Upon The Passing Of The Senor Jose Salazar

That's all he did

Just work and support

His wife and children

And enjoy life.

The Senor kept

His pleasures simple.

The man didn't have much,

Didn't ask for much.

But was far wealthier

And richer than many

Other men I may know.

He and his family took us

In as their own.

We grew up together,

Laughed together, cried together.

Watched our own children

Born and grow.

We ate at his table, shared

His food, and sheltered

In his house full of love.

He reared and taught us all

The best way he knew how.

The Senor Salazar has passed

On but not his passion and love.

Luxury Of Peace And Quiet

All I want is some peace and quiet,
Is that too much to ask?
No drama or bullshit
Or putting me to task.

Noise plus noise
Does not equal quiet.
Neither does shouting over
The TV or computer.

No degree of tranquility,
So I stay home on sundays
And don't go to church
So I can get some peace and quiet.

When you and the girls leave
I sit and listen to the stillness,
To the house, the windchimes out front.
It's pure luxury for a bit.

Stereo system went out in the truck
Over a year ago and still not replaced.
What the hell for! I'll find some peace
And quiet on the road alone.

When I get to watch a movie
And actually enjoy the film
Uninterrupted, oh the joy
Of the picture!

Sometimes it's simply a
Cup of coffee and the newspaper.
Sometimes it's reading silently
Or praying my rosary unhurried.

Just simple peace and quiet
Without TV or computer or
Anything, pure and simple.
Oh, the luxury!

Through Heaven's Gate

"Estoy esperando a tu pappa."

My grandmother's voice clearly

Calls in my tia's dream.

The waiting is now over.

Grandma and grandpa are together

Again after 50 years apart.

"What took you so long?"

I'm certain my grandmother

Asks as she escorts him

Into heaven to share eternity.

My grandfather answers her,

"Mirar Maria, look at the children

You gave me. See how they have

Grown and look at their children and theirs."

"I know." she responds.

"It's time for us to go in now."

Coffee With Grandpa

Sharing a cup of coffee
With my grandfather,
My one last living elder,
Now in a nursing home.

It's an early sunday morning
And I'm just getting out of
Work at the hospital
After a 12 hour night shift.

Sharing this time and coffee,
Black with just a bit of sugar,
Might be the only comfort I
May be able to offer him today.

Left alone in this place
By his other family,
It's my privilege, my duty,
My pleasure, to just visit.

I doze off on the couch,
He dozes off in his wheelchair,
The coffee grows cold, I get up to go home.
"See you next time around, grandpa."

Family Service

One cousin to Iraq

And another just recently returned.

My families youth and pride

Expended on another war.

Some on their third or fourth tour!

Most of us have served or are serving,

A few of us still bear the scars.

Return my cousins and countrymen home!

When will the price be paid

In full this time around?

When will the bleeding stop

And the healing begin again?

What does the nation have to show for the effort

Except for the ranks of the survivors;

Men and women having honorably served,

Now broken inside and out.

Best I Can Hope For

If God is merciful

I'll die cradled in your arms,

Surrounded by our daughters

And their own families.

In my own bed,

In my own house.

It may be the best

I have to hope for.

A Lovely Afternoon

Sharing cups of warm herbal tea

And a friendly game of chess

On the patio over cigarettes

And each others company.

Enjoying the afternoon after

Sharing and enjoying each other

On your living room carpet.

( I love what you've done with

The room and with me!)

Oh, the wonderful poetry written

With our bodies all over each other!

( Your tongue, your kisses, music of your moans, mmm!)

It's the most pleasant afternoon

I've shared with anyone in a very long time.

A Kiss

I embrace her towel wrapped form

Pulling her close to me.

We're both wet from her hottub,

Joining our lips in a kiss in her kitchen.

"My God, again! You need a twenty

Year old nymphomaniac!" she exclaims.

We grab a couple of ice cold beers

And adjourn to the den.

My Lament

Where is my happiness?

Not happy at home or work or play.

Am I to be perpetually unhappy?

I feel so alone and crave company

Even when I'm with you.

When I'm with you, I want to get away

Or you'll push me away or isolate me.

You'll focus on anything else but me.

When I'm away and alone I miss my children

And even you on your better days.

Then I feel guilty and empty.

What am I to do?

We're living two seperate lives

Beneath one roof and call it a marriage.

I'm tired of being guilty, hurt, alone,

Fighting, isolated!

I'm tired of feeling tired!

A melancholiness and lonliness

Burn inside of me where romance

And inspiration once blazed!

Watching You Walk

Left, left, left, right left!

I have all night to admire you!

Twelve hours of pure visual pleasure

For my professional enjoyment!

0600 is going to roll around soon enough

And I won't like to watch you go

But I sure like to watch you sashay

Through the door and out the gate

Until the next time.

Keep walking a few steps in front

Of me and slow down some!

Mea Culpa

Mea culpa, mea culpa!
Mea maximum fucking culpa!
I and I alone am responsible!