the seagull-
a territory much de-ranged;
for a scavenger hunts
for scraps-
and what the ocean might provide
can be found also-
in a local parking lot
the grey misery
I can almost imagine what the constant sight of grey prison walls over and above, what that may do on the health of a mind, the dull grey concrete blocks, block after block, blocking any view, stripes are not exotics but are bars, shadows are artificial there, these slum some days have felt like this, the constant threat of rain that never came, never washing, the difference between day and night dark shades balances on a thin needle, this creeping fear of feeling that this will last forever as the hours drone on, the sun retreating so far long gone, slowly- hope is tapped, drained and fading, no real reason for despair but this seems like the natural pairing with the grey, of these extended days, what day is it? …and as if by magic and levee broke, with one stroke, one bolt, one breath of god upon the skies – a light! how many days now did this dread stretch, and yet with one sweep of sweet sun the ledger is turned over, my inner soul is dancing around a pole in festival turns, with all the mystery and science and knowledge we have, everything wears down when the light is out-
dichotomy

maybe I am a little nuts… but I love the beach in the winter, and NJ has lots of nooks and crannies to explore, the ocean side and the delaware side have rich histories that have risen and fallen like the very tides that drive them…
rubric cubicle
…this is certainly a pendulum I postulate, and much like the afore mentioned swinger I too sway back and forth at times, having a sharp memory is both an anchor and an anchor, swift to hold me in harbor and swifter to hold me from other ports of call, usually I post a song after my little missives, today, tonight, all depending on your lati and longi, I posted above the fold, as for many, a song can transport you to a single moment of time, and no einstein-rosen bridge needed, truly a wonder of the human mind, if this were a happy memory…
I had just bought my first i-pod mini, up until then I was too cool for the apple school, such a maverick (rolls eyes at old self)… how could I just give in and ingest the evil fruit of the serpent Job’s tongue, no, I had to find every off brand thing I could, Zune… and some others I can’t even recall (and perhaps history will not either), one of the first albums I loaded into this wonderful little player was the album “Menos El Eso” which translated means “Minus the Bear” which is also the name of the band, how clever, of course I did not look that up for some time, so the irony of the album name was lost on me for a while at least…
so I find myself in Islamorada, the Florida keys, my first time back in the state since I left her, even if I almost feel like I never did in some ways (I am sure she would disagree), the moments, the week, seemed as if the whole world was meant for me to screen -like an exclusive movie premier, the hotel was nearly empty, one family besides me, oddly enough they were from my home state and town (what were the chances?), this particular hotel is a collection of suites (think condos) so even at capacity there is only eight rentals in this part of the resort, right on the water, Atlantic ocean staring at me in yards, a beach with a wall drop off at the end, I suppose due to tides the sand would just get swept away constantly, luckily, or by design more likely, there was a private dock, the dock stretched out about thirty feet give or take in a “T” formation, on the right portion of the T there was a rock circle or just a natural feature where you could dip your feet in while sitting on your duff on the dock, I called this little corner home most nights, looking out on the shimmering pure azure allure of tropical water, glistening like magic should, even just a hint of moonlight lit up the shallow ocean floor like an aquarium, even the thought of this memory washes over me right now with utter relaxation, the waves gently riding up against my feet and shins, the palm tree fronds above casting tiger stripes along the boards next to me, that soft tropical breeze stops by to whisper in my ear, caress my lobes as the song weaves a soundtrack that befits all I am inhaling with all my senses… god, I think, I could die here…
on some nights storms would roll in, like their own city-states floating islands, isolated and violent, lightning nit-picking and licking only portions of the sky where the certain collectives of clouds were comprised, like armies marching in abandoned rows, passing all around me but none above me as my toes wave back and forth in water with no effort, enjoying the little fish here to go and fro, wishing she was here, to forget the whole, and just be together with no words, no reason, just to pass into eternity with her by my side, no forgiveness given, just so she would know my heart once more.
I go back and forth, memory or none, anchor or moor, but regardless, I can not escape who I am, was or will become, sitting alone on a dock waiting for a miracle to come even with all the wonders of the world surrounding me, numb, wondering and knowing all I have done wrong, but somehow not judged except by my own thoughts, and there is no escape from that verdict, even in this space, but somehow, somewhere in there, a non speaking voice let’s me know all will be well, but I strain to hear it… in the din of my own mind, if I could only be as quiet as this godly tide…
once peak

and will my remnants last this long against the tide? (Dav and Duke’s Beach, Laurence Harbor NJ)
hubris and end
pearls before swine
prose before lines
souls laid barren-
up on the breach
judged in the light
under the eye
of the one, divine
moment.

20 degrees, the sea, and me. leonardo beach, leonardo nj
abderdeen.
the pebbles of abderdeen
strewn out on this spit of sand
the uneven pieces
not even a puzzle
not even a map
the randomness only
orderly tides can create,
a random skyline of stars-
all traveling
while ours, we orbit
and here we are
in our corner of the milky way
on the corner of our little home
on the shores of a bay
in abderdeen;
not known outside these parts
not talked about in legends
but here lives come
and here they pass
in this little hamlet of new jersey
the shore of aberdeen.
snow beach of aberdeen

Aberdeen, NJ (Cliffwood Beach)… during the mild snow storm Tuesday… not a pretty beach by such normal standards, but the ocean is the ocean none the less (listen), find a space near you, a refuge, go there, take it in for all it’s worth, even in the barren face of a winter storm, there is something there to learn… all these years I have never been to this beach, a mere 15 minutes from my home… I have been endeavoring to fix this flaw and explore my own state, a much maligned state, but like most things, the glossed over paragraph of a thing does not allow to see the depth of a thing… if you want to check out all the places I visit here (and surrounding states)… check out my YouTube channel (shorts , longs). I try to give you a feel of the places I visit. I also encourage you to bust out a google map and see what is around, you might be surprised.
on those golden wings.
oh seraph!
take me upon your golden wings
for you know this world-
far better than I
for longer than reign
I trust not to the fall
when upon, your golden wings-
I would not dare take up to the sky
for fear and humanity anchors my neck
my brow is fraught with the hearts of men
but you, oh seraph!
kin of the ancient kind
I wonder, wonder If I may
beseech upon you a ride-
into that great kingdom
from that you stride,
oh seraph!
I call, I call, I call
notes: a muse, an angel, a devil, a demon, or the spine of my unconscious mind revel…