Poem 258: Babysitting

House sitting is sort of like

sitting in a house

Horse sitting sometimes means

sitting on a horse

Cat sitting always means

sitting watching cats

but babysitting never means sitting.

It means watching, feeding, playing, burping, laughing, crying and being

completely worn-out.

Poem 257: Ridges

The crunchy surface of the floor is ridged

It waves before me in its frozen position

Calling me to mount and slide, and mount and slide

Up and down, rise and fall, climb and descend.

The ridges are my enemy and the downward slope my friend

Then my knees begin to hurt

And I pray for more ups and fewer downs

But it remains constant: up, down, up, down, up

Never gaining more or losing less

But remaining, by average, constant and ruffled

Like a potato chip.

Poem 256: Lofty Barns

Walking into the barn 

the smell of hay floats through the air

Making my sinuses begin to drain and stuff

The cats run at me, rub against me and curl up on me

I lay on the ground to pet the horses noses

I am in the loft and can reach through the floor to the tops of the horse's stalls

They neigh and throw their heads back in hunger not caring to be pet

But I can't rise

The cat is on my back, nuzzling my shoulder blades

And telling me, is his own way

that I am loved

Poem 255: Job Apps

Its a burdensome situation

applying for jobs

it may take more consideration

and determination

self-confidence and motivation

and much more patience

than working for a pay check

or living cautiously.

Poem 254: Children at Play

Sometimes when I am tuckered out

overworked and drained,

its nice to come and settle down

and with a good book lay.

But when my mind is crushed and I

have no thoughts left to think,

I'd rather simply sit and stare

at a movie on TV.

Now even better then this rest 

(or vegetation state),

is watching groups of little children

run around and play.

Poem 253: REVERSAL

Watch out

I am backing up

I've almost gotten there

Be careful

I am in reverse

my lights are on I hope you look

Look out

I am leading with the back

my direction is reversed

I'm backing up

so watch your children

and your feet

and dog

and....

CRASH 

...your strong, red cement wall

Poem 252: Age Pains

my teeth hurt when I woke this morn

my back hurt when I stood

my toes feel like they've all been broke

my knees do not feel good

my eyes see spots quite blackened-out

my voice is raspy when I shout

and if I listen close I hear

time's echo ringing in aged ears

Poem 251: Patience Pending

It is waiting for a clearance from security

It already got the A-OK from me

but meanwhile, until it comes,

It would be wise not to forget

that currently my state of mind reflects

(in neon lights flashing):

a current state of: Patience Pending.

Poem 250: WaitingnitiaW

Halfway to the halfway mark

and waiting.

Waiting for another chance to start again

just waiting

for a paycheck, or a special circumstance

I'm waiting.

Strumming thumbs, thumping foot, crossing legs

and waiting

waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting

and waiting.

Poem 249: GF Beer Tasting

Just a little taste of each

and by the time I'm done

I cannot keep a steady hand

or straight like an arrow run.

Just a little sip of each:

sour, bitter, caramel, dry

a plastic cup pushed in expands

and beer splashes my eyes.

Poem 248: Encouraging Words

I found today that words alone are encouraging to hear

silence drums in echos when there is no one near

the echos paint with darkened lines around the joy I keep inside

until all light's been masked in grey and I'm chained in a steel cage

of silence.

I learned this evening that the sun is not the strongest light

the clouds and night that mark its absence aren't the darkest sight

for when the sun is in the sky, but people are not heard then I

feel cold bleak darkness hold me down embodied by a well-known cloud

of silence.

I heard tonight some simple words that helped hope capture fear

they planted colors in the dark and stole the silence from my ears

and now that life has re-gained depth of mood and hue and breath

My soul's ready to fight again, against (this time I hope to win) the lonely still

of silence.

Poem 247: Adventuring Friends

This weekend we had our adventure, despite the rain

we filled each day to max with movement and rest

We smelled the roses, climbed muddied slopes

explored new paths, drank beer and port

ate chocolate and walked in time gone by. 

We shared stories and lives and emotion

pilled strawberries on cheesecake

and had a second helping of life.

These days have been refreshing and relaxing.

Thanks for coming and sharing and laughing

and for being a loving, adventuring friend!

 

Poem 246: Port

One glass in celebration 

and one glass to help us sleep

one taste because of flavor

and one taste because it's sweet

one more to reach a goal we set

one more to just experience

and when we're done there's just a cup

or 2 or 4 of Port to drink

Poem 245: The Missing Sock

It was hiding in the sheets

or inside a towel

It got trapped in the laundry bag

and under the sink fell

It was vacuumed up once

and found in garbage being brought out

It was carried by a neighbor cat

and rescued from a mouse

It was set upon a shelf to wait

until you came back here.

But since the wait's been long

I posted it back to your care

When the mailman brings it by

I bet that you'll be thrilled to find

inside that box's your missing sock

a better gift than wine!

Poem 244: Fruit Salad

This year has been a fruit salad

full of color, taste and sweet

a bit of sour and sometimes 

an under-ripe berry.

This year has been a shish-kabob

with veggies of all sorts

and one strong onion in the mix

and sauce a bit too harsh

This year has been a hamburger

with toppings of all kinds

mushrooms, garlic, pineapple

and chocolate sauce and apple rinds

This year has been a fruit salad

a shish-kabobo, a hamburger

it's been a loaded year of time

that all too soon has disappeared.

Poem 243: Complete

Its finished now

all things are done

my finals are complete

all work's turned in

my grades are won

freedom tastes so sweet!

Poem 242: A Winning Game

We're two for two

a winning team

we're quite far in the lead

we've not a chance of losing ground

we aren't scared of defeat

We're two for two

last time I checked

that meant we're beating you

we've shot two goals and scored them both

so now 

We're two for two

You're 'o' for 'o'

We'll win the game indeed!

Poem 241: New Beginnings

9 years ago I sat and dreamed of things beyond my reach

3 years ago I conquered them and then I traveled free

After some time I built new dreams that grew out from my first

in just three days I'll meet those goals and then I'll be unsure

of what dreams to dream

10 years ago I planned for now, but life changed-up the scene

8 years ago I thought I knew exactly where I'd be

1 year ago I formed the future 3 years after now

but something changed between those years and life begged for a vow

of rest

In ten years I have asked myself just where I'll want to be

in five years I am still unsure of what God has for me

In 2 years I know I would like to look back on my life

and be proud to have lived no matter how much of time's strife

I see

Since I do not know what the years that come might claim to hold

and since I have no plan or concrete future goals

since my life is currently up in the wind untold

I'll focus on the next few days and live my life 

in BOLD

Poem 240: Soccer

sore bones

sore feet

sore head

sore knees

sore shins

sore toes

sore me

Poem 239: Silence

Although there is another here

he's hiding somewhere up the stairs

playing computer, reading books

not giving me a single look.

Hello my brother, do you see

or hear or feel me standing here?

I'm your big sis, remember me?

...silence fill my ears...

Poem 238: Testing Day

Another test will soon be here

Tomorrow I hope all is clear

I hope my mind will recall quick

I hope there aren't too many tricks

I hope that time goes slowly by

If answers come with ease I'll fly

But truly what I want to do

Is pass and not have to redo.

Poem 237: Just Breathe

Just breathe and go

and soon you'll see

the things you'll do

aren't hard as seemed.

They're easier with oxygen

So, breathe and go

breathe, go, and breathe!

Poem 236: Unknown

I step out perhaps in foolishness

perhaps in simple trust.

I move forward with hesitantness

but refuse to stop my thrust.

whatever future brings to me

it was not in my plan

for what I had thought was best for me

no longer's in my hand.

Poem 235: Vicarious Living

I am a pilot flying through the skies

An astronaut in space

I am a medaled Olympic athlete

A prince to soon be kinged.

I am a dragon being trained by a child

A lion to be tamed

I am a man once raised by jungle wolves

A child found in a stream

I am a genie from a magic lamp

A singing family called Von Trapp

In truth, I can't be all of these

so I choose to live vicariously

and read, and read, and read.

Poem 234: Monday Blues

Songs flew through the halls today 

of painted sorrows, fears and pains

of wanting freedom: summer sun

of mental striving to stay strong.

It is the song that we all sing

whenever summertime creeps near

and today, this Monday, we sung loud:

our Monday Blues for summer days.

Poem 233: Awake

I've been awake since 4:02

thinking of what I should do

whether I should run away

or trust in what is here and stay.

I haven't been able to sleep

my mind is turning viciously

the thoughts I have bring tears to eyes

bring sweat to brow, and though I try

to sleep, I'm still awake at six-thirty

three.

Poem 232: Choosing

I can't decide;

make up my mind

I don't know what,

how or why.

I cannot focus

on this task.

I do not know

although I've asked.

I can't decide;

interpret want.

I don't know need,

or future love.

I am not sure

on which to choose.

I do not know.

Perhaps you do???

Poem 231: Portland's Pool People

They arrived in tall black heels

hair pulled back and crimped and curled

dresses blowing in the breeze

sunshine warming face and knees.

We were there, already poised

watching, waiting, us four boys

for them to come, but when they did

It was a game we couldn't win.

Us boys we aimed our pool cues

and when we hit, those girls they knew

that all our aim would leave us if

they looked our way and blew a kiss.

So when the score was added up

girls 23, boys 2.6

they walked away proud to have won

but though we lost, us boys has fun!

Poem 230: Testing

I'm testing the water to take a dive
I'm testing the weather and watch the skies
I'm testing the wind to take me to heights
I'm testing tomorrow in Civil Rights.

Poem 229: Applying Myself

Today I am applying myself.
I hope to find success.
Today I have filled out the form.
Tomorrow I will bet
that when I turn in all this work
"my application-ed self"
my heart will freeze my lips to ice
and my resume will melt.