Reflection: I wrote this poem back in February of 2000 in reflection of a busy and difficult period at work. I was driving back from a difficult meeting on a nice, sunny day, heard a favorite song from my days of youth on the radio, and decided to take a detour and enjoy part of the day before returning back to the workplace. It felt so freeing doing that and it was the start of something new for me.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Reminiscent-Wine.pdf

Fascination

laced

.

w

i

t

h

.

rum

Ron Rico,

–

–

ventures

.

m

u

c

h

.

further

than

.

t

h

e

.

ego . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ much

further

.

t

h

a

n

.

soft

.

a

n

d

.

subtle

.

probing

words,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

second

.

c

h

a

n

c

e

.

glances

between

.

brotherly

toasts

.

a

t

.

chapter

dances . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

every

.

t

i

m

e

.

I

.

close

.

m

y

.

eyes,

.

.

I

.

.

feel

.

y

o

u

r

.

spying

hands

.

u

p

o

n

.

mine,

–

–

soothing

.

t

h

e

.

one

.

y

o

u

.

try

.

t

o

.

deny . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ soothing

.

t

h

e

.

one

.

y

o

u

.

try

.

t

o

.

deny . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

.

.

.

I

.

t

a

k

e

.

a

leisurely

.

s

t

r

o

l

l

.

outside,

–

–

hoping

.

y

o

u

.

might

change

.

y

o

u

r

.

mind . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ hoping

.

y

o

u

.

might

change

.

y

o

u

r

.

mind,

.

.

t

h

i

s

.

.

time . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

take

.

a

.

drive,

.

.

t

o

.

.

the

other

side . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ to

.

t

h

e

.

other

side . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

o

f

–

–

–

midnight . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

My

.

t

h

i

r

d

.

cigarette

burns

.

a

s

.

your

footsteps

approach,

–

–

unsure

.

a

n

d

.

insecure . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

I

wine

.

a

n

d

.

dine

.

t

h

o

s

e

.

timid

whispers

tight,

–

–

knowing

.

y

o

u

.

almost

want

.

t

o

.

oblige . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ knowing

.

y

o

u

.

almost

want

.

t

o

.

oblige . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

.

.

.

I

draw

.

t

h

e

.

phantom

window

blinds

.

o

f

.

a

private

paradise

.

t

h

a

t

.

resides,

.

.

d

e

e

p

.

.

within

.

m

y

.

mind . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

try

.

t

o

.

pull

.

y

o

u

r

.

body

next

.

t

o

.

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

try

.

t

o

.

pull

.

y

o

u

r

.

body

next

.

t

o

.

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

try . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

try . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

try . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

try . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

you

pry

.

m

y

.

hands

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ you

pry

.

m

y

.

hands

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

wrestle

me

.

.

d

o

w

n

.

.

to

.

t

h

e

.

ground,

–

–

anchoring

.

y

o

u

r

.

cool

decline

.

w

i

t

h

.

masculine

pride:

“I could kill you . . .”

–

–

–

.

.

.

“I could kill you in

five minutes time . . .”

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

then

adding

.

t

o

.

the

haze:

“Did you really

think I was gay ?”

No,

.

o

n

l

y

.

confused . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

if

.

I

.

c

a

n

.

get

through

.

t

o

.

you,

.

.

w

e

.

.

might

.

j

u

s

t

.

somehow

.

f

i

n

d

.

a

way . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ we

might

.

f

i

n

d

.

a

way

.

t

o

.

make

.

i

t

.

true . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

“You’re a very

attractive man . . .”

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

excuse

.

m

e

.

if

.

I

.

choose

.

n

o

t

.

to

understand,

.

.

t

h

e

.

.

reasons

.

y

o

u

.

refuse

.

t

o

.

join

.

m

e

.

in

.

t

h

e

.

dance . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Meet

.

m

e

.

later

tonight,

.

.

i

f

.

.

you

think

.

y

o

u

.

might

like

.

t

o

.

take

.

a

.

drive,

.

.

t

o

.

.

the

other

side

.

o

f

.

midnight . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

No

.

o

n

e

.

ever

.

has

.

t

o

.

know . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

if

.

y

o

u

.

begin

.

t

o

.

feel

afraid,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

decide

.

y

o

u

.

would

rather

.

b

e

.

alone,

.

.

y

o

u

.

.

can

.

a

l

w

a

y

s

.

go

.

b

a

c

k

.

home . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ you

.

c

a

n

.

go

.

b

a

c

k

.

home . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

d

o

.

not

.

m

i

n

d

.

sailing

.

f

r

o

m

.

room

.

t

o

.

room,

.

.

s

o

.

.

long

.

a

s

.

I

.

can

.

b

e

.

next

.

t

o

.

you . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ so

long

.

a

s

.

I

.

can

.

b

e

.

next

.

t

o

.

you . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

d

o

.

not

mind

.

y

o

u

r

.

restless

moods,

.

.

f

r

o

m

.

.

blue

.

t

o

.

maroon . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

from

maroon

.

t

o

.

blue . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

let’s

both

.

j

u

s

t

.

release

.

o

u

r

.

hold . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

explore

where

.

t

h

e

.

rapids

go . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ let‘s

.

e

x

p

l

o

r

e

.

where

.

t

h

e

.

rapids

go . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

if

today,

.

.

f

r

o

m

.

.

me

.

y

o

u

.

decide

.

t

o

.

turn

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

y

o

u

–

–

–

may

never

.

s

e

e

.

me

again

.

m

y

.

friend,

–

–

except

within

.

t

h

e

.

taunting

scenes,

.

.

o

f

.

.

your

wild

.

a

n

d

.

restless

dreams . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

let’s

try

.

t

o

.

make

.

i

t

.

real,

–

–

just

.

t

o

.

see

how

.

i

t

.

feels,

–

–

before

we

.

e

a

c

h

.

pursue

another . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ before

we

.

e

a

c

h

.

pursue

another . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ before

we

.

e

a

c

h

.

pursue

another . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

appeal

.

t

o

.

your

.

violent

disguise

.

o

f

.

virile,

.

egotistic

pride,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

suddenly

.

y

o

u

r

.

curiosity

.

engages

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Your

curiosity

.

engages

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Your

curiosity

.

engages

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Your

curiosity

.

engages

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Your

curiosity

.

engages

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

we

.

b

o

t

h

.

come

.

t

o

.

realize,

–

–

that

.

i

t

.

matters

.

n

o

t

.

whether

.

w

e

.

can

shine

.

f

o

r

.

longer

.

t

h

a

n

.

one

night . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

because

first

.

w

e

.

must

take

.

t

h

e

.

secret

drive,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

explore

.

t

h

e

.

distant

shores . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ explore

.

t

h

e

.

distant

shores . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

which

forever

.

r

e

s

i

d

e

.

on

.

t

h

e

.

other

side . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ the

other

side

.

o

f

.

midnight.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in December of 1999 in reflection of a tentative, exploratory, forbidden, romantic encounter (someone with the initials B.N) and the repeated false starts checkered by ups and downs and multiple engagements and retreats. It was such a brief but passionate, exciting experience that I would never trade. So, I am much more content with at least having had the experience rather than not.

Reflection: This was a 4-part poem I wrote in reflection of a very good friend at one of the low points of his life back in 1999 (it was the first of many low points in the years that followed). He told me several times since then that this poem actually saved his life. Fortunately, after several years of up and downs he eventually recovered but it was a very trying experience for many years to say the least. It was a very difficult time in my life (and in his). I’m so happy things are much better now.

I played the song “Exit Music (For a Movie)” by Radiohead repeatedly at low volume as the “Moodset” for the poem. If you play this song at low volume you might better get the “feel” of this poem.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book Burning . . . Burning Blue: https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Delicate-Halls-of-Future.pdf

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in August of 1999. I was observing a wonderful young couple dancing together at a nightclub and they were so absorbed by each other that everything else seemed to melt away. Simply observing them was enough to inspire me to write this poem.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Special-One.pdf

You

used

.

t

o

.

dance

.

i

n

.

the

mirror,

–

–

right

.

i

n

.

front

.

o

f

.

me,

–

–

topless

.

i

n

.

your

.

b

o

x

e

r

.

shorts,

–

–

showered

.

a

n

d

.

smooth,

–

–

clean

.

a

n

d

.

serene,

–

–

secretly

taunting

.

a

n

d

.

teasing

me . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ a

confused

.

a

n

d

.

naive,

–

–

United

States

Marine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

did

.

n

o

t

.

believe

.

y

o

u

.

would

.

e

v

e

r

.

perceive,

.

.

t

h

e

.

.

eyes

.

t

h

a

t

.

barely

strayed

.

f

r

o

m

.

my

.

fitness

magazine,

.

.

u

n

t

i

l

.

.

the

evening

.

y

o

u

.

came

.

t

o

.

release

.

m

y

.

each

.

a

n

d

.

every

fantasy . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

wrestling

.

m

y

.

resistance

to

.

t

h

e

.

barracks

floor,

–

–

wanting

.

s

o

.

much

more

.

t

h

a

n

.

I

.

ever

.

k

n

e

w

.

before . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ ecstasy

screaming

.

.

d

e

e

p

.

.

inside

.

o

f

.

me,

–

–

almost

.

n

o

t

.

believing

.

i

t

.

was

.

t

r

u

l

y

.

happening . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

How

.

m

a

n

y

.

times

.

h

a

d

.

I

.

quietly

spied

.

y

o

u

r

.

physique,

–

–

drawing

myself

.

n

e

a

r

.

only

.

i

n

.

dreams,

.

.

s

o

.

.

you

.

c

o

u

l

d

.

feel

.

m

y

.

exploring

fingers

.

b

r

u

s

h

.

against

.

y

o

u

r

.

rose

.

t

i

p

.

nipples . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ my

fingers

.

b

r

u

s

h

e

d

.

against

.

y

o

u

r

.

rose

.

t

i

p

.

nipples . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Two

heartbeats

.

galloped

ablaze

.

a

s

.

whispers

ricocheted

.

o

f

f

.

of

neglected

lips . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Midnight

danced

. 

u

p

o

n

.

the

blinds,

.

.

a

s

.

.

our

private

.

a

i

r

l

i

n

e

.

continued

.

t

o

.

climb

.

throughout

.

t

h

e

.

night,

.

.

u

n

t

i

l

.

.

reaching

.

t

h

e

.

first

.

hint

.

o

f

.

daylight,

–

–

when

.

s

h

e

.

rolled

.

i

n

t

o

.

a

.

spiral

.

.

.

d

i

v

e

.

.

.

 ~ she

rolled

.

i

n

t

o

.

a

.

spiral

.

.

.

d

i

v

e

.

.

.

spinning

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

spinning

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

spinning

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

r

o

m

–

–

–

the

.

d

a

w

n

.

skies

.

beginning

.

t

o

.

rise . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

never

again

.

w

o

u

l

d

.

eyes

.

m

e

e

t

.

eyes,

.

.

o

r

.

.

reveal

what

.

w

a

s

.

felt

inside . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

sometimes,

.

I

.

s

t

i

l

l

.

think

.

o

f

.

you,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

the

desire

.

t

h

a

t

.

raged

throughout

.

t

h

a

t

.

night . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ the

forbidden

night

.

s

w

e

p

t

.

upon

.

t

h

e

.

forgotten

pages

.

o

f

.

time . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

wonder

whether

.

t

h

e

.

one

you’re

.

w

i

t

h

.

tonight,

.

.

h

a

s

.

.

discovered

more

.

t

h

a

n

.

just

romantic

candlelight,

.

.

f

o

r

.

.

a

forest

.

f

i

r

e

.

burns

inside,

–

–

every

.

t

i

m

e

.

midnight

dances

.

u

p

o

n

.

the

blinds . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ every

.

t

i

m

e

.

midnight

dances

.

u

p

o

n

.

the

blinds . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

I

recall . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

re-ignite . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

re-energize

.

t

h

a

t

.

night . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ the

.

n

i

g

h

t

.

forever

.

l

e

f

t

.

behind.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in August of 1999 in reflection of being passionately “drawn” to someone with the initials G.L. during an early, uncertain stage of romance back in my Marine Corps days. It felt exhilarating, ecstatic, and sometimes even devastating while surfing the highs, and lows, and highs for moments at a time during that early period of my life.

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in July of 1999 in reflection of the burning addictions that consumed so many that surrounded me back then.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nothing-Pristine.pdf

Reflection: This was a popular poem that I wrote back in June of 1999. Anyone who has experienced heart wrenching circumstances in life involving others, and all the ups and downs that such experiences can bring, will probably be able to relate to this poem.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Like-Michael.pdf

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in June of 1999 in reflection of the fast-paced technological age and how it was supposed to make things better and easier but actually created a workplace without boundaries.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/World-Ablur.pdf

Reflection: This was a popular personal struggle-themed poem I wrote back in February of 1999 in reflection of my newly discovered adventurous spirit. Some of the experiences I had back then were quite interesting and others not so much. The poem was written as a sort of a reminder to not get consumed by it all.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Neon-Blue.pdf

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in December 1998 in reflection of children I knew and the potential dismal future they might have – not by their choice but as a consequence of the state of the world affairs at the time. This two-part poem seems even more relevant today.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/A-Question-of-Days-Part-I-and-Part-II.pdf