A Reasonable Man

I know that many things
can be said in criticism
of the man I have become.

Overproud, vainglorious,
mercurial and lascivious,
at times, all valid critiques.

But I am well aware
of the fact that many
look to me, as an exemplar.

From that awareness rises
the recognition that I must
strive to adhere to a code.

To be a contributor,
to be a friend and support,
at need to be a defender.

For those reasons, it hurts profoundly
when someone claims to be
singled out, treated unjustly by me.

I offer advice, not threats,
and encouragement, not falsehoods.
I fight to avoid any facade.

If there is a problem, come to me.
I am not unreasonable, I'll listen,
even if I do not agree with you.

I do stand to defend the rights
of the members of this community,
and to protect the people I love.

Tell me what attacking behavior
is part of those aims, and what
I do that seems unreasonable.

I'm tired to death of the slander
of persons with sundry grudges
who do not have the courage

to seek resolutions,
instead of continued strife
and egregious misunderstandings.

Come, let us hold counsel together
to strengthen this community,
not weaken it with divisions.

Arrhythmia

A strong beat,
the sound
of our hearts
beating together
from the moment
we first touched.
Two lives meant
to be entwined.
Then a miracle,
it seemed,
life conceived
where it had been
thought impossible.
That was
not to be,
as our daughter died
in the struggle
for your life.
The grim price
continued to compound,
for your body
never recovered fully,
nor did our hearts.
The beating grew faster,
more erratic,
as things
became bipolar.
Either really good
or horribly bad,
we swung
like a pendulum,
and your health
kept getting worse.
Two boys conceived,
both surviving,
but at a pyrrhic cost.
Permanent damage,
unable to be healed,
starting an inevitable
that descent into decay.
After several years
with this
as the status quo,
now our love's pulse
is thready,
erratic and fading,
and I know
the day is coming soon
when our love
will flatline,
beyond resuscitation.
And how will I
go on
with our children,
when you're gone?

Remembrances

Towers would fall,
that September morning,
when fundamentalist Muslims
struck without warning.

A nation stood shocked
by this act of carnage,
but out of this tragedy
came proof of our courage.

As towers were falling,
heroes stepped forward,
sacrifice and rescue
in the face of horror.

No mere disaster
had al-Queda planned,
but an attempt to knock out
our military command.

For a brief instant,
we came together.
No Party, gender, race...
no division whatever.

Our world changed forever
on that late summer day,
revealed, a new enemy,
and come what may,

we who watched it
will always remember
the horror, the bravery
on the 11th of September.