is not about who
or even why
just when
and where
as in here
and now
as to how
that’s under
construction
or consideration
but definitely not
apprehension
or hesitation
’cause the who
it could have been
about
is definite
about why
it isn’t
other writing
Joe asleep: for Maureen
he glides off
into a peaceful sleep
that only those
long accustomed
to a way of life
beyond their control
achieve
like gregory peck: for Asil and for Fernando now, too
there’s nothing to prove
to anyone
except oneself
there’s that code
of ethics
you follow
at all costs
and if the world
doesn’t understand you
it also
doesn’t change you
and the woman
who will love you
will love you
because you are
who you are
comfortable
in your own skin
dogs vs cats
a dog
is so attuned to you
emotionally
it feels what you feel
when you feel it
a cat
on the other hand
doesn’t give a damn
on seeing Hair in Turkey
no old hippies
in the audience
just some wannabes
on stage
kids too young to remember
there was a world
20 years ago
so what can one expect
of 50 years ago
and I sit
snarling at all the cellphones
that light up
throughout the seats
and wonder
just who they came to see
their facebook page
or twitter
or the people on stage
so into themselves
so 21st Century
hard promises
were made
in twilight
difficult to keep
at midnight
broken
by dawn
on good intentions
they say
the road to hell
is paved
with good intentions
and so it is
it is
with voices crying
damning you
for eternity
and a day
on sleeping dogs
he said
I seemed tired
of what I’d been doing
this in way of understanding
my plans
no sense in embellishing
let sleeping dogs
sleep
content peaceful
reality is
after all
what one perceives
no point in explaining
when you’re halfway
out the gate
what one can and cannot do
you can’t mend
all the fences
put out
all the fires
feed all the hungry
in this world
you can only walk
the road you find
yourself on
by choice or design
or happenstance
and try not to hurt
anyone if possible
while reconciling yourself
to being misunderstood
more often
than not
on retreat
there are times
when retreating
is the wise course
especially considering
a Pyrrhic victory
the alternative
Leonard Durso 