first lines . . .

at first i was afraid, i was petrified
we both lie silently still in the dead of the night
hello, is there anybody in there
and so she woke up, woke up from where she was, lying still
hey there, here i am
come, as you are, as you were
beautiful girl, love the dress

objects in rearview . . .

q1 is done
and history will note
a bear and a bull
may you live in interesting times
yup.

bed time

differential sleep patterns,
views on comfortable temperature,
pillow fluff level and blanket type
are just some of the nocturnal challenges to my marriage

but the areas of overlap
are inspired.

the smallish war.

the internecine activity in my living room
these days has reached new lows
and i am troubled (when not laughing)
and considering seriously a call
to ban ki moon to request mediation.

do they have translators for toddler-speak
and will we all have to wear blue helmets
until somebody leaves for college?

sublime. my wife.

there was a night in the park
farther from home than i intended to walk
where we sat on the swings beyond the river
and talked about things easily forgotten
because words do not always signify meaning
and those left unsaid . . .

night sound

when there is no else awake
the sound of the refrigerator running
seems strangely loud

e.

genesis 3:19 ". . . for out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou art . . ."

this eternal, fragile shell
has seen many comings and goings
but it is not indifferent to us
and sorrows at the briefest of visits.

now

where is the time or place
that our young dreams coalesce
with the reality of now

and things once thought simple
become wonderfully profound

seed

a seed turns green
and there
is hope renewed

a letter to my congressman

Dear Sir,

The state of our economy is too dire to play partisan political games. Nobody is more concerned with the increasing levels of federal debt than I am, but we failed to properly cut our deficit during the good economic times under Republican stewardship. Grandstanding at this time is hollow at best. Please reconsider your support for the economic stimulus bill.

Real families need your leadership at this time. We need you to act as the representative of the men and women in Wisconsin's 6th District, not the representative of the Republican Party.

Thank you for your service and consideration.

Martin Chy
Beaver Dam, WI

night

i got home
just in time to say goodnight
and my son
smiled
as he said
'we have to get these animals on the zoo train'
and he put his head on the pillow
trusting me to handle this