Poem 366: Leap Year Spare

For now the book has come to close;

the end has been brought near;

the time to finish has arrived;

it suddenly's appeared.

And now in reading the last words

upon this extra page,

may you be blessed with, if not more

the next few lines I've made.

For friends you've read my words in time,

to rhythm and meaning.

In doing so, you've helped me find

and meet a deeper me.

So thank you for your time and eyes,

comments and grammar checks.

Know this as truth, that through reading,

this writer you have met. 

Poem 365: Years

27 years ago I breathed in German air.

26 years ago I flew to my home here.

25 years ago I blew two candles out.

24 years ago I remember lightening, bricks and shouts.

23 years ago I welcomed a little bro.

22 years ago I learned to play alone.

21 years ago I laughed, and broke the rules.

20 years ago I lied 'bout broken things.

19 years ago I moved to a small town.

18 years ago we began to build our house.

17 years ago I played on mounds of mud.

16 years ago I climbed 'round wood-framed walls.

15 years ago I thought 20 was old.

14 years ago I goaled and won my prize.

13 years ago I first went to high school.

12 years ago I sought to attempt all.

11 years ago I finally became brave.

10 years ago I graduated school.

9 years ago I skipped over country lines.

8 years ago I learned and strove and cried.

7 years ago I found peace and friend-ship's joy. 

6 years ago I found hate, trust and success.

5 years ago I worked abroad and taught.

4 years ago I tied Korean friendship knots.

3 years ago I traversed the Eastern World.

2 years ago I taught some cute third-graders.

1 year ago I aimed to finish strong.

Today I've met my aim and feel like I have won.

Now there're 3 hundred 65 of these

for each day of each year

and maybe one more bonus one

named aptly: Leap Year Spare

Poem 363: Dog Song

A howling sound is echoing

A long loud silent scream

A crying note, a saddened tone

A wolf’s attempt to sing

Poem 362: Water Slide

“I’m ready,” I thought as I climbed into

this four-man inner tube

“It will be great,” we had exclaimed

and then were pushed away

Down through a tunnel with flashing lights

and music blaring loud

A sudden drop

A throat-filled scream

Water splashed on frightened me

Another scream came from beside

Mine swallowed in nervous thought

And then the end came bringing light

We sighed as if we’d won

Even after this heart-quick'ning ride

With adrenaline rushing wild

We didn't think to end, but turned

And got right back in line

Poem 361: Almost there

I'm almost at the place I goaled to reach;

the height I aimed to touch;

the end I planned to write.

I'm walking now along these final days,

basking in their flames,

encouraged, keeping pace.

I've sought so long after this valued prize.

So bent I've been to win.

My heart's been set on it.

Now much time's passed; I'm almost there.

The finale is at hand.

The end has almost come.

Poem 364: Morning Light

Light is filling up the floor;

Spreading ‘cross the rug.

Splashing on the sofa now;

And running towards the door.

Its hard to catch the sunlight,

Or keep it entertained.

I tried last night to tame its light,

But attempts were all in vain.

For once the clock struck six twenty

the sunlight disappeared.

I'm glad its finally coming back

and drawing ever near.

Soon your beams will fill my eyes

and I’ll rise from my rest.

But for now, I will watch you grow

and make the shadows dance.

Poem 359: Make-up

Coating thickly, packed and firm

make-up covers me

it paints on lines after in turn 

it takes them off of me.

You seem to work against yourself

first making same, then bright

First powder dims my colored face

then blush brings back the light.

Oh laughing make-up you are sleek

when on another's face

but when you're painted onto me

I feel like I am fake.

Poem 360: I can't explain with answers

Though asked, I can't explain with answers

the feelings that remain here stranded

with no running water for refreshment

and no chance alone to find my way.

So leaning gently on the hand of God

I look down and hide my eyes in pain

there's no love that I could want more

than what's revealed here in these stains.

Safe in your nail scared hands I lie

with burdens held in bloody hands

for I have felt your pain through love

and now find rest although I stand.

Poem 357: The Ballet Dance

Swaying movements

Graceful stances

Opened hands

Softened glances

Quickened motions

Gentle bendings

Flowing fabrics

Silent landings

(Picture by Brittany Pace)

Poem 356: Dog Hair

It's floating everywhere

this dog hair.

In the air around me laughing

and rolling on the floor.

It's in the food and on the table

stacked up in large balls

and now its sticking to me

covering me 

and coating me in hair.

There's dog hair everywhere.

When I open up my mouth to breathe

it settles in.

I want to sneeze, but can't:

the dog hair is too thick.

I swallow 

and now it's in my stomach.

(A gift of extra fiber.)

I'm covered out and in

in dog hair.

Poem 355: Forgiveness is

Forgiveness is a stream of crisp cool water on a hot day

which replenishes the spirit with its gentle touch

and refreshes the soul with rejuvenating hope.

It is the start of a new beginning;

a release of past wrongs.

Forgiveness is a new chance to live;

a moment of constant grace.

It's moving on with thoughts of love

and forgetting the wrongs from selfish ways.

Forgiveness is not asking, but giving;

it is not wanting but longing to trust again

Forgiveness is a gift of love

to those who give and get.

Poem 354: Out of Order

Not working
In inoperable condition
Broken
Functioning not as intended
Misfired processing
Ill-arranged
Confused
Mixed-up or twisted
Out-of-Order

Poem 358: Breathing on glass

For an instant the world is clear

the road before is straight

the distance seems not far, but near

and then breathe is exhaled.

The glass becomes not quite so clear

the fog has blocked my sight

the future becomes blurred and I

have lost the road's edge line.

I hold my breath and wait and hide

the world becomes quite black and faint

then opening up my eyes I find

time's past and all has changed.

The glass I see through's clear again

the air is crisp just like back then

but time has changed the view while I 

was scared of walking blind

No longer is the road all paved

no longer do lights guide my way

instead I wake to find my life

in the belly of a whale.

Perhaps when glass fogs up next time

I shouldn't run or hide my eyes

instead I'll trust on Jesus Christ

praying His will, not mine.

Poem 353: Torn Cloth

I'm wearing now the proof of war;

clothing stained with battle's score.

I won, I thought, but now I see:

the battle was 'bout saving me.

So, reveling in my glory 'lone

I bask in light of what I hold

and find that truth is sometimes 

much better left unknown.

But now with words settling in 

upon my open ears

the meaning that they hold is truth

though rough it is to hear.

Perhaps if I had waited out

this battle and not fought

the burden I would hold right now

would be what I had ought.

Now heavy heart, with stolen load

bought through determined shouts

I can't ignore the words then heard

when I was there 'called out.'

Poem 352: Heart Vs. Mind

There were so many things I thought I knew

Answers that I could have given with sure, persistent claim

but now that I have seen the tides on every side

I'm no longer confident of what my mind has made.

I sit here and imagine future, current, past

and I'm bewildered by the unknown thoughts that have been saved

The black and white design of strictly defined paint

is now exploding colors with hues of new debates.

Patterns that I once defined as straight

have twisted into inconsistent escapades of shapes

unknown, unimagined, unforgettable things

I'm an interlaced confusion with heart and mind not being the same.

Poem 351: Dark Spaces

I've always been afraid of dark places

unseen faces, things I've never done.

I jump in fright because of thoughts I worry about

not because of what goes on.

Walking through this dark tunnel 

I don't think about the likely things that could scare me, 

but the things I know, deep down inside, that probably won't.

Then I'm caught off guard by those likely things

that weren't scary with lights on.