198: Saturday Class

It's that time again

when school's out and time's been won

to be free and have no one 

tell you to get up.

It's Saturday, the weekends come 

and I'd like to go and have fun

the sun is out, the blossoms fly

but I can't play 

nope, not until

my long, hard class is done.

Poem 197: ARG

'ARG' is spelled with an A- R - G

It may mean the same for you as me.

It stands for 'Ain't Reality Great,'

In a really sarcastic way.

Poem 196: Kittens

I have two kittens in my hands

two voices in my ears

two furry bodies cuddling down

two lives at rest right here

I have two babies in my care

two fluffy little things

they're precious young with eyes still closed

those kittens sleeping here.

I have two kittens in my room

fast asleep in peace

nuzzled, each a perfect being

so small, darling and sweet.

Poem 195: Obama's Proof Certificate

I showed you, like you asked

I gave you proof, as pushed

Revealing me, I told my truth

Revealing self for all to know.

Why do you argue of my birth?

Does it help to talk of me?

Does it help you sleep at night

to know that I am really me?

What if I say, "It's true."

I'm not from here.  Will you be happier then?

What if I say, "It's false"? Will you believe

or will there always be that doubt in me?

We cannot win.

How can I cure the nation of the thought 

that I am in the center of their identity, 

and instead lead them 

to make their own mark?

Stop worrying about and for Obama

Stop worrying about birthing place.

Start thinking about change in the WAYS

that we do, live, and think things.

Poem 194: I'm Ready

I'm ready now to run away,

to leave this place I love;

to be unchained by time or space,

I'm ready now to run.

I'm excited to be free again;

to not be trapped by man;

to not be ruled by a scope;

to go without a plan.

I'm ready now, my mind is aimed.

Though sorrowed, I must leave this place.

So for the next few weeks and days,

I'll prep my mind to soar.

Good-bye my friends, good-by my foes;

so long the others I don't know.

Perhaps quite soon we'll meet again,

but for now I must go.

So with your thoughts, please hold me tight

and in your prayers, pray for this flight

that I might find a fuller love:

embracing God in life.

Poem 193: Mush

Today I feel like boiled goop

mashed up into mush.

mixed, and melted into slop

stirred and tossed to slush.

Poem 192: He Has Risen. Indeed.

I pulled him back when he first told me

that he planned to follow through

to be the sacrifice of life for sins done by me and you.

I begged him please, "Oh, do not go!

Do not be brave! Find other ways!"

But in reply he told me, "Child, this is why I'm here today."

And so my dearest love, 

I'll wash your blood off with my tears

Resting head upon your shoulder 

I'll make your feet clean with my hair

Do not be burdened any longer

for the past has been complete

Thanks for dying and for living 

And for deeply loving me.

Poem 191: Water in Threes

Trickling sounds of water fill the air

I breathe it in and fill my lungs with steam

I laugh, and breath comes out in clouds

frozen as the ice that's in my tea.

Poem 190: Castle

Watching towers rising
Like sand amongst a war
Being built and torn apart in pieces
An outsider couldn't know
A world covered in confusion
A thought thats frozen into stone
Watching towers rising
Like a prisoner of war.

Poem 189: Guitar

Leaning here against the wall,

Your echos still my fears.

Your notes float gently to the ground.

They're watered with my tears.

Then, from the soil of our song

A harmony's contrived.

It makes new rhythm for our lives,

And brightens shadowed minds.

Poem 188: Weathering

Its cloudy now where bluest skies 

once held a glorious glow.

The rain we feel now penetrates 

the heat where sun had shown.

Darkened roof above my head

let on me your tears fall.

There is no risk; You'll overcome.

This heart will chance it all.

Poem 187: Teddy Bear

Hello my sweet, soft Teddy Bear

Lying, oh, so very near.

Your arms are open wide to hug.

Your eyes are crisp and clear

You seem to smile, sweet and sure

Saying thoughts without a word.

For you've no mouth from which to speak.

You aren't as you once were.

For long ago, when we first met

Your mouth was drawn, by string inset.

Your smile was made, but now its seen

Through eyes of love from you to me.

Poem 186: Sick

There's a scratching in my throat

that pains sharply when I cough

I barely feel my toes and my feet are frozen in their spot

my hands are numb, nose is cold 

and eyes are barely opening. 

My vision is skewed

I'm seeing strange colored hues

and everything is blurry.

"I think I'll be fine." 

Though these words contradict current time,

I know deep inside that their answer's triumphantly true.

Poem 185: Torn Self

My other half is certain.

She is sure in her direction.

She moves with ease, that half of me.

But this half is unsure.

That half would now be running

sprinting, gliding, never walking

but it's harnessed tight in certain fright

by other half unsure. 

Torn self, soon to be waking

from a dream state of their making

and when I do, my halves will stand

dividing me in two.

Poem 184: Limited Expression

When I say the words I feel

you tell me not to speak;

you tell me not to say such things;

you tell me I should be ashamed.

When I say the thoughts I think

you put your head in hands and say,

"how could you think such things,"

and then you turn away.

When I tell you what I've done

you hide your eyes in shame;

you tell me I'm to blame,

and with me refuse to stay.

When I tell you who I am

you don't listen or hear;

you turn away your ears

and pretend I'm not here.

When I..., you do not let me be.

So I'll not share those parts of me.

Instead I'll shelter deep inside:

It's safer if myself I hide.

Poem 183: Sleep

Lindsey wants to go to sleep

she has started counting sheep.

Her eyes are fading, closing now

Her brain is quickly shutting down

Her fingers cannot grasp the sheet

that doesn't quite cover her feet

And now she drifts to an abyss

of complete lifelessness.

Reina is up going strong

she's lounging listening to the songs

that play out over slow band width

while Lindsey yawns and again hints

Its time to settle down and 

finally get some SLEEP!

*Inspired by Lindsey and Reina (and Bailey...by association.)

Poem 182: Connection

It must have been a bad connection

last time we talked.

I couldn't really hear your words

or I misunderstood.

In fact I don't remember much

not one spoken thought.

Perhaps I need a tape recorder to recall

the nothing that was said

without one word at all.

Poem 181: Plum-Tuckered-Out

It's true what they say:

you can't go all day

and then suddenly stop

and not feel plum-tuckered-out.

It doesn't matter if you try.

Though nothing I can say

would stop your attempt to beat fate,

know: I lose this battle every day.

Run, go, do, try

avoid, pluck, jog, pry

take, give, prevail, win

laugh, talk, walk, cry

Living life seems to me

to be a pitfall in time.

Its the cruel irony of  U.S. humanity

This clock-run, ""free," timed-life.

Poem 180: Dream-Driving

F              A...          W             D
A      (bump-bump-bump)    H             R...
L              W              I       (bump-bump-bump)   
L              A               L             I
I               K               E            V
N              E                             I
G                                             N
                                               G
                                              

Poem 179: Knot Knowing

My stomach is tied in knots.
I am not knowing, or even able to hint at thoughts
that would tell me which direction I'll be going.
Preparing for this future unknown is much likely akin to
preparing for words unheard, or storms with such extrodinary power
that they blow life away in their wake. 

I am unprepared in going
and feel unready for this story that engulfs me in its flow.
Although my faith fails me, I will embrace my missed glory
and stop preparing plans so that when Your will surprises me
I will smile instead of hang my head
and wish I had had the faith to simply just be led.

My stomach is tied in knots.

Poem 178: Froggy

Out of the corner of my eye

I saw a figure moving by.

It moved so quick and with such skill

And then stopped fast and held so still.

But as I reasoned it to be 

a shadow playing tricks on me

It moved again and then I knew

it was as I had guessed 'twas true.

There on the floor beside the door

Was life, this much I was for sure.

But when I knelt down close to see

I saw only a small froggy.

Poem 177: Beans

Beans, beans: a lonely fruit.

The more he eats, the more he toots.

Unfortunately, he drives the car.

So he's remained with us, thus far.

Poem 176: To Grandmother's House We Go

Over the river, and down the road.
to grandmother's house we go.
The bro drives the car, the girls rest their eyes.
And the stars above all glow.

On down the freeway at cruising speeds.
To grandfather's house we go.
No cars around, but the trucks make us frown.
We like it more alone.

Fast we are coming, we'll be there soon.
To Roseburg we all go.
The map shows the way; when we get there we'll play.
Come sun, or rain, or snow.

Poem 175: Tax Procrastination

It is almost, yes, that time again

to send your pay away

into the hand of governement 

and debt and school days

It's time to get your W-2 

out from file drawers

and sign a check (or get one back) 

from all the year that's over.

The time is near, it's creeping in

 so hurry fast, I'd say

Take a deep breath, pick up your feet

Get them done, out of the way.

Or maybe

wait a little bit

or just 

a few 

more 

days...

Poem 174: A Contrasting Poem (for the classroom)

You are tall, but I am small.

You're 12, but I'm 13.

Your feet are longer, and your stronger.

You're you, but I am me.

You are mean, while I am kind.

You wear blue, while I wear white.

You have darker hair and thinner shape.

You're you and I am me.

Unlike you, I'm am a girl.

Unlike you, I always dream.

You run faster. You are smarter.

Unlike you, I am me.

Though you're funny, I have laughter.

Though you smile, I am happy.

Your hair is shorter. Your voice is softer.

Though you're you, I am me.

In contrast to you, I don't hurry

In contrast to you, I'm quite sweet

You are quicker, Your skin thinker

In contrast to you, I am me.

You are handsomer to look at.

You receive such better grades.

On the other hand its not so bad

being me in every way.

Poem 173: Inside

This knowing, feeling, wanting, yearning

seeking, churning, grasping, stirring,

gut-wrenching, time-stopping desire

unknown or embraced, 

has left me without a face to use in life

but merely masks to hide behind.

I try to unravel my knotted place;

untwist, unturn, untie my interwoven parasite

embodied in what I have created 

through worried conversation 

with time and 'whit-if' things.

But my pulling, wrenching, turning, reeling,

tugging, pushing, peeling, churning

strength-surging, energy-moving self

cannot overcome the battle

that I have sworn to rule over,

which, instead, rules over me.

Poem 172: Proverbs

These words before you, make you wise;

Don't hide their knowledge from your eyes.

Instead, look close, and them apply.

My son, these words may change your life.

Poem 171: Sunday Brunch

It's Sunday brunch.

The clouds are up.

So we're inside today.

The food is hot.

The rain is not.

So close the door and stay.

Poem 170: Blossoms

Blossoms float with gentle wind

towards sun that's shinning bright.

Sparkling rain drop now surround

these pinks and blues and whites.

Poem 169: The Plans I Have For You

The plans that I have for you

They're stacking up in threes.

They cover 'what-ifs,' 'buts' and 'ands'

and everything between.

Child, if you look close enough

you'll get a chance to see.

But, most will keep on walking by

and never take a peak

Now if you look, know just one thing

there's parts that you can't see.

Such complex plans are not from man

but maker of land, sky and sea.