Death is not the final word. Without ears, my father still listens, still shrugs his shoulders whenever I ask a question he doesn’t want to answer. I stand at the closet door, my hand on the knob, my hip leaning against the frame and ask him what does he think about the war in Iraq [...]

“Below the Mill Dam” –Traffics and Discoveries Thrones, Powers, Dominions, Peoples, Kings, Are changing ‘neath our hand. Our fathers also see these things But they do not understand. By–they are by with mirth and tears, Wit or the works of Desire- Cushioned about on the kindly years Between the wall and the fire. The grapes [...]

You are over there, Father Malloy, Where holy ground is, and the cross marks every grave, Not here with us on the hill – Us of wavering faith, and clouded vision And drifting hope, and unforgiven sins. You were so human, Father Malloy, Taking a friendly glass sometimes with us, Siding with us who would [...]

He came at night to each of us asleep And trained us in the virtues we most lacked. Me he admonished to return his stare Correctly, without fear.Unless I could, Unblinking, more and more incline Toward a deep unblinkingness of his, He would not let me rest.Outside In the dark of the world, at the [...]

My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky; Contrariwise, my blood runs cold When little boys go by. For little boys as little boys, No special hate I carry, But now and then they grow to men, And when they do, they marry. No matter how they tarry, Eventually they marry. [...]

Along the strand stones, busted shells, wood scraps, bottle tops, dimpled and stainless beer cans. Something began here a century ago, a nameless disaster, perhaps a voyage to the lost continent where I was born. Now the cold winds of March dimple the gray, incoming waves. I kneel on the wet earth looking for a [...]

The long lines of diesels groan toward evening carrying off the breath of the living. The face of your house is black, it is your face, black and fire bombed in the first street wars, a black tooth planted in the earth of Michigan and bearing nothing, and the earth is black, sick on used [...]

My father was a blacksmith for a company coal mine He worked hard everyday and was always on time He walked to work in weather both foul and fair He worked long into life until he had white hair He stood all day in front of a hot flaming forge With blowing bellows that produced [...]

As I ponder the love that I saw in his eyes, A Godly love, given without compromise…. I recall many times that he stood by my side, And prodded me on with great vigor and pride. His voice ever confident, firm and yet fair, Always speaking with patience, tenderness and care. The power and might [...]

Only a dad with a tired face, Coming home from the daily race, Bringing little of gold or fame To show how well he has played the game; But glad in his heart that his own rejoice To see him come and to hear his voice. Only a dad with a brood of four, One [...]