Friday, July 11, 2025

Degrees of Slope

Lab.

The practice arena.

A training ground.

A controlled space where the rules are plain.


Touchpoint.

Involved, but not always significant.

The slope forms.


Finish line.

A goal is set.

It's not about reaching the line.

It's the intent to try that marks this presence.


Bond.

Forged through chemicals.

Sometimes forgotten.

Always in effect.

Cat Eyes

Have you ever been shocked by a cat?

You go to caress the soft fur when suddenly

The experience turns painful.


Have you ever learned from a cat?

They will not come by prompting.

It must be their own decision.


But also

That just means the work morphs

From patience to maintenance.


Their attention is not free

To choose

Out of convenience.


So work every

Day

To earn their presence.

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Simple Answers… Ed una verità complicata

<The simple answer is yes, but the truth is more complicated.>

I understand firsthand now what you meant then.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Glass

Have you ever felt like glass?

What kind?


<What're my options?>


Float,

Tinted,

Reflective,

Coated,

Mirror,

Laminated,

Tempered,

Insulated,

Textured,

Acid-etched,

Stained,

Smart,

Anti-glare,

Anti-reflective,

Borosilicate,


Choose.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Money Matters

I wish I could predict how the winds will blow.

I wish It was okay to sink the eggs into one basket.

But it’s not.


I wish I could protect you without fail.

I wish I could count on the best happening.

But I have no way to do that.


How do I know the worth? 

How will I know the level is met?

Surpassed?


What more than time can show for it?

That worth is placed correctly in the dark.

Monday, April 28, 2025

Basta così

What is enough?


Is it enough to love,

To work hard,

To give it all?


What is worthy?


Is it worthy to feel fulfilled,

To feel free,

To feel happy?


When is enough?


When is return diminished,

Too much effort for the payout,

Too much sacrifice for the promise?


Who's to say when the line is?

Who's to say where the bar is sits?


Basta così.

Friday, December 27, 2024

Foods and Friends

It's not a competition.

<You're throwing your chips in before you play the hand.>

No. It's not a contest to begin with.


It's a potluck.


<But everyone knows some dishes are better than others.>

No. It's each to their own taste.

I have my pallet, and others have theirs.


I can appreciate an addition without sampling or stacking.

The option don't have to have influence over each other.


<But there is only so much space in a stomach.>

That is true, but the stomach also empties with time.

Not now doesn't mean not ever.


<And what if the pallet changes?>

It has its reasons. They can be worked out.

Flavor is a complex phenomenon,

So a shift is rarely a true exclusion.


Potlucks taste better with friends anyways.

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Archetypes

The Ghost 

The reminder of times past.

They can be friend or foe.

They may be overbearing,

But remember their memory is fed by the haunted.


The Yapper

The comedian.

They're the life of the room.

Perhaps you've known each other for ages.

You're drawn to their good nature,

But keep in mind the benefits of moderation. 


The Little

The unfiltered mirror.

You can count on their honesty.

They’re open to any topic,

But try not to fault them for ignoring social graces.


The Big

The wise one.

They feel like the compass in your life.

You can count on their input,

But think critically for they are imperfect like you.


The ESP

The rock.

They embody empathy and compassion.

They may be your Emotional Support,

But remember to also value their Personhood.


The Partner in Crime

The playful one.

They are easy to get along with.

They know how to boost your ego,

But beware their presence can be fleeting between missions.


The Circle

The true all-arounder.

They are adaptable and can go with the flow.

They may be the Jack of all trades,

But be careful not to pull them in too many directions at once.

Crystal Clear

Imagine a sphere. 

It's a simple transparent orb,

Except for the single spark within.


Move closer.


That lone spark scatters in all directions.

It scurries as if searching for an anchor,

But the smooth wall deflects it.


Reach out.


You place a finger on the orb.

The spark connects with you,

And the sphere appears clear once more.

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Homesick

If I said I'm homesick,

Would I be believed?


Would it be said that

It seems I'm home already?

Would it be pointed out that home is

Mutable?


Maybe it is relative,

But I do not feel at home,

Just alone in an unfamiliar place.


I can forget about it.

I can distract myself.

But I can't erase it.


If home is where the heart is,

Is that a place

Or a feeling?


It doesn't matter.

I am homesick.