Regret Drifts in the Afterglow of Dreams

For "Her."

Regret drifts in the afterglow of dreams
About you. It lingers like mist and wraps
Me slowly in bonds of spectral moonbeams
Which shroud my thoughts as defenses collapse;
The visions, once kaleidoscopic – now
Faded and yellow as old newspaper –
Distress my sleep with memories of vows
Shattered upon an indifferent altar;
Too oft' I wake and struggle with the foe
Inside my mind. And, while I seek a way
To expel your ghost, one thought still echoes:
I’ll remember you for another day.
I fear only death can bring lasting peace,
For 'til it comes my love will never cease.

A Few Lines to Leave Behind

For my Family and Friends
28 August 2007

I pen these few lines to leave behind me,
In excuse for all those I shall bear hence,
To express the simple love I owe thee,
That could make such prolong’d argument;
I journey forth now to the promised land
Of faith, not unwilling, but unafraid;
To search for the eternal answers, and
Regretting only the things left unsaid;
I have paid the Lord the death He is due
And found an end to this fragile life’s pain.
With last breath I proclaim my love for you,
And thus defeat death when that love remains.
Allow these brief words to ease your sorrow,
And know we’ll meet some happy tomorrow.

Why I Can Not Write a Sonnet for You

For Catherine Harren Barufaldi

Ms. Barufaldi, with humble regrets,
I am unable to grant your request
For a sonnet that my own hand begets,
As my words rarely flow at mere behest;
Also, your marital status precludes
The penning of romantic verse or rhyme,
Which – as you know – a true sonnet includes,
This threat’s to turn the poet into mime;
Further, creating for a married Muse
Could lead to a dangerous consequence,
Like Writer assault or Poet abuse,
Leaving this scrivener beat out of sense.
Please, feel free to make future inquiry,
At present, though, I must dodge injury.