While I’m punching
my security code to
access the locked inner
door I’m listening to
a woman ask the visiting
officer just what the correct
date is today.

I smile and shake my head
as I hear the concurrent sentence
of the numerical sequence
of my Accident Day.

I head all the way down on the elevator
as low as I can go below
to request the guards
bring me those who
have lost their freedom
and all they have left
to do is me.

The only reason I’m
not just like one
of them is because
of my Accident Day.

At lunch time
I emerge to walk
through the visiting area
to the sound of a small
boy crying being lead
through the metal detector
and his mother saying,
“it’s going to be ok,
we are going to have a picnic
after all it’s your Accident Day.

I walk across the parking lot
on a warm, muggy wind June noon.
In the air conditioned market
I buy the baloney I will eat for lunch.

After all it is my Accident Day

                                                                      06/07/08

Jupiter’s wife
Juno visited me
again last Saturday
night after I had
watched my youngest
flower maiden daughter
dance on her season’s stage
parting curtains of light
and music shattering me
with the graceful beauty
of her youth and emerging
womanhood.

And I was saddened beyond words.


Every evening in June
burns like a single stick
match struck against
the balance left in the hours
box
calendar
clock.

So when Juno showed
up around Midnight and
asked me if I wanted to
follow her and dance
in a voice composed
of pearls and roses

Of course I followed her
out of the darkened bedroom
toward the descending
stair
only she bid me to
step up off
into the air
and for Juno blinding my eyes with moonlight
and for Juno singing pearls and roses into my ears
I can never refuse.
I dream walked
on an invisible plank
into the June night
and fell as hard and sure
as any man can and still
get back up
and write about it.

And it’s been this way
between her and I
my entire life
and this last time ?
for the record ?
I took such an ass kicking
that it took me a full month
to recover.

She calls my name
every year in June
and I have to follow.

Even if I fall to brake my heart or my neck.
I don’t care.

The only thing I would ask Juno
is don’t ever leave me.
Please keep visiting me
blinding my eyes with moonlight
singing pearls and roses into my ears
and on that next June night
in this our month
When you call my name
could you catch me in your arms
the next time I leap
towards you
and gather my body in your embrace
and take me away with you.

                                                                                   6/2008