funeral

first feeling the heat of emotion
tears flowing
being held back
a choked-up gratitude
a misplaced relief
that the dirge
the solemn music is not for you

shaking sweaty hands
kissing blurry-eyed faces
rouged cheeks grazing
stale perfume stealing breath

touching but distantly
waiting for the open air
the cumulus shadows
the shafts of god light
through the pines
a last prayer in the cemetery
then a chance to have a drink
loosen a tie, wipe off smeared make-up
proffer a smile

dare to laugh…

Barry DeCarli
August 13, 2010
Copyright 2010 Barry DeCarli

untitled

her pillow

still warm
was so empty
I could trace her
footsteps
to
the
door
as she
tiptoed

goodbye

Barry DeCarli
From Of Sun And Rain
Copyright 1972 Barry DeCarli

under tents

under tents, mud huts

beneath skyscrapers

in parks, in dreams

sometimes with just the wind to warn them

or a shadow against a wall

or a whisper

amidst the tumultuous thunder of war

those intent on peace 

will not hide forever

Barry DeCarli

March 21, 2012

Copyright 2012 Barry DeCarli

ending

tears
shattering a stone face
carving canyons of crying
to the sea
savage scars
streaking the reflections of night

suspended in the black

like silver gods casting curses
tears like screaming witches
slaying the stars

one
by
one

Barry DeCarli
From Almost
Copyright 1979 Barry DeCarli
(revised March 16, 2012)

Barry DeCarli: the masters

Barry DeCarli: the masters:  how they stumbled   upon their insight   conjured the words to  contrive a common language   what amazing things   they imagined, creat...

the masters

 how they stumbled

 upon their insight

 conjured the words to

 contrive a common language

 what amazing things

 they imagined, created

 invented as they

 paired the pigments

 mined the marble 

 how did they uncover

 the riches with so little

 to find, so little behind them

 the benefit of so few volumes

 no Internet

 to leave us with Dante's Inferno

 Michelangelo's Pieta, Von Gogh's Starry Night

 what idea compelled them to sacrifice

 their lives to create a masterpiece

 what desire pushed them forward

 in poverty, in desperation

 to leave us with the priceless treasure

 of their blood, their sweat

 the lasting vision of their dreams 

 with all our burgeoning access to information

 our gluttony for natural resources

 our unbridled enthusiasm for change

 for wealth, for comfort 

 what will we leave 

 Barry DeCarli

 February 5, 2012

 Copyright 2012 Barry DeCarli

 Draft #4

mourning

maybe when someone dies

a new black hole opens

somewhere

in the universe

a place where the soul

can find respite in its great journey forward

beyond our understanding

out of sight of our grief

leaving behind the sounds of our sorrow

but what of our private tears

the sorrow we do not share

at an evening vigil

or at a grave site

as we mourn strangers

as those we knew

what of the sobs no one hears

who can fathom their meaning

does a black hole open

to accept those too 

Barry DeCarli

January 27, 2012

Copyright 2012 Barry DeCarli