The poet frames the void.
The critic voids the frame.

You must begin early
while it is cool and your head clear
discernment, a sharpened tine
probing the rocky darkness
for all things latent and destructive.

Be aware that the velvet sage
of the leaves belies their power
to take over every space, remember
roots burrow deep, anchoring in
fissures we don’t even know exist.

You must delve as close
to the origin as possible
or the **** you think eradicated
will bide its time, germinating
in the still secret ground

waiting for light
to penetrate the moist earth
waking the sprout
who voraciously pushes up and out
a curled blemish

in your otherwise carefully tended garden.

Her excited nerves are tingling
He met her on the sanded pier
Their hungry hearts are mingling

His pocket keys are jingling
He carries good luck everywhere
Her excited nerves are tingling

While they sipped cups of singling
He said words she wanted to hear
Their hungry hearts are mingling

They danced and went swingling
Everyone saw both of them there
Her excited nerves are tingling

He bent low, whispering, ingling
Silencing all of her lingering fear
Their hungry hearts are mingling

Today, their lives are commingling
It's a truth they can't wait to share
Her excited nerves are tingling
Their hungry hearts are mingling.

Expert fingers
Cradling that brass thing
I have no idea how
But it made my heart sing

In an odd unexpected way
My heart was enraptured in its melodious ring
And as it sang its song
With it my body did swing

An unassuming gent
Holding that instrument of wonder
Played it as he sent
My heart to a place so tender

And as he played with passion
I was overwhelmed by a sweet sensation
In that moment I did bask
As he played the sax.

Some friends think they are so important. . . Essential

They aim to be very close to you. . . Residential

They take total control of your life. . . Presidential

They ride over your decisions. . . . Influential

And claim they deserve the merit. . . Credential

Then disappear when problems result. . . Consequential