loving heart
Is now Shadow's stay.

Yet Nature's warmth, touch, and shelter

Will always reach toward you, closer and closer.

"Sunset Sphere" 12/11/14

Like the Sun, it draws the eye

With radiant shades of gold--
Gold so delicate in form,
So intricate in depth, that it

44
Is eaten, from peel to pit.

Like the Sun, it seems so high,

Light-years away. And to hold
Such a thing, so stellar in style,
So clever in thought, you need
Not ponder; just go in—eat.

Like the Sun, it does supply

Something special--and behold,
Like the Sun, so wondrous in purpose,
So generous in action, it
gives to us all, every bit.

“An Enslaved Person’s Dream” 3/14/2021

A constant feeling of trepidation
Marks my steps in anticipation
Of a greater evil ahead:
Farther along this road
To where I’m being led,

45
To where I’ve been sold.

My master strikes me with his whip,

As I had begun to slip,
Losing my footing, my place
Amongst the train of slaves—
Similar to the Auschwitz Polish Jewish race,
As they were buried into graves.

I am the wind chime of subtlety

And the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania;
I will not be classified under ‘drapetomania’.
We arrived at the plantation of some Jamestown company.
I whisper a prayer to God, hoping that 400 years from now
In 2019 my descendants will rise from my ashes—slavery disavowed and
disallowed.

“The Musical Part in Each of Us” 3/24/21

Music is more than just the notes, rhythms, and dynamics;
It is the elegant persuasion of theories and inquiries.
Music is more than just the melodies, harmonies, and ornamentations;

46
It is the Latin or Italian essences in bold and italics.
Music explodes brilliantly with histories and mysteries.
Music serenades through ever-evolving interactions.

Music evaporates silently and moves decisively.

And to what do we owe the pleasure of hearing such sounds?
We owe our lives – forever indebted to it on all justifications and grounds.

It repeats, reverberates, accentuates, and accepts itself

As a medium for grace and renown.
And as a musician, I will perform the best of myself
As a vehicle for the notes that go up and down.

"Eulogy of Oneself" 5/28/13

He's a friend indeed!
To smile just a bit brighter - -
To laugh not at, but with others - -
To always be there,
Starting the next game.

47
He's a brother, wouldn't you agree?
A proton in a sea of electrons --
A spark in an ocean of gray - -
A heart to rub with yours - -
When the rain's got you down.

He did his best -

Playing the keys to reveal,
Running the track to feel,
Writing the story to see
That his friends were always by his side.

"Chopin" 2/14/15

Ambiguous, the touch and the sound, it

Wraps around. A gentle roughness, it seems to
Bound, with colors and sounds. Chopin—
A composer unique, deserving of a crown.

48
Yet the person, one might say, is but a
Pathway. Someone who opened something,
And now we stay, listening to go the way.

"Beethoven" 2/14/15

A simple complexity, with enormous

Creativity, it lingers.
Through harmonies and melodies, a
Complex simplicity, it together strings.

49
A story of humanity, the pain and joy, it
Inspires. But through one mind did
Inspiration truly find,
Beethoven—A man in time.

“Debussy” 6/6/21
With works such as Clair de Lune and Deux Arabesques,
He imagined worlds so breathtaking and picturesque,
Never faltering, never wavering – so visionary!
He could be likened to Claude Monet or Van Gogh;
50
 Art and music are not adversaries.
For the piano he invented, for the arts he commemorated—
And for you, he has entrusted his secrets since long ago.

“Allusive and Elusive”

Annabel Lee is no longer by the sea, contested by angels and devils
indiscriminately[1]
The longing, the nostalgia for an excellent relationship
And yet subjugated by darkness’ chain and whip.
The raven may say, “Nevermore,”[2]
But I believe in possibilities, potentialities.
Like a hawk, I will soar.

51
“I am a thousand winds that blow…
The diamond glints on snow.”[3]
In a few years, I won’t be at George Mason.
You’ll look for me, saying, “Where’s that person?”
We learn through experiential interactions.
And yet why do we form needless factions?
“I accept Reality and dare not question it.”[4]

I must take each day as it comes – with dignity, honor, and grace.
I can’t expect a Prince Charming to save my life.
The friends I love will shape my constructs; it is loneliness that corrupts.
We must sacrifice to form mesmerizing harmonies, despite belonging to
countless universities.

Works Cited
Levine, Robert S., editor. The Norton Anthology of American Literature
Volume B. (United States: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2017), pp.
1-1,808.

[1] Poe, Edgar A. “Annabel Lee.” (United States, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.,
2017), 618-619. Accessed 2 March
2020.

[2] Poe, Edgar A. “The Raven.” (United States, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.,
2017), 612-615. Accessed 2 March
2020.

[3] Frye, Mary E., “Do not Stand at My Grave and Weep” (London: The Times,
1932), Wikipedia. Accessed 2 March
2020.

[4] Whitman, Walt. “Song of Myself” (United States: W.W. Norton & Company,
Inc., 2017), 1,328. Accessed 2 March
2020.

52
“F. A. L. L.”

F all, a time of awe, a time of wonder.

53
A breeze whirls all around--the leaves gently fall.

L ife seems to end when leaves lose their color.

L ittle do you know if you think life will stall.

“W. I. N. T. E. R.”

a W arbler tore across the sky, soaring

54
 I ndefinitely, with no ire toward the winter
N ear in the turning seasons.
T he frigidity offers tranquility;
E arly morning cool prompts peace to the birdie.
R est warbler, when the Sun last rests on the crest
of the new dawn!

“Growing Up and Realizing the Importance of Relationships”

55
I.
School is slavery, despite giving students freedom to voice their concerns.
School is depravity, although some don’t know what to do with their time
after it’s done.
School is egregious, since I feel like I could have founded a new theory.
School exalts the student but fails to fix our financial issues.
Why must I toil? My roots reach past the soil.
My foot marks another step. I grace the open air, bounding toward my
goals.
I am all my grandparents and great grandparents.
The path I choose for others’ sake is when I’m not fake.

Work was monotonous, despite giving a 10-minute break each time at

Dollar Tree.
Work was tedious, although some thrive in the minutia.
Work was a graveyard, and sometimes it was the graveyard shift.
Work benefited the customer but failed to help us.
Why must I stand? I didn’t belong in that land.
My data entry engendered timeliness. I graced the open air, bounding
toward my goals.
Why couldn’t I work a better job? I was stuck doing servant work. I couldn’t
continue.
I am all the hours I’ve worked.
Can I message you? I’m bored with life.
I want to stab everyone’s ego with a knife.
The courses I have represent what my knowledge will save.

II.
Lily gave me a 20th birthday card,
Zenas sometimes drove me to Youth Group,
Dahlia taught me to be carefree and to let go of my guard.
Yachan sings in the band, and I play piano – our little troop.
Kosei and I both attended George Mason.
Joong’s mom drew my face.
Christina’s family and mine celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas in
unison.
Caroline is so good at baking – she’s a real ace!
Leo sometimes drove me to college.

56
Dad paid for the remaining balances, but I will pay him back.
Mom drove me to college and piano practice, allowing me to learn notes
and the consequent solfege.
Owin taught me how to keep up my online presence and gave me his
backpack.
I’m now a Wyzant tutor,
And I don’t want to grow up any sooner!

“Rainbow Spectrum: How We’ve Overcome” 1/15/22

What’s it like for me to be LGBTQ+?

What? You don’t have a clue?
Let’s begin with how we have varying identities,
57
Interlaced with gender[s] & sexualities.

We were one of the targeted groups in the Holocaust,

But we rose above the wicked permafrost.
We have varying degrees of religious and/or political acceptance across
The globe, but what matters is that our educations & careers give
Us the dignity that overflows and cascades down each of our
Graduation robes.

We mobilized our activists in New York for the Stonewall riots,

While all throughout the years we laid down red roses and blue violets
For the LGBTQ+ victims from suicide and homicide—both being
Caused by negative societal pressures that mentally crystalized.

To the future we must look, as LGBTQ+ couples & families have

Blossomed!
The dreams that were taken and the hearts that were forsaken
Will no longer let these tears be in vain;
For once and for all, we must stand tall;
We must break free from the pain, relinquishing the malign chain
That tore us apart. Let LGBTQ+ virtuosity be our art!

Dressing up in layers of makeup and costumes—known as drag—

58
Filling up each space and room with colorful decorations and balloons,
We raise high the prismed rainbow flag. Celebrities have come
Out of the closet in droves:

Jojo Siwa, Raven-Symoné, Kaylee Bryant, Josh Cavallo, Carl Nassib,

David Archuleta, & Joshua Bassett—the roles they play in their
Movies, Shows, occupations, sports events, videos, and/or songs
Will find Harmony in their everyday reality.

They have found where they belong,

And I hope you will, too,
As the lives we live and the people we love can give inspiration.
It just takes a little sprinkle of imagination…

“The Disabilities In Our Societies” 1/15/22

What’s it like for me to be mentally/emotionally disabled?
I know some of us don’t like to be labeled.

59
I had many malign incidents and experiences that contributed to my
Diagnosis: with episodes and a lot of psychosis.

Yet, I’ve been religiously taking my anti-psychotic medication,

So there is no need for you to cast me out into damnation.

Therapy, safety plans, surveys, appointments—

I’ve learned a lot with gratitude and few disappointments.

My therapists and Case Manager have filled me with renewed hope:

Alex Miller, Nicole Kazuba, Renata Dawm, Conrad Smith, Natasha
Semple, Shanice White, and Rene Ernest.

I’ve learned how to stay optimistic and how to cope, regulating my

Emotions and maintaining my spiritual pillar—not being a public
Nuisance yet being a nonconformist.

Mental health is trendy now, and I’m glad that it is receiving the
Attention it deserves.

We must move forward somehow and let care, compassion, and

Camaraderie be our momentum and what each of us preserves.

60
And as for me, I’m fine. Please don’t be so concerned.
I no longer feel trapped or cornered.
I’m doing my best amidst this pandemic,
And I pray that we all do not panic.

“Spring” 2/14/22

S unlit greenery has in many ways become neglected from its

former glory, a morning glory of golden phoenixes, to a state
beyond repair: decayed, denigrated, and dilapidated.

61
P owerful Gaia is perturbed by the ways in which humankind
has faltered from their position within the framework of Her
promises to the demigods, as they move in accordance with the
austere hand of greed.

R ecollections of dancing in the gardens with Her

Grandchildren—Poseidon, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, Ares,
Hades, Hephaestus, Demeter, Dionysus, Hestia, Zeus, Hera,
Hermes, Artemis—

I nvoke within Her a silent conviction of what must be done

across temporal limitations and impudent delineations for the
sake of each child and each family: plant every new seed.

N emo mortalium omnibus horis sapit1

G iver of life, Gaia dissipates Her spirit as She embraces

each photosynthetic species to allow for all types of bountiful,
beautiful, and resplendent plants: among others, lilies, tulips,
roses, & hibiscuses.

“Summer” 2/14/22

S corching heat on the beach, sunburnt sand ever flows

and falls off our clothes down an hourglass.

1
The translation is; “of mortal men, none is wise at all times.”

62
U nderstanding what my future holds in store for me, I
have fun during this time, this vacation, at this
destination, and yet…
M ore doubts, denials, and depravities efface my
essence, relapsing me into a state of shock and
cleithrophobia.

M y sister reaches for the sunscreen, giving me a

reassuring smile that can end my isolating thoughts and
my inopportune impasse.

E vermore I gain energy as I, too, enter the water,

ascertaining the depths of my fears that I then let go and
the heights of my goals that I now set.

R enouncing my former self, I laugh as we depart

from the beach—my psychological synapses uniting in
concert for a new brain, a new me, a new amygdala.

63
“Transitory Trance” 5/11/14

Potpourri music sounds on high:

The car’s stereo radio.
Cyclonic winds whirl wistfulness
Away — sent on a journey’s sigh.

Leaning—head up high, feet down low,

And you know? The barbecue scents,
The grassy rural expanses
Freshly mowed—scenes revolve like Earth—
Transient images—moments:
Crystalline, yet fluid here—
Linger like mildew on turf.
Nature’s breath: aroma potence.

You turn your head to the rear:

The window’s uniform glass gaze
Reveals an infinite highway
Past all that proves but a haze
To this memory, that it may.

“A Grandmother’s Heart” 3/30/2022

Taking a stroll down memory lane,

I remember when life used to be as sweet as nectarines,
When I would say, “Good morning!” to Cynthia or Elaine—
Those ladies high up in society, as though they were queens,
Working in government offices and corporate centers

64
And celebrating their children’s birthdays in Novembers and Septembers.

Now, they have aged, like me, and we sit in a nursing home.
I wonder if we had any impact on our clients and customers
And when our prayers will be answered by God, our pastors, and Rome.
We play chess or Bingo in our United Kingdom as Londoners.
It can be sad when our relatives only visit us once or twice every August,
But we remain hopeful about our situations with our life savings, which are by no
means modest.

I laugh at Cynthia, because she is wearing a pink polka dot outfit,

Looking like some sort of crazy clown—perhaps the Joker from Batman.
We talk about how Mr. Wright has become the new CEO of our former company
And how he hired someone to be his new secretary: Ms. Schmidt.
We feel as though that is a shame because someone else seemed more qualified to
be the CEO with her accolades: the Red Cross volunteer and Oxford graduate, Mrs.
Elize Yan.
In any matter, we still find hope for the future of this world, as well as for our
children and grandchildren who live upcountry.

“Bright Yellow Smiley Face Emoji” 4/20/22

Why does no one understand my artistic talent?

Must I aim to get all of my poetry under a patent?
Some say that I have a victim complex,
While others say, “Bye,” on Tinder or click next.

Would it be too much to ask to have civil conversations?

65
Sometimes, I hear birds chirping like my old website’s premise,
While other times I hear the ruinous remnants of news orations.
Am I just Bigfoot, a yeti, or some other sort of menace?

In my heart, there is a bright yellow smiley face emoji

That can perceive the extent of someone’s sincerity.
When we hyper-analyze and are hypersensitive,
We lose sight of our original relative:

God, Who has been here all along,

Looking at every angle and identity,
Singing His iridescent and phosphorescent song,
Living within each of us with omnipresent serenity.

However, there is another who lives in the vicissitudes:

When our smiles turn to jeers and when actualized is each Grimm lore,
When our friendliness and empathy end with antagonistic rapport,
That insidious fellow resides in the midst of these altering attitudes.

Who are we to admonish or admire?

The singular feeling will not burn in fire;
It will be launched into space, far across the ends of the human race—
For life is merely a popularity contest: to see who can do things the best.

“A Hydrangea, Sunflower, and Pansy” 4/21/2022

Circular petals of a hydrangea
Can grow in shades of purple and blue,

66
Reminding me of my friends, Samantha and Leah,
Who oft prayed for me when the malady passed through.

Triangular petals of a sunflower

Decay by the Swiss bakery’s entrance
With my kindnesses disappearing hour by hour—
Never will I ever regain my former reflection’s semblance.

A painter’s brushstroke encapsulated in each pansy

Emboldens me to find the truth behind life’s torturous moments.
I dare say that what once made me smile is now only cacophony.
Yet, here I am, and forever shall I embrace each petal of myself—all of my components.

“Oh, the Indignation!” 4/21/2022

“Who are we to judge?” asks every ‘righteous’ individual who

Then turns around to his/her friends with a few snide tweets.
“Who are we to care?” asks every ‘indifferent’ individual who
Then is most easily offended at the least offensive conversational beats.

67
“Who are we to take a side?” asks every ‘unopinionated’ person who
Never seems to realize the injustices in society.
“Who are we to hold grudges?” asks every privileged person who
Never once considered their own lack of anxiety.

For you see, the ends do not justify the means;

How things are accomplished matter just as much as why things are done.
“Impeach Trump! Fight for equality! Get your vaccines!”
Is this really not understandable, or do you only want to have fun?

“What All of Us Want & Need” 4/25/2022

I want to let bygones be bygones, and yet I hold on to the most hurtful memories.

I want to shed my slimy snakeskin, and yet I supposedly am still just a baby.

68
I need to be microscopically minimalistic, and yet I still ache for more amenities.

I need to dismiss my amoral attractions, and yet I can never compete with Karen or Katy.

You want to be validated and vindicated, and yet others find ways to raise your temper.

You want to be trusted and treasured, and yet some people never appreciate your eccentricities.

You need to be confident and consistent, and yet your peers think of you as a lamenter.

You need to be empowered and embracive, and yet a few believe you have too many felicities.

We want to find our purpose in each tree, leaf, or flower,

And yet the infectious insects only want to devour.

We want to be cognizant of tomorrow, next week, and next year,

And yet we lose everyone who had ever been near and dear.

We need to invite God & productivity into our lives in every season,

And yet there are always tough tasks that never reach completion.

Although we are not, we say we’re fine, okay, good, or well.

But I know that you can make big waves in society: a groundswell!

69
 “Laborious Proportions” 4/25/2022

The moment of worry will soon pass by.

Let every tear fall and each person sigh.

Our superiors eye us with glittering expectancies

To fulfill the mountainous missions amidst our trajectories.

Our families yearn for a cornucopia each day—not only on Thanksgiving;

Otherwise, their religious realizations will become unforgiving.

Our friends yearn for hangouts at the mall, park, or restaurant;

Otherwise, their political preferences will become not what you want.

In time, they’ll all understand why you speak and act like you do.

Until then, work hard for your goals—I’m sure they’ll come true!

“Healing Begins with Dialogue” 5/4/2022

Sometimes, whom you love will disappear,

When you only act in fear.

70
Sometimes, whom you hate will bite you back,

Like a crazy snake attack.

However, I will use each coping mechanism

To try to deflect the homophobia and ableism

That almost always make their mark in my heart,

That almost always make me feel like a broken piece of art.

Breathing, walking, and listening to music—

These are three that prove to be very therapeutic.

Talking, writing, and reading—

These three guide me towards my goals with each meeting.

Find yourself, reconstruct yourself, and love yourself.

This cannot be overemphasized enough.

Take charge of your mental health.

Your spirit will be an iridescent photon—a pink puff!

“Animal Kingdom: Meeting at the Wild Wisteria” 5/6/2022

The penguin incubates its precious eggs,

And the ostrich has the longest legs.

71
The swan monogamously mates.

When carcasses appear, each vulture congregates.

A crocodile rests just below the water’s surface,

A chameleon appears rather amorphous,

A hyena’s jaws can break bones,

And a frog makes ribbits, croaks, and groans.

Humans strive, shine, and smile,

Despite decades of distress and denial.

Humans wonder, worry, and wait

For others to agree with every debate.

When the meteoroids streak across the sky,

We make a wish with eyes closed and hands clasped.

The Animal Kingdom will then softly reply:

“Find serenity with everything that you are tasked.”

“Grieving Is a Lachrymose Process” 5/6/2022

To grieve is to writhe and contort in pain,

To feel as though there is nothing more to gain.

When the clock strikes twelve, you lose hold of reality,

72
Letting dark thoughts cloud your memory.

The brightness of nostalgia offers clarity;

Reminiscing of pasts brings longevity.

In time the teardrops will be liquidated;

The bond lives on—never to be dilapidated.

You find comfort in each photograph and letter:

The unconnected dots on your timelines.

Your friends say, “It’ll get better.”

You watch YouTube, looking for signs

To remember what life used to be like—

When Summer was the season and the friend,

When nothing good would ever end—

With each shopping excursion and nature hike.

“What’s It Like to Be on the Dating Market?” 5/13/2022

What’s it like being stood up?

It is as if I’m being looked down on,

As if my face did not have enough makeup,

73
As if my body did not have enough brawn.

What’s it like being rejected?

It is as if this was already expected,

As if we were already destined to be disconnected,

As if your detestation was already detected.

What’s it like for someone to swipe left for me?

It is as though I had earned a B,

As if I were a bulldozed or chopped-down tree,

As if I were just a weirdo or a banshee.

What’s it like for you to be so popular?

I don’t want to be a gossiper,

But I’m sure you have much relational success,

For you must not have as much of this type of stress.

“The Specks of Nature” 5/11/2022

Each drop of oceanic sand

Will slowly find its way onto land.

Each crinkled, crumpled leaf

74
Will certainly fall down surface drainages—

Each road’s teeth.

Each frigid, frozen snowflake

Will gently create ceremonial mounds

On every car, roof, and lake.

Scattered, dispersed petals

Will become the nutrients for

Another plant’s sepals.

This matter is non-negotiable;

Nature is unquenchable.

Find hope in that which is simple:

Each human’s smile, complexion, and dimple.

“An Ode to Nihilism” 5/13/2022

There’s nothing more to look for.

From the start, you’ve had everything in your heart.

There’s nothing more to read;

You already have the scholastic seed.

75
There’s no need for friends;

Life is full of dead ends.

There’s no need for goals;

Each one will only be filled with holes.

Life is full of hopelessness,

Pain, sorrow, and evanescence.

I feel imbued with years of wretchedness.

How can I ever be saved from life’s putridness?

I’m not angry at you but at what all of us have become.

I’m not angry at her but at how each of her children is a bum.

I’m not angry at him but at the fact that he does nothing while

some of his relatives and friends live in a slum.

We can do better. We deserve better:

Life with clear skies, bright sun rays—

Perfect weather.

If not now, then forever hold your peace.

Peace out, and this speech will now cease.

76
“When Stars & Stripes Decay” 6/29/2022

The bald eagle gets ungraciously hunted down.

Our small children can only frown.

Where is our Western civilization heading?

We were happy during our whimsical white wedding.

77
The “unrivaled” fifty stars of the United States

Are quickly falling to suffer chaotic fates.

We are sinking into the oceanic depths, like Atlantis,

As sea urchins prick us and as water snakes hiss.

We are being covered by volcanic ash, like Pompeii,

As none of our words are effectual, no matter what we say.

The thirteen stripes expanded with westward movements,

But we forgot how to savor the magical and patriotic moments:

Like when Pocahontas and John Rolfe met

Or the Boston Tea Party’s theme of disregarding British “etiquette”—

Or like when Robert Fulton made the steamboat

Or when factory-working children made each shirt, pant, and coat.

They wiped their brows with the sweat of their labors,

Never forgetting to love their neighbors.

“In the Fold” 6/15/2022

You need to rest to pass the test.

No one will know how far you’ll go.
No one will see what you can be.

78
When hope is gone, no joy is won.
When people cry, when people die,
We must look up and raise our cup,

Fold the corners, end the tortures.

We need new faces and new races.
We will all join hands as we enter new lands.

“A Farewell to Modernity” 10/7/2022

People will only show what they want you to see.

They will never show you any vulnerability.
People will surround themselves with mountains of artificiality.
We will never see their true reality or identity.

79
Halloween is all year-round with everyone wearing masks and disguises.
We will never perceive beyond their gregarious guises.
Life makes sense to those who control it,
While Death keeps weaving the threads of fate—to stitch and knit.

Love’s requiem is unrequited and unrequired.

Introversion is the adaptation to get hired.
Joy’s dance is not awesome but awkward.
All we hear are the screeches and caws of each busy bumptious bird.

Productivity necessitates silence,

While bliss requires energetic moments.
We are measured by how interesting we can be.
Sometimes, we give up this game for eternity.

“What an Adult Is to Me” 10/11/2022

Being an adult is about more than having a car and house.

80
It is about more than having a loving, intimate spouse.

Being an adult is about forming your own beliefs.

It is not about surpassing all leaders and chiefs.

An adult is about giving children a gentle reminder.

It is about being fairer, wiser, and kinder.

Soon, we’ll be mature, responsible adults,

And I will never point out your mistakes or faults.

Your humble heart will serve the family and community.

Soon, citizens will look up to you as the cornerstone of society.

“Compliments Are Like Candy” 10/27/2022

Compliments are like baked desserts and pieces of candy.

Children and adults alike eat them and will feel full and dandy.

A “Wonderful performance!” will be equivalent to a caramel soufflé.

An “Excellent story!” will be tantamount to a lemon sorbet.
A “Cute outfit!” will be the same as a strawberry gateau.
And a “Handsome smile!” will be the same as a plump marshmallow.
81
An “Interesting idea!” will be the replica of a croquembouche.
A “Marvelous interpretation!” will be the same as a raspberry mousse.
A “Fine comparison!” will be like a berry parfait.
An “Impressive talent!” will be like a crème anglaise.

A “Nice house!” will be reminiscent of a Swiss roll.

A “Cool car!” will be similar to a sweet potato casserole.
Compliments are like tasty, delectable treats.
Let us try to say more and give the whole world sweets.

“Momentous Musicality & Superb Spirituality” 11/1/2022

Music heals the heart and mends the mind,

With new secrets that we shall find.
Melodies light the way on our path —
To go beyond the devil’s wrath;

God’s love for you and me shines brightly,

And our worst fears shall evaporate nightly.
God’s grace drops like rain with purification,
And angelic hymns burst with a rainbow incantation.

82
The fields of tender tulips and radiant roses
Remind me of God’s promise to Noah and Moses.
To forge a new way and cultivate our calm communities and happy homes,
May our ancestors form a protective barrier for each of us — silver domes.

No child or adult will be left behind.

Goodness and empathy forever we seal and bind.

“The Seven Sacrilegious Sins” 1/9/2023

Envy is when you want your neighbor’s possessions, abilities, or friendships.

Lust is when you want to kiss every pleasant person with your lips.

Gluttony is when you eat a lot of carrot cakes and blueberry pies.
Pride is when you believe that only you’re right and others tell lies.

83
Wrath is when you pursue revenge and fulfill a grudge’s cause and desire.
Greed is when you value currencies and are the most prolific buyer.
Sloth is resting on a billowy bed as though you’re out of breath, like a flat tire.

Sins are manageable and preventable.

Try your best to stay clear and stable.

“The Stars and I”

84
Here is this lonely life that I live
With no one to love and nothing to give.
The stars grow obscured by the endless clouds.
I, too, am indistinguishable from the constant crowds.

My heart grows weak and weary

From tasks and chores that are boring and dreary.
My eyes cannot stay open for long
When lullabies find me with every accessed song.

I was cast out of the palace halls and garden gates,

Never to be smitten by lovers or mates.
I was sent to work in the factories and trenches,
Where none smile with only screwdrivers and wrenches.

The deep sadness I have is deeper than the ocean,

For life’s lessons keep going in a never-ending motion.
No one stays around for a long time,
For people like to be with experiences sublime.

The goals and objectives of productive citizens

Are foolish and selfish according to my 20/20 lens.
In hindsight, we can notice the truths of our pasts,
With foresight, we hope to make sure each opportunity lasts.

I walked through the snowy woods and the heat-stricken deserts,

And I ambled through the loudest parties and thickest concerts.
I wondered where I belonged in this world of popularity,
As the young and the old grow restless from expected amity.

“A Royal Cook”

85
The duke of York told me to leave his presence,
So I exited towards the hydrangeas’ essence.
In the back gate, I walked out unceremoniously,
Feeling saddened at my departure ignominiously.

The duke of York was a man with a bowler hat,

Who carried a cane and walked with a hunch.
He loved his pedigree pets — a beagle and a Tabby cat.
Adoringly, he ate Greek olives and mozzarella cheese at every lunch.

I remembered the drama of the royal court,

Where jesters and eunuchs acted out their roles.
Were their actions for fun or just in good sport?
And yet my heart continued to feel wide gaping holes.

As for me, I was just a humble cook,

Who was just a peasant pawn and not a royal rook.
I wondered why I suffered in such a way
That made me feel as though I had gone astray.

The feelings of forlorn and forgetfulness

Made me question my identity and usefulness.
I wandered towards the monuments and structures
Of royalty and regality that gave the poor lectures

Of what to do and what to think,

To never let go of morals nor sink
Into the depths of Hell or the devil’s desires,
To only appease our lords and sires.

86
The draconian dragons’ breaths gave me renewed energy
To find a new guild and gain new synergy.
I donated my royal garb and attire,
Forgetting my anguish and ire.

87
“The Perfect Photograph” 3/2/2023 Read the first two lines before every line
or every other line in the following stanzas, except the final two lines.

People want to take the perfect photograph

To capture each moment of when they smile and laugh…

As she attends the pomp & patriotic graduation

Or as she has her wished-for wedding celebration.
With Halloween costumes, pumpkin flavors, & autumn leaves
Down the road you travel, like a river, as it meanders and weaves.

As they are going to eat tasty tarts or drink luscious lattes

In metropolitan maps, suburban spaces, & crowded cafes.
Near King Louis VII’s grave, the Louvre, & the Eiffel Tower
Surrounded by their favorite pink or purple flower.

As they patiently save for a used Hyundai Sonata

Or as they make a yellow cheesy omelette and potato frittata.
As he has an anniversary with a lovely lady
Or as the midwives deliver a boisterous baby.

Wearing new semi-formal, business casual outfits

Or with the seeds of a watermelon and cherry pits.
As your pretty pet does terrific tricks
And as the dog or cat plays, spins, and licks.

88
As you publish the final edition of your new, nifty novel
Or as you witness the skills of your child being a prodigy and marvel.
Your loved ones care about you, even when you are depressed,
For God is gentle and grants safe passage so you may be blessed.

89
“Transcendental Trips” 4/25/2023

Pecan pie, pumpkin bread, & strawberry wafers

Colleagues, co-workers, friends, & staffers.

Life seems nice with coffee & ice.

Crumbly cookies, caramel drops, & eclectic eclairs
Give you a jolt of joy going up Heaven’s stairs.

Taste buds absorb carbs — fiber & glucose —

Sensations that are gigantically grandiose.

Enjoying a pretty picnic with lemonade in the

afternoon sun,
Believing that all of life’s problems will be over and done.

Yet, the omens of intrepid traps from tyrants

Make all of us appear like puny pawns & ants.

An idyllic wonder, a grand occasion —

No more plunder, an end to confusion.

90
In the digital era, we all can be
Abandoned abruptly without any prior notification —
Several tears fall like the tsunami’s inundation.

The Great Resignation

Is an increase in attrition:
An end to competition
For any professional position.

Just get the job done,

And you can have your favorite type of fun.

For instance…Natural landmarks galore!

The winding Nile River delta
And the domineering Mt. Everest —
Swim across, climb higher —
Only then can you finally rest.

The engraved stonework of Mt. Rushmore

And the polished copper of the Statue of Liberty
Are part of your oath for American folklore —
To your noble nation — patriotism & duty!

Entwined with collaborative culture

From the death-defying cinemas —

91
Find refuge in the varied genres —
Of known fact & enigmas.

Your goals, contacts, & passions

Are part of a whole — God’s missions.

Go through the sinking sands —

Past the prickly cacti and mirages.
Find your Vrbo or Airbnb lands—
Places for rest: rental lodges.

“Promises of Friendship & Woes of Leadership” 5/28/2023

My innate curiosity for stable camaraderie or quick estrangement

Determines the power of verisimilitude or cancerous ventriloquism.
The goals of public equality and diversity eclipse our own betterment.
Do I admire those farthest away in stardom or others for nepotism?

A bite or squeeze of a fresh citrus slice of orange or lemon

92
Sparks intercultural feuds about who is a friend or felon?
The rebellious renegade or the sensationalist outlaw?
The red-shouldered hawk or the multi-colored macaw?

The only way to figure out your alliance or coalition

Is to know who gets a green light and who must yield.
One slight critique alters one’s plus to a subtraction —
A partial infraction of one’s program or degree field.

Still dissatisfied by keratin & conversational dead ends,

One must reach out with caution, as a tree outward bends,
Still confused about who is out of the closet or not,
One should sense the silences of each comma and dot.

I wonder which affiliation people are on in the political spectrum:

Which notable non-profit to donate to, which movement to join?
Do they love superheroes, forsythias, Uggs, consent, and rum?
Do they support Gov. Grisham or Iowa’s one in Des Moines?

Yet, to have a faithful partner, a devoted spouse,

Proves ever elusive like the Tom & Jerry mouse —
Not knowing the dendritic neurons & frenetic ions
By which the commerce of friendship spawns.

93
“Wishing for Wagner” 9/29/2023

Eyes of cerulean blue and skin of beige brown—

My Prince Charming is there off in Fairfax town.
Educated from the dignified Charlottesville in the University of Virginia,
He studied under the appellate judge & editor-in-chief Aurora Esmeralda.

From the family crest of Wagner and origins in Dresden,

He works in Amazon’s headquarters in Arlington.
His maternal side also is British; he’s been to the Big Ben,
And he has friends who live in knightly Kensington.

His favorite sports for exercise are swimming, golf, & volleyball—
Where rainbow trout splash, cardinals whistle, and deer prance.
Together, we’ll live through Winter, Spring, Summer, & Fall,
If only I had the courage to ask him to the Homecoming Dance.

My Instagram girlfriends tell me that a lot of people flirt with him,

And he sometimes is clueless about the seductive spies’ romantic advances,
As well as oblivious to his fans’ numerous stares and glances.
His name isn’t Samuel, William, Chris, Luke, Connor, or Tim.

94
I stayed at home after the Covid-19 pandemic, planting flowers in my garden.
The news of Swift, Underwood, & Beyonce concerts reached my feed,
But I am alone—melancholy, condemned, & anguished—with a hibiscus seed.
I fall down, perishing and hyperventilating—he won’t be mine, not now or then.

95