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Dennis Cardiff

~ Poems & Prose

Dennis Cardiff

Monthly Archives: November 2015

Betrayal

29 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Buddhism, Christianity, despair, desperation, emotion, empathy, First Nations, homeless, loving kindness, psychology, Sociology

 

images-3

 

I look into your eyes,
grey with tears and sorrow
from the Arctic Ocean.

I feel your hurt deep inside,
hear your thunder,
see your rain.

With your fist at your chest
you open your heart,
tell me of hardship,
betrayal and pain.

I listen
with my heart
as one who has been there.

With my arm around your shoulder,
as a brother,
I urge you, to act with patience
and with love —
to be LOVE.

.

Note: Alphonse took his life, by hanging, 21 October 2015.

Buy my book for $0.99 — proceeds feed the homeless:
Gotta Find a Home; Conversations with Street People
http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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Lost Brave

24 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

aboriginal, alcoholism, compassion, emotion, empathy, First Nations, kindness, longing, native, spiritual, unconditional love

 

images

 

a lost brave
leans against a building
(tho he is unwelcome)
beside a busy walk.
everything he owns
fills a pack
upon his back

he is far
from his fishing boat,
an ocean teeming with fish,
from the majestic forest,
from his children,
his clan

his eyes reveal
a story of hurt and pain –
the uncertainty of the city.
a sidewalk for a bed,
charity of strangers
his only grace

a challenge
every day –
a new beginning.
beyond the fire
that tames his demons
the only plan that matters
is to survive

far from home
he can scarce remember.
a lost brave, fighting back tears,
pride in the knowledge
of his ancestry,
his place –
his blood

 
 

Buy my book,
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People,
for $0.99. Proceeds feed the homeless.

http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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When She Starts in Walking

22 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Song Lyrics

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

beauty, desire, dreams, emotion, empowerment, fantasy, imagination, longing, sex, sighs, style

 

woman

.

When she starts in walking, guys they stop their talking.
Their minds are on just what they want to do.
They can dream, scheme and taste it coming true.

She’s got their attention, nothing left to mention.
She knows their minds; she’ll use that on them too.
She’ll lead the way and they will follow through.

She knows what she’s doin’, may lead some to ruin —
casualties, but what’s a girl to do.
Oh, my dear, such a pity, what to do.

Always calculating, lots of time for waiting;
a chump will come along, they always do.
I’m sure one’s coming now, maybe it’s you.

She knows to set her hook; she’ll do it with a look.
She knows he’ll take the bait and then he’s through.
He’s hooked now and squirming in the queue.

She has him on his knees, all he can say is please.
He’ll do her bidding, thinks he’s got her too,
but she’s casting her hook for someone new.

She’s got what she’s after; all that’s left is laughter.
She’s cruel and conniving through and through.
You watch out now, she’s coming straight for you.

.

 
 

Inspired by Bob Seger’s, “Her Strut”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi6BESTbQT8

Image:  http://buff.ly/1MWqgoq

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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Pileated Woodpecker

19 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

birds, Buddhism, Christianity, compassion, free, loving kindness, mystery, nature, personal, spiritual, universe

.

Pileated Woodpecker

.

while sitting at a table,
enjoying afternoon tea,
in the shade of a cedar,
a Pileated Woodpecker
dropped from the sky
to land in front of us.

his red crest, jaunty,
black, military uniform
with white piping —
a Sargent Major
standing at attention,
inspecting us,
looking back at him.

he paused,
reflected,
saw all there was to see,
found us wanting
then, flapped away,
leaving an after image
of black, white and red
against the pines.

 

Image:  http://buff.ly/1MWqgoq

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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To My Wife

18 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Buddhism, Christianity, compassion, destiny, eternal, forever, kindness, lifetimes, love, personal, romance

 

married

 

How do I articulate our two and a half decades together?
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
meals that you so lovingly prepare,
dreams and plans we create,
support we share in times of disappointment and tragedy,
enjoying nature, walks without speaking a word.

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.

 

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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A Lifetime to Realize

15 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Buddhism, Christianity, compassion, destiny, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, love, romance, sighs

 

images (5)

 

Divine intervention
(or some unfathomable intervention)
is the only way
I can explain our meeting,
our relationship,
our love.

Now,
I can’t imagine
my life without you.
I wait,
with eager anticipation
for your messages, your calls
my welcome home at night

Without these
my life wouldn’t be complete.

Every path I’ve taken,
every good or bad decision
has led me to this heavenly place.
It’s taken a lifetime to realize
that there is nothing
without LOVE
♥

 
 
 

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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Memories

13 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

death, dreams, eternal, fantasy, homeless, lifetimes, longing, lost love, mystery, nature, personal

 

78c790c6431f400dc71528aa306d49f4

 
 
memories
are dark, disjointed
as a dream.
a thread of thought
weaves through them all
as does the lull
of lavender

 

faces, places
things we’ve done
each morphed into another.
Where is truth
or, was it ever here?
Perhaps, the longing
made it so

 

woodland walks
and moonlit talks
count my drum beats flow.
Lies that echo
through the woods.
Pictures in the fog
of long ago

 
 
 

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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A Good Night

13 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 10 Comments

old-man-sleep-heavy-breathing-2

 

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

 
 
 
Inspiration: “Hokahey!” war cry attributed to Lakota Chief, Crazy Horse, as he rode into the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Translation: “Today is a good day to die”.

Image: http://buff.ly/1O6JWEZ

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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Frost

12 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

death, despair, destiny, emotion, eternal, forever, lost love, mystery, nature, personal, sighs

 

959 Jeff_Rowland_romantic_pictures (10)

 

A dove sits on a snowy bough,
her song cuts to my heart.
We both know how the lonely feels
when love is torn apart.

There never was an emptiness
the way I feel inside.
The ache is deep within my chest,
I have no place to hide.

Was once a time my heart was full
when spring was in the air,
but Frost has draped me with his cloak,
my tears fall in despair.

The midnight train is leaving soon.
My bags are packed to go.
I shiver on the platform,
a spectre, feeling low.

 
 
 
 
Image: http://buff.ly/1O5iabS

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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Finding Home

10 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

compassion, destiny, dreams, empowerment, eternal, forever, free, lifetimes, longing, mystery, personal, spiritual

home

 

We come
from different latitudes
along barefoot pathways,
asphalt highways
(that burn the soles of our feet)
gravel roads
(leaves, grey with dust,
the only color,
stop signs and billboards).

Clouds from cars
visible for miles
as they approach,
as they leave us behind.

We seek direction
on the path
where we become
what we were meant to be.

Different stars
shine upon us
(some without names
or cardinal direction).
Unlearning is difficult;
simplicity, our goal.

Hearts opened
we will know
the actions to take.
The rewards will be ours.
We will find our home.

 

 

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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Dawn ‘Till Dusk

07 Saturday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Poetry

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

birds, Buddhism, Christianity, compassion, death, destiny, eternal, kindness, lifetimes, love, nature

 

evening

 

Tender breaks the gentle dawn
as pink steals through the purple.
Crickets chirp and bullfrogs croak
while loons emit their warble.

Shafts of light illumine leaves —
paths of life I ponder —
sky is choreographed by clouds
from bliss, to peace, to somber.

Its prancing hooves, barely heard,
the curious fawn draws near.
Our eyes connect — mystically,
communication clear.

Spooked, it turns and scampers on —
nature’s cast, each plays it’s part.
Air is fresh with scent of pine.
Joy, overflows my heart.

A feather, from a blue jay,
snagged on sprig so feeble.
Was it loosened in its flight,
or ripped, by plunging eagle?

Nature cyclically evolves,
fall is prey to winter.
Life is born and then it dies —
there isn’t any victor.

From each death there sprouts new life;
moldering logs, maternal.
Passings, cause our hearts to break,
while new life springs eternal.

I’ll return — another month,
some other me — to this shrine,
imperfect in perfection,
befitting God’s design.

 
 

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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At Dusk

03 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by DennisCardiff in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

dusk2

 

at dusk I walk
as night birds sing.
sky, the color of my soul.
stars begin to flicker,
petals start to fold.

in quiet times
between the notes,
the void between the stars,
is where I wait
(I’ll always wait)
for what is surely ours.

your presence
falls as softly
as whispering a prayer.
sure as dark
will soon descend
we’ll be together there —

a moment of forever
a lifetime
ours to share.

 
 

Image: http://buff.ly/1RsniaO

Read about my friends here  http://buff.ly/1wyjiKS

 

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