I am a 71 year old, retired, police and fire dispatcher for the city of San Francisco. I have known from adolescence that I am a poet, but I largely put off writing poetry until I felt compelled by circumstances This moment of recognition was a terrible way to fall awake. I started writing seriously, if sporadically, in 2007. The purpose of building a web site for the poetry is not to promote it, but to acknowledge it by preserving it.
While I am primarily a narrative poet, I wanted a version of this poem that was lyric poetry. I might well be able to publish this version. * Dedicated to Dr. Stephen Gould And For Alla Gallagher * * The violin case open in front of him is empty of alms. Unlike others here in the station, … More The Violinist, 2nd Iteration
I encountered two poems in college that have haunted me my entire life. Years ago, I wrote “Pax Aeterna,” my response to Sylvia Plath’s masterpiece, “Mystic.” I have finally written my response to the masterpiece by Rainer Maria Rilke, “Going Blind.” * The violinist was a young black man I continually encountered at Civic Center … More The Violinist, 1st Iteration
I wanted to write a response to the masterpiece by Yeats, “The Wild Swans at Coole.” Nonetheless, my style owes more to Gerard Manley Hopkins. This is one of my best poems. * Dedicated to William Butler Yeats And For Alla Gallagher * My fourth retreat is a nest of old memories. I search for … More The Missing Peace
* As I started writing this poem, I did not believe it was any good. In fact, I thought it was one of the worst things to come from my pen. It certainly is unusual. But as I persisted, I gradually discerned this piece was the opposite of what I perceived initially. I now think … More The Missing Piece: Beginning, Finale and Codas
Months have passed since your passing. As I decide to write this poem, Through the window, I finally see A hummingbird sip from the nectar In Thumbelina’s cup, Wired to a tip of the grate. A good omen, this! I am grateful. * * While the hospital was a hell for you, Hospice was not. Nonetheless, Toward the … More Forever
As I reached for a door, about to leave the ward, The words of his distress pierced my hearing, On their way to a stab of my heart. “I can’t understand why I can’t go home with you.” I turned to catch the look on his face. * I patiently reiterated the truths of our … More Together
Stanza 8 is new. * Dedicated to my beloved husband, Floyd Russell Taylor * Once again, upon a weekend time, we shook off the city. As always, by Friday, it felt like a fur drenched in wet. At first, we motored through the fog, then, across the Golden Gate And into the sun, the fun … More Mary’s Garden/3rd Iteration
I did not succeed in drafting a second, much more succinct version of this poem. But this may be better than the original. Let me highlight the most significant changes: Stanza 2 “It was fitting that we saw the pollinator’s first, The givers, the gifters of gardens.” Stanza 4 I wanted a succinct version of the … More Mary’s Garden/2nd Iteration
Dedicated to my beloved husband, Floyd Russell Taylor Once again, upon a weekend time, we shook off the city.As always, by Friday, it felt like a fur drenched in wet.At first, we motored through the fog, then, across the Golden GateAnd into the sun, the fun of Sonoma.Our rental car conveyed our escapeTo the haven-heaven … More Mary’s Garden
Dedicated to Queen Lili’uokalani And, For Lisa Vihos Nu’uanu Pali was created for another day. Gales of fog gust the lot of us; Unless we fight it, we are almost away. Along the path, from the limbering barks So many drips damping us down. Above, their crowning thrashes bewitched. Achieving the cliff, huddled by … More Beware of BEES During High Wind
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