Tuesday, December 31, 2002

TETHERS

Six o’clock this morning when
Death caught up with us and decided
the whole world would go untouched
but for you my tawny friend

I think Death was a little spiteful
since we’d snatched seven hours from yesterday
when he arrived where you should have been
to find I’d stolen you away

Unbound you lay by my side at home
my belly against your back
breathing soft, purring low
my fingers across your pain

Six o’clock this morning when
I heard a small chime ring – I woke
in time to watch you steal away again.

Rome

I thought you needed my help
waiting for my shining moment
to don armor, to mount steed,
to heroically jump in…

Don’t worry – I’ll let you know when.

I waited a long time to hear you ask
your eyes raised to mine
a brow in curled question
an honest second
of bit of hope
a word:
Help.

Don’t worry – I’ll let you know when.

I’ve worried myself into bitterness:
I wouldn’t spit on you now
if flame burst from your
head and hair.
I might even applaud
and yes, I would stare –
and if ever I could play fiddle,
I would, then and there.

Don’t worry – I’ll let you know when.

It's Not the Wind

New year comes on eight legs
and lifts them to test the air and taste the wintermoth -
but the moth is a sweet moon dancer...
and spider a starving lurker, or worse, a hungry walker.

With dusty fluttering wings in my ears –
no, its not the wind
it’s the foolery of the short-lived
as they make their mark early and quick
flying fiercely at the moon or sun
at dizzy heights to be crisped and ruined –
to land – they come – to ends again –
landing softly in outstretched webs.

I wait safe & sound:
a personal guarantee to live long.
Cocooned in a stringy nest,
ravenous.

Saturday, July 13, 2002

Poem: STREETS: BALTIMORE (ef)


She said what I saw –
the streets of Baltimore
sparkle under streetlight
something broken
and rolled into the pavement
sparkles so brilliantly
in the dark
and makes us mind our feet
passing over a field of stars
careful not to tread
on the brighter bits.
 
Promises lay in layers
obvious welts where
each winter puckers
the lengthy blackness
that scratches itchy chunks
from its twinkling hide
to be filled and patched
by the careful keepers
of promises, of pavement.
 
She saw what I said –
that something broken
sparkles so brilliantly
in the dark.

07.13.02 eaf

Tuesday, January 08, 2002

ADA Ruling

Supreme Court Narrows Reach of Disability Law

I heard this on the radio - and it made me go, "Hmmmmm."

I see three sides on this coin - two as a business and an employer. I have several times been amazed at how 1 individual's needs can bend an entire company. I am not talking sweeping changes that can accomodate many needs (ramps, automatic doors, etc.).

I also know personally friends whose needs have or have not been met by employers and how a change in their lifestyle and a lack of bend on the part of the employer truly CAN effect the person's daily life so the ruling seems to miss that fine point - that state of employment for most of the population goes hand-in-hand with daily life.

...the law only covers impairments that affect a person's daily life and does not apply to conditions that prevent a worker from performing a specific job-related task...

Case-by-case things should still be considered and weighed. I hope this doesn't give businesses the opinion that they don't have to even consider making changes/accomodations because the law says that they aren't required to.

And that works as long as the individual in need understands that an employer can only make so many accomodations to allow them to continue doing their job.