Poem 289: Raspberry Picking

Each raspberry, full of pulp

slides across my tongue

each capsule's sweetness then explodes

as if savory rhythms are being sung

And just when I think nothing could 

make a sweater mouth of cheer

a joyful sour slithers in 

sending shivers to my ears

Poem 288: Seeing Double

No matter which direction I look

I see double-double.

When I'm given choices, and look closer

every double doubles.

I am left, then, in these instants 

to think double, double hard.

But once I had, I wish I hadn't

for it makes the doubles double.

Poem 287: Oops.

Oops
it happened
once again;
your arms entwined with mine.
And I in comfort
melt and fade
closed my eyes
and choose to stay.

Poem 286: Broken Will

So often as she stood to run

her knees would both give out

her ankles roll, her heart would hurt

her head would thump, her eyes feel sore.

Still other times, she'd goal to move

and her path would be blocked tight

all doors would close, all sight go black

but determination never lacked.

She'd always stand to try again

and run up to the door

she'd knock, she'd plead

she'd push, she'd pull

she'd try as hard as all I know

and sometimes, with a little prayer

the path would become clear

but for some time, all had stood still

no matter how she willed

And then one day she looked around 

and saw for years she hadn't changed

that's when her mind began to soften 

and her will was brought to shame

That day she was defeated

by the obstacles before

that had blocked her in and kept her locked

and not freed her to roam.

So trapped inside her cage she lay

a tiger in despair

her mind now predicted failure

and her heart embraced her fears

But rest assured, those who stand up 

and fight for those so meek

she'll be refreshed and stand again

like a child on God's feet.

Poem 285: Butt Dial

I'm calling you to simply say: 

please ignore the message I left.

It seems that my butt must have dialed my phone.

Such a talented butt I do own!

Poem 284: Six Years Between

There's six years in between them two

one is ten, the other four

there's wisdom found in years traversed

but love has opened doors

it's entered into hearts once closed

and as they've both been told

the six years in between them two

will seem small, when they're old

There's six years in between them two

and maybe one month more

they cannot love so young in age

but each other they adore

so as their age grows higher up

eighteen and twenty-four

the difference is no longer great

and hesitation stands no more

There's six years in between them two

"that's not too bad" some say

but suddenly one's life is many 

distances away.

Those six years in between them are

a rock wall to be climbed

the time and aged maturity

no longer remains fine.

There's six years in between them two

lovers they'll never be

but friendship stands when all else fades

making strong hearts from the weak.

Poem 283: Minecraft

You build your house out of lava and stone

I build mine in the mud

You plant a garden a thousand blocks wide

mine's 12 stones plus 1

You have the makings for gold, ore and dye

I'm excited to find that I haven't yet died

but dear brother of mine, being behind is just fine

as long as all zombies are gone!

Poem 282: Snowflakes in July

I  s
   l
    i
     p
      p
        e
          d

and fell d
            o
            w
            n
a GIANT waterfall of summertime
into a H     E  
            OL
of sandy beaches, river trips, BBQs and
s                    es
 mi            ac
      ling  f
reminding me
of yesterdays gone by, snowflakes                             
and the sta
                rry  nights of  winter's  C
                                               hrist
                                             mastim
                                                  e.

Poem 281: Down to the River

Down to the river

buckets of sand

castles to build

bodies to tan

Down to the river

arm fulls of wood

music to play

hot dogs to cook

Down to the river

baskets of clothes

socks to be cleaned

stains to be soaked

Down to the river

hearts full of prayers

Bibles to read

songs to be heard

Down to the river

bags stuffed with treats

blankets to spread

picnics to eat

Down to the river

now full of folks

enjoying the quiet

amongst all the noise

Poem 280: Chess

You:  strong and planted

firm in thought

Me: ready for defeat

You: aimed and thinking

forming plots

Me: arranging my retreat

And then with one move 

our roles switch

for you just lost your queen

 I lift my chin

you hang your head

Check Mate dear king

you're dead!

Poem 279: Counting Rain

I sat and counted each rain drop that hit the window pane

twenty-four, then five, and six, seven, eight and 90 more

but when I reached up just that high, the clouds all went away

and I was left to count aloud, sunbeams instead of rain!

Poem 278: A Bit Confused

I sat and listened to you talk

and then I thought and thought.

What did you mean when you said those words

when you spoke those things

when you smiled?

What did you mean?

Am I gazing in too deep

or are you trying to communicate

something much deeper

and more complex 

than words could say to me?

Poem 277: Monsoon Season

In Korea today I'm sure there's rain

I'm certain there's humidity

I'm positive that it's the same 

in Vietnam and Thailand too.  

Perhaps in Cambodia and in Laos

there are tropical storms and people get doused 

But Oregon is not near by, 

it's on the East coast of the sea

So why are there monsoons of rain

now falling down on me?!

Poem 276: Drowning

I fell in first, 

you tried to save me.  

You tried to pull me back

but in the process you fell too

the momentum was too grand

we sank together, then I sprang up

I swam straight towards the sun

you were pulled down 

by mud and current, 

leaving only your arms up.

Then the current pulled me by you 

you grabbed my feet and latched on tight

I thought perhaps it was the branches and 

I fought to shake them off

I did not prevail, 

your grasp was too strong,

my breath was running low

the surface so close I could touch it, 

but you didn't know

You afraid of dying

trapped in the deepest part 

hoped to be pulled up by me

but loving with your heart

let me go after your thoughts 

had realized we'd both die

you let me live, and let me be the one

to cry and cry

when I had breath

I swam back 

to the place I thought you'd be

with arms reaching out towards Heaven

but the current had carried me

far away from where you were

no matter how I tried

I never found your hands again

reaching out for life

Poem 275: Raindrops and Checkered Print

Once beige

my pants are now checkered

with bizarre leopard print.

They changed when I stepped out today

and raindrops fell making wet stains

that soon will fade

and leave me back with

simple, plain-old beige.

Poem 274: Memories in Cloth

Quilt squares decorate the floor

with time and warmth entwined 

they tell through t-shirts that I wore

of life I once explored

The words, and patterns pictured here

sing gentle songs to me

of past gone by and childhood days

this quilt of memories

Poem 273: Running Late Again

I'm running late again

its not my fault (it never is)

I left early, I aimed to please

I sped through traffic swerved and weaved

but even though I tried so hard

and goaled to make time right

I still arrived after the clock

had sung its last long chime

Poem 272: Sandwiched in Love

On her right her father sits

on her left her mother rests

and in between the little girl 

is sandwiched by their love

Poem 271: Mid-Week

Three days behind

Three days before

and I'm caught in-between

Poem 270: 90 Dollar Shopping Spree

It was a 90 dollar shopping spree 

that brought us here today

we left with bags so full of clothes

that it brightened up our day

but do not worry 'bout numbers large

they're really not so bad

for if there'd been no sale at all

we would have spent a grand.

Poem 269: Puff Paint

On my fingers, face and phone

Puff Paint covers simple tones

It makes the normal neon blue

with brightest pink and yellow too.

These added colors make life great

this thick and glossy, loud Puff Paint

It changes plain to bright and sweet

and makes the everyday quite neat!

Poem 268: Songs of the Sea

In the air above the trees,

a melody floats on the breeze

it sings a song of years and travels

greater than I know

Far away, told by the wind

a salty whisper's carried in

it tells me tales of long ago 

and paths not sailed or still unknown

Beyond the farthest rock I see

notes are thrown out of the sea

in harmonies of lives and deaths

of time and place and circumstance

Beyond, above and far away

the music travels here and stays

held to me by the deathly sweet

smell of the salty sea

Poem 267: Summer Sunshine

Sunbeams break through branches high

and blink their eyes towards our faces 

bathing in their lights

Then in warm joy I implode

laying with newly sun-kissed eyes

at rest in cloud-free skies

Poem 266: Job Free

There's truth in said enjoyment

of a jobless, work-free state.

There's rest in not having to rise

when alarm clocks ring to open eyes.

 There's freedom in not having to 

obey orders from the Boss to you

But there's also truth in empty pockets

overdrafts, and consequences 

of no paycheck to make payments

buy groceries or take breaks with

There is truth when there's no work to do

but more life's found when rests are few.

Poem 265: Port and Truffles

PT
Port and Truffles
just the two
combined to make a smile
PT
Port and Truffles
food for mind
and best in order not reversed
For TP is just

not as good

Poem 264: Muddy Feet

Dirt and dew

combined together

make mud stick to my feet.

It's caked on 

in decoration

and marks the movements of my day

muddy feet

good for the skin

and jovial to see

muddy feet

making footprints

so you remember me!

Poem 263: Peace

Peace is like a broken sink

that's fixed

or pants that once to small 

now fit

or destruction and pain

avoided

Peace is the opposite of knowing

that it's wrong

Peace is when we're broken, 

still being strong.

Peace is what we wanted all along.

Poem 262: Red, White an Blue

Tears on stained faces of distress 

from fallen figures in the future and the past 

paint red stripes on pure white intentions

marking lines of freedom sacrificed

stars hung in the skies shout out

singing thanks both silent and aloud

praising lives who've given up their length

to leave our blue-skied freedom here to stay.

red and blue both decorating white

bringing color into living art

and leaving US to shine out bright

in the reds, whites and blues of sacrificial lives.

Poem 261: Daring Love

The world around me blurs as my eyes focus on the spherical globe at my opponent's feet.

My mind is set to retrieve the ball from this momentary enemy

whose own mind has already seen my defeat played out.

But today, I will win.

My foot moves stealthily through the air hovering for a moment near the sphere 

and then with wise-wit revealing its decision to fly past the ball and reverse to snatch it.

The plan works and the ball and foot latch together as if a carpenter's glue held them fast.

They are paired like a exquisite wine and rich, dark chocolate.

Then, in quick and quiet sweet bitterness 

the foot kisses its love and pushes it away with a hard, loud echo of release.

The ball runs from its companion, hoping to be caught in a net and not able to stray too far.

This team is successful: foot and sphere.

And in return for their success my mind secures a reunion of pairing:

another chance for mastering the chase, embrace and release 

of daring love.

Poem 260: Lines and Songs

Running to catch up to time

and moving to avoid it

I find myself, with friend beside

stuck in traffic and waiting in a line.

When the crowd clears, we arrive and surrender our identity to the guards

who band our wrists and warn us not to remove our label.

We are marked and ready to fight a war

we are ready to experience a whirlwind of lines and songs 

competing in a state of shared living

while making notes which form memories in this blur

of Idolized American time.

Poem 259: Puppy Love

There's nothing quite as sweet

as puppy-love

It cuddles in and licks your feet

and mouth and nose and knees

It begs to be loved and wants to be pet

and in return it promises to never leave

or talk back

or gossip

or hurt feelings

Puppy-love is shown in large brown eyes

that ask to play and beg for time 

but love no matter what is given

or received

puppy love is a warm puppy-head

resting against me

waiting for me to decide when to go

and then running ahead and taking the lead.