1920. My Peculiar Radar

I am attracted
Like a magnet
To a man
Who is
Inaccessible
To me
It is my
Particular
Pathology
From a Mom
Who worked
Constantly
And a Father
Who travelled
Far
Never again
To be a daily
Part
Of my life
I can find
A single person
Unable to commit
To lifelong
Relationship
Out of a room
Of a thousand
People
Point me
In any direction
And I'll find
Quite accurately
All the unavailable
Men
Within 300 yards
Proximity


About Women

1919. Finding the Pot of Gold

Driving
Through the magic
Of a rainbow's end
Caught me by surprise
I first realized
What was happening
When all the world
Turned blue then yellow
Around me
It took a second
To comprehend
The meaning
Of the experience
I am the treasure
And I am found


About Women, Finding Direction

1915. Over the Rainbow

I drove
Through the end
Of the rainbow,
And that's when
I realized
For the right
Man,
I am
The pot of gold.


About Women

1918. Meeting a Man, At Last

You
Are a real man
Perhaps
The first
I've met
In years here
Chronologically
You're younger
Than me
But you're
Ready
For marriage
Family
And responsibility
That sets you apart
From all
Of Silicon Valley's
Grown up boys
Self-centered
And focused only
On their sports,
Dreams, and toys


Dating

1917. Halo in Night Club Blue

You are
In my mind's
Spotlight
All the world
Fades out
Around you
Forming a halo
In night club
Blue
You are the man
Who caught
My attention
We feel
A mutual
Physical
Connection
Together we,
With our
Particular
Pheromones
And looks,
Feel chemistry


Dating

1916. Sky's Fury

I looked at the clouds
And they showed me
The ocean
Waves tall and menacing
Raging endlessly


Life in San Francisco

1913. Can't Buy Me Love

Mogul, doctor, pilot, CEO
Pursuing your dreams
And grand destiny
All you can offer me
Is your absense
That's not compelling
It doesn't matter
How much money
You have
Or how
Attractive
You seem


Dating

1914. My Baby Is a Centerfold

You know _____?
That's not saying
Much of anything
I'm told
He's one of the most
Social men
In New York
And San Francisco


Dating

1912. Poems Written to Me

Poets tend to find each other
Me, I've found a few
I hope you, my reader, too
Will enjoy seeing what some
Have written and shared
These next poems
Are written by men
They said
Inspired by me


Note for those who may know me and are curious: These next poems within this blog entry are from men, who are friends. As of this date, we've not had any love or other relationships, though at times, there may have been or be a spark of imagination. There's a deeper connection, one that can be felt by people, who in their heart are artists and have the courage to feel deeply. What's even more special about each of these men poets is that they are all writing in English as a second language. They are from 3 different continents - none of which is North America.


"Subtle Fire" was written by a dancer:
Subtle fire evolving in uncountable little whirlwinds
All over the surface of my body
Under my clothes
Caressing even inside my many pockets of broken thoughts
Intertwined with the way I move.
Dancing, walking, turning, twisting, stomp, stop
I breathe your smooth heat
I smoke you, let's say,
And it tastes like the Spring sky.
Again
We go.
I feel
That you
Feel.
-----------------------------------


"I looked for you" was written by a dancer:
I looked for you last night,
In every partner,
every song,
every beat.
All of them help me to forgive you
For not being there
But not to forget you
Because I did not want that.
I wanted to remember you more
Intensely;
So much
That I could feel you present,
So present,
In every instant,
every breath,
every pulse.
I felt time running like a song,
Beautiful pa-um-pa-um-pa, paúm…
Violins of wing' singing birds,
Piano, bandoneón, piano, bandoneón,
Bass, vas…
Tangible,
The floor,
My feet,
My pants,
Her legs,
Hips, belly, chest, shoulders, arms, her chest, her back, her neck, our faces,
Our lips so Close.
--------------------------


"You" was written by a dancer:
You…
are the dance.
I just follow you.
I'm devoted to you.
I like to make your experience,
to make real your dream for you.
That is my
Dream.
-----------------------------------


"Ripples" was written by a colleague and friend:
Ripples
Flowing through
Slicing hard
Pain

Hope
Shining elsewhere
Eternal spark
Here

A night
Eruption, Crying
Feeling wrong
Being right
The truth comes out
Tears of exhaustion
Hurt of confusion
Pleasure of numbness
Joyfully spent
Darkness sets way for dawn

New night
New life
New ripples
of energy
Bright
She is vibrant
Her colors
Emanating
Pulsating
Sensual
Desiring Touch
Wanting to Feel
Offer of Sanctuary

She says friend
Her body says love
She lays a boundary
Her eyes speak louder
She lets out a word
She bares her soul
Strong
Injured
Longing
Softness

Inifinite tenderness
Pouring out
A safe haven
A place to fall
A place to share
A place to hold
will she take it?
will she accept?

Power
Spirits connecting
Intensity unfolds
Vulnerable
-----------------------------------

"Girl, Princess" was written in a first online instant message by a gentleman in white tie tuxedo:
Girl in the dress with shoes and a smile,
You make me feel the happiness melting off your face.
You look like a princess and you stand in that dress for a while.
You are a model and princess to me.
We have many talents and common things.
Thank you for sharing your poem with me.

------------------------------------

1910. Comparison and Contrast

Some men
Just want
Someone
To warm
Their bed.
What's gotten
Into them?
I suppose
There are
Women
Who will
Accept so little.
You, by contrast,
Are a man
Looking
To create
Home and family.
That's so
Much more
Appealing
To me.
Me, I need
Something
More like
What you might
Offer.


Dating

1908. White Tie Prince

You in white tie
Make me wonder
How high your mind
Sometimes soars.
Where do your
Dreams take you?
Who will you be
In the world
And to me?


Dating

1909. Good Starting

You start off well
I can tell you
Not many men
In their first
Communication
Have written me
A poem
In which I'm
The lovely
Princess
Of their
Imagination


Dating

1907. Already Gone

You took me
For granted
One too
Many
Times
Now I'm
No longer
Available
For you
To lose


Dating, Dumping

1906. Top Priority Only

If I am
Not top
Of your
Priority
List
Do not
Bother
Me


Dating

1905. A Perfect Party

A perfect party
Includes good friends
Who are great people
Drinking just a little
Chatting and dancing
Merrily
Until the wee hours
Of the morning


Life in San Francisco

1568. Agreed

OK, I don't
Want to date
You either
Why would
I want
To be
With anyone
Who doesn't
Also
Want to be
With me?


Dating

1599. Get On With It

Advice from Mom:
He told you
He's not
Interested
In you
He's moved on
Why don't you?


Long Relationships

1628. Sodom and Gomorrah

After witnessing
The fringes
Of the Folsom
Street Fair
I'm kind of
Expecting
G-d to drop
Something
Spectacular
And unpleasant
On San Francisco
Today's
Modern Sodom
And Gomorrah


Life in San Francisco

1612. Partial Orders Not Accepted

One man offered
To be my lover
Without friendship
Marriage or family
A second one
Suggested marriage
Without mutual
Respect, admiration
Or compatibility
A third proferred
An extramarital
Affair outside
His open marriage
A fourth wanted
A friend to take
For frozen yoghurt
Without romance
Love or courtship
A fifth simply
Has little time
For love with me
In his life
None of these
Parts and pieces
Is enough for me


Dating

1665. Dark Calculus

If he sees
My home
And car
And makes
Those
Part
Of his
Calculation
That could
Be worse
As he'll
Be casing
Out
My money


Dating

1857. My Intended

Why should
I continue
To waste
My life
Waiting
Hoping
For loneliness
To end
Maybe
This
Nothingness
Is what's
Intended
For me


About Women

1861. You May Never Know

Whenever I
Pursue a guy
I find
He quickly
Disappears
From my life
So if I don't
Pursue you
You're left
To wonder
Why
It could be
Utter disinterest
Or a lot of it
(Interest, that is)


Dating, About Women

1883. Picturing a Player

A good friend
Post pictures
Of himself
With many
Women
For the world
To see
He wonders
Why
People believe
He's dated
Around
Considerably
Even if he's
Not a player
It's his
Online image
That says it


Long Relationships

1904. Lone Living

I have
Officially
Given up
On love
I guess
I was
Meant
To be
Lonely


Dating, About Women

1902. A for Effort, Maybe

Overwhelmed with work
Stress exuding from every pore
You made the effort
To be with me at my party
Sort of
For that, I'd adore you more
If I thought you cared for me

Dating

1901. Not in the Picture

I wanted to introduce
You to all my friends
I kissed you in public
To mark me as yours
And you as mine
In everyone's eyes
But you didn't notice
Me or the slinky
Red velvet dress
I wore to impress
My friends confided
To me about some guy
Hiding in the back room
Downloading all my files
I'm not sure
What to make of it
What do you?


Dating

1903. It's My Party, and I'll Cry If I Want To

I told my friends
I'm dating you
And now they think
I'm deluded
You paid not one
Iota of attention
To me
At my party
I played the fool
As usual
That seems to be
The role life has
Given me
In love relationships


Dating

1904. An End to Tears

If you are not
Into me
Let's end
This quickly
Or how many
Tears
Should I lose
Over you?


Dating

1897. Have a good weekend!

Inferring his meaning:
A Friday evening
Message
Of have a good
Weekend
Mans you won't be
Hearing from him
Before next week
His quality time
Is occupied
With other people


Dating

1900. On Devouring a Pomegranate

I ate a pomegranate
Today
And thought of you
It's your favorite
And mine, too
The differences
In how we eat them
Are reflective
Of our divergent
Approaches to life
With your fingers
You gingerly
Pick each fruit
From the inside
And one by one
You gum
Ensuring that you
Swallow no seeds
Your process takes
A day
By contrast, me,
I devour mine entirely
In a few short minutes
Like a lioness


Long Relationships

1899. How Right Looks and Feels

How to tell if someone likes or loves you:
First of all, he calls and wants to be with you.
He makes time despite hectic schedules,
Gives you his attention and shows affection,
Cares about what you think and how you feel,
Thinks of you with interest and admiration,
In many cases naturally does things to protect you,
Desires your love, attention, and respect,
Starts to plan what life might be like together,
And, above all, keeps his commitments.
He prioritizes you above other activities,
Things, and people. Even a quick text
Sends a loving message if it's enhanced
With actions: calls, dates, and in person caresses.
It's a wonderful feeling to be a man's priority.


Dating

1898. Dancing on Water

On calm waters
With an experienced skipper
(And just a little drinking),
Yachting and salsa dancing
Are an unexpectedly fun
Combination of activities.
When the boat sways,
No one cares
As it adds to the motion
You initiated anyway.


Life in San Francisco

1895. Let's Be Friends

Oops
I started dating
Someone new
And totally
Forgot about you
Hopefully
We can still be
Friends?

(This conversation has once or twice happened to me. Maybe it even came from me sometimes. I imagine, it's also happened to a few of you - through third parties. If the words weren't quite so direct or honest when you or I first heard them from someone we once dated and who then seemed to completely disappear, or even if we had to infer them from observing silence and inaction, we each later discovered the meaning described in this poem. True?)

Dating

1896. Ask and Receive the Answer

For those of you
Who are wondering
What I'm thinking
And why I write
What I do
Ask me directly
If you want
An answer
I'll give your question
My full attention


On Writing

1894. No Standards in the Matter

I just met and spoke briefly with
Two married men at a party.
One said when he met
His wife if just felt right.
Everything was easy.
It all fit together
Like puzzle pieces.
They had so much in common
From the very beginning.
It wasn't intrigue or tremendous
Chemistry but comfort
That was the major feeling.
Their lives fit together neatly.
The other boldly told me
His wife to be was engaged
To be married to someone else.
He and she both thought
It would just be a fling,
Not anything lasting.
Moreover, he and she,
His future bride to be,
Lived in foreign countries.
They had lots of chemistry.
They dated long distance
For years, and she kept him
A secret from her family.
Both these couples are now
Happily, faithfully married.
Is there any pattern here
From which anyone can learn?
Perhaps it's only that
Where love's concerned
There is no standard
Way of starting or meeting.


Dating

1894. Tantalizing Planning

Advance planning
Fun and private
Together time
Is a delicious
Passtime
Both happily
Enjoy twice:
While crafting
And in the enacting

Dating

1890. On Last Minute Plans

As my friends
Who are social organizers
Will freely tell you
Being last minute-ed
Is the same as
Getting second-rated
Sombody's trying to find
Something or someone
Better to do than you


Life in San Francisco

1893. Location, Location, Location

A female friend
Who is a natural beauty
Can't find a man
Who's straight to date
In San Francisco
She's pondering changing
Location
Moving to a new city
Where men notice she's
Brilliant and pretty
A catcall or two
Would be welcome,
I think, don't you?


About Women, Life in San Francisco

1888. On Being Mean

My natural inclination
Is to be nice to a guy
Who has caught my eye
This always disserves me
So I've recently resolved
To be mean


Dating

1889. People Prioritize Accordingly

If I'm important
To you
You'll treat me
With priority


Dating

1887. Pay for Praise

I've recently been honored
By two professional organizations
Who heaped praise upon me
And then asked me for money
If my cash contribution
Is a precondition for your award
Honor or special recognition
I assure you, I don't want it


Life in San Francisco

1879. Taking Charge

Your mother changed
The ballet?
She altered its course
Direction and ending?
You should have seen
His expression
As he for the first time
Realized
Nothing in life
Is written.
It's all what we make it.


Long Relationships

1884. That's That

Aren't you
Worried sick
About all
The beautiful
Women
He'll see
In Argentina?
No, not at all
Actually.
He won't
Notice them
If he's
Into me.


Dating

1882. In the Beginning

My grandparents
Deeply in love
With each other
Eloped
As teenagers
And then went back home
Each to live normally
With their own families.
Eventually,
A marriage certificate
Arrived in the mail.
Grandma's sister
Simply stated,
Mom, I think Jenni
Is married.
A more traditional
Ceremony followed,
And that's the beginning
As I know it.


Long Relationships

1881. Practical to the End

My grandpa,
Harry,
In the last
Three years
Of his long life
Kept
Safety pinned
To the back
Of his recliner
A note titled,
"What to do
If Harry is dead"
It simply said
Who to call
And what
Next steps
To follow
About coroners
Insurance
Paperwork
And burial
That was him
Thoughtful
And practical
To the end


Long Relationships

1880. A Story for All People, All Times

When my eyes
Brim and overflow
With tears
As I watch
Mimi and Rodolfo's
Tragic love story
In the opera
La Boheme
Do I cry for me
Or for them?


Art

1878. Poetry for You

If from my words
Spring forward
Your own
Similar thoughts
And memories,
If my poems
Bring laughter,
Comfort or empathy,
If what you see
Against this...
Life's white
Background...
Rings true,
These poems
As for me
Are also for you.


On Writing

1877. Secret Reader

Secret reader,
I welcome you.
Do you feel
What I do, too?


Life in San Francisco

1876. Must This Always Be the Consequence?

In Handel's opera
The fair Semele
Knows
The man she loves
To be her god
And in truth
He is the mighty
Jove
She makes him
Swear
To grant her wish
To see him
In all his glory
He afflicted
Realizes
Too late
The consequence
The instant
She, a mortal,
Sees him, Zeus,
Jove, Jupiter
As he really is
She dies
Must this be
What happens
In real life?


The opera's libretto: http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/semele.htm

Thank you to Alek Shrader and Ji Young Yang for their great Adler Fellows performance tonight.
http://sfopera.com/p/?mID=49&edID=347&eventtypeid=


Art, Life in San Francisco

1803. Chemistry

You remind me
Physically
Of another man
About whom
I created
A fantasy
And even
Loved deeply.
But you,
By contrast,
Are real
And seem
To be
Interested
In me.
Perhaps
We have
The spark
Of chemistry?


Dating

304. Anachronistic

He to me:
You're not in the wrong place
But in the wrong time
You would have done better
In the age of gentlemen and ladies
You'll never find a home
In the now


Dating

179. Dumb and Dumber

What's
Uninspiring:
An event
Dumbed down
For mass appeal
A technical topic
Fluffed
And diluted
Leaving
The scientists
And informed
Observers
In the room
Unsatisfied


Life in San Francisco

160. Human Nature

Why do all people
In a small place
Converge on the same
Spot
Is it safer there
Why do people want
To bump shoulders
Squeeze through
And push and shove
It must look like
The best space
That's why we all
Want it
Even if there's
Nothing there
But confinement


Life in San Francisco

36. Blank

A book with blank pages
Unfulfilled, unfilled, empty
Drawing in potential
Inviting creation
Inviting ink, coloration
Like the folios of my life


Life in San Francisco

1851. Rethinking Linking

If you
Casually
Meet me,
Why do
You think
I'll connect
With you
Publicly
In LinkedIn?
I don't
Know you,
What harm
Or good
You could do
To my online
Reputation.
We link
Impetuously
Hopeful
Of future
Mutual
Benefit.


Life in San Francisco

1850. Deleted

Confused
As to why you
Couldn't
Take a second
And respond
To my SMS
Text,
I deleted
You as
My Facebook
Friend.


Life in San Francisco

1875. Engage Me

Mingling
With social
Notables
Is not
Interesting
Unless
They,
Genuinely
Friendly,
Have
Something
To ask
Or say
To me


Life in San Francisco

1871. Un-Friended

He was
Unfriendly,
So I
Un-Friended
Him.
In case you
Wondered,
That's why
His picture
And profile
Are no longer
Listed
Among
My Facebook
Friends.


Life in San Francisco

1870. Loose Affiliations

How well do
You know him?
How often
Do you call?
And do you
Also know
My friend,
Horton?
He's a handful.
I'm not sure
How to answer.
Connections
And mutual
Acquaintances
Could be a curse
Or a blessing
Depending.


Life in San Francisco

1873. Facebook Reflection

Friendship
Is now so
Public
What with
Facebook.
But all these,
Are they
Real?
How can
They be
With folks
I don't know
Seeking
To Facebook Friend
Me.
I've un-Friended
Two men,
Who were
Actively negative
Or unkind,
Deleting their
Pictures and profiles
From my sight.
All the world
Saw it, too.
What else or more
Can I do?
The alternative
Is to be daily
Reminded
Of unkindness
Or continue
A charade.
I prefer
To keep
A smaller group
Where each
Is actually
Either a friend
Or at least
A past
Or potential
Positive connection
Reflective
Of elements
Of my life.


Life in San Francisco

1705. Managing Appearances Over Ice Cream

On that last day
They went
For ice cream
Together
He requested a cup
She ordered a cone
Inwardly he groaned
About how
It might look
To a casual
Observer
As she ate
She was careful
To do nothing
That would raise
Any eyebrows
She cautiously
Withheld
Any flirtation
As it was clear
He wanted distance
And hoped none
Would think
They had any
Remaining
Relationship


Dating

1810. Barack Obama's Promise

Our first black president
Signals a bright day
For an America
Whose people needed
His message
Of hope and change


Life in San Francisco

1869: Palin: A Post Turtle

And I quote:
"Sarah Palin
Is a post
Turtle"
As proclaimed
By an Alaska
Citizen
And reframed
By an illustrious
Princeton
Alum,
John Bunzel.
To define
"Post turtle,"
He replied:
"She's like
A turtle you
See
While driving
On the highway
Perched
Precariously
High
Atop a post.
You know
She didn't
Climb
Up there
By herself.
She doesn't know
What to do
In the situation,
And you
Have to wonder
About the dumbass
Who
Put her there
In the first place."
No other
Commentary
Is really
Necessary
To discuss
The governor
From Alaska.
Many thanks
For these words
Go to John Bunzel,
Princeton class
Of 1946.


Life in San Francisco

1867. Crisp Green Where It Should Be

Today's
Brilliant
Beauty
Warm sun
Fresh
Cool air and
All the trees
Still a crisp
Green
Make it
Momentarily
Impossible
To remember
Stocks
Are falling
Like winter
Leaves


Life in San Francisco

1866. Painted Silk Sky

Lavender
Blends
Into soft
Orange
With the moon
A cradle
For the night's
First star


Life in San Francisco

1865. Sari Sunrise

Sari silks
In my memory
From a friend's
Indian wedding
Mirror
Brilliant
Sunsets
And dawns
Making a woman
Their center
A star


About Women

1864. Eery

Empty airports
Short
Lines in stores
Clear driving
On the highway
The easy feel
Of an economy
Sliding deeper
Into catastrophe


Life in San Francisco