Feng Shui For Lovers

Yin and Yang, Wang and Wong,
I’ll move the sofa if it doesn’t take too long.
But first I’ll have to finish the chore
of cleaning up the beer I spilled on the floor.

My wife says the flat-screen would look good over there…
behind the pink sofa and that god ugly chair.
She said it will promote good health and well being,
But I think it would be damn difficult seeing.


Prosperity will follow with this type of Feng Shui.
“You’ll see," she said "just give it a day.”
“And good luck and happiness will soon be just right!”
But my mind was set on a little loving tonight.

“So the head of the bed should always face south?”
As I mumbled some curse words under a semi closed mouth.
“And the foot of the bed must be by the window right here,
so the neighbors can catch a quick glimpse of my rear?”

Feng Shui is about throwing out clutter,
but all I could think about were her hips soft as butter.
As she lay on the bed and I asked what she was feeling,
she said “Before we get going would you fix that crack in the ceiling?”

So I spackled and painted and straightened the mantle,
then lit up the incense and burned a big candle.
Then she whispered so softly, “Now I’m ready to play!”
But I was far too exhausted from the move to Feng Shui.

Kisses Yet Tasted

It's 6 a.m. Friday morning, and I've been awake since 3 a.m. Awakening in the middle of the night with an idea for a story that would take me to a higher level in my writing, one that would undoubtedly give me great satisfaction; and that's truly what I write for...to find satisfaction within myself. Telling a story, and conveying its meaning to those who read my words is just icing. The real cake is being happy with who I am and what I write. So I came downstairs, set up my cozy writing nook, and then I read one sentence that changed my morning. It read "Listening to Helen Jane Long, Echo" What is one more minute going to hurt as I googled 'Helen Jane Long'? A quick review, then to playlist.com, and I found one song entitled "Stars" from Miss Long.
The delicate touch of the piano begins, and the silence of the quiet morning awakens into a melodic rhapsody. As the sun breaks through the window and the beauty of the Japanese maple outside the kitchen window catches my eye, I recall why I chose this piece of land to settle upon, and now know why I awoke early. It wasn't about writing, it was more. It was something or someone pulling me out of bed saying, "Hey, you're going to miss something wonderful if you sleep in! Wake up, experience life! It's not too late!"
As the music faded into a decrescendo, I was left awakening to an inner peace. A new day had dawned with all its wonders and kisses yet tasted. And the coffee...the coffee. Oh yes, I think I shall have another sip from this cup of life....

A Visit To My Father's Home

The rose had shed its petals along the walkway leading up to the home
as if welcoming a wedding party
on this early May morning,
but those who once lived here are either dead or scattered.



The lock still opened with the same key.
A familiar turn of the knob as the
door scraped against the threshold
and a creaking floor welcomed my footstep.

This was where I was born,
suffered angst, grew rebellious and
walked out that same front door,
leaving it for granted.

Now all that is left is the structure
with no foundation of family.
As a rose strewn walkway lays wait
with no cause for celebration.

East Meets West

I was born in 1955, and raised in a very small town in south Mississippi. Lucedale, Mississippi to be precise. A town which was at that time, and still to this day divided down the middle racially. You were either black or you were white. No in betweens, no mixing of races, and for that matter no other races made Lucedale their home.
For certain, if you weren't black or white, why would you move to this little town that was so segregated? Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad town, but people kept to themselves divided by the race line, and they were pretty happy with doing so. That all changed in 1975 with the addition of the first Asian family in town.
With the collapse of the South Vietnamese government in 1975, thousands of Vietnamese were granted asylum in the United States. The families were processed either on the west coast in California, or the east coast in Florida. The Vietnamese family that came to live in our little town had processed through a refugee camp at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. After they were sponsored in our town, I got my first view of what a Vietnamese family looked like. I was 20 years old that year, and these were the first Asians I had ever seen except for those on television or in magazines.
It was by random luck that Tai, the patriarch of the family walked up to me in June of that year and asked me if I knew where he could find a job. I was working at the local hospital to make money for college that summer. I thought the least I could do was direct him to the employment office. He was hired that day, and I found myself driving him home each day after work. That's when I saw her for the first time. The woman I would marry almost two years later. Her name was Nan Thi Nguyen.
Some would argue that there is no such thing as love at first sight. Well, let the argument end. Yes, yes it exists. Seeing Nan wasn't about needing to find someone, it was about an instant connection despite language differences and cultural barriers. It was more than attraction, it was a feeling of destiny. When the news broke in the town that we were in love there were a few people who I considered my friends that tried to dissuade me from marrying outside my race. One friend in particular took me aside and said to me "Kim, you are white, and she's Asian. If you marry her do you know what that will make your children?" "Yeah", I said. "It will make them beautiful rainbows."
So, 34 years later we still have this mutual admiration thing going. We take time to remember what attracted us to each other in the first place, and we continually remind ourselves of the blessings that we have been given along the way. I could not ask for more. I'll someday leave this earth, all well knowing that I'm also leaving behind a legacy of love, and wonderful memories and tales for our future generations. This is what will be told when they all recall their heritage and how they came to be. They will tell their children, "This is how east met west." Let the Bollywood dancing begin.

Chain Reaction 4675

A chain reaction began with neutrons
firing at atoms producing more neutrons
which produced an exothermic apocalypse
ultimately ending a young girl’s life.

4675 days were all you were allowed.
Sadako Sasaki…
your daughter, my daughter,
Hiroshima’s child.

When violence is accepted
war and hatred is
consummated and blessed
with our thoughts and our actions.

Let me make a difference
to be as brave as
you were.
To be persistent in dream, vision and action.

To have the courage and commitment
to seek peace through nonviolence.
For you, let the chain reaction
be that of peace, love, and understanding.

SixtyNine

Hands are clapping, fingers snapping, 
Aquarius Neo...Jimi's happening.
Clouds of smoke rise in the air.
Wearing flowers in our hair.

 Psychedelic stars above,
happy couples making love.
Make love not war...now say it loud!
Janis Joplin owns the crowd.

Sixty nine will always be
my recluse from reality.
Recalling youth and joining hands,
recollections from an aging man.