Category: POETRY
Photo of Dad
A moment captured in time
of a fathers struggle to live
even in the depths of pain and discomfort.
Resting in a chair at window ledge
peering and frowning as if to memorize,
immortalize this moment.
A mini vacation set aside
to help rejeuvenate and de-stress.
Niagara Falls river rushing by
through windowpane.
His pain as deep and disguised
as the rivers current.
Mom notices his absence of thought
and clicks the camera.
The flash awakens his dreamy state
as he smiles at her
What was he thinking?
She loves him dearly and misses him already.
A black and white photo left behind
that will never reveal
the life of colour they shared in the 51 years of marriage!
The Wilderness of Poetry (Won a place in Gertrudes Writing Room annual 2020 chapbook contest)
In the wilderness of poetry
I’m wondering if you can envision
what I ascertain?
Readers are so subjective
I search for truth, beauty and
courage in life
I grasp for inclusion
I am wild, free, alone
creating a moment
of belonging
Do you even see the forest for the trees?
A dangerous place
this wilderness
damp, earthy
vulnerable poetry
How will you even see me with closed eyes?
My breath like a slow fog expels
I smell the pines in the forest
standing firm, grounded, expansive
limbs spread upward in worship
I belong here
My pen is my voice
like the smell of the pines
It cries out to be noticed
Fragrant words seducing you closer
vowels lighting the narrow path
to the truth, beauty and courage of the forest
Standing firm, I succumb to the wilderness
within me
anticipating true belonging.
MY TRUE EXISTENCE
SOFTLY THROUGH THE COBWEBS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
I FEEL YOUR PRESENCE ENVELOPING ME GENTLY
LIKE A BABE IN ARMS
WARM, TENDER, COMFORTING
MY SENSE OF BEING BENDS TO MATCH YOU
MY TWIN FLAME
DESIRING ONLY YOUR TOUCH
MY HEART SEEKS SOLICE
AWAKENED MEMORIES COME TO SURFACE AS THE
BREEZE AND SUNLIGHT PURIFY MY THOUGHTS
LOVE IS MY TRUE EXISTENCE
DAILY I GREET MY GOAL OF KEEPING HIGH VIBRATIONS
AS I CHOOSE WHICH EXPERIENCE
YOU WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE
IT IS A CHALLENGING ROLE I PLAY
IN THIS DUALISTIC WORLD
KNOWING BOTH LIGHT AND DARKNESS ARE NEEDED
IT IS NOT EASY TO LOVE THOSE WHO HAVE NO SELF LOVE
AND IT IS FAR TOO EASY TO HATE
GUIDE ME MERCIFULLY
FOR LOVE IS MY TRUE EXISTENCE
MY TRUTH
I AM SEARCHING
MY ENERGY FLOWS
THROUGH MY FINGER TIPS
PUSHING TIME AWAY
WAITING
CUTTING CORDS
BLINDLY REACHING
YOUR TRUTH IS JUST THAT
MY EXPERIENCES
LEAD ME
AS MY TRUTH
NATURE SPEAKS
IN CALM SURRENDER
I AWAKE
SITTING IN SILENCE
AN INVISIBLE FLOWING FORCE
IN THE DANCE BETWEEN WIND AND WAVES
NATURE SPEAKS
THE AURAS OF TREES WEEP
MY FLESH IS MY BARK
ENVIRONMENTAL SCARS
I SENSE A RUMBLING IN THE AIR
AS THE WIND WHISPERS
YOU CANNOT HOLD BACK TRUTHS
THAT WILL ONE DAY CHANGE
THE VARY EXISTANCE
OF WHO YOU ARE!
SEPTEMBER ARRIVES
The streaming sound of cicadas
Among the lovely trees
As August days turn dark
And the flowers call the bees.
The leaves feel the energy flowing
As they begin to bend to wind
Once purged from Mother branches
To the earth now engaged and pinned.
The awesome fluttering dragonflies
In an anxious state of bliss
Grasp their flowering fluid elixir
As a goodbye summer kiss.
Nature feels the change of seasons
As if called from deep below
The earth decides its future fate
When winter winds will blow.
As I watch in silent surrender
To the calling of all beings
A conscious scheduled cycle starts
My waning heart to sing.
WWG1WGA
HOW MANY SUNSETS CAN I ENDURE
AS PALE PINK SKIES BEGIN TO SWIRL
EACH DAYS LIGHT IS CAST SO LOW
AND WELCOMES NIGHT WITH ITS GLOW
I WILL RECORD THE DAYS EVENTS
AS DARKNESS SETS IT’S HOURLY RENTS
BLACKNESS FILLS OUR SLEEPY NIGHTS
OUR SOULS ASCEND TO HEAVENLY HEIGHTS
WE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM FROM THE FALL
A LIGHT WITHIN EACH GALACTIC CALL
AND AS WE SLEEP WE CONTINUE TO SHINE
THAT LIGHT WITHIN THAT IS DEEPLY DEVINE
NO MATTER WHERE YOU FIND YOU RESIDE
SHINE YOUR LIGHT FAR AND WIDE
AND NOW IT IS WITH EACH BREATH WE TAKE
OUR SLEEPING BROTHERS WE HAVE TO AWAKE
WE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM FROM THE FALL
FOR WHERE WE GO ONE, WE GO ALL!
THIS IS WHY I CAME TO FIGHT
Creating wings to help me fly
From here to there
I question why?
Given in to unrest flows
That guide me backwards
Away from goals
Who Am I? I hear my voice
That came to earth
Without a choice
I forgot the role, I wished to take
And journey forward
For God’s sake
To bring light in
To all who seek
To rid the darkness from the meek
For I am one and you are me
Lifting the veil
For all to see
To gather souls
Towards the light
This is why I came to fight
WHY POETRY?
Poetry is a literary tool used to teach us about ourselves, others and our world. It is the backdrop to the dramatic art of listening, another tool lost like a book of table setting etiquette.
In Chinese poetry the image is usually clear. The poet is content on letting nature be its own beauty and not be depended upon man for its value. The poets eye not his/her spiritual doctrine is visual. Prior to the Republic in China, for centuries it was obligatory for all civil servants to demonstrate, by examination, their ability to write a poem. A proof of literacy.
In modern society, poetry and its varied topics can fuel our love, hatred and tolerance limits. It can connect us to our emotions, nature, and our belief systems. Poetry infects us with empathy. It has the ability to reach deep within us like the oxygen we breathe, stirring our beating hearts. It can teeter us on the edge of love, lust or hate. Poetry is the light that invites us to listen, read and compare our lives. It can also give us the opportunity to exhale our ignorance, judgments and fears!
For me the question is not “Why Poetry?” but why are you not reading or writing poetry?
“Can your eyes see the need for
deep passionate verse connections
mentally emitting frequencies
while I am breathing out poems
so you can inhale them?”
Jake the poet