THE BURDEN OF MEMORY

Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say-“I find no pleasure in them”—Ecclesiastes 12:1

Were my days like a river, I would have drowned. I don’t quite know, nor do I pretend to understand, why… I might have drowned in the Yamuna in 1876, or the Yariapo in 1567, or did I die crossing the Rubicone-my memory fails but I do remember the Jordan, but I might not have drowned there. In fact, I may be dead.... But then..and since, I am still typing on my birthday- here, this day- on the 23^rd of November 2013, I think I have somehow escaped the flood waters. I must then be in my own Gilgamesh epic, perhaps, I am a Noah in my own flood haunted story. I might have drowned in the tide of memory or will do so shortly. In any event, apparently, I am still alive…and thankful..to the one, the triumphant one on Calvary.I am most certainly human and breathing, that is all I know- and that is enough.

TIME

Like all living things/I age/ I am older/In the register of life/I open, older by one order/Older the second-the seconds that scorn all life- the day begins/But dear grandma time, dear prodigal time, where are you taking me/ Soon, you will melt me to star dust again/Before I have mended, bended, kneaded this time- this time I was gifted- you will kill, grab, accost, accuse, be jury, judge, executioner/ In the name of immortality/ You will kill me and call me immortal/ Time you are cruel- LT

DEATH

DEATH
..Separate the plastron from the carapace, slide the cold metal in, down, down, down, to the beating center, inward, there, there's your reward, there!..to where my heart beats. Turn the blade, steel against flesh-win,win, win, win- you have the wins. You win, you win, you win, now push it in, deep, deep deep, let the steel bite, kill me, kill me, I am dead, I will die, I am dead, I will die...- LT.