Catching Up

I am tired of your complaints
your envy and emptiness
when I am here before you
thinking I was once grateful
to be meeting you again

Surround Yourself with Positive People

we speak of movies
perhaps books we have read
friends we will meet

but when no longer face-to-face
even the questions cast off
their disguised
blunt edges

we riposte sly jabs at
another life we idealize
but abandon
when we see the cracks

Kindness

Two frightened souls meet
Wanting to give without greed
Kindness sans envy

Envy Not Thy Neighbor

The people peep into keyholes
Into parlors laden with roses
The finest china
And souvenirs from far off places
In this dim glimpse
It is too easy to imagine happiness
Dwelling like a dream
And ashamed they hurry away
Shawls or coats pulled tight
Never daring to knock on the front door
Never hearing the arguments on the second floor
Never knowing the unwashed garments piling in the laundry room
The children slamming doors and pouting
The worm-eaten peonies
That the mistress of the house sobs over
In the barren garden behind the white picket house

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