Good for the Goose

One lone goose 

in the middle of the field

Their gaggle of kin 

in the pond across the road

What are they doing out there

all by their lonesome 

Did they find a good patch of worms

and stayed to gobble their fill

What good is grub

without a bud to share it with

Are they an introvert among extroverts 

A wolf among sheep who needs time alone

Are geese like sheep

and families 

Heads down, wandering around 

Everyone feeling like the black one

Did they say the wrong thing

Refusing to fit in 

Til the status quo of wobbly sqwaukers 

left them behind.  

Maybe they got lost

Lost in thought

Among the noise and crowd

Easy to do these days

Did they lose their phone

or wallet or glasses or keys

While crunching and twirling 

through flowers and leaves

I hope they find what they are looking for

I hope they find their way home

It’s not very fun 

to spend all your time alone

Pastel

 

Thick Skin

I was raised by thin skinned people

to have thick skin

so when they beat on me

they wouldn't have to feel so guilty

But that is crap

Nobody has thick skin

The older we get

the thinner it gets

The softer it gets

The more transparent it gets

The more sensitive it gets

The lonelier it gets

Old skin bruises easy

Wounds bleed for longer

Hearts break on the daily

not to mention bones

Corneas cloud over 

like winter skies moving in

to squeeze out the sunshine of summer 

and the technicolor of fall

Internal landscapes of memory

take over the story

and only loving hands 

provide a safe place to land

The smoke and mirrors of thick skin

is like the blind leading the blind

Trapped in the battlefield of mind 

War is not gentle or kind

So lets not worry about our skin

Instead, may we tend to our battered hearts

May we tenderize our hands

and may the space between us become thin

February Exhibitions 2026

 

1st show of the year - Pontiac 2026

 

Dawn. RIP, 2025

The darkest night shade

The dream you wake to

The final toss and turn

No birds, no cars, no chatter

The veil is thin

Ancestors whisper

and dance the curtains

So shy and sweet 

Awkward and kind

Introverted and funny

Gentle and fierce

Soft fresh wings 

always tucked inside

An unhatched butterfly 

Iron Maiden chrysalis 

of addiction 

Mental illness

Sexual abuse history 

Poverty, debt and divorce 

A caged bird doesn’t stand a chance

if there is nothing to sing about 

The new year newly born

but last years cocoon 

just wouldn’t let go

One cold morning 

just before dawn 

She walked alone

down the center of the road

Near misses

called 911

but rescue came too late

In the darkest hour 

a semi turned the corner

and Dawn stepped in front

just before the light broke

Dont mention

the unmentionable 

The load seems too heavy 

already

Instead the remaining live

inside the wish

that we had mentioned something sooner

Only Dawn knows

when enough is Enough 

But you have to wait 

through the midnight blues

of never ending expectation 

Always strong and steady

Perpetually ready

It must have been exhausting 

never being able let go

Even the dark gives up

and gives in to the light

that is waiting 

to wake you up

and walk you home

After all the decades

you have tried

If the only way out

that showed itself 

was on the inside

Day after day

Night after night

Ashes to ashes

Dust to dust

It’s ok to go

Presented by the Detroit Public Library and DMJStudio, October 2025-January 2026, Reception - Saturday, December 6 | 3pm-5pm. Join us at the Main Library Gallery to experience this wonderful exhibition and these artists! Light refreshments and music.