« la nuit, tous les chats sont gris » ~ Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Distance makes proximity hard to find
zip across the United States, passport
in hand, to visit my mom, older now
widow for a dozen years, would she mind
never to see her son ever again
ask me in a dozen years, my report

places the blame firmly over my brow
latch-key kid with a sadistic brother
as unnecessary to argue when
nothing will come from such futile debate
ever since dad died, I gave up the ghost
to social constructions, fear, greed, and hate
ask me in a dozen years if the cost

is my inheritance from my mother

distance makes proximity hard to reach
zip across the United States to what end
if to grieve she argues, what is the point
when to cast off this burden, at the beach
never a care in the world, sea and sky
if I return to treat me as a friend

nevermore as family, we smoke a joint
and say our goodbyes, nothing left to say

nothing but stars, firewood, smoke, angry
if I stayed, I would have gone quite insane
edge of the western world, if I stood
judged by my peers, my omissions will gain

charity in the worst fashion, I brood
in the dark, as they say, all cats are grey

lucky to encounter the big picture
understand through context and perspective
difficult to convey the past in words
zest for life and the lack of will to live
invested in the present, in the birds
encounter spirit, the need to endure