Monthly Archives: April 2020

WHEN THE TYRANT APPEARS

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When the most insistently religious
Completely die to their Christian faith.

When fiery conservative political warriors
Reject all their previous ideological convictions.

When our country has lost all memory
Of its once hopeful-desperate founding.

That’s when a tyrant, sneakily, blusterly, appears –
Fortunately, pretty inept – for now.

When regular people start dressing in white satin robes and bright red hats
Wildly cheering errant nonsense.

When a once great political party
Transforms into a lick-bottom.

When noble visions are no longer retrievable
Because, now, a large minority of Americans “just don’t give a damn.”

That’s when the terrible tyrant will unveil himself
Decked out in his loudest bronze dog-meat face.

FACES

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When is a face not a face?
— When it’s frozen in place.

When is a face invisible?
— While looking inward.

When is a face the same as all other faces?
— In crowds.

When can one’s face expect to be replaced by God’s face?
— Only through grace.

When will you fall in love with another face?
— Once in a lifetime.

How remember what your face really looks like?
— By refusing to look into mirrors.

What does your face look like in a dream?
— Nothing, you can’t see your own face, you can only see other faces.

What does the wisest face that ever lived look like?
— Certainly not a clay-fired Buddha.

Does your face ever laugh?
— Only when tripping over itself.

What sex or gender is your face?
— Either or Both –

In other words, a face that’s just been born
— Which looks a lot like God’s pre-religion “Face.”

MY NAME IS SURPRISE

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One problem with religion is its construction
Of sandcastles in the desert –
Waiting for successors to knock them all down.

Another trouble with religion is its professionalization –
Because only amateurs are authorized
To take off their clothes in public.

Then, with religions, there are “splits”
Where the fiercest enemy is a sizable portion of its former self –
Flying arrows – hearts turning black.

The final trouble with religion is the killing off of founders
Because founders, like Jesus, the Buddha, and Mohammed,
Are still too alive to be turned into museum sculptures –
So alive, that everyone runs away screaming:
“They’re alive – watch out – better yet – run!”

Of course, running out into the lonely night,
Eventually, you have to stop, turn around, and start to relax –
But it’s really not so bad without post-founder institutions to believe in –
After all, that feeling of freedom is wonderful!

My heart starts doing jumping jacks
In my chest
Out my mouth.

My name is “Surprise” –
Just don’t try sneaking up on me!

BLAZING BEAUTY

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How is it possible to grow more beautiful while aging,
Especially given all the recent dimming
Of eyes, ears, teeth, feet – even balance?

Is it only our memories that are getting somewhat sweeter,
Especially the recent ones?

Those recent memories – the brand-new ones –
Having just been born –
Are certainly the easiest to grasp.

Primarily, it’s increasing gentleness that I have recently begun to accept –
Especially a gratitude for small gifts –
The unexpected ones, that aging’s been providing me with.

I think a certain kind of beauty does arrive with age – but mostly from the outside –
A beauty we might never have noticed before
That we can carefully turn and store inside ourselves.

It goes without saying that this kind of beauty constituted the original name of God.

So, as we get older, it’s our ability to accept God,
Along with God’s primary attributes – love, truth, justice, beauty and freedom –
That’s the source of any and all blazing beauty in our lives.