Brian grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico and has lived in San Francisco, the Bitterroots of Montana and the last three years in Mexico. “I grew up in the days of albums, reading the lyrics on the inner sleeves and album jackets. I thought to myself, “That’s what I want to do! It got me started writing poetry and being a wordsmith. I wanted to be the next Hal David or Bernie Taupin.” Brian has also written 10 haiku books and a handful of limericks. “I’m not a disciplined writer at all. I write when I get inspired by an idea and it won’t let go.”
At Katy and Guy’s House
The silence of the early morning dawn
Broken by the chilling cries of coyote
Mournful wailing, high pitched staccato bursts of song
Reminding all who can hear of the wildness which lurks
Just outside our doors and even closer- within our own lonely souls
I imagine a pack gathered in close proximity, maybe in a circle
Come together as native peoples once did sending their prayers
Into the cosmos, over the planet and into the sacred land just before war
For war has been declared on those who intrude and dare to destroy and alter
The landscape in an unconscious and violent way with no regard
For the four legged and the winged, and the water sustainer of life
And the rock and the sky and wind which carries the wisdom of the past
And the future on currents of air
Now the coyote send a message, it is a warning
Beware and tread lightly, those of two legs and no heart
We are here and we watch from a distance
The forces of Nature are with us as they once were with you
There is a price to pay and our destruction will be your destruction
Do not sleep easy, it is late
There can only be be fitful slumber now
All dreams have been poisoned
*****
Can’t Remember Man (a song parody)
(To the tune of ‘Nowhere Man’ by The Beatles)
I must’ve been there, I can’t recall
It was the sixties after all
Who was the walrus, was it John or Paul?
Dropped out of university
Tuned into the message of Tim Leary
Got my wallet now where did I leave my keys?
Can’t remember man
Where’s my stash
A few rare coins, a wad of cash
Can’t remember man
Did I put it in that old coffee can?
When I walk into a room
Forget my intention it’s gone too soon
Sudden amnesia feeling like a lost buffoon
Can’t remember man
My mind’s a blank
Overdrawn memory bank
Can’t remember man
So much has happened in this life span
I really don’t remember man
Memories like wind swept sand
My recollections likely second hand
Names and dates and passwords no thread nor strand
Details lost somewhere in the Yucatán
*****
Crossing The Carretera
I’m a walking fool
Looking to the left, looking to the right
Trying to cross this road
Always gives me a fright
The cars just keep on coming
End to end this road is not my friend
Running through my village
Cars, big trucks and motorcycles too
Better move quick or they’ll run right over you
Progress! Progress! and not for the better
Lakeside or mountainside
Seems I’m always on the wrong side
Trying to cross that damned Carratera!
A pedestrian
Looking for a break I stand and wait
Trying to cross this road
Feels like I’m tempting fate
The cars just keep on coming
From East to West this road a challenge and a test
*****
Eulogy (a rap)
Our planet is a speck of cosmic dust
But the crux is not to rust
But to find your place, sound your voice, show your face
You are one of a kind, never to be replaced
So embrace and taste the sweetness of life
The journey and flight
The take off and landing
Clarify misunderstanding
Sing to the creator with chanting
As the wine is decanting
Discover in the ordinary the enchanting
Dig into the earth with a planting
Dare to create beauty and boldly defy
The blight and ugliness around you
Although that is part of the divine too
Pursue the right view and be inclined
To align with what feels fine
Create by design and selfless intention
You will soon realize, you have theorized and idealized
And individualized the nature of reality
Which is not what it it appears to be
A mental construct void of actuality and neutrality
The malady of duality, but merge and combine
This is not for the mind to comprehend
Ascend and transcend
In the end your true identity, fundamentally
May be without personality
But do not fear all was falsity
Owing to society and conformity
Bowing to authority, following the majority
Misunderstanding and religiosity
But it’s simplicity, and curiosity
And the ability and capacity for flexibility
That is the key
And with tranquility all becomes possibility
I am nothing, but I am loving
I am no one, nobody’s son
I have come undone
Still like a rhyme and pun
I return to the sun which is where I came from
Giver of life, in your arms I delight
Just for a moment I had a chance to shine bright
In those I loved and the words I wrote
The inner journey in an empty boat
And in conclusion, what a grand illusion!
To be human is to suffer confusion, delusion
Forgiveness and absolution
What a ride, out with tide
Time to collide…with the infinite
*****
Follow Me There
I am going to cross the border
Come on, follow me there
I need sunshine baby
I need to breathe the air
I want to learn the language
And we can grow our hair
Feel life flowing through us
As we become aware
I’m packing light, you’re all I need
Just want to be with you
Pack your flip-flops, a swimsuit
Sunscreen if you want to
I really love your hazel eyes
You are a fire sign
I love the way you sing
Your fury deeper than mine
Gave away my possessions
Found out, they were owning me
Protecting the material
Took too much energy
Let’s run away where day meets night
Down into a rabbit hole
Don’t worry ‘bout the pieces
Letting go to be whole
I am going to cross the border
Come on, follow me there
I need sunshine baby
I need to breathe the air
*****
How Lucky Am I
I like walking down streets
I’ve never walked down before
I am curious about the spaces
That lie behind each colorful door
I like feeling slightly lost
With nothing but time to explore
How lucky am I
I like being anonymous
Savoring my reverie
I enjoy forgetting my own name
Remembering my true identity
I like feeling part of life
Not a cog in society
How wonderful to be present
I like knowing my way around
And remember with pleasure
The places I’ve found
Cafes and bars, good places to eat
Hidden bakeries with decadent treats
And some of the people
I’ve had the good fortune to meet
Blessings one and all
I like beautiful sunny days
Feeling warmth on my skin
Walking the dogs then reading a book
Quiet and relaxed and very zen
I like doing my own thing
I do it again and again
How lucky am I
*****
Last Night In Ajijic
The Jacaranda trees drop their leaves
And turn the cobblestone streets into purple carpets
When the rain comes at night, all is right
I fall into slumber in a state of bliss
It’s my last night in Ajijic
Time for one last look and a parting drink
Another sunset peachy and pink
Tomorrow I’m traveling on
But I dedicate this song
To the village by the lake
Faces on the street I have come to know
Always a smile and a warm hello
Good food all around, walks on the malacon
Waking up everyday in paradise has been fun
I’ll be back soon
Gotta cross the border and fly to the moon
The world I came from is calling
After he retired and moved to Sedona, Arizona, he taught literature at Yavapai College in Clarkdale, Arizona.
He and professional artist Bev Kephart bought a small motor home in 2003, sold most of their possessions, and traveled the U. S. for seven years. After visiting Mexico several times, they settled in the village of Ajijic, joining the ex-pat artist and writing communities.
Mel’s writing has been published online and in print in The United Kingdom, The United States, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia. He is the author of three novels, a book of short stories, and several books of poetry. He and his wife now make their home in the village of San Nicholas de Ibarra.
- Poetry Niche – April 2025 - March 30, 2025
- Poetry Niche – March 2025 - February 28, 2025
- Poetry Niche – February 2025 - January 30, 2025
