massachusetts

stop and go traffic -
storrow drivers' distractions,
sunbathers on charles
(2-10)

cape sand in his pack -

ten rides 'n' a hike t'get out here,

much easier t'get back

(12-14)

two kids 'n th'laundromat -

guess wellfleet's got noth'n for 'em,

their laughter fills th'night

(12-14)

waiting for the ship -

these minutes, says th'girl, th'best in

th'whole vineyard summer

(1-15)

on harvard line man
wears sandals, leisure suit, gets
off at central square
(7-05)

at harvard, th'students

so frugal 'n' clever, th'autumn

night, beating th'pinball

(12-14)

gravestones 'f th'puritans

acorns 'n his knees, he stops t'read'm

on his way t'th'commons

(12-14)

killed women and kids
in 'nam, so comm ave peaceniks
could wear nixon masks
(9-05)






old bak'ry's nutmeg -
wild-eyed woman, glad it's not
the salem of yore
(11-13)






symph'ny road trumpets
introduce an october
of fenway's silence
(10-10)







old whalers' stories
served up in new bedford bar -
dead leaves, open door
(~4-10)





p-town curios
in dusty case - outside, sea
and snow from three sides
(2-10)






south station rehab
rent stub lost in christmas bills -
bitter wind from docks
(~4-10)





revere beach boardwalk -
cold angry sea brings new year,
plover finds th'french fry
(2-10)

tex'n scorns th'tiny states,

icy nashua fades 'n th'mirror -

th'world'll spread out soon

(12-14)

these little states gone -
icy nashua in mirror -
before you realize
(3-10)





mass pike hitchhiker -
lights on frozen fields are not
just coincidence
(7-05)





andrew square traffic,
st. pat's party somewhere, miss
kid on ninety-three
(3-10)






revere beach ocean
breeze lifts spirit like a kite
but folks never leave
(7-05)

kenmore square, march wind -

he sells his book of poetry,

she's read th'one before

(11-14)

mass pike pace quickens
inbound drivers' urgent plans -
trees bloom in city
(2-10)

thrown off crew f'r drinking,

now he spits off th'mass ave bridge

aiming for th'cockswain

(12-14)

bright logan tarmac -
beyond, blossoms of city,
here, dull empty wait
(3-10)