Poems

El Cerrito, CA, 3:00 am, January 10, 1999
I felt the hatred pouring out of their mouths
as I felt their hearts spitting venom
am I so different that their reception needs that?
questions and more questions from a curious child

Kentfield, California, Feb. 16, 1998
I pray to the mountain that
I may heal my mind and my heart
that my thoughts may lead me
to a peaceful place in my heart
that my heart may heal its wounds
so bitterness, regret, pity, sadness
may just be memories of a distant past
yet not baggage loading my back

Bennekom, Holland, March 11, 1977
Surrounded by them, you feel comfortable
you smile and tell jokes
you turn around and give the right answer
knowing that the audience will clap and laugh

Nijmegen, Holland, Jan. 7, 1977
A silence
might say more
than a thousand words
A flower, more than a tree
It all depends
on how we feel, look
or perceive the image

Rotterdam, Holland, Dec. 28, 1976
The snow falls down
the ice is gradually breaking inside
the real people start to come out
after long years of hiding

Rotterdam, Holland. Dec. 27, 1976
We hide every movement
We pretend nothing matters
Grown up people, behaving like adolescents

Rotterdam, Holland, Dec. 18, 1976
Sometimes when you try to open your heart
your hands and shoulders are stiff
used to be an island
isolated from the rest

Rotterdam, Holland, Dec. 18, 1976
Because I talk soft
I prefer not to talk from too far
Why should I be loud
if I feel more comfortable
relating with people in a soft way?

Madrid, June 6, 1975
Beg, beg, sweet little child
for someone who’s so far from you
for someone who doesn’t have
the courage to be with the one she loves

Playa de las Américas, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, March 7, 1975
There is plenty of time to hurt each other
We have the rest of our lives
to do with ourselves and the rest of the people
whatever we want
‘cause remember, brother, that we are free