Six-Poems from: The Other Door

Note: Written in l981, not previously published, written while in West Fargo, North Dakota.

The following poems from the l981 book:


“The Other Door,” author’s first published book [poems 69-74].




1) Grandpa’s Vision
[Pink Elephants]


He said he saw pink elephants
[At the age of eighty-three].
They said he was unnatural—contrary.

They said oft, “How can you see
Such things…ay! Abstract visions”
And worried [wondered] for whose collision?

He said one day, back to stove,
“I know what’s real and me,
So if you doubt what I vision,
Come, join my world—there you’ll see.”



2) She Gave All

She told her secrets
And told him all her cares—
She was stripped bare.


3) Hades Fire

Hell is not kindle
But living, secret mistakes
And future heartaches.



4) Lovelorn


A woman in love…
Ah! Triumph is in conscience
If ill will befalls.



Written in St. Paul, Minnesota, l979-80


5) The Cardiac Acclamation

To die old and bold
Is to die with venial sin
And fertilely win.


Written in Alabama, l979




6) The Roar


Light broke the frosted clouds,
Yielding the silver swan as it swam
[With a borrowed hand] through its brow.

And for these foe—the seagull—
No more could be heard
Over the roar of the bird.

Then as evening assailed—estrangement!
Atmospheric glaciers dehydrated,
Alienated amazement!

Thus, passive dependent thoughts prevailed
As the plot sailed!
Now with cue, one knew

The reason God raised his hand,
The real psyche of man.