Doug Lane

First he came for the immigrants, and I did not speak out, or spoke too quietly-
Because I was not an immigrant.
Then he came for the Muslims, and I did not speak out, or at least, did not speak loudly enough—
Because I was not a Muslim.
...

You seduced me
with trickery
and afterwards
memories of our encounter
...

Driven from my house
by greedy landlords
who think
it's theirs,
...

American foster mother
you brought your bottomless,
unconditional,
love
...

Thanks to you
we now know
there's no American
too hateful,
...

Once I aspired
to write deathless poems
but now I'm writing
dispensable poems,
...

In my youth
my cup ranneth over.
But now
my cup
...

It must be wonderful
to be
a part
of one of those young,
...

Just as I feared,
upon rereading
the half dozen
poems
...

I don'tcare
if another poem
never
comes my way.
...

The last poem I wrote
came to me
as I was driving
from the range
...

Every other time
I drowned
I lived
to tell
...

I want to explain to you
why I didn't sleep with you
after taking you to Yamashiro's
that night
...

I'll tell you why I wear this tie,
and why I'm so well groomed.

My appearance gives its lie
...

I've missed the boat.
And that's not
the only one.
...

Vegas, Parkland, and the sacrifice of the young

What sums up
the spirit
...

First there was the polio scare
shutting down
Little America's pool.
...

Father murdered,
mother murdered,
starving in death camps
for 4 years,
...

I've got
one month
to get rid
of my books
...

It's raining again
in Los Angeles
after such a long absence
we natives
...