Poems by Anne K. Gay:

I know Someone who's Somebody

To Everybody else.

And Somebody is Noone, really,

Without a true self.

And Someone is standing there hiding

Behind Somebody's face.

In the middle of Everybody,

But still Noplace.

Helpless to help

I saw a man with tears in his eyes.

I went to him and asked him why.

"I'm lonely," he said.

Said I, "I'm here."

"I'm not," he said, and left me there.

Get It Out

Living a lie is like sand in your eye;

You wince and you cry and it hurts.

Your heart wants to shout just to get that grain out;

Your eye was not meant to hold dirt.

You must be direct, simply fish out that speck,

And when it is free let it fly:

Lay the dirt on the table; only then are you able

To look those you love in the eye.

A Moment In Passage

As the sun glints on metal, and leaves blow away,

I ponder tomorrow, and wonder today

If those which will follow shall know leaves at all,

Or feel how I feel, as they fall.

Random Haiku

Loneliness in a

King-size bed is far more sad

Than in a single

In Memory of Sam and Orpheus

Our cats are most important friends

And more, they're family

They give us love that never ends,

They teach humilty

And all their sweet, expressive ways

Like puking on the floor

Are worth it when they sit with us

Or meet us at the door

The memories of a cat that's gone

Are of his finest hour

A languid stretch, a playful prance

A proud and lordly glower

Not a print or any picture

Of your cat will mean so much

as the memory of his gaze or

of his soft and padded touch

What a lovely observation,

That our cats, like us, were friends

With their catly conversations

That we couldn't understand

We'll remember them together,

Both the sad and happy parts

And our cats will live forever

In the cockles of our hearts

And Then I May Go

Come Quickly, if I'm going to live --

Come racing to my side.

Come share with me your secret thoughts

Or make of me your bride.

Then later, if I'm going to die,

Come slowly, if you must.

You needn't race for one last word

With ashes in your dust.

If there are things you'd like to say

Or gifts we both might give

Then say them now or bring them by

Come Quick -- if I'm to live.