Thursday, December 31, 2009

Contentment (2001)

Contentment

Contentment curls up on the rug by the fire.
Wind doesn't chill,
Rain doesn't soak, and
Worries don't dance with the shadows on the wall.

The unread book lies open on page one;
Leaves are uncreased,
Buds are un-pressed, and
The words of tomorrow are waiting to be told.


(4/19/2001)

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

First Kiss

First Kiss

I'm looking back now,
'Cause I'm here, alone again.
The show was pretty good.
Our way home, we're at the stop,
Talking, still so shy.

Just a while to wait,
Going home, we will part.
I tried to see your eyes
On a May night, so cool but dry,
By stars and bare streetlights.

I sat and stopped, then
You took my hand (unasked),
And searching eyes found mine.

So I look back now,
'Cause I'm so alone again.
I still remember that night.
Our way home, at the bus stop,
We talked, then, both so shy.


(12/23/2009)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

My Life

My Life

Disappointment, I never seem
to stack up to myself.
Afraid to fail, afraid to try,
I'm the first to criticize.

If my life were a book I might
rip out every page that hurt me,
kept me scared,
But I'm a poem.

Awake at night, my eyes so tight
I cannot even dream.
I need some pride in what I've done,
but I just make a mess.

If my life were a book I could
burn away the pages that shame me,
keep me alone,
a closed book.

I need to do what makes me free.
I need to open up.
My heart wants me to sing out loud, but
fear has kept me shut.

If my life were a book I would
rewrite all those pages that hurt me,
kept me down.
My life is a song.


(12/8/2009)

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

With Me (2008)

With Me

It is, perhaps, too much
to ask someone to
hold onto my dreams
for me,
to hold my hand if I'm
afraid, or
love me any time I
need.

I wish, perhaps, too much
and wait for someone to
say just the right words
to me,
that make me always feel OK
with who and how I
am, and
mean when they say they
love me always,
forever.

When I am tired,
when I feel too
feeble with frustrations,
who sits with me and
shows they care?

I am OK.
I am that one, always,
for me.


(2/7/2008)

Roots in the Sky (2003)

roots in the sky


and this time look up:
the tree has roots in the sky

to pilot the crystal dimension
between wind and here

look and see how green
the nuts are still in the branches



(8/1/2003)


Green things in trees are clearly a-seasonal for December in Oregon. Clearly, I'm still thinking back on late summer, but it was midsummer when I wrote this six years ago (!). I dislike the cold, except for the delightful snow it plants in the mountains for me to ride down on.