lost as a whisper
in Times Square
in Times Square
nameless as an
unformed star
unformed star
recital invitations
returned to sender
returned to sender
in search of
something better
doubling down with
Sissa ben Dahir
something better
doubling down with
Sissa ben Dahir
passing by
the miraculous
every day
like an uncashed
winning lottery ticket
expires before finding
a redemption center
singular opportunity
to rise above
slips away
winning lottery ticket
expires before finding
a redemption center
singular opportunity
to rise above
slips away
statue rises from
bronze shadows
patina glows
from the backlight
resilience of Lincoln
reverberates across time
bronze shadows
patina glows
from the backlight
resilience of Lincoln
reverberates across time
was it belief in destiny
or providence itself
steering bullets
away from skin
tearing Washington’s coat
yet preserving flesh
what makes one life
more significant
than another
or providence itself
steering bullets
away from skin
tearing Washington’s coat
yet preserving flesh
what makes one life
more significant
than another
not even knowing the
origins of this
tree in a park
where it came from
or how it got there
origins of this
tree in a park
where it came from
or how it got there
until words discovered
give life to meaning
elucidate the
purpose of
being there
give life to meaning
elucidate the
purpose of
being there
when light fails and
sky colors turn soft
into aged skin
sky colors turn soft
into aged skin
our rhymes extend life
beyond sunset
like a well-lit building
casting light far
across the street
into a darkening park
where ghosts of presidents
still linger in the shadows
beyond sunset
like a well-lit building
casting light far
across the street
into a darkening park
where ghosts of presidents
still linger in the shadows
