Tourism

Tourism

It is good to have reason

to be tourist in my hometown

and to look at the familiar

through the eyes of one

who never saw it before

and to visit some places

I didn't know existed

to discover with another

known and unknown

for the first time to see

the familiar fresh again

renewed.

This was written for G-Man's 55.   Go tell it to the G-Man!

Comfort

Comfort

Comfort is hard to come by some days,
    and other days it is all around.

It can be found in the love of my dogs
   a cup of coffee on a cold morning
   the radiant smile or hug of a friend
   the words of a good book that ring true
   a poem that expresses what I wish I'd said
   caring thoughts spoken by someone I care about
   joyful embraces of grandchildren
   my prayers to God putting all in His hands
   and it can be found in knowing you.

Comfort is hard to come by some days,
   and other days it is all around.

Written for Poetry Jam where the subject is Comfort.

The Knowing

The Knowing

What does a person know for sure,
   how much can anyone ever know?

She can know she is happy
  but cannot know for how long.

She can know what she wants
  but cannot know what is possible.

She can know today
  but cannot know tomorrow.

She can know the weather is good
   but always changeable.

She can know she hears birds sing
   will soon fly south to return again.

She can know she wants to dance
   to music only she hears.

She can know what she wants
   but cannot know the future.

What does a person know for sure,
   how much can anyone ever know?

"Two or three things I know for sure, and one of them is 
that change when it comes cracks everything open." - Dorothy Allison



Written for dVerse Open Link

Fancy Restaurant

Fancy Restaurant

Others at tables wore
their suits and fancy attire
as we sat with blue jeans
and sweaters and converse shoes
ordered off the fancy menu
folded white napkins in our laps
water with lemon slices
but the attentive waiter takes no note
as money is money and he takes it
no matter what is worn.

Written for G-Man's 55!!
Go tell it to the G-Man!
Also shared with Poetry Pantry.

How to Like It

How to Like It

The first day of spring brings the breeze in the morning
smells of roads to travel after the long, still winter.
The sound of birds chirping brings cheer to the heart,
the desire to get outside and live.
A woman and her dog walk out the door.

The dog says, Let's walk through the neighborhood.
Let's smell all the mailboxes and posts we can find.
Let's see who was where and when. 
In her sense of season, the woman is stuck
in patterns of the past and wishes first to
accomplish spring tasks of planting and clearing
as has been her custom for many years.

The dog says, Let's forget about this nonsense.
Let's greet and explore the world.  Let's sniff everything we can.
So they go on their way, woman leading dog,
then dog leading woman, then both stop to rest,
noses high in the air, then one nose low to the ground, 
to inhale the scents of spring.  After a long walk
in the warmth of the morning, the dog and woman
find their way home, filled with sights and sounds along the way. 

The woman wants to attend to planting and clearing,
but the dog says, Let's not do anything more.  Let's go inside,
curl up on the sunny spot on the carpet, and sleep the day away
until it is time to find something to eat.  Work can wait.
The dog says, I will show you why you get up each
morning and what comes next and how to live each day
and how to like it.  Follow me.  And the woman does.

For dVerse Open Link.

Mirror

Mirror

Words of others mirror who I am

I listen to their words

a reflection of who is seen

and I learn something about me

as I see through others’ eyes.

This is written for Poetry Jam, where the prompt is "mirrors.'

Finding Future

Finding Future

When one is seventeen

the future can be decades away

but when one is a certain age

future is tomorrow, past is yesterday

and dreams must come true in the present

if they are to come true at all

because future is uncertain

as the television weather forecast

or the outcome of a horse race.

This was written for the G-Man's Friday Flash 55!  Also shared with Poets United Poetry Pantry.

In the Groove

In the Groove

Jukebox played, smoke swirled
and booze was poured
one shot after another
and all who had been lost
found one another

     between the beats
     between the sheets
     and never mind
     no one knew the other's name
     they were game just the same

in those days when jazz ruled
when jazz sax inspired jazz sex
in the smoky back rooms
and the turntables kept turning
stuck in the groove all night.

This is written for dVerse where we are writing free verse influenced by jazz, post war angst, the feeling of being beat down by society (therefore a bit rebellious).   Image source:  here.

Letting Go

Letting Go

It is time to let go
things I had hung on to
for my own reasons
unneeded
never to be used again
it is time to let go.

It is time to let go
to move beyond the past
for my own reasons
essential
to give myself permission
it is time to let go.

It is time to let go
life does not stand still
nor should I
realization
this is the right moment
it is time to let go.




I have written this for Poetry Jam, where the subject is "Trash."   I cannot 'wrap my head around' the subject of trash / garbage literally, but thought instead of the subject subjectively....the things we  rid ourselves of when the time is right.  I bet many have some of these 'things' in  life.

Reality

Reality

She does not understand now
but she will when she looks back
when all dots are connected.

Everything will make sense then
both things she wondered and
things she dared not wonder.

things she didn't want to think
things she didn't want to know
but the story will be clear.

And she will know for sure
the reality she had not seen
.........and hadn't wanted to.


This poem was written for & shared in dVerse Open Link.

Two Poems on Receiving a Postcard

Two Poems on Receiving

       a  Postcard

The sand was warm

as we walked barefoot

on  the beach late at night

beneath Mediterranean stars

knowing that this was

only a luxury

now had allowed us

before sweeping us apart

with the waves of time.

Campari is bitter

but you made it sweet

as we drank together

in San Marco Place.

These poems were written long ago...before I blogged.

They bring back nice memories.

They are shared with dVerse for the Italy / Italian theme today.

The image is from Wikimedia Commons.

Inequity of Time

Inequity of Time

Sometimes my days pass fast
sometimes my days pass  slow
it would be nice if I had a choice
of  the way each day would flow.

I know not to wish away my life
to find some joy in every day
but some days I wish behind me
others I pray would stay.

Written for the G-Man over at Friday Flash 55!
Go tell it to the G-Man.

Poem Upon Poem

Poem Upon Poem

Friendship is built 

poem upon poem

comment upon comment

day upon day.

We develop relationship

without knowing we do

as we come to expect

one another's words

     until unexpectedly

     one day goes by 

     and then another that

     your poem is missing.

     At last a new poem appears

     we breathe relief again

     life resumes its pattern

     we hope you are fine.

     But then more days

     your voice again silent

     there is more concern

     and from you no word

     until one day you return

     matter of factly reveal

     what we all feared

     cancer is stage four.

     Still you write as able

     we read and comment

     you visit when you can

     much is unspoken now.

     We travel a rocky path

     face our own mortality

     much as we face yours

     different points same journey.

     And then more silence

     deeper longer than ever

     there is the unspoken 

     unexpressed and heavy

     until we hear word

     from  another's voice

     book of poems concluded

     your book of life closed.

     And what is there to do

     with the sadness

     knowing you will write

     no more poems?

     And what is there to do

     with the sadness

     knowing someday

     each will write a last poem?

Friendship is built 

poem upon poem

comment upon comment

day upon day.

We develop relationship

without knowing we do

as we come to expect

one another's words.


This was written in memory and in honor of Dave King (19?? - 2013) who blogged at Pics and Poems & who I had the privilege of getting to know in the blogosphere these past years.  He was a good man, a fine poet. He is greatly  missed.   Shared with dVerse.

Life & Death

Life & Death

Life and death
life and depth
Gregory Orr
you inspire, awe me
cause  me to contemplate
the uncomfortable
disconcerting
in a matter-of-fact
sort of way
eyes wide open.

You write death, loss
force me to look
it in the eye, not
couched in platitudes
matter of fact
your poet's pain real
a universal pain
and it is okay
the tears that flow
because of you.

This is written for Poets United:  Verse First.  The prompt is to
write a poem that honors a poet we admire. 

I own two books by Gregory Orr: How Beautiful the Beloved
& Concerning the Book That is the Body of the Beloved.
His words so often inspire me.

In Step

In Step

Walk in step
always in step
follow the norm
don't let the others see
who you are inside.

     Pretend
     pretend
     pretend
     to be the you they see
     that others decree
     the you they want you to be.

     Defend
     defend
     defend
     the image that you project
     you'll believe it in retrospect
     don't take time to reflect.

     Descend
     descend
     descend
     into your world of pretend
     where you will never offend
     though reality you bend.

Walk in step
always in step
follow the norm
don't let the others see
who you are inside.

This was written for Poetry Jam, where the prompt was Steps.  And also for Poets United Open Link.
Image from Wikimedia Commons

Muse

Muse

Why do you elude me?
Finding you is a game of
hide and seek as I
do the seeking
and you masterfully hide
out of reach.

When I catch a glimpse
of you on the horizon
I pursue you to find
only discarded crumbs
in your secret place.

For dVerse Open Link.

Dare to Dance

Dare to Dance

Dance

feel the music

move to the beat

to the rhythm of waves

under luminescent stars

Dance

Dare to dance

until your feet tire

your shoes are worn

the night is over

the music stops

Dance

Dare to Dance

if you lose one dream

seek another  

have faith you will find

a way to move on

Dance

Dance

 there is no tomorrow

all you have is now

Dance yes

Dance yes

Dare to dance.

I believe this....and I share this with Poets United Poetry Pantry today.

We ALL must dare to dance.  We must ALL dance while we can.
Photo from:  Wikimedia Commons

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin drove his old truck to town
but  no one paid it any heed
because after all it was Halloween.

Out of nowhere a texting driver
driving a red sports car too fast
hit the pumpkin car broadside splat.

Dead smashed went the poor pumpkin
no more able to drive left in a heap
no funeral but pumpkin soup tomorrow.

Brian has us writing 'issue' poems through a pumpkin lens
for dVerse Poetics today.  My issue is texting while driving.  
Big problem here. Human life is more valuable than pumpkins.

Life

Life

As I think about life,
its beauty amazes me:
There is always newness,
the possibility of adventure,
a valuable gem to anticipate
around the next corner.

Life is a beautiful experience
rich, filled with treasures,
a delectable banquet to savor,
a blank canvas on which
to paint resplendent landscapes
with every color of the rainbow.

Written for G-Man's 55!
Go tell it.....

My Heart Soars

My Heart Soars

This I believe
there is a place where you are not alone
     listening is an act of love.

In someone's shadow
I heard the owl call my name
     once only
shadow of heaven.

My heart soars
in the palm of your hand:
     blue smoke
     white feathers
     becoming light
reversing the spell.

Sam Peralta is having us write "Spine Poetry" at dVerse Form For All today.  Give it a try!

We Have Options

World War II Poster (Wikimedia Commons)

We Have Options

We have options when we speak
to use our words for good or  critique
it's all about choices and how we live
whether we inspire negative or positive
are our words used to bring others harm
do we use words to cause others alarm
untruths should not be an option
we should not try to hurt someone
do our words make others feel worthy
are our thoughts tempered with mercy
will our words be an instrument of his love
do our words reflect our father above
it's all about choices that we make
when we speak aloud much is at stake.

When we speak aloud much is at stake
it's all about choices that we make
do our words reflect our father above
will our words be an instrument of his love
are our thoughts tempered with mercy
do our words make others feel worthy
we should not try to hurt someone
untruths should not be an option
do we use words to cause others alarm
are our words used to bring others harm
whether we inspire negative or positive
it's all about choices and how we live
to use our words for good or critique
we have options when we speak.


This poem was written for Poets United Verse First where Kim's prompt was "He Said. She Said." (She mentioned the possibility of writing about wagging tongues, gossip, conversation.)  I also submitted it as a second poem for Laurie's prompt at Poetry Jam.  Laurie challenged us to write a backwards poem. I enjoyed the challenge so much I used it here as well.  This poem reads the same backward and forward.

The Letter

Courtesy of Petar Milosevic - Wikimedia Commons- Creative Commons License

The Letter

How much pain can a heart withstand
she held the envelope in her hand
the letter he had written with his pen
she read words of love again and again
it had only arrived just yesterday
three days ago her world turned gray
she never dreamed it would end like this
how well she remembered his good-bye kiss.

How well she remembered his good-bye kiss
she never dreamed it would end like this
three days ago her world turned gray
it had only arrived just yesterday
she read words of love again and again
the letter he had written with his pen
she held the envelope in her hand
how much pain can a heart withstand.

This is written for Poetry Jam, where Laurie is having us write "backwards" poems!

Autumn View

Autumn View

Reflection
on nature's beauty
this crisp early autumn morn
my heart affirms what eyes do see
sublimity.

Arrangement
of shape and hue
and clarity of form
resplendent is autumn's beauty
harmony.

Balance
of light and dark
beneath a cloudless sky
a canvas without hyperbole
majesty.



This is shared with dVerse Open Link.   (I took the photo yesterday on an early morning walk.)