Mushrooms, Splinters, and Thorns

Dolphins and others

Dolphins

When oceans whisper tales,
you dream dolphin dreams
and swim through life
with grace and compassion,
yet so free, almost restless.

My heart heals itself
and beats amazed
with the thought of you,
your track of love
expanding
from top to bottom
over the earth.

From the depths
of quiet moments,
from insides of a blessing,
spurting droplets
as pearls of wisdom,
you leap into the mist
to touch the sky.


Your Substance

Ossified into a rut,
you think in your reckless fashion,
“My dowdy shadow is my substance.”

Then you endeavor frumpishly
to promote that two-dimensional shape,
while the precious pearl
sits inside the shell.

No wonder you’re cooped up
inside a confusion.

Pizza

Apposed to its overseas kin
I could argue
-here in USA-
even the décor
inside the aphotic trattoria
augments its aroma,
even if, the pie is limp,
complex, chewy,
too arranged,
and the real thing is
fresh, simple, rigid,
with a delicate crust.

Blessed with profound affinity
and deep insight into the subject,
I can safely say
that the apparent difference
is in the tomatoes;
still, my taste favors
the familiar
with a low blow to my vanity.