John Daleiden lives in Avondale, Arizona, a west suburb of Phoenix, Arizona.  His work has appeared in Amaze # 9, World Haiku Review: The Poetrybridge, Lynx, SP Quill Magazine, May Dazed, The Scorched Earth, Full Moon, Temps Libres - Free Times, Autumn Leaves, Sketchbook, Ribbons, Fire Pearls, and other e-zines.

Life on the Edge

5:00 pm. in the valley of the sun
time for the nightly news
sure enough—
sheriff Joe is at work again
keeping the boarders safe
keeping all them illegals
out of Maricopa County
building a wall of hate
in Guadeloupe today
arrested 26 of them illegals today
and he’ll be back tomorrow. . .and the next day. . .
“gonna’ send ‘em back where they came from
just doin’ my job everyday
upholdin’ the law!
today and every day!”—

 

 

Singing The Wet Man Blues

I got woes—the wet man blues; it rained all night—it rained all day.
The river is risin' high; thunder and lightenin' in the air.
Lost my roof and the cows are gone; water, water—I got blues.

 

 

Moving On: A Sijo

Come on babe, we’re leaving town—
get on that train or hop the plane.
Wrong is wrong—don’t have to wait
for him to strike or curse again.
Freedom bound—put your hand in mine—
I’ll walk with you down the road.
 

 

Progressions Through Paradise: A Sijo Sequuence

There is joy in little thoughts--the memory of my first rose—
The first steps our toddler took—a kiss stolen in bright moonlight—
The first tear I shed when you left me for another lover.

My heart breaks—unexpected pain shatters glass.
What I see in my mirror is an empty path without love.
My garden, a desert, weed choked—in my life there is no joy.

In the park I meet a man who lost his legs—a foreign war.
Yet he smiles, from his wheel chair, reading world news in the warm sun.
Who will sit in your empty chair breaking bread with us and God?

I grow old—the days and years pass—Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. . .
How like you, our son appears on his wedding day—so handsome!
I wonder…now do you suppose my grandson will have your eyes?
 

 

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