The Two Hundred Sixtieth, September 17, 2011

kindness is a gift
given and received
the freer the better
yet never owned

try to hold it
and it fades away
lock it in a safe
and it will be gone

simply give it away
you will never lack
the more you proffer
the more you find

this is true value
more so than gold
your worth grows
by keeping none

giving love away
to stray puppies
has filled my heart
with their love

wake up Wall Street
here is the truth
the only investment
that really matters

and the best type of bail out EVER!

The Two Hundred Fifty Ninth, September 16, 2011

there is a place
a perfect place
a private place
it is MY place

inside my mind
I have a home
where it all fits
it makes sense

it's a happy place
warm and sunny
with balmy breezes
soft gentle waves

too bad it's lost
it seems misplaced
it was pushed aside
by cold reality

stress is the foe
pressing in on me
forcing wakefulness
stealing my dreams

I know that its there
that wonderful place
still hidden inside
tucked safely away

it needs to be found
taken from mothballs
restored to the light
rescuing my sanity

I doubt even CSI could rescue that.....

The Two Hundred Fifty Eighth, September 15, 2011

I was just recently asked
was I losing my memory
I can't remember by whom
I have no idea why they asked

I think I remembered my
what was it I needed
but I have whatever it was
I put it right over there

did I mention to you yet
that some one was asking
only just the other day
was I losing my memory

now where did I put that
what is it called again
oh well never mind
it will turn up again soon

I miss my mind, where ever I left it....

The Two hundred Fifty Seventh, September 14, 2011

one of life's great pleasures
is found in the simple nap
granting the body a rest
letting the mind unravel

the warm gentle peace
of such a blissful escape
letting the pressures fade
finding relaxation at last

cannot be for too long
the world will not wait
we need to get back to it
but oh for a moment...

I need a nap right about now.... again

The Two Hundred Fifty Sixth, September 13, 2011

I have a very dear friend
hard to believe I know
her story asks a question
no one wants to address

she is trying to recover
following heart surgery
it is not going very well
she struggles each day

bills take all her money
weakness drains her too
unable to do very much
self-esteem taken away

wondering every morning
if today is her last day
will she have more life
ever able to live it again

television adds insult
floating across the screen
the face of Dicky appears
her tax dollars at work

She struggles for treatments
he has all the best care
she can't make appointments
he has doctors come to him

she has not shot a friend
she did not begin any wars
only supported a nation
that is turning their back

we conveniently forget
those that need our help
wounded veterans, the poor
lost children, and homeless

where are the priorities now
that hypocrisy becomes law
care only for the wealthy
providing for their greed

compassion is left behind
the charge of those who care
typically poor themselves
yet they can still find ways

shame upon the narrow
the greed filled and blind
who only seek their pleasures
missing the real point of life

I will pray for my friend
giving the hope that I can
knowing how she struggles
as I cry at the injustice of greed

The Two Hundred Fifty Fifth, September 12, 2011

The question I'm asked all the time
is why is it my poems don't rhyme
the answer is easy you see
that style doesn't appeal to me

I speak the thoughts in my mind
which are often quite hard just to find
if you look just to find the measure
you will certainly miss the treasure

chaotic eruption of thought
feelings explode into words
images composed in the mind
flashes of insight beyond intent

deeper meanings reveal themselves
hidden away beneath the surface
most unintended when written
subconscious message to conscious

this is a secret I freely will share
the meanings I didn't put there
reveal things even to me
that I didn't imagine to be

messages mixed between the minds
the private speaks to the public
amazing the hand that wrote them
too productive to be an accident

a new revelation on the journey....

The Two Hundred Fifty Fourth, September 11, 2011

first comes the weight
feet and legs of lead
then the rest follows
the body starts to fight

icy hot chills and sweat
unable to get warm
unable to cool down
shaking from the chills

sneezes and coughs
with nose too plugged
your only breathing
is wheezing gasps

temperature climbs
eyes won't stay open
but still you can't sleep
colds are sheer torture

The Two hundred Fifty Third, September 10, 2011

sunshine calls out softly
tugging us to come play
frolicking in the outdoors
in the last summer breeze

the droning of lawnmowers
children laughing loudly
but the greatest part of all
comes wafting in the air

the aroma of fresh cut grass
tickles the nose teasingly
reminders of the spring
so close but so far away

the annual teasing of autumn
tricking us into the belief
that summer will never end
how sad to see leaves fall

The Two Hundred Fifty Second, September 9, 2011

rain drops cling to the window
slowly riding gravity's train
drifting through rays of light
turning into miniature lamps

soft glows like floating embers
bumping into one another
merging and growing larger
assimilated into the collective

speed increases as they swell
until they become a stream
the internal glow stretching
until at last the light fades

darkness rushes to fill the void
but the rain will not yield yet
new drops strike the glass
beginning the cycle anew

and so the pattern continues
lasting through the storm
and through it all is heard
the singing of the shower

better than any television show
these gentle low tech pleasures
that can set the mind at ease
are the perfect sleep aid.... good night....

The Two Hundred Fifty First, September 8, 2011

imagine a world
where every thing
is the same color
and all monochrome

could you even walk
with no way to see
the beginning of one
the end of the other

there can be no depth
no shape nor form
if there is no distinction
that can be recognized

how different are we
that we should be alike
clones of one another
all the uniformed drones

the stagnation of life
the puppet mentality
follow the rest of them
and forget the lemmings

I don't want to be
the same as anyone else
and I am equally certain
not many want to be me

so listen to the world
with your own ears
think for yourself
decide what you want

if you look for guidance
take care where you seek
some will try to pull you
others will simply push

wait to see the road
before you decide a path
and be certain it is you
that makes the choice

the world is not bland
let alone monochrome
revel in all the colors
that make life interesting

The Two Hundred Fiftieth, September 7, 2011

creativity has fled
feeling no thoughts
flowing rivers are dry
even dust lies still

cannot find the spark
no muse has come
sitting alone in my mind
looking out the windows

rain falls in my mind
gray overcast thoughts
draining the energy
leaving me exhausted

I hope for some sun
to lift the blahs away
bring back the spring
letting imagination grow

I miss the randomness
of the eclectic thoughts
inspiring my dreams
feeding me words

perhaps being stable
is not such a good thing
for the overall condition
of my wild imagination

sometimes its tough to grow up.

The Two Hundred Forty Ninth, September 6, 2011

where are you supposed to go
after already finding your home
is this the end of the journey
or merely the start of the next

there is no completion after all
the path continues on and on
does it end with death or start
the next road may be the one

this life we live is a dream
the reality exists beyond
reincarnation is depressing
better to move outside this one

is there really life at all though
or is it all just a dream from above
a higher being on an acid trip
hallucinating our entire reality

life means nothing outside
the cosmos find us a blip
it is only within ourselves
that meaning becomes clear

so is there a home at all
or does the path lead on
forever onward the road
even beyond death's gate

the answer is simply yes
there is a home for all
it lies not so deep within
it is where you live your life

The Two Hundred Forty Eighth, September 5, 2011

and so it came to pass
that friends were joined
evermore to be as one
hearts bound eternally

with the taking of a hand
the sharing of a vow
the trading of two rings
the miracle happened

some have even asked
how long forever is
seeking to be freed
forsaking their given oaths

I say it is not enough
that forever is too soon
how can I know you
in such a short time?

too many seem confused
by lust and infatuation
mistaking those for love
ending up sad and hurt

love is more than beauty
bank accounts or salary
it doesn't need hard bodies
or even clear complexions

some say love is blind
I say love sees everything
not caring about flaws
but seeing beyond them

flaws give character
making us all unique
without the negatives
there could be no positives

and so it is with love
that I can accept you
loving you as you are
happy you are YOUnique

The Two Hundred Forty Seventh, September 4, 2011

Friendship


what does it mean
to be called friend
what do you need
to call another yours

many answers exist
in emails status updates
greeting cards poems
each a generic riposte

we each need to find
deep within ourselves
the answers fitting us
and hold true to them

if you call me friend
then you should know
what that means to me
that you will understand

it means I will care
will want to help you
will try to fix things
will need you to smile

that I will feel you
your pains and joys
the tears and smiles
frustrations and successes

it means spending wishes
for your perfect health
your total happiness
your peace of mind

It means understanding
that we are not the same
and embracing you still
cherishing our diversity

as for me to call friend
carries a simple request
to be honest and fair
and accept me as I am

there are levels to this
some dearer than others
and a few even more so
they are deep in my heart

cherished and protected
a special piece of my life
for them the rules change
as love is scarcely enough

they are parts of my life
entwined with my own
extensions of my heart
other pieces of my soul

I thank you for coming
and joining my madness
for accepting who I am
with no judgements given

thank you for sharing
all the good you see
but also sharing the bad
and not locking it away

through that sharing
the bond grows too strong
for any force to sever
and life grows by addition

my life would be duller
some of the luster gone
if I had not met you
or been to shy to wave

no matter what comes
today, tomorrow, next year
I will never again be alone
for you came into my life

The Two Hundred Forty Sixth, September 3, 2011

oh what a day
filled to the top
tasting the thrill
living the moments

family and friends
sharing the hours
sharing the smiles
a special closeness

these are the days
that give meaning
to why we live
and bring me peace

The Two Hundred Forty Fifth, September 2, 2011

rainy days
cloudy skies
draining energy
lethargic days

doldrums settle
like drops in pools
slowly filling the day
making sleep the ideal

lazy days
snuggle days
warm blankets
hot tea and a book

no desire to move
no real reason to either
just listen to the rain fall
letting the world pass us by

no sunshine
its not needed
we have the warmth
in each other's company

makes me wonder
why would one ask
such a small question
as "who'll stop the rain?"

The Two Hundred Forty Fourth, September 1, 2011

shall I go to the mountains
or head to visit the ocean
maybe a lake shore escape
a camping trip to the woods

each has its advantages
and its disadvantages too
it is ever so difficult
deciding which I wish

the mountains standing tall
with high snow capped peaks
icy cold lakes and streams
hiking and fishing delight

the ocean's constant waves
washing the white beaches
the smell of the salty air
swimming, surfing all day

or off to the lake shore
for boating and fishing
swimming and water skiing
so much fun out on the water

camping is a great get away
the sounds of the woods
both by day and by night
and 'smores by the fire too

I cannot decide on just one
they are all su great getaways
I think I will take them all
since it is only a day dream

The Two Hundred Forty Third, August 31, 2011

consider the wonder
of the human hand
in all its many parts
the many things it does

we can bend it
wave it, shake it
twist it, wiggle it
all at the same time

we can create with it
draw and paint with it
sculpt and write with it
building works of art

we can open things
close things, tie things
zip things, rip things
we can tear things apart

we can also touch with it
reach out and care with it
holding a hand, patting a back
brushing a tear away with it

sharing our hearts with it
makes it logical to me now
to wear our hearts on our sleeve
since they end with a hand

The Two Hundred Forty Second, August 30, 2011

warm delightful sunshine
filling the day with smiles
reboot

warm balmy breezes
reboot

the sun is shining down
smiling on mother nature
warming the earth below
reboot

stuck in a rut
locked in a cubical
no hope for escape
system stable

society has messed up priorities....

The Two Hundred Forty First, August 29, 2011

windows
the blessing
the curse
today they are the bane

the sounds of rain
striking against the pane
soothes my mind
lulls me toward sleep

watching snow sparkling
blindingly bright
the brilliance of winter
while warm behind glass

but not for today
they mock me
they torture me
showing what I can't have

sun is shining
batching as breezes blow
warm and wonderful day
and I have to see it

stuck inside
locked away
forced to see
the torment of office windows