magic lies within
amoral impurities
of yellow gold
circlets inscribed
with runic symbols
turned inward
on sanctified skin

powers penetrate
fortified fingers
overwhelming
retrograde skeptics
with confident peace
in contented alliance
to carry the years

powers that deflect
life’s punishing blows
with a two-sided shield
emblazoned with
sketches well blended
in portraits
revealing one face

powers that bend to
enwind iron strands
forming singleton
entity wearing
linked curves of
the lemniscate
promise of always

powers that convert
selfish forces
of ego into
cardiac passions
of selflessness
born of organic
commitment

powers that anneal
through diamond hot
passion compressing
one whole weighing
more than its halves
fused with more than
half-volumes of bliss

powers to create
from unhesitant love
new beginnings
new life in the thriving
embrace of a family
eagerly poised
for the future

powers to heal wounds
inflicted by age
with a mutual touch
of fingertip…

round gazebos, pavilions
and pergola octagons
stood village greens
crowded with summers
of swirled cotton candy
and lemonade mason jars
drawn into innocent
haphazard circles
of lawnchairs and wickered
fried chicken and pies

here fat politicians
in straw hats and vests
with a flask in each pocket
blew clouds of cigar smoke
and fogbanking speeches
across crinkled buntings
between martial music
played slightly off key
over lawns packed with bowties
and gingham checked modesty

children roamed happily
innocence safely
preserved among apricots
peaches and plums
wanting blue ribbon samples
while learning to sing
stirring patriot songs
alive with the civics
that promised fulfilling
tomorrows ahead

this once was America
land of my birth
where my parents came
seeking and finding
their most cherished dreams
this once was America
long before she and I
fell down disabled
from festering mordant
internal disease

edged with a backcurve

evoking a moon hung

in crescentic phase

symbolic of war

masquerading as peace

shaped for the slash

horseback histories

and executioners

fit to infidel necks