a poem in my pocket

epiphany is said to be:

a piercing awareness or

sudden jolt of understanding.

gifted eastern magi journey

to kneel in worship before the king,

marked by phenomenal starlight.

family with innocent infant flees

far from joseph’s prophetic dreams

of violence marching in roman boots.

yet epiphany can also be gradual;

as the accumulated experiences of life

slowly dawn with obvious truth on the mind.

ancient words written and read,

processed in head, absorbed by heart,

over the years may ripen into wisdom.

a cultural choice…

which way do we sway?

the demise of our language:

can “marriage” be “gay”?

the emperor in new clothes

parades down the street—

so we all must agree

public nudity’s sweet?

just ask a plumber

if connecting parts fit

or ask a dog breeder

if a pup comes from it!

it may seem archaic

for “family” to mean

a man and a woman

with children between;

it’s worked well for ages

and societies past…

but this new imitation,

how long will it last?

i’m only a poet, 

i like words a lot;

and words must mean something

or what have we got?

if you want to have sex 

with whomever you wish,

just don’t expect me

to say lovebirds are “fish”!