All I know are faces
With acknowledgements and smiles.
I do not know their occupations,
Hobbies, likes or styles.
With few exceptions, even names
Are mysteries to me,
As well as where they live or hints
Of personality.
I’m talking of my morning “friends,”
To whom I say hello –
The doormen and the other walkers
I don’t really know.
They add a bit of sunshine
To the start of many days,
Without the complications
Some relationships might raise.
A smile, a nod, a simple wave –
Enough to thus connect.
Any more might be a disappointment;
That’s what I’d expect.
Before I start this poem, I seek
To acknowledge that I sit on the land of the Wequaeesgeek
And that my laptop, at which I peer through thick glasses
drowns islands in the Pacific with greenhouse gases.
I know life has always given me the edge
Due to my Jewish Ashkenazi privilege.
And being male I'm in the patriarchy
At the top of the oppressive hierarchy.
I apologize for my pronoun being 'he'
At least it could have been 'they' or 'we'.
I apologize that all these apologies are fake
And for the real apologies that I didn't make.
Now back to my poem, it occurred at night
I can't let that idea fade, take flight
I didn't have a pen; I should have written it quick
I've lost the thread and now I feel sick.
One's infinite and unwavering appreciativeness and
acknowledgements of One's gratitude is miniscule and
Colossal of bits and pieces are so significant that mere
words are beyond words of gratitude is limitless beyond ones measure.
One’s infinite and unwavering appreciativeness and
acknowledgements of one’s gratitude is minuscule
and colossal of bits and pieces are so significant that
mere words are beyond one’s words if gratitude is
limitless beyond one’s measure.
we were withering seedlings perched in unfavorable soil
until we escaped the comfort zone
and scattered beyond
now the wind calls us dandelions
Youthful days yield to elder nights,
Quiet and solemn to reflect.
Seldom are the loud acknowledgements,
That deafened the few, who would reject.
While memory often discounts the present,
With repeated visions of accolades.
It can't forget a current record, that
Has surpassed all the barricades.
Here, silent achievement, allows for
Inherent pride some glitter and glow.
Where today's accomplishments are seen by few,
Yet will mentor those, that choose to follow.
Mad kings are sly devils,
and like math homework,
they’re hard to get rid of.
Like ex-boyfriends they
waltz the line of patience
with dawdling acknowledgements
and sluggish departures.
You find yourself the airline
agent, “Sorry sir, your departure
is booked and ticket printed -
please proceed to the gate."
LOOK AWAY
I see the children hurting;
I feel their pains aborting;
I just ignore them;
And when the time comes
As danger surrounds them
I just turn my head
NO acknowledgement
I just turn my head, my back as I just
I just look away
I see these bullying;
I see those scars and bruising;
Feels as though there’re continually losing;
I close mine eyes, (ignoring)
I just close my mind
And as I look away
I’m ashamed of me this day
I pray…..
And when the time comes
As danger surrounds them
I just turn my head
NO acknowledgements
I just turn my head, my back as I just
I just look away
11/21/18
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr.©2018
The weary sailors were lost at sea,
Hoping to find a guiding light,
Wondering if they would survive this misery,
And escape their stormy plight;
But the mighty waves would not relent,
And roared like thunder through the night,
The ship was tossed with fierce intent,
The sea was showing them its might;
The wind was blowing against them,
And the sailors did not give up their fight,
But they forgot their captain was at the helm,
Who had noticed a beacon shining bright;
The lighthouse was but a speck in the storm,
While turbulent waves gave a sure fright,
Still, far, they could see an island form,
And to them, it was the most beautiful sight;
The captain whistled and steered the ship,
The sailors encouraged, held on tight,
Together, they did not let their vessel flip,
As they reached the island safe alright.
~~
7/15/17
Acknowledgements:
My thanks and appreciation to Jo for doing this
collaboration with me. Jo, it was a pleasure working with you.
I sit at the water’s edge
With my lone reflection to see
What happened to our pledge?
Now, will never come to be
My tears ripple in water below
No more skipping stones
Pain from memories I know
Slowly seep into my bones
As the waves ebb and flow
On heartaches from a distant shore
I wonder if you know
That I will miss you evermore
And the sadness in my heart
Will echo through the years
And yet again will start
The rippling of tears
Waves of pain come over me
As dark clouds hover above
Tears blurring vision, I can hardly see
How can I endure this loss of love?
My reflection distorted, now unknown
As if I lost myself as well
I fear what my broken heart has sown
In this sorrow that within me dwells
~~
7/14/17
Acknowledgements:
My thank and appreciation to Heidi for sharing
her poetic voice with me. As always, it has been
a pleasure working with you Heidi.
Spring has fragrant blossoms to reap
And as it awakens from slumber deep
Spring sings of blooms and life anew
And butterflies and skies of blue
Summer sings of sun and sand
Of ice cream cones and getting tanned
Of beautiful sunsets that delight
Of moonlit walks on sultry nights
It is in these moonlit walks I take
Crystalline steps with wishes I make
That started with Spring's new beginning
My heart just keeps on singing
Let there be peace, sunrise to sunset
In a butterfly's flight to things unseen yet
Let sweet ice cream tasted in every flavor
Blend into memories at warm beaches to savor
For autumn's song will soon take hold
With rustling leaves of red and gold
Soon the trees will have no melody to share
For autumn's song will leave them bare
Until snow spreads like an angel's wings
Lining tree branches with glistening white
Softly, my heart continues to sing
In the silence of snow, falling into the night
~~
Acknowledgements:
My deepest thanks and appreciation to Heidi for sharing
her poetic voice. Heidi it has been a pleasure working with you.
Waiting on defeat, the feet
I'm whimsical, captured, no bondage
Unrestricted
I have inclinations
No bondage freed from our regrets
Waiting on the beat
Notions unrestricted
To prance away
Say what, what you say
Dancing displayed, non controlled
No acknowledgements
Notions unrestricted
Waiting on the beat unbound non inclusive
Awaken dreams a dancing machine, galloping liberties
Unfettered, uncovered, uninhibited, unrestricted
Free to the fancy, fancy toward the freed
Given all that's liberty, give me liberty
People all, all you people stand on your feet
The feet of creation stand over circumstances deeper than oceans
Crawl, walk, run, fall in we're all notions unrestricted
Pursuing a solo career turned out to be a great choice.
Laura was gifted with a strong alto voice.
From upstate New York, this fine lady came.
Her prolific songwriting talent launched her to fame.
We saw that overwhelming success coming true
with the release of “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You”.
Laura’s biggest number one hit was “Gloria”.
That one lasted a long time on the charts in America.
Two other song hits the public would extol,
were the popular “Solitaire” and “Self Control”.
For several film soundtracks, she contributed many a song.
The list of acknowledgements and awards is certainly long.
Unfortunately, this talented artist is not with us anymore.
Laura sadly passed away back in 2004.
I thank both wikipedia.org online encyclopedia and LauraBraniganOnline.com for information I obtained to write this poem.
Today
I am going to let go
Relinquish worry
Set free doubt
Let faith guide me
To pastures overrun with heart’s desires
Today I live in the present
Absent of all those things inhibiting living in the now
Boldly dreaming up a future big and bright
Dripping a blinding orange luster potent as the Sun
Placing those dreams
in Gods hands along with faith
Praying into existence
acknowledgements
all my positive thoughts are powerful
Today I claim all ambitions
Previously abandoned by fear
Today I read
Today I sing
Today I dance
Today I write
Today I heal
You’re free to follow or walk beside
Encouraged even
To indulge that which secretly grins
childishly at hearts core
To that which you first knew was yours to have
Doctor, lawyer, painter, teacher, sculptor, mommy….
Before someone said that wasn’t big enough
Practical
Or Un-Obtainable
The time is now
Come….
www.nefretitim.com
The beauty of the golden dew
when the sun still soft and new
winter morning misty,cold
dewdrops turning grass tips gold
quiver as if giving a nod
acknowledging the grace of God
listen to their whispering talk
in the mid of morning walk
touch them gently,take their scent
those tiny treasures all God sent.
******************************
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