Thank you to Editors Nilavro Nill Shoovro and Stacia Lynn Reynolds for publishing three of my poems in the August Issue of Our Poetry Archive.  Here are two of them:

SOLDIER

What he saw,

what he did,

indecent and horrific.

He talks about it

in that circular fashion

that avoids facing reality.

That would break him,

so he skirts around

what was required then to do the job.

What else rent him in two,

that conjunction of love for his brothers

and dehumanizing one’s enemies,

in corresponding time and space.

The doing was easy.

He intellectualized the task.

But the aftermath was not cerebral.

Feeling it was so much worse,

yet not having done it

would have been the real atrocity.

The tearing does not mend.

Repellent memories

overshadow knowledge

of crucial guardianship.

He’ll live out

the rest of his days,

not whole.

MEDITATION

A Tribute to Maharishi

We, removing stresses,

heartstrings feeling caresses,

our inward attention

gives illness prevention,

aids all your memories,

providing healthy remedies.

The way out is through calm,

easy breathing serves as balm,

our spirits always mindful

for quenching pain, there is no rival.

Let go of negativity,

embrace your creativity,

stick your mantra in the keyhole,

unlock the strength of your soul.