a poem for Jaco

this page so small,
your impact so great,
you patiently keep guard
with your dark calf-like eyes,
beyond my busy-ness,
unkept house
and thundering thighs
seeing spontaneous beauty inside,
hidden in the fog
of cautious calculations,
invisible expectations

despite your three degrees
you make me feel like a genius
you give your undivided attention
to my private fears,
pointless remarks,
about raindrops,
snails and stars
yet you seek my opinion
on matters of importance,
trusting my gut
and what my spirit eyes see

fighting your insistent analysis
and accurate assumptions
you take time to talk
to my cats
as you rush
to another appointment
yet I know little
of your family story
only that your mom raised you godly
and your dad died too early

you lavish love on so many
spending time,
money
and prayers
on AIDS orphans,
searching teenagers
and my parents when I’m gone

traveling across continents
and cultures
too many to count
riding on camels in Middle East dunes,
skiing in the Rockies
and sailing around Sydney
still,
desert colors
and textures
in your home
remain confusingly formal

Mendelssohn soars
over your new suede couch
hovering over a hand carved bowl
of wood
hugging the purple
of dried passion-fruits inside
how fickle the heart
how hopeless the fight
when heaven declares
the time is right