Selma’s Closet

A dark pair of shoes
sitting in the closet,
with two dresses and two purses.

One fancy the other plain,
waiting for the time
to be aligned with the perfect outfit.

The first - a simple black thing,
adorned with her mother’s necklace,
perfect for evening

her figure the highlight of the ensemble:
the clutch a hideaway
for her make-up and keys.

If things go well
Mr. Right will be
sitting at the bar

she will attract
his attention
and he will want her

to join him
and his circle of friends
for the rest of her life.

The other dress,
more tailored
ready for work

same shoes, a different bag
with many compartments
for pens, notebook,

a box of mints,
an extra pair of hose,
a list of names and numbers.

If things go right
she’ll be hired
and then she can shop

for new clothes
to fill her closet
and maybe with the extra cash

buy another
pair of shoes
to expand her opportunities.

The Touch of Gold

Gold is an art form
used to reveal one's
wealth or station

designed as a necklace
or other decoration

stones glimmer
with divine illumination

presented as a token of love
brings depth to infatuation

jewels release
energy for veneration

offered as an act of contrition
reminds her of the pain
with renewed determination

taken by thieves
without hesitation

becomes a passport
and a new a destination

the touch of gold
holds promises
for another generation.

The Border Town

Nearby there is a place where many gather to make a quick buck or peso
It is a city filled with people living on the verge of extreme poverty
There are vagrants, opportunist, thieves, murders and local residents
Vendors who offer everything from illegal drugs to cheap trinkets

It is a border town located at the edge of the desert
Separated by barbed wire, language, and culture
Where some experience heaven on earth and others a living hell
But with a little planning and vigilance you can still have a great vacation

Patience will get you through the long lines at the border crossing
Make reservations to avoid places like the Hotel California
It is a dirty place where the ceilings are covered in mirrors
The beds ruined from too many sailors and underage drinkers

However it is better to take a break than to travel too late at night
So if you must check-in … sleep on the chair

In the morning greet the locals with a “Buenos dias”
Talk to the other visitors to find the best deals
Shun the man who knows where you can get beer for a quarter
Where the cost of human flesh is also a bargain

Find the small cafe, a stucco alcove, nestled in the heart of town
Drink only bottled water, nothing with ice and avoid the salad
Enjoy the shredded meat, hot chili, fried eggs and corn tortillas

Your servers’ names might be Jose, Maria, Javier, or Consuela
With jet black hair, olive complexions and dark brown eyes
Their musical voices, beautiful smiles and easy laughter
Will make you feel like family and you will want to come back...

That's before the drug dealers moved in to town.

The Art Of Teaching

Another class of active children
wanting to reach out to poke, talk
and laugh with each other
rather than listen to the teacher.

The challenge is to take this untapped
energy and focus it on the tasks needed
to build skills for reading and writing,
manipulating numbers and participating
in meaningful discussions
about ancient civilizations and social structures
to explore nature’s wonderful
creations and be able to name all the
parts of a digestive system
recognize the stages of a reproductive cycle
plus find all the places on the earth
were different living things might dwell.

How does a teacher provoke children’s curiosity
sufficiently to give them ability to go in the direction
of their own proclivity to discover the world
and recreate it in the image of their own making?

It is art in its best expression
the gift lies in the soul of a teacher
who knows how to recognize the best in all students
to awaken their desire to learn.

Glamour and Fame

Glamour and fame,
like predators’ webs,
designed to lure
unsuspecting prey.

Droplets of dew,
of unequaled brilliance,
offered on gossamer nets
and the snares,
with every struggle,
signal the spider.

No matter how hard the fight
silk threads hold them in place.

First one and then another
these bloodless corpses
arranged for future feasting
caught in the trap of glamour and fame.

Study In Nature

Here are two pictures we took on vacation in Sedona. I painted them both in watercolors and then in oils. It is an interesting way to study nature.





























Bill photographed the paintings.

Two Poems About The Inner City

I spent two years on a volunteer project in South Central Los Angeles. The intent was to somehow have an impact on the violence in impoverished communities. It is evident from the headline news that violence is still rampant. These two poems come from conversations with young people who lived in those communities.

South Central

Graffiti on the walls mark the territory
the smell of urine emanates from the alleyways

eyes peer through basement windows
fear, like a curtain, shrouds those who live there

Pop! Pop! Pop! Who is it this time,
a gangland enemy, his brother, a child?

Doors don’t open to inspect the violence
the car screeches away unseen

a ghost drifts through the ethers with no one attending
the body left to be discovered in the morning.















Mama Said, “No!”

Mama said, “No!”
and I did it anyway.

I climbed out the window into the street
where a stranger offered me a ride
to the ghetto of Long Beach.
He bought me a burrito and coke
from the local taco stand.

He said I could stay
until I figured out what to do.

I never found out what that night held
because as I approached his apartment
there was mama, sitting in the car
along the curbside.

How could she find me?
We were miles from home.

Mama was mad and didn’t let me stay.
So I went back and the stranger ran away,
cause mama said, “No!”
and she came out to get me.