Writer's Block

I had a wonderful short poem.

I looked away for a second

and it was gone.

After Houghton

“What do you want to do?”

Why does everyone keep asking that?

Ice Cream

Love chocolate.

But are there really

900 calories

in an ice cream cone?

Manners

He said please,

which was very good,

but the answer is still no.

A Shortage of Clergy

One priest covers

three parishes

one hospital

a nursing home

and Houghton's campus ministry

Tree Climbing

Once the tree was too small,

but now

I am too big.

Houghton Weather

The sun reflects in puddles

which blind me as I walk

through a flurry of snowflakes.

Piano Hands (3)

My hands are fat.

Fingers squelch across,

ugly heavy caterpillars

landing ponderously

one.

by.

one.

Piano Hands (2)

Active, jumping fingers,

long and spidery,

lightning-quick, yet massive,

a tarantula demanding the music perform.

Piano Hands (1)

Her hands dance lightly over keys,

gracefully coaxing out fairy-tunes.

Zip Line

I am being eaten

by a cloud-dragon in the sky.

Paddle Sports

The kayak is floating upside-down,

but the girl inside is right side up.

I hope.

Swimming

Slice through the water

like a flounder, floundering,

like a butter knife slides
through an overdone steak.

Abortion

Dead baby pieces,

hands, arms, and feet,

washing down the sink.

Practice Room

Early morning,

the building is disturbingly hushed.

Silence is not its natural state,

waiting.

In my room,

blonde-wood door, a window to the hall. 

Plain white walls and a tall wide mirror.

Carpeted floor, sound-cancelling panels.

So small, narrower in front and back.

Private.

All my things,

brown trash can, and two old music stands,

old, scuffed piano and squeaky bench.

Bookshelf, cluttered, with the detritus

of leftover lessons, conducting

baton, drumsticks, and exercise books.

In place of pride, my euphonium,

arranged just how it should always be,

particular.

Music.

Piano, trumpet, and saxophone.

Talking and walking and slamming doors.

Elevator beeping, unnoticed,

unheard, muffled by the “soundproof” walls

and a mind, too busy focusing

to listen.