Poem 320: Poured Into

This life I live I've poured into

each thought that I've been given

Every feeling that I've touched

has bent my heart to listen

I've thrown in all that I could hold

to feed this life to grow

I gave up all of my desires 

and everything I've known

And now that days have gathered up

and time's been measured out

this life I've given up to you

has paved a purer route

So take my soul into your care

life's yours to take or give

Then bring me to your feet to rest

'till then, for you I live

Poem 319: The Life of One

A lonely number is a 1

it's sharp and flat and thin

it's straight and narrow as a stick

it's skinny like a pin

But lonely ones match up quite well

with any other few 

for a few more added on gives One

a group to belong to

Poem 318: There is no place, but home

I asked at the nearest road

for another place to go

which direction would take me to 

the farthest from my home

Were there places I could be

that felt still like my own

or are there no more places

where the real me could be known

I've searched now both the far and wide

I've looked to time for change

I never let myself to thrive

or just remain the same

But now the search has brought me back

to the place where I began

I took a chance and found my home

beside my dearest friend 

Poem 317: Tomorrow

Tomorrow it all takes flight

the finish of all I knew

The newest plans I didn't make

the start of something great

Poem 316: Fabric and Lace

Draped in fabric of silk and satin

yellows and blues and white

Lace and ruffles, flowing movements

black heels in the night

Wind curved branches bend above us

hair and wood in flight

Flowing freely, cloth and spirit

bask in the moonlight.

Then winds empower searching hearts

who gently float from sight

Darkness deepens, peace is lost

stars no more are bright

   

Poem 315: Mom

In 19 hundred 55

a beautiful girl was born

with fine straight hair and feathered frame

and a heart made out of gold

To her mother, Melba

and to Edwin, her dad

she was their firstborn daughter

the first of two they had.

And then the daughter grew up

and turned into a mom

and had three kids to call her own

(one who's very tall).

The husband who she calls "my man"

is bright and strong and kind

His farmer's tan the best they have

and his love for her is bold

So now at age of 56

her blonde hair's turning grey

her skin is wrinkling just a bit

but her heart's still bright as day!

Poem 314: Being Slowly Forgotten

I don't mean to be rude dear sir,  

It really isn't up to me.

You'd be easy to remember 

if time halted memory

But as it stands, dear stranger

there's no records of your name

perhaps I met you once before

but if it's all the same

please tell me who you are once more

and please don't make me wait

There's much to do before time comes

and steals the past away.

Poem 313: The Middle Kid

One sandwiched in between of three

One struggling to be known

One lost within the knowing 'we'

One hopes to be alone

But when this child is taken out

of his or her mid-home

suddenly the thought of being 

just one is hard to hold

One builds back 'round itself a cage

One feels in chains more free
One pushes back to center stage

One to unite the Three

Poem 312: Unforgotten Dreams

These broken moments of my day

captured in collage

have surmounted in my brain

as dreams while I've sawn logs

They've shown intensity of depth

from feelings I've withheld

and spoken shortness into breath

where my heart in secret delved.

These mostly unknown parts of me

paint messes in my sleep;

they're causing me to lose my mind

and bringing me to weep.

Oh pictures of my deepest soul

I beg you take a break

and leave me to a thoughtless sleep

so I'll not pain to wake.

Poem 311: Sarcastically Football

My feet are covered up in mud

my legs are shaking with the weight they're holding

tired from the constant sprinting

chasing men so tall

My hands are waving in the air

drawing on the eyes of others searching

for someone to release a certain

burden towards my wall.

But as the throw is set in action

and my eyes find this attraction

my arms do not react in time

and the football slips and falls

Now my feet and face are dirty

and my legs and arms are hurting

and my pride is surely broken

like an injured china doll

But a gentle word is spoken

with such very soft emotion

and my soul becomes replenished

so I once again stand tall

Then another chance is granted

with strengthened heart I reach to grab it

and my finger tips just touch it

and twirl it to my palm

The winning point I've cradled

but it's you who've made me able

with the gentle words of hope you spoke

"Next time, just catch the ball!!!"

Poem 310: Sunday Blues

The sky is bright with royal light

but I see just Sunday blues

The choir's words are crisp and bright

but I'm sing'n Sunday blues

The faces passing smile wide

I smirk my Sunday blues

The sunbeams beg me to confide

but I keep my bluish hues

The sky is light, the songs are bright

warm smiles fill the air

sunbeams soften hardened hearts

but Sunday Blues don't care.

Poem 309: Behind

I've fallen behind again

this seems to happen most often

when I forget to remember

that yesterday has come to end

for three days, and sometimes ten.

I've fallen behind you see

it's not how I planned it to be

but somehow I lost track of life

in the many hours in between

what was and is to be.

I've fallen behind and now

it's my job to catch up somehow

but as soon as I make up the time

I'll be tired and I'll rest my eyes

and wake to find (oh my!) that I 

have fallen once more behind.

Poem 308: Snooze

Snooze in the sun

in the shade 

in the meadow

Snooze in the car

on the deck 

in a shadow

Snooze wrapped in arms

of a bear

named Othello

Snooze and then snooze 

again

like this fellow

Poem 307: Patience

Today I played a waiting game

I set my goal to win

I waited all morning long 

and then waited some again

Today I played a waiting game

and wait is all I did

I didn't push the time to quicken

or plan as day grew dim

Today I played a waiting game

I set my goal to win

I won today, through battle long

tomorrow I'll start again

For right now life's a waiting game

but, I'm confident in this

with future hope strong on my side

waiting will let me live

Poem 306: Confusion

I am confused about direction

where to go and what to do

who to love and what to prove

and if I need to run or simply

remain in my current ways

of complete and utter confusion.

Poem 305: Oh no!

I think I may have bitten off

more than I can chew

This load is turning up too large

I'm afraid that when it's through

I won't be strong enough to stand

or laugh the whole night through

instead I'll fall into the trap

of what I thought I knew.

Poem 304: Throwing Wood

At first it's fun

throwing wood for future winter warmth

first it's a game

of bend and toss quicker than the brother does

First it's exciting 

trying to win by throwing more in fast

and then the back begins to hurt 

and spasms start and knees get weak

then feet get sore 

and noses clog-up filled with wooden dust

at first it's fun and games 

and then 

suddenly it's not

Poem 303: Bride-To-Be

I am a bride with purple toes 

and blue shoes on my feet

I have a veil on my face 

and act so very sweet

My dress costs 3K to wear once

my earrings are both 12 carrots

my hair holds hairspray from 5 cans

and bobby pins, 310.

There's gold-set jewels in my ears

there's a diamond on my ring finger

there's a corset holding back my breath

and soon my eyes will show my stress

but hopefully before all this

my fiance will pass this test

and love my heart more than this art

which decorates the aisle.

Poem 302: Yesterday

Yesterday has simply gone

it's blown into the wind

somehow the time has disappeared

without a start or end

and now today has come to be

and almost is complete

how did the clock turn all those times

without me getting sleep?

Yesterday has simply gone

there's no record to trace

the minutes drowned beneath the day

the seconds washed away

and now today is almost through

there's nothing left to keep

I wonder if my life lived well

with oh so little sleep? 

Poem 301: Girls Night

Tonight guys better hide

for the girls are on the town.

Tonight guys better run

the girls are all around.

For tonight's the night

when the girls are right 

and the guys will sing the blues.

Tonight guys, run and hide

the woman are all loose!

Poem 300: A Dream In Life

Close your eyes and surface
into the deep unknown
upon the wings of untamed faces
unseen thought and tree bound places
leap upon the branches wild
full of luminescent fires
Fly among the floating islands
dance with spirits pure and silent
talk through heart with whole connected
live a life more fully granted
dream about the night, when woken
that you'll sleep again.

Poem 299: Hiking Cold

In the beginning energy soared

steps were taken without thoughts more

left after right, right after left

up the mountain we carefully poured

Then slowly as the day wore on

the moon against the sun had won

and evening grew to greet the day

making left and right to run

Down the mountain with quickened pace

through the forest towards the gate

into the car to finish the race

as the stars upon us shone

Poem 298: RSVP: undefine

RSVP doesn't mean: think, but don't respond

RSVP doesn't mean: consider very long

RSVP doesn't mean: close all communication gates

but somehow with 'RSVP's

such thoughts seem to proliferate

Poem 297: CALGEBRA

we've CALCulated that U Love US

said the math symbols out loud

they danced in silhouettes on pages where pencils were not allowed

ALl aGE BRAckets noted

there is no one better loved

then the math that's used to decorate the earth and skies above

Poem 296: Beyond Age

When I was three, sitting happy on my father's knee

I didn't think in detailed hope about what is to be

At six I worried 'bout storms of dread 

and being alone with parents dead

with fitful sleep I fought to keep

those thoughts far from my head

When I was ten, running, teasing, laughing playing tag

I dreamed I'd be an astronaut or doctor or maker of art

at 16 I was fast approaching 

a life that was slowly encroaching

then when I embraced past fear

I grew with God a life more dear

At 21 my days were numbered by no one but me

I turned in applications to support a future still unseen

at 24 my dreams were crushed

my time on earth had become rushed

then 27 came and went 

and left me to remember this

There is no age in the beyond except that to which heart belongs

in me that age remains the same

the ripe old age of 3

Poem 295: An Angel in Skin

White flowing hair, when caught up in the wind

graceful movements, quiet prayers against sin

patiently dwelling she freely embraced

every person, and words she'd humbly take.

A quiet, strong soldier, with gardens as swords

and flowers to decorate and to adorn.

Wise spoken words of both sweetness and love

were always placed firmly atop of her tongue.

So as she gives now to the dust of the Earth

her spirit will dance at her Savior's grand foot

and surely He'll lift her up onto his knee

saying:  "Kathy, my daughter
you've greatly blessed me!"

Poem 294: Shopping List

When I tried to milk the cows this morn'

they tried to talk to me

one said, "O-live U"

while another simply, "let us please go free!"

and then, I bet you won't believe

they started to both sing

perhaps it was country, pop or rock - salt makes these cows crazy -

It was chili out

with a deep frosting

the pineapple trees had died

but OJ didn't kill them

and he would never lie

so I left the cows to do their thing

to sing their songs and dance

and I mourned with the potato plants

with napkins colored leaves

Who were tired of singing lullabies 

and hungry for some cheese.

Poem 293: Two's a Band

You play the banjo

I'll work the rhyme

you play rhythm

I'll drum the time

you hit the keys

I'll sing melody

together we're banded

us two, you and me.

Poem 292: Sandwiched 'NO's

No, you tell me, No

I do not understand your style

No, you say again and, No

I do not care how soft

No, there isn't any chance and No

I do not like those pants

No, I don't agree. No

I know they're not for me

No, you shouldn't buy them. No

they don't look good on you

No, do you not hear the 'NO'?

NO, NO, NO, NO, OH, I see...

alright, this pair's on me.

Poem 291: Frantic

It all comes down to now

every moment gone and past

every goal I've reached to get

every step I've sought to leap

It all comes down to now

will I pass or be passed by

will tears of joy or pain be cried

will I stammer or feel peace inside

It all comes down to now

as I wait I pray for strength

as moments pass my thoughts find gain

as clock hands turn my nerves recede

for now I see 

beyond the point

of what this 'now' may bring.

Poem 290: Black and White

There are times when things are black and white
and nothing is unsure
There are moments when I'm sure as life
and no doubt's given breath
There are days when all is confidence
and the world's to be owned
but sometimes I'm caught in between
with no sure answer known.