Far away eyes

I remember those soft, brown eyes
more than the court
more than the jurors

lawyers, judge,
bailiffs

hot summer jury room
smells of the sweat
of justice

questions and answers
votes cast
knowing not the victims
far from this court case

the defense lawyer
dreaming of his white
clean Lexus
far from this dirty pit

the judge
robed black
rubbing the golden statue
until the weights fall

and myself,
honored as the foreman,
later vilified
in a young man’s eyes

behind glasses

that today, see his father
chained and led away

tomorrow, reading his words
upon the steps
of some famous landmark
saving all of us

from ourselves

**

the warm glow

born under the sheet
always coming un-tucked
hearing about the stories
of the caramel-coated
loneliness

bed sheet burned
long gone
buried under the friendship
thought never worthy
of the hatred

the horse mounted,
with one to lead,
as eyes are fixed
on the warm, brown
sun

**

Headed east

Driving along long lines of pavement,
Jimi comforts me as my children and wife,
sleep in the back, trusting me,
to get them to their dreams

of sun, sand, seagulls, and ocean breezes
caressing each one of us, as we lounge,
feet aimed ocean-side, head towards home,
troubles washing away with the crash of tides.

As I check the mirror, reassured my
hurried pace doesn’t interrupt the slumber
of my angels, I swap CD’s, and Alison Krauss
whispers to me as I carry my family to heaven.