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 soft 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 hearts

May we tenderize our hands

Please, wont you come and take mine?

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.

 

Engine Number 2

We stopped at the flashing red lights

On the way to the airport 

Dawn was just beginning to break 

behind the silhouette trees

To ease the tension

I said “I don’t really mind trains

because I love to watch the graffiti 

and listen to the sound”

My driver perked

“Me too” he said

“The artwork can be 

really good!”

After that our conversation turned

to woo’s and ahh’s

when the red lights illuminated 

a particularly snazzy design

The caboose came and went

but the flashing lights stayed

as another set of freight

followed directly behind

“Well shoot” I said

“Guess we shouldn’t have 

enjoyed that last one so much.”

My train spotting companion laughed

We continued admiration

Comfortable in each other’s company

As if surrendering to engine number 2

was a choice

We were rewarded

with huge letters near the end

that said “Frac the Police”

Erupting us in grand finally laughter

Sometimes Joy happens 

in moments of waiting 

through intentional misspellings 

revealing the purpose of resistance

New Work. Passing