Sonnet 4 - To A Lucky Young Man

For Jennie, Christmas 2009
upon changing her Facebook status to "in a relationship"

The power of concentration that this girl
possesses is rare in her generation.
When she was young she’d get dressed up and twirl
in a swirling maelstrom of elation.

She gazed at Disney’s films at break of dawn,
then fell under the spell of Rowling’s school,
She’d sit and knit or braid hair later on,
enchanted by the chance to follow rules.

Sometimes her mood is nothing like the sun,
though frequently her motives are quite pure
and times she finds she isn’t having fun,
she looks within herself to find the cure.

Oh, what a lucky young man you are who
finds her affection focusing on you!

Sonnet 3 - Late Night Thoughts in Wintertime

For Tom, Christmas 2009

On our quiet street tonight it’s snowing,

and in our living room there stands a tree,

while bathed in light from the TV’s glowing

our first born son lies on the couch asleep.

A peaceful laid-back kid is he there nestling,

awake he’d make you laugh at things he’d say.

he’s talented at poker and arm wrestling,

and can get by on just five bucks a day.

Now all the gifts that we've exchanged for Christmas

the pictures and the plate, the plastic sword

and the baseball cards upstairs that gather dust

are just jingling bells. They don't sound the deep chord 

For the gift of life we gave to a small boy,

and the life’s companion we've come to enjoy.

Sonnet 2 - Your Skill at Motherhood

To Betsy, Mother’s Day 2008

I gaze across East Milton’s tidy lawns

from our front porch while rocking in the sun.

The big gray cat beside me slowly yawns

while in the house I hear a small clock run;

A wedding gift that’s ticking off the traits

and talents you display which I hold dear;

the graceful way you glide backwards on skates,

or how you saved the daisies from last year 

In wreaths with patience carefully arrayed.

And when you played that piece by Chaminade

on your flute out in the woods the skill displayed

Was skill that wowed the crowd; the kids were awed. 

Those kids have turned out well; it seems to me

Your skill at motherhood’s your legacy!

Sonnet 1

To Betsy, on Valentine’s Day 2000


In my desk drawer I’ve saved the greeting cards
All hallmarks of our passing Valentines
With offhand notes and jokes that seem to guard
Us from revealing feelings and true minds

For the Record let me clearly state right here
I’ve loved you since the first time we held hands
And felt your warm grasp, dry and firm and near
As pleasant as a beach’s summer sands

That night on those cool streets in Central Square
Is long gone and the sands of time do stream
We’ve gone from holding hands to places where
The ecstasy exceeds our wildest dream

It’s quite the wonder, worth the words to praise
I'm sure Will would, if he could see these days.