Too Long in this Place

I have been too long in this place
An exile to myself
living in the half-life of the memory of your smile
comfortable in this splendid squalor
but cast loose and cut off
drifting, rudderless,
I could never touch your savage grace
or tame your dancer's soul
Yours was not a heart given to forgiveness
or bound by temperant soul
but I am here still
in its shadow I linger
Too long in this place
in the lost light of the memory of your smile

Celestial Navigation

She moves across the heavens
passing Venus and Mars with her fingers crossed
Unbound by any laws known to Newton or Einstein
Eclipsing sun and moon
A pole star
the brightest object in the night
guiding the lost and lonely
to a place like home

A Drunkard's Haiku

Three drinks from sober
and three from oblivion
story of my life

A Love Song to Beautiful Girls ...

... to beautiful girls with sad eyes, sweet smiles, and father issues
who leave broken hearts scattered on barroom floors
amongst the peanut shells and sawdust
moving with aplomb through the throngs of want to bes
and would've beens
with borrowed cigarettes and no shortage of lights
playful grins and drunken laughter
and gentle scent of perfume
You're the light at the end of the world
and why we stay 'til last call
only to stumble home
to hangovers and regretful mornings
with only memories of the sad eyes and sweet smiles
of beautiful girls ... ... with father issues