Nature Waits…

Tags

birds, compassion, emotion, empathy, nature

English: Geese are standing in Spokane River, near Spokane, Washington, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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sweet scent
of morning.
Sunrise
burns the mist,
floating above
the lake

fishermen’s boats
ripple
the otherwise mirrored
surface of the water —
interrupt
the conversations
of the geese
paddling
in circles

Bang!…Bang!…Bang!
three shotgun blasts
in the distance —
(geese rock quietly)

nature waits… 

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Mourning Dove

Tags

bird, compassion, death, despair, desperation, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, eternal, forever, lifetimes, loneliness, longing, lost love, nature, philosophy, romance, unconditional love

 

 

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The silence of the mourning dove,
more mournful than her song.
She’s lost her mate, her will to live,
yet time still crawls along.

Of days gone by, she dreams her dreams,
when she last heard his song.
In widow’s weeds, by empty nest,
in grief she’ll ever long.

I loved a someone, thought she loved me;
I wrote for her a song.
Now, it just brings, tears to my eyes.
The train keeps moving on.

In hobo camps along the way,
I’ve found where I belong.
Friends lost their way, their will to live,
their time will not be long.

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Figment

Tags

destiny, emotion, forever, imagination, loneliness, longing, mystery, personal, universe

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i am
a figment
a dream

an image
unseen

words
unread

a figment
a dream

Without a Dreamer
i am
nothing

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To My Wife

Tags

destiny, emotion, eternal, lifetimes, love, romance

How do I articulate the more than twenty years we’ve shared?
How do I calculate the trust accumulating each day?
How do I enumerate the hugs that send me off and welcome me home?
How do I evaluate the warmth of your smile
and the treasure of your company?

The special things that give me ultimate enjoyment are
the meals and conversations we share,
the dreams and plans we create,
the comfort we’ve shared in times of disappointment and tragedy,
the quiet times enjoying nature, walks without a word spoken.

These are things that seem to defy pretty words and phrases.
No rhythm, rhyme, consonance or assonance could improve on these.
No amount of wealth, position or power could equal what we have.
More important is knowing you are here for me
with love in your heart.

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Shadrak

Tags

death, destiny, emotion, fantasy, imagination, longing, love, lust, mystery, romance, sighs

Saturday found me at the Shadrak,
a downstairs club that had it all.
A woman took the floor in glad rags,
I felt I was in for a fall.

She spied me lounging in the corner.
My eyes caressed her every move.
She beckoned me over to the dance floor,
low down blues held us in the groove.

She was a tall sleek woman with a class act,
slumming and feeling so high.
Knew this was wrong — her legs were so long,
dress was cut up to her thigh.
She had to be a wife or a girlfriend,
no man would let this woman slip by.

Soft fingers took away my reason,
for her I’d do right or wrong.
Flash of a thigh, wink of an eye,
she played that dress just like a song.
Maybe her lips, or the sway of her hips,
she had my number all along.

The scene couldn’t have been sweeter,
‘till Johnny sauntered through that door.
Cursed us a while, said we were vile,
reputations trampled on the floor.
Should have walked away, that isn’t my way,
his accusations cut to my core.

No backing down for right or for wrong,
for her I had to settle the score.
Glint of a knife, the end of a life,
Johnny lay dying on the floor.

Built to tantalize, she knew she was a prize;
she was a tall sleek woman with a class act,
slumming and feeling so high.
Knew this was wrong — her legs were so long,
I couldn’t let this woman slip by.
I wouldn’t let this woman slip by.

.

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Panhandling

Tags

compassion, despair, desperation, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, fear, loneliness, longing, loss, loving kindness, mankind, philosophy, unconditional love, universe, world

Sleeping on the Sidewalk, Atlanta, Georgia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I sit on the sidewalk,
my upturned hat
in front of me,
hoping for spare change.
I’m forty years old.
I look older
because of the beard.
I’ve been on the streets
for twenty-two years.
I sleep on the sidewalk.

The sun is blinding.
My throat is parched.
I’m vaguely aware
of people walking past.
I feel disoriented,
light-headed.
I can’t remember
when I last ate.
I can’t remember
much of anything.
My life is a blur.

Occasionally,
someone will throw
a quarter
in my direction.

Some jerk just said,
“Get a job!”
“Hire me!” I said.
That’s a joke!
Most people
won’t look at me,
let alone employ me.

If I sit here long enough
the cops may run me in.
At least, I’ll get to eat.
I’ll be safe
for one night.

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A woman waking up on a sidewalk in Bijapur, India, under a Pepsi advertisement. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There Are No Horses Anymore

Tags

animals, compassion, despair, desperation, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, eternal, fantasy, fear, forever, free, imagination, lifetimes, longing, loving kindness, mystery, personal, philosophy, spiritual, unconditional love, universe

It’s like you’ve been reading Dostoevsky
and your mind is heavy,
so you go for a walk.
You haven’t eaten,
but instead of soup,
you order two glasses of beer.
You know how Rodion felt,
because you’re him.
You walk into the street
and a dark horse is being beaten,
but, that can’t be,
because there are no horses anymore —

that was only a dream;
only in the book.
You think you’re going mad,
but, it’s alright,
you don’t have to worry.
Someone has just closed the cover —
you’re tucked away, safe inside.
Everything is alright.

Midnight Blues

Tags

battle, blues, cinema, compassion, despair, desperation, destination, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, fantasy, fear, forever, free, imagination, lifetimes, loneliness, longing, love, loving kindness, mankind, mystery, nature, nightmares, personal, philosophy, purpose, reality, self esteem, sighs, soul, spirits, spiritual, trance, unconditional love, universe, world

Down and Out Blues (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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I walk the empty rain-soaked streets.
Footsteps echo against brick walls
as formidable as a prison.
There is no escape from loneliness
that devours the soul from within;
an endless cinema of despair.

Locked within this kaleidoscope;
distorted images from my past
haunt my dreams and nightmares.
There is no room for reality.
Players in my mind pull the strings,
dance this mournful marionette.

I follow the cooling evening breeze
with no purpose or destination.
My feet lead me forward in a trance.
I try to empty my mind of thoughts,
the destroyers of my self-esteem —
momentarily held at bay held at bay.

Life is a never-ending battle,
one foot in front of the other,
seconds follow tedious seconds,
breaths counted entering and leaving,
heart beats it’s pounding rhythm
walking these, empty rain-soaked blues.

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My Garret

Tags

destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, fantasy, imagination, mystery, personal, philosophy, universe, world

The older I grow, the more I find myself alone.
Alberto Giacometti

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I’d like to lock myself
in a lonely garret.
I like the sound of that —
very bohemian.
Giotto, Giacometti,
they had all the answers.

I’ll call upon my muse,
Splash paint with abandon.
Then I’ll be discovered —
fancy vernissages,
paparazzi wherever I go.
My life won’t be my own.

Vacations, Côte d’Azur.
Then there’ll be the movie stars,
parties, entertaining,
guest appearances — Oprah
(a conversation hog).
I won’t jump on the couch!

Tabloids making up lies.
Wonder why I bother.
Think I’ll dump the garret.
I need my old life back —
privacy, sanity.
What’s a garret, anyway?

.

Panama

Tags

animals, birds, compassion, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, fantasy, flowers, forever, free, imagination, kiss, lifetimes, loving kindness, mystery, nature, personal, Pirate, romance, travel, vacation

I sit on a bamboo and rattan bar stool
at the Monkey Bar overlooking the Chagres River.
I drink a glass of seven-year old Ron Abuelo rum,
sweet nectar that tastes like creme brulee
and slides down my throat like warm, spiced honey.

A breeze blows through the open bar
and with it the scent of Bougainvilleas,
Hotlips, Amaryllis and Holy Ghost Orchids.
Swaying and giving shade are Wild Cashew
and Geiger Trees, Banana and Coconut Palms.

I peruse a crocodile idly floating by.
A log with a purpose. In the distance
I can hear the squawks of Parakeets,
Toucans and the distinctive chirps
of the aptly named Yellow-rumped Warblers.

I am transported back to 1941.
I almost expect to see Humphrey Bogart
and Mary Astor plotting to save the Canal locks
from being torpedoed by Sydney Greenstreet
in John Huston’s Across the Pacific.

Next day we board Captain Jim’s pirate ship.
I share with my wife a Pirate’s Kiss,
while on deck swords clash, the combatants chase
each other around masts and rigging
’til the inevitable death scene … “Aargh!”

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Footnotes

A Pirate’s Kiss
is rum being poured by the pirate into the mouth
of one person who shares it with his or her partner by means of a kiss.

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Vibrations

Tags

compassion, death, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, forever, free, lifetimes, longing, lost love, love, loving kindness, mankind, mystery, personal, philosophy, spiritual, unconditional love, universe

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vibrations of amethyst,
lilac and lavender,
point the direction
my travels should aim
incense of frankincense
tears from north Africa
carry my prayers
upon smoke to the skies
guide me, my spirit
protect me from danger
let white light surround me
until I return

what will I find there
while flowing in ethers
away from my body,
away from my mind?
my soul floats forever
on moments eternal
to earth I am tethered —
as kite is by string

morning star, wishing star,
star guides the sailer,
comets are singing
celestial songs
the universe moving,
continual turmoil
while moon in Her glory
watches it all.

)0(

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Banshee

Tags

Banshee, Crying, death, despair, desperation, destiny, emotion, eternal, fear, folk tales, forever, Grief Loss and Bereavement, imagination, Irish mythology, lifetimes, loss, lost love, mystery, sighs, spirit

In Irish legend, a banshee wails around a house where someone is about to die.

…

Brittle bones rattle and shake,
shadow me through the windy woods.
Shiver, quiver, quail and quake.
I’d forsake my worldly goods
if I thought they would suffice.
Keening cries of the banshee
penetrate like spears of ice.
Her cloak of gray, I cannot see —

Clammy presence proves she’s here.
From her curse I cannot flee;
I must face my deadly fear.
Death of kin hails the banshee.
Is it Mother, Father, Son?
On my neck her icy breath.
My sanctuary comes undone —
journey’s end will find a death.

Nearing home I hear the wailing,
sobbing, crying, clothes are rent.
Hair is pulled, arms are flailing —
heartbreak, tears are almost spent.
How to comfort, what to say?
Grieving knows no tomorrow.
How to live another day?
Stagger on, bear the sorrow.

Silent now, sits the banshee,
hooded, faceless, cloaked in gray,
spirit that we cannot see.
Pray her presence stays away.
More than that we cannot ask
as each footstep nears the grave,
toil at every weary task;
life is meant to spend not save.

Soon enough will come the time
when others wail, sob and cry.
Drums beat slowly, church bells chime;
it will be my time to die.
Hooded, faceless, cloaked in gray
the spirit wails right on cue,
as she will some future day —
when the banshee wails for you.

I Wait

Tags

birds, compassion, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, finch, forever, free, imagination, lifetimes, longing, love, loving kindness, mankind, mystery, nature, owl, personal, philosophy, romance, spiritual, unconditional love, universe, world

Captive,
in a soggy tent,
I hear the incessant,
syncopated rhythm
of raindrops on canvas;
beating fast, beating slow,
accentuated, at times
by the scream of the jay
and twitter of the finch.
Their song seems to foretell
the end of the rain, but
inside my canvas drum
the sound remains the same.
My thoughts turn to my work
halted by pouring rain.
I hear the lonely owl —
expectantly,
I wait.

 

 

La Jolla Palms

Tags

animals, birds, California, condors, fishing boats, ocean, palm trees, seals, travel, vacation

La Jolla palms pierce the sky.
Ocean breeze is blowing free.
Seals sojourn in the surf.
Surfers frolic in the sea.

Traffic rolls on Silverado
while I sit and sip and gander
(witbier: orange blossom honey,
orange zest with coriander).

Eternal chorus of the waves
rolling, crashing on the shore.
Children running in the sand.
Across the sea — forevermore.

Condors flying from the north,
as I did on another flight.
Fishing boats are heading home.
Couvier Street prepares for night.

 

 

 

Street Justice

Tags

blues, compassion, death, desperation, destiny, emotion, empathy, eternal, fear, forever, homeless, kindness, lifetimes, loss, love, loving kindness, mankind, motorcycle gangs, personal, support, unconditional love

I sit, in sadness,
holding hands with an injured friend;
her ribs broken and fractured,
her breathing painful and difficult,
her head aching and dizzy,
her face bruised
and scraped.

Another friend
is absent, in hiding; yet
he has no sanctuary,
there is no place he won’t be found.

At last, he had his life
in some semblance of order.
Two months sober;
he had an apartment, furniture;
his pride and self-worth had returned.
Then, he spent his rent check on booze —
starting with triple tequila shots
at a biker bar.
The universe
had given him a fresh start —
he threw it away.

Street justice will prevail;
sentence has been passed:
a bruise for a bruise,
a broken bone for a broken bone,
and something extra
so it won’t happen again.
Punishment will be exacted
with ruthless,
emotionless
efficiency.

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Dreams

Tags

compassion, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, fantasy, forever, imagination, kindness, lifetimes, longing, love, loving kindness, mankind, mystery, nature, personal, philosophy, romance, sighs, spirits, spiritual, unconditional love, universe, world

Dreams take me places
this lifetime has never seen.
I’m not constrained
by time or space —
travels take me anywhere
within this magic place.

I may decide to fill my arms
with fragrant wild blooms,
gather precious stones,
perhaps, a fallen feather,
found along the path,
lost by a bluebird
(overhead, has passed).

These simple tokens,
Gentle signs of kindness
(natures bounty),
I bring them home,
marvel at approaching dawn,
another new beginning,
reason to carry on.

 

 

 

I Contemplate

Tags

birds, compassion, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, forever, free, imagination, lifetimes, longing, love, loving kindness, mankind, mystery, nature, personal, philosophy, romance, spiritual, unconditional love, universe, world

In dappled maple shade
I contemplate —
everything and nothing.

Shadows of leaves finger
planks of cedar deck
and reach for my toes.

Clouds, pink and purple
scud and sail across
the washed out azure sky.

Hawks circle, finches
twitter and hop from
branch to springing branch.

The orchestra of
bull frogs, tree frogs and
crickets haunt the night.

 

 

 

Prufrock

Tags

despair, desperation, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, eternal, fantasy, forever, imagination, insecurity, lifetimes, loneliness, longing, lost love, love, loving kindness, mystery, personal, romance, Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot

While pondering Prufrock, and his unanswered, “overwhelming question”
I consider my world of insecurities,
the fourth dimension,
the meaning of life, of afterlife, how high the sky, how deep the sea.
A lot of questions; but, most of all, is that woman looking at me?
And if so, why? Is it admiration? Perhaps my fly is undone.
Is she smiling or snickering? Are my clothes too tight? I’ve just begun. I like to think I’m individualistic, independent;
not a slave to the crowd. My clothes suit me – rather vintage, resplendant.
Or, am I a joke?
Is my style inappropriate, my hair too long?
The words float in space and, in my head, I hear the music to a song.
I’ll admit some insecurity; a lot of insecurity —
more learning, more questions. I like to think of that as maturity. I openly seek, and appreciate, the approval of my peers.
I know that contradicts;
but that’s the way I’ve become throughout the years.
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
It is the sum of who I am, what I’ve done and where I’ve been.
I’ve had much more than my share of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels.
Unlike Eliot, I consider myself more of a new age seeker. Yes, I have heard the mermaids singing
and no, they do not sing to me.
I have become the watcher, putting in my time, dreaming of the sea.
Infinite waves, at times lapping at the beach, or crashing on the shore.
Sometimes, I think that life should have more meaning, that I could be much more.
I have accomplished what I could – “cat will mew, and dog will have his day.”(1)
As always, the beautiful women smile, and chatter, and walk away.

…

(1)[1600-1 Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 286]

Phrases in italics are quoted from The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S.Eliot, one of my favorite poems. What I like most are the daily observances, recollections, distractions, insecurities and the questions.

 

 

 

Melancholy

Tags

destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, eternal, forever, free, imagination, lifetimes, loneliness, longing, loss, lost love, love, mystery, personal, philosophy, romance, unconditional love

Melancholy strains
of music we once shared
play on,
renewing the emptiness
that gnaws within.

Relentlessly,
the record spins
and the wine,
with its delicate bouquet,
only deepens my sadness.

Your sparkling eyes
and your smile
blaze in my memory
like the summer sun
we once shared.

Now, my sun is gone
and I am left
with only the music
and the memory….
The wine is turning bitter.

a good night

Tags

compassion, death, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, forever, free, lifetimes, love, loving kindness, mystery, personal, philosophy, unconditional love, universe

i have tried
to live this day
with courage, compassion,
love and understanding.
(i’ve not, in all cases,
been successful,
but i did my best.)

tonight,
when i lay my head
on my pillow,
close my eyes,
set free my thoughts,
i have no assurance
that i will awake
next morning.

yet, still
i release all stress
and mortal attachment,
abandon myself
to the unknown,
the unexpected,
the uncontrollable.

if i should die before i wake
i pray the Lord
my soul to take.

it is, i think,
a good night to die.

 

 

 

Heartache, Old Friend

Tags

despair, destiny, emotion, loneliness, longing, love, romance, sighs

Heartache, old friend,
pull up a memory,
let’s sit by the fire,
drink a toast to the past.
Remind me of dreams
unfulfilled, unforgotten,
soul without substance
denied ’till the last.

She’ll blow me a kiss
as the train leaves the station;
twin silver rails
lead straight to the stars.
We’ll do a few orbits
buzz constellations,
perhaps a layover
at Venus or Mars.

Bring out the map
of trails untraveled,
of paths not pursued,
and deeds left undone.
The time’s growing short —
tomorrow comes early —
left the last sunset;
I’ve not yet begun.

 

 

 

Lonely

Tags

compassion, death, despair, desperation, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, eternal, fear, forever, loneliness, longing, loss, love, loving kindness, mankind, personal, philosophy, spiritual, support, unconditional love, universe, world

I wandered into Lonely
about a week ago.
I don’t know how I got here.
I don’t know where to go.

I’m not alone in Lonely
we gather all together.
I look into their lonely eyes;
I see they’re lost forever.

We sit in understanding,
I hear about their sorrow.
Death looks from their teary eyes;
they’ll not be here tomorrow.

My heart I unfold to them.
They look on me as a friend.
I give them all the love I have.
I’ll embrace them ’till the end.

 

 

 

Fire For the Mind

Tags

ancestry, emotion, empathy, farming, foreigners, heritage, Iceland, immigrants, knowledge, loving kindness, mankind, personal, philosophy, pioneers, religion, Saskatchewan, settlers, unconditional love, volcanaoes, world

A House is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. ~ Benjamin Franklin

…

Iceland’s earthquakes and volcanoes,
blackened skies, smothered crops, starved livestock
left already poor families
destitute, no means for survival
in a harsh unforgiving landscape
of glaciers, scarce arable land;
only rough terrain for the grazing
of sheep and tough Icelandic horses.

Canada invited immigrants
to settle its prairie provinces,
unite the country from sea to sea.
They needed farmers to break the land,
plant and harvest wheat, barley and rye.
They offered passage by sea and rail
and provided implements to farm,
tools and supplies to last the winter.

In 1900 they left their land
of fire and ice for Saskatchewan,
my Grampa, Magnus Ingimarsson,
and Gramma, Vilborg Gudmundsdottir.
In sea trunks their priceless possessions:
the Lutheran Bible, Prose Eddas,
writings of their distinguished authors
and poets. They had but little else:
household goods, language, culture, courage,
thirst for knowledge, fire in hearts and minds.

Their first shelter dug from prairie sod;
oiled paper, no glass for windows,
scarce logs supported sod for the roof.
The first winters were harsh with freezing
temperatures, driving snow, blizzards
so fierce they couldn’t see their hands
in front of their faces. Many died
walking from their farmhouses to their barns;
but, they persevered and made their home,
tilled the soil, planted, harvested crops
and, in time, became wealthy with food
and fire for mind as well as body.

 

 

 

Blues Man

Tags

blues, despair, dreams, emotion, empathy, guitar strings, loneliness, longing, lost love, mojo, mystery, personal, philosophy, sighs, slide guitar

Steel slides seducing strings
blues man plucks and picks.
Winding down, my mood descends —
craving a few more licks.

Your melodies transport me.
Rasping voice tears my pain.
Feel you deep inside my gut —
Just play it once again.

Blues man with your mojo hand,
Spirit of the Voodoo Chile,
Enchant and entrance me —
Suspend me here a while.

I weep with your sadness.
My heart strains with your grief.
Your blood, sweat, tears and soul —
revelation of belief.

Mystic, mojo master
You read my troubled mind.
Notes create a picture
to which I had been blind.

 

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