HURRICANE OF LOVE

I wasn’t paying attention

When the storm roared in,

Rain poured down in torrents,

And caught me by surprise,

a terrible way to begin.

Water quickly rose to my ankles,

And I considered my present state,

But I didn’t run away, nor did I hesitate.

This was just a storm, not one to fear,

It was like all the others that appeared year after year.

I dallied in the cold waters, splashing around,

While the menacing water was rising all over town.

It was now up to my knees,

But I could still do just as I pleased.

People were evacuating, the water was getting deep,

And It was time for me to get serious,

For I had promises to keep.

But I didn’t listen to my heart,

I knew I couldn’t appease her, it might already be too late,

 So I hardened my heart and left it all to fate.

 The water was up to my chest,

And the current was strong.

But I began searching for my lover,

I had ignored her too long.

Cars were floating and the water was up to my chin,

People were climbing to their roof tops

It was quite a predicament I was in.

I couldn’t find my lover at first,

I worried she had been swept away,

I had not kept her safe, now there was hell to pay.

I dove into the murky water and searched each room,

I could not leave her to die alone in a watery tomb.

I was losing hope when I spotted a very small mouse.

Of course, I thought, as I followed him to the attic.

Aware that I might also get trapped inside the house.

From out of a corner something stirred.

My heart jumped when my love rushed into my arms.

She was safe and I held her tight.

Warmth and love were needed to escape further harm.

 While we waited for rescuers to appear,

We gave up selfish thoughts,

And pledged our love anew,

All we needed was a hurricane of love,

Nothing else would ever do.

August 28, 2017

 

 

 

LOVE HAS ARRIVED

LOVE HAS ARRIVED

Lonely and aching, I knew there could be no hesitating,

If love should ever arrive.

My true love was out there somewhere,

Breathing the same air.

“Where are you?” I prayed each night,

And though I prayed with all my might,

I answered my own question talking to myself.

“You are not ready for love,

Not now, not yet, maybe not ever.”

You were but a shadow it seems,

I could not hold you or touch you,

You were a figment of my dreams.

I gave up after a while,

I never saw your eyes or your smile.

“Where are you?” I asked.

In my weakened state, I overlooked you.

But I grew, forgetting my own needs.

My life changed. You saw me helping others,

And you took a chance,

And taught me to love, to laugh, and to dance.

I was ready for love because you had opened my heart.

You are still in my dreams, but now I can hold you.

Love has arrived.

August 27, 2017

MRS.GENTRY

neighborOnce a week I would go

 next door with my brother in tow

to visit Mrs. Gentry.

Every week she would open her door,

And motion us inside.

She was a quiet one, saying very little to me,

But I knew what chores needed to be done.

I would go out the back door

with the old wooden bucket in hand,

and lower the bucket down slowly,

she didn’t like it going too quickly,

afraid it would splash and slip out of the knot

that held it fast.

I was twelve, perfectly happy to do good for my neighbor. 

Ten bucketfuls were all I could draw up, 

Because the wooden tank next to her kitchen door was limited,

And it didn’t take long to fill it to the brim.

Then I went to a small keg at the corner of the house,

To get two gallons of special water,

Used sometimes for tea but mostly for washing her hair.

She claimed rainwater was the softest of all,

And I was convinced she was right.

Her dark hair, sprinkled with gray, was shiny and soft, and hung almost to her shoes.

She would brush it carefully and braid it

And tuck it under her hat.

I guess I wasn’t very alert because my brother

Got cookies and milk or some kind of treat and I was jealous.

I finally realized I wasn’t made to sit for very long.

I got to get the water from her well and the rain water.

She told him stories and showed him pictures with a viewer,

One of those special machines that made the pictures appear larger.

But I didn’t sit still long enough for her to show me pictures.

I was out and about in the real world,

Chasing crawdads and climbing trees.

August 23, 2017

Big Time Woes

You’ve taken their money to pay your way,

Now you must do exactly as they say.

It’s hard to condemn the hands that feed you.

You hear their voices as they rant and rave,

What part of their message do you want to save?

It’s hard to ignore the voices that tuck you in at night.

The stench of death hoovers over those who died.

Do their screams fill you with pride?

It’s hard to wash death from your hands.

Walls protect you, you’re losing your touch.

You hate everyone, and few people like you very much.

Splotches of blood are on your face.

You cannot escape death’s embrace.

Bright crimson flows down the street,

Staining souls, heads, and feet.

august 16, 2017

Y

IS IT TIME?

FORGIVE AND FORGET

 

Time goes by so fast,

And it takes two to let go of the past.

Their lives are not over yet,

If they are ready to forgive and forget.

He’s still got his kids

Though his life is on the skids.

It is not a good time to dump him.

She considers his needs

And why he closes the door.

But she needs to talk, to feel his hurt,

She can’t stand silence anymore.

The children expect presents and fun,

While his life is coming undone.

But it’s not a good time to dump him.

She wonders why their relationship

Is completely off the track

Maybe it is over and done

And they might never get it back!

Birthdays, anniversaries,

All are markers of time.

Is this the time to dump him?

Holidays are coming

And the world is full of joy and peace.

Will wonders never cease?

Is this the time to dump him?

At first she tries to fight

But his barbed words rip her deep.

She thought she could win the war,

But the price for winning is steep.

She stumbles as she walks,

Her voice breaks as she talks.

Her eyes are soft and clear

But her face shows wear and tear.

Her feelings are dripping with hate

Her emotions are burning within,

If he won’t listen

She will find a way to punish him.

Things said are venomous and terse,

As they attack again and again.

But the battle only gets worse.  

There is no way either can win.

Is this the time to dump him?

barbed,August 14, 2017

AMPLE ROOM TO GROW

There are many who believe there are no angels,

But I believe angels walk wherever there is light.

When we block the light,

 We are deceived by demons who are quick

To lead us astray.

I make choices, not just to please others,

But to prove who I am, and who I want to be.

I am not deceived to think only good exists,

Or that evil is out of control.

Neither do I believe that evil drives my soul.

I realize that hormonal imbalances, prescriptions and

Drugs not meant for you or me,

Stress to a high degree,

Listening to the beat of different drums,

Persuasions of power or envy,

All take their toll as I struggle to make sense of an illogical world.

I believe there are liars who walk among us,

And sometimes it is me.

I am not a psychologist who understands all I need to know,

I make many mistakes, which leaves ample room to grow.

I am just a simple poet who goes where few care to go.

I walk among you but I am no angel.

My light shines in the darkness but many lights are needed to illuminate the world.

I want laughter, not tears, Wisdom, not fear,

I am broken, needing repair, needing love, not despair.

I walk among you not as an angel, but as a friend.

Give me your hand and we will lift each other up to the Promised Land.

8/5/17

FIX THE LEAKS

FIX THE LEAKS

As I get older I fit into society better than ever.

I think about my health, my finances, religion and weather.

It’s more than finding out what’s wrong

Because it’s been of great concern all along.

I listened to our President and I’m beginning to freak,

Because it’s time that I should fix my leak.

The problem is around me and everything depends

If I have control straight through to the end.

Tires get leaks, roofs leak too,

Leaks keep me awake nighttime through.

Boats spring leaks and become dangerous and sink,

Footballs get leaks and drive men to drink.

All over the country it’s the topic of the week,

Surely someone knows how to fix a leak.

Leaks in government destroy security and trust,

Yet I want our government to be true and just.

Too much power in the hand s of a few

Without restraints concern me and should alarm you.

The President seems anxious to fix his leak.

If he doesn’t fix it soon he could be up a creek.

Leaks in gossip are entertaining to hear,

But leaks without controls could bring destruction near.

I hope it is simple to fix a leak,

And all my words are truthful as I speak.

There is less need to fix a leak,

If I am honest and it’s truth I seek.

August 4, 2017

 

STATUE OF LIBERTY

STATUE OF LIBERTY

If the Statue of Liberty could talk,

What would she say to citizens today?

She might say, “I would not give the keys to my heart

To everyone by capricious whim.

There are those I would keep out,

And those I would invite in.

I would open the doors each day

And smile at those who come to work or pray,

An island greeting those who are ready to share,

The opportunities and love discovered here.

Those who come with bigotry and hate

And those who haven’t learned to celebrate

Differences,

I would ask them to wait.

My land is home for the weary, a place of hope,

A place they can adjust and learn to cope,

A place to shake fear from timid heart,

Leaving violence behind and getting a new start.

The keys to my heart would only be given

To those with new lives to begin.

This country was founded on blood, grit, and tears.

On that basis I have lasted for years.

To those who are here to prey

And steal all precious dreams away,

There should not be left any doubt.

I would select many to come in,

But there are those I would keep out.”

August 4, 2017

TRADITIONS OF TRUTH

Traditions

Our family had traditions,

Coffee, morning newspaper, crossword puzzles,

Discussions about upcoming plans,

American holidays, political candidates,

The winners and also rans.

The discussions blended together

And nobody cussed,

But one thing was sure, we sought the truth,

We took pride in knowing George Washington

Didn’t lie when he chopped down the cherry tree,

And Lincoln was known as “honest Abe”,

They were leaders we could look up to.

We believed our country attracted the world’s best,

And with hard work and determination

We could rise to the top with all the rest.

Our leaders were thoughtful and honest,

 We believed in a handshake or giving our word,

To lie or to cheat was simply absurd.

We believed in who we were fighting for or voting for,

And we wanted to be known for  loving more.

But somehow our love relationships and respect

For each other has gone out the door.

There are no more honest presidents like George or Abe.

Our words are not true and our relationships worthless to save.

We are not honest and always true,

Ugly Americans, we are called, and other words too.

Where are the immigrants, natives, and protectors of rights?

We hide in the darkness and run from the light.

It’s time to tell the truth.

July 22, 2017

 

 

NEIGHBORS

NEIGHBORS

There is something odd about my neighbor,

I guess she’s under some kind of stress.

She stares without seeing,

And plays with the buttons on her dress.

She avoids attention, even light from the sun,

And I would swear she’s packing a gun.

She sits across the aisle from me,

Trying to ignore the things she sees.

A man stands at a corner waiting for our bus,

He is tired, hungry, defeated, just like us.

After days of searching , there’s still no work,

He’s just a fraction away from going berserk.

How can he survive if he’s living on pride?

Will he find a place to live safely outside?

A group of teens climbs aboard, boisterous and loud,

I wonder if one will escape the tenement and return rich and proud.

They threaten the homeless man.

He might have money stashed in a can.

They threaten the woman as she pretends to read,

Telling her they want her to meet their needs.

They laugh and suggest they could have fun,

Not noticing her hand touching her gun.

They turn their attention finally to me.

I was watching and waiting, it had to be.

Survival of the fittest, or the ones with most greed,

Somebody’s angels, or someone’s bad seed.

There is little to distinguish between me and my brother,

Hell will claim one, and heaven will get the other.

July 21, 2017