FLAMES TOUCHING FLAMES

FLAMES TOUCHING FLAMES
​
owls speak softly
​
each morning catches its breath—
sunrise outcries move silent mist
​
gunfire cracks
point-blank fire bangs like thunderclaps
bullets fly smoke rises
​
starlings fly— murmurations sweep the sky—
​
flames flash in the face of innocence
fierce is fire at point-blank range
a flash— then gone
​
another blood moon rises
​
unimaginable woundings—
mothers, brothers, fathers, friends—
daughters, sisters, sons
​
trilling sandhill cranes
climb the magenta mile
​
eyes fade—
candle flames rise
a furious firestorm
met with candlelight—
​
flames touching flames
remembering those who will remain
unable to remember another smile, hug, kiss, word—
another magenta moment— another silence—
forever unable to remember another
​
flame touching flame

© Copyright David Hoffmann 2026 – All Rights Reserved

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1jnfwc2xwu2v4m2ectxzy/FLAMES_TOUCHING_FLAMES_read_by_David_Hoffmann_260203_1239_trimmed_-_Copyright_David_Hoffmann_2026.mov?rlkey=hls5fbsw9d23munpjwrb729q1&st=ibostliq&dl=0

SENRYU 0467

labyrinth of loss—
mothers brothers fathers friends
daughters sisters sons

© Copyright David Hoffmann 2026 – All Rights Reserved

MINNESOTA

MINNESOTA
​
Epigraph~ In the wake of the tragic shooting death of Renee Nicole Good, the eyes and hearts of the world are fixed on Minnesota. Pastel artwork KNOWLEDGE by Ann DiSalvo. Ekphrastic poem MINNESOTA by David Hoffmann.
​
MINNESOTA
​
at first glance
her eyes
drew me closer
​
silently she spoke
as if she knew me
​
returning her gaze
I stepped towards her
​
as if I knew her
though not her name
nor from where
​
I wondered—
If like my mom— and her mom—
if she
​
was
​
from Minnesota
​
her beckoning eyes
trying to hide sadness
were haunting
​
silently they spoke
capturing words
on the tip
of my tongue
​
perhaps—
I will write to her
​
I will write
unspoken words
​
words—
then left
on a folded
piece of paper
​
words—
I will
put in my pocket
to be
​
mailed
​
to Minnesota
​
words—
I have not spoken
to someone
I would have liked
to have known
​
I would write words
she would then lock away
​
forever
locked away
​
forever in her chest
​
like having to hide a child
​
from
​
prying eyes
​
words—
locked away
unseen
​
words—
written to her
locked away
​
written to her
from someone
who she
never knew
​
whose name she
never heard
​
from where they came
she never will know
​
someone whose tearful eyes
silently speaking
​
will remain ever unseen
will remain ever unseen
​
someone who will
forever wonder
if she was
​
taken
​
from Minnesota
​
​
​
Copyright David Hoffmann © 2026 – All Rights Reserved

​
Here is a recording of my reading of MINNESOTA that I made yesterday at the Talent Gallery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HIMjmWv7pszNKBXq0hzXGMUB-C2M84x9/view?usp=share_link

SENRYU 0462

silently they speak—
rage against ice injustice
raise your voice for good

Copyright David Hoffmann © 2026 – All Rights Reserved

Ice Out

Ice Out Protest
IceOutForGood protest injustice resist