SeptOber

 SeptOber

in unsteady steps

in the waning September

that is chased by October

howling winds of the western mountains

whistling the windows

why the hurry?

ice cold from the coast

competing with the desert heat

rocking trees, trashing cans

filling corners with sand

and chasing the world into fall

why the hurry?

walking in unsteady steps 

across the divide between September and October

high desert sun's heat on glass

chill winds when the windows open

a blistering sun and frigide wind 

in a hurry

AL Mendoza 2023

Mad Man Mostly Mashes Words

THE HALF MOON AND THE PENNY

THE HALF MOON AND THE PENNY

picking up luck in a cool summer's night 

catching the half moon

wide awake

in the darkness

copper coins for the eyes

polished brightly shine

or maybe they're new

or never have been used

singing crickets in the night

teasing birds who cannot see them

keeping them awake 

in anticipation

in predawn colors

a half moon wide awake

giving rhythm to the singing

from night to morning music

the penny copper morning

a luck to pick up

after catching the half moon

how good it is to be awake

in the darkness

A. MENDOZA, JUNE 2020

MARKER

MARKER

destruction of silence

and the death of noise

become a graveyard marker

background to well manicured fences

bordered remembrances

so we never forget

keeping them in their places

close to our hearts

destruction of silence

as music 

a death

a noise

covering places 

fenced in 

so we never forget

our markers

A. Mendoza, June 2020

BREEZE

Breeze

not wanting to do anything

even sleep is too much

eyelids too weak to close

thought becomes tiresome

slowing breath conserves strength

darkness is rest for the eyes

just waiting for a breeze

a moon for a light

witnessing stars

in the comfort of night

suddenly the nothingness

and that odd jolt

awakens the open eyes

to silence

starlight witnessing eternity moving

in a single breath

any wanting too much

becoming tiresome thought

resting open eyes

not wanting to do anything

just waiting for a breeze

A. Mendoza

6-10-2020

VALLEY

VALLEY

  

where all the air

and the winds will whip

water and snow to ice

while we sequester in place

where the fires fly over the mountains

smoke painted on backdrops of flame

and a world renewed in death, destruction

defining mortality

rebirthed so living fire may feed again

inhaling wind

exhaling flame

breathing as living things do

where silence is more death than peace

and the sun, the clouds, the mountains

stand apart competing

for a night so they may hide

where under the cover of stars

alone with the moon

wind whispering to the the music of mountains 

with a blanket of clouds

an accusation instead 

of a question

do you love

 in the night

it is so hard to see

from the valley

so you must travel

to the mountain

a.mendoza 6-2020

a page

The page and I exchange places

an allegory of a dream

twinned mirrors

ordinal directions

coordinating a dance

as gentle as matched silks

fragrant as honeysuckle

a floating scent

rippling across the breeze

ordinal mirrors

a dream dance

a page

exchanging places

to match the silks

twinned mirrors

fragrant dreams

of ordinal directions

the allegory of a page

that exchange places

in the self

twinned mirrors

A. MENDOZA, 11-5-2018

a page

The page and I exchange places

an allegory of a dream

twinned mirrors

ordinal directions

coordinating a dance

as gentle as matched silks

fragrant as honeysuckle

a floating scent

rippling across the breeze

ordinal mirrors

a dream dance

a page

exchanging places

to match the silks

twinned mirrors

fragrant dreams

of ordinal directions

the allegory of a page

that exchange places

in the self

twinned mirrors

A. MENDOZA, 11-5-2018

1:48 AM

 October  Desert

the music

the rhythm

the movement

the time

there is so much of

thinking in a dream

therapy for the sleep

alive in a world

fortunate

by the Lord’s grace

in love received

sentenced

to witness only what is seen

aware

to the whole

of a part

thinking in a dream

therapy for the sleep

moving to sound

dancing with joy

walking along

as a floating breeze

in the chill of autumn

there is so much of

received movement

and fortunate

music

rhythm in the time

as love received

alive in the world

the sentence

A. MENDOZA, OCTOBER 2018

1:48 AM

 October  Desert

the music

the rhythm

the movement

the time

there is so much of

thinking in a dream

therapy for the sleep

alive in a world

fortunate

by the Lord’s grace

in love received

sentenced

to witness only what is seen

aware

to the whole

of a part

thinking in a dream

therapy for the sleep

moving to sound

dancing with joy

walking along

as a floating breeze

in the chill of autumn

there is so much of

received movement

and fortunate

music

rhythm in the time

as love received

alive in the world

the sentence

A. MENDOZA, OCTOBER 2018

IF

IF

if

finding an end 

not knowing

what was the beginning

why only matters 

if

you care that it does

ignoring truth

ignorance is never dicovered

disclosure is not a light

if

the shade is drawn

an end in itself

has the means

of a mean that's pointless 

if

A. Mendoza, 2018

IF

IF

if

finding an end 

not knowing

what was the beginning

why only matters 

if

you care that it does

ignoring truth

ignorance is never dicovered

disclosure is not a light

if

the shade is drawn

an end in itself

has the means

of a mean that's pointless 

if

A. Mendoza, 2018

Joshua's Watching

JOSHUA'S WATCHING

Let me write one for you

by the fall

across desert sands

unaccompanied winds

with gale and autumn

as witness

making an image

by the stretching shadows

brushing up on the mountains

where down hidden valleys

trickles sunsets

as wonders

chips of shadows

amongst high lit tans

as brushing breezes like fingers

make a dance

with desert grasses

as individuals and together

joshuas' watching

as sentinels

arms upwards

as if to lift a moonlight

upholding the breeze

as it glows

along a zephyr's night

an Autumn’s whisper

and a questioning owl

to the spaces between

mountains and sands

and where they connect

lifted moonlight

carried by zephyr’s sands

an October whisper

before the fall

that shimmers

a hint to winter

A. MENDOZA, 2017

Joshua's Watching

JOSHUA'S WATCHING

Let me write one for you

by the fall

across desert sands

unaccompanied winds

with gale and autumn

as witness

making an image

by the stretching shadows

brushing up on the mountains

where down hidden valleys

trickles sunsets

as wonders

chips of shadows

amongst high lit tans

as brushing breezes like fingers

make a dance

with desert grasses

as individuals and together

joshuas' watching

as sentinels

arms upwards

as if to lift a moonlight

upholding the breeze

as it glows

along a zephyr's night

an Autumn’s whisper

and a questioning owl

to the spaces between

mountains and sands

and where they connect

lifted moonlight

carried by zephyr’s sands

an October whisper

before the fall

that shimmers

a hint to winter

A. MENDOZA, 2017