One

ONE


Cradled by earth’s soft arms
Against the common heart,
All parts are one --

Particle and part --

Stem and leaf and heavy head
Bending back, begin again

One  beating breast
One  spreading seed,
one spirit shared,

one universal flower

Painting Again

I’m painting

In the bathroom again,

Applying a clean

Thin skin to cover

Drops of dye and scratches

Where my tools, hanging

By their looped brown cords

Make arcs like pencil marks

Against the beaded board.

I’m choosing

High gloss this time;

It’s what I should

Have used before -

A shine that covers

Flaws with ease,

Fills cracks, snow white

And guaranteed with just

One coat to cloak my

Sins and more.