Best Chris Poems
If 2012 prophesies prove true
And Earth’s life cycles again renew
Mysteries of man will be more than a few
Challenges may await future life forms
With intellects far surpassing our norm
Created to live without doing harm
For if they decipher man’s history
What will they make of our great mystery
The one we refer to as bigotry
Black labs, gold retrievers live side by side
Wild stallions and mustangs on prairies ride
Both red ants and black, free to colonize
Man’s refusal to accept differences
To wiser beings may make no sense
What in man’s makeup can give it credence?
Earth’s subsequent creatures may reproduce
Not needing two sexes to call a truce
So mating rituals may be pursued
A single-sex species might not comprehend
Why women workers were paid less than men
And why “free speech” was not just a given
Questions would most certainly arise
How a believer in God denies
Rights to free worship without compromise
And how could so many wars be waged
Evoking God’s name in death-march crusades
With killing, torturing in every age
Indeed such mysteries in man’s history
Would leave a perplexing legacy
Sure to confound any new species
New cultures may thrive on diversity
Of religion and genealogy
And speak of our inferiority
Note: This is dedicated to Christopher Higgins whose poems about prejudice inspire readers
to do more than just think about one of the greatest ills in our society.
Lyrics start 0.05 - timed to the music
Pack your bags dear, there’s a Croc near
And he’s creeping, through the night
With his eye on - on our old stead dear
And it appears - we’re within his sight
You know when that Croc smiles - shows his teeth dear
Concrete jungles start to spread
Whips the grass from right under their feet dear
Scams now filling, each word he’s said
What no scruples you ask, well he ain’t got’em you should know
Seeks locations both, far and wide
Look he’s sneaking - sneaking down the alley
Is there no - place - left to hide
Another Archway, off the highway down the road
Golden handshakes, don’t go the mile
Men in black suits they make it all happen dear
Sanguine red soon, turns into bile
With our kids dear – it’s the buzz 'we gotta go'
Family meeting place, just come on down
Try these milk shakes - they're just like the real thing
And these burgers, the best in town
Bet you a fiver - oh that bun is barely fresh
Kids now falling sick - while their doctors frown
Green backs talking – they don’t give a nickel
Have our bags packed
‘Cause the Croc is
Look out Sneaky Croc is
Sneaky Croc’s back
Back in town
EPILOGUE
Oh these outlets they keep spreading far and wide
In a hurry, they just can’t wait
Food so tasty, don’t you wonder ‘bout it all
No time to ponder it’ll make you late
Good old family name – so familiar dear
Look out folks for, deceit and lies
Another archway - around the corner
Now that Croc is stopping by
Look out OLD Croc is back
Footnote:
On our recent visit to Japan I noticed the proliferation of Fast Food outlets. It is such a pity to see a country that was once so fastidious with their traditionally healthy diets and that of their kids, changing their lifestyle and falling prey to corporate fast food giants. Even the kids are now embracing this way of life.
It’s sad to see traditional food outlets also losing their livelihood as the trend takes over.
Acknowledgement:
My deepest appreciation to Chris Green on agreeing to spare some of his wonderful talent and collaborating with me to bring you this arrangement.
Thank you so much Chris.
Copyright © Maria Williams & Chris Green | 3 June 2017
Truth is but an empty thing
a word that twists and turns
Where some people say it sings
others claim it burns
And when it seems it’s spoken
so many will believe
While some will take it as a lie
in thoughts that they conceive
"I speak the truth", "I speak the truth"
You can hear all around
but everyone speaks differently
So where can it be found?
Wherever you may find it
there still will be a few
Who do not like the truth you say
and toss it back at you
Catch it, bend and smash it
then throw the word away
Compassion, friendship, gentleness
Those are the words that stay
A true friend will believe you
without the need for proof
For friendship knows no boundaries
when it is built on truth
***
Augustus 11, 2017
Copyright © Chris Green and Darren White
An inner earthquake rattles him again
as the fiery sun dips in the horizon
Can he too, hide his halo as such?
Closing his eyes as he folds in his wings,
wishing he could take it off
He trembles...must he embrace darkness to know of love?
Sun breaks over the mountain range,
her obsidian skin absorbing the light.
If her body is like a canvas of night,
could she reach within herself,
beyond the horns and hooves
and find her own hidden sunrise, deep inside?
The darkness is more reassuring
than he could have ever imagined-
something to truly weigh his goodness against,
in a finely-tuned balancing act.
And as the stars can help guide a lost soul,
he too possesses a true north within.
Oddly enough, she welcomes the radiance,
such a stark contrast to what she has been used to-
rays drip into her like ink diffuses in water,
a momentary burst of chaotic brilliance,
followed by an even stillness.
She cannot escape it, becoming a part of her.
The rooster crows for the third time,
so he opens his eyes to this daybreak,
emerald mountains shimmering in the morning light.
Through abysmal depths, he arises and now realizes
Darkness comes as the light falls, it is inevitable...
yet Light also takes over that darkness.
With the thickening dusk,
clouds turn into amethyst ribbons.
The day's warmth thawed a part of her
that was kept frozen and dead for eons.
Now, she would do everything in her power
to keep it pulsing--to keep it alive.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Upon watching them, sheer fascination takes over....
Even though these two are on different paths,
they had both achieved a similar transformation,
as if neither was an agent for one side, or the other.
Not any longer.
And how their auras shone
....in perfect equilibrium.
**082011**
Opposites: angel/daemon; sunrise/sunset :)
I painted a desert in shades of my past
Muted in worry and tears
Granules of sand through a cracked hourglass
Falling in spite of the fears
A range of grey mountains all covered in snow
Cold like my feelings inside
Bordered the desert where nothing would grow
Disguised the volcano I hide
Arid reflections of times long before
Searing the pain to the bone
Lost in a dune now forfeiting the shore
Sinking head first and alone
Painful and clearly my brush strokes unveiled
hidden tears, years of neglect
Slowly emerging in painting, detailed,
hurt I could never connect
Shadows in beige blending in with the scene
heated emotions that bleed
Tell me, I’m pleading what does this all mean
merely an answer I need
I painted emotions in shades of my life
crafting subconscious relief.
Not understanding how my palet knife
changed my despair to belief
Landscapes of sorrow in off canvas glaze
Gather my colors to be
Filled with the beauty of soon to come days
Waiting unpainted for me
***
Augustus 26, 2017
Copyright © Chris Green and Darren White
In silent hours till nightfall
When shadows grow long before fading
Heart thumps, a deep longing,
a soft knocking on a door still closed
Shy and introverted
As if saying: if I knock too hard
will I knock you over
and send you away forever?
I listen quietly as moon light
creates lonely silhouettes
on the far wall where your picture hung,
a faded rectangle, bleached by evasive desires
wondering who could be knocking
as I have been lost for so long,
to be found again is as frightening,
as it is dream-like
Fear to open the rusty door
to a heart, starving to find you.
Caught in a lullaby of moonlight
louder than fear can sing
Reunite me with you, hammer
your imprint in me, on the
bare walls of my loving soul
where you still live
And I hear the breathing
in a once empty corridor of numbers
random order, tarnished brass digits,
above patterned carpeting
foot worn and tattered,
I have heard them all, never once
stopping at mine, the one without,
unassuming, invisible to most,
slowly opening
Near the defensive rectangled door
I sit fending the creaking,
of the almost lost voice that's mine.
And while I search on the worn wall for
fringed marks of years past, you enter.
I find in your face the wrinkles
of time, wondrous ripples in a soft smile
And I am lost in you.
***
Copyright © Chris Green and Darren White
May 3, 2017
The tree next to my window
Waves with its leaves all day
As if it thinks I'm lonely
Or does it want to play?
Its branches create shadows
That dance across the room
I wonder if it notices
My smile full in bloom
The small birds living in it
Sing music to its dance
From dawn to dusk I listen
Smile at their bird-romance
And then I see the butterflies
With colors bright and true
Reds and greens and violets
Mixed in with shades of blue
Don't think my bed is boring
I never feel depressed
For I just need to look outside
To know that I am blessed
***
June 7, 2017
Copyright © Chris Green and Darren White
Just Chris
Nothing very special here,
I’m young as old can be
Grey is just a state of mind
that’s come to set me free
Laughing at the future
as I’m tearing down the walls
Standing on a corner
with my cardboard sign and all
It reads, “I’ll work for poetry”
although that is a lie
Just a silly message sent
as you are driving by
Some insist a heart of gold
does beat inside my chest
I am merely but a man
who hopes to pass the test
Tapping on a keyboard
placing verses on this place
Wishing you to read them,
though some you may erase
I always try to wear a smile
yet often times I frown
Happiness is happiness
but sadness gets me down
Know that I am very rich
though I don’t have a dime
My fortune is the people here
that I call friends of mine
A worn out shirt is what you see,
a half cocked smirking smile
Fraying on the edges fast
and going out of style
I dream too much, I know it’s true
these visions that I see
Hope that when my life is through
you will remember me
But if you don’t, well that’s ok
my tombstone will dismiss
Carved in stone for all to see
the words will read “Just Chris”
A DINNER INVESTMENT (for Eve)
My husband Chris Adams loves to wine and dine my needs
In the most expensive places, one can eat.
Arriving in LIMO style
A humble waiter greets
After I viewed the menu I replied,
"Hun I am ready to order."
A T-bone steak -- fully cook the meat.
At our table, walked a gorgeous snake-eyed women
She leaned over my husband's seat
Approaching Chris with a big wet kiss
I stomped on my husband's foot
I gave him the look, of all looks
She slithered with her tongue in Adams ear
She whispers
"Go to that hotel and relax, I need some cash"
With one stare I yelled, "Chris how dare you cheat!"
"I had enough, I want a divorce MR. ADAMS!"
I reach over to slap him,
He replies, "She is my mistress Bath-Sheba my dear EVE!"
"I do not love her."
"I understand if you want a divorce!" Mr. Adams replied.
"But, remember, no more furs, luxury suite,
Winters in Barbados,
Summers in Tuscany."
"Infinity or Lexus, and first class plane seats."
"Forget about the Yacht Club."
"Party by the swimming pool, that land a hundred feet."
"It is up to you my Kitty Skat Eve to give it all up."
"You decide if these diamonds you want to keep."
Without thinking of taking a leap.
I saw Mr. Adams business partner Cain with a Jezebel in his arms.
I ask my husband Chris in a small peep.
"Do not tell me that Cain commits Adultery too?"
"Cain's blonde looks really cheap as if she works the street."
"Well, our mistress is prettier and looks real sweet."
"Honey, our mistress Bath-Sheba is worth the keep."
"Mr. Adams tonight you can call me Steve and not Eve,
Whatever it takes to satisfy your needs plus my gold lust!"
**************************************
(The moral of the story is what some Eve's
will do to keep their investment, I mean Adam's.)
A joke and dedication to Chris D. Aechtner
For THE Eve in Eden* (Contest) *
The morning aches like bricks today
And every step I take, my feet
Feel entangled in wild weed
I will not leave, I think I'll stay
A weight as much a mountains thick
Upon my shoulders burnt and bare
Entombed inside, I do not share
Alone I bend beneath the brick
I reach the wooden chair outside
And sit... and sigh... a kitten's meow
She wants some food, I don't know how...
She doesn't care, stares hungry-eyed
I watch her chase a butterfly
Her spirit reaches out to me
When suddenly a smile I see
Upon my face, I don’t know why
I bring my coffee to the chair
To watch her play so fancy free
The mist lifts from my mind, a bee
Hums summer songs in morning air
It’s now I find my problems so
Are few are farther in between
Enlightened by this morning scene
I feel I’m free to let it go
***
Augustus 11, 2017
Copyright © Chris Green and Darren White
I reminisce, I miss
My beloved friend Chris
If only just once more
We could stroll ‘round the block
On evenings beneath starry skies
Chris sang, “Strangers in the Night”
But we were far from strangers
For 18 years we were like siblings
Inseparable
Traveling
Laughing
Sharing a love for football
Working side by side
Broadcasting state news
Chris drove me to the doctor
When I was afraid to go
Then stayed in my guest room
During his two bouts with cancer
Dad wanted me to find love again
“Why can’t you find someone like Chris?” he asked
But I’d already found him
Platonic, but strong, was our love
Now on lonely evenings
I search my heart for memories
So dear was our time together
Sixteen years later, I still can’t believe he’s gone
I picture him with health and humor
Sharing endless conversations
To this day
My beloved friend Chris
I reminisce, I miss
*March 22 2021.
For James Edward Lee’s “I Reminisce, I Miss” contest
Words he formed.
Shells, pebbles, sorted by color
Straight grey lines
Curved watery blue
Rosy dots
Sand dollar phrases
drifting, floating, resting on the shore
Gathered decorative patterns
garland and seaweed
Expressed feelings
hand dug gully around
his small world filled with
salty water
And he lay down
safely on his island
Awaiting the surf, the tide,
pure white ripples of hope
to wash away the pain
Words he formed
with his fingers
folding air around
simmering sun
finally realizing
his thoughts had meaning
as nary a cloudy day
could be seen since…
He sent out his heart
It flew for him
Sent out his soul, surfing
in rhythmic coastal stanzas
lapping a lazy shore
measuring the distance
beyond a vertical eclipse
where water meets air
and the sky merges with his dreams
With eyes closed
his horizontal form
sails through time
closing chapters
and opening pages,
dog-eared memories in numerical order
At the count down of
5 he lands ashore
4 drapes his sea-green garments around self
3 gathers dollars, dignity
2 opens his eyes
1 thanks his therapist for the session
0 leaves, with a sense of regret.
***
June 16, 2017
Copyright © Chris Green and Darren White
There's a guy on the Soup called Chris
Captain Hook or Peter Pan is his wish
Boy his Blogs are so good
By this Canadian dude
His information sure is the Biz
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/poetry-soup-16.php
One night this darkness will end life
with clouds in damp fog without stars
and a moon dressed in tatters screaming
at feet scratched on pebbles in low-tide
rough water to sway one and stumble
Maelstroms twist, turn and swallow fish
in an icy-cold winterland with rickety wrecks
Stranded with thundering crashes ashore
leaving flotsam resentful on soggy sand
The roar of firebolts raging around
And the sky will fall in guarded shadows,
streaks painted in dripping revelations,
shades of nevermore patina
eroding encrusted thoughts into gaping holes,
swallowing what is left of the dream
The artisan's hand glares down from the sky
Gouache in thick streaks in tangerine rage
A knife sticking out scraping clouds
Unstable equilibrium shakes easel unnoticed
Genius vision or prediction of doomsday
When the unthinkable, unfathomable happens,
in silent sunbeam glory a single bloom forms
Tiny roots ruminate a desolate landscape,
gently removing soil from fractured stone,
caressing sorrows in springtime whispers
Dark clouds now cast warming farewells
as blue sky canopies float like streamers,
singing in harmony with endless beliefs that,
one night this darkness will end life,
until dawn’s resurgence is reborn
***
February 3, 2017
Copyright ©Chris Green and Darren White
It rains today
I need my boots and coat
before it goes away
I have a little boat
No sun is seen
But that is quite okay
My boat is tangerine
We’ll sail away the day
My boat and I
We need more friends outside
Under this pouring sky
Come out to sail. Don't hide!
It is just rain
Get wet for a while
There’s no need to complain
Let’s float with a smile
It's puddle fun
We jump and scream and fall
And make our rain boots run
Until our mommies call
In from the storm
Is where we’ll have to go
Where we can get so warm
Cause, mommy tells us so
I'm dripping wet
My boat stands on the sill
He's hoping now I bet
That very soon we will
Walk out the door
Start playing once again
Floating off once more
Beneath the pouring rain
It's warm in here
My orange boat dreams deep
As captain I must steer
But first I need to sleep
I’m too groggy
No time left to borrow
Nodding of while hoping
It is raining tomorrow : )
***
Copyright © Chris Green and Darren White
November 2, 2017