Best Flotsam And Jetsam Poems
While the shadows fall so widely
we shall embrace a moment
for a moment will fill
all the shells empty; holding nothing
but time—days n' days
without love
The wedding procession covered
you in flowers and white
floating through the candle light
dragging crisp white fingers lightly
through lilies fair
While the shadows fall so widely
and the candle light twirled through your hair
Twist a finger, twist a lily
While the shadows fall so widely
Blush the sun rubbed rose cheeks
lift a veil, let the sun shine off your green eyes
While the shadows fall so widely
You were left a drift
your beauty beyond our realm
of beauty
While the shadows fall so widely
Lift the veil from mine eyes tonight
as goes the cloud from under your star
I see
While the shadows fall so widely
your foot astray touched the water
and you bloomed embracing me
While the shadows fall so widely
we shall embrace a moment
for a moment will fill
all the shells empty; holding nothing
but time—days n' days
without love
The sea was calm on that fateful day
The crew keen and eager to get on their way
The cargo was loaded, all men were on board
The captain at the helm was standing tall
They raised the anchor with a mighty cry
And bade farewell with a heartfelt sigh
Leaving their loved ones with a fond embrace
Not yet knowing the perils they faced
They raced through the waters with rapid speed
The sails billowing out as the captain took heed
Of the clouds building up looking heavy and mean
Would they make it to safety and land unseen
But the seas became heavier, their faces were ashen
When the captain gave the order with gusto and passion
“Toss the cargo to the sea, we need to make light
Or we’ll not make it through the long, dark night”
They threw the cargo over the side
With speed and haste and nowhere to hide
But still they were sinking with no hope in sight
Of land, or man, or a guiding light
And in the still of the morning when all was calm
While the waves rolled in under the coconut palm
All that was found on the distant shore
Was flotsam and jetsam from a ship no more
Irrelevant boyhood arcane flotsam and jetsam...
Impossible mission to jettison
nonetheless laughter iz best medicine
more enjoyable with vignette aye fabricate
(think swifty taylor harried style)
ah... voila - metaphorical light bulb Edison
would appreciate.
Martha Groff a classmate
the youngest of four progeny
born approximately nine months after late
February/early March nineteen fifty nine
born December third
later same year, I speculate,
(why superfluous tidbit stuck in me pate
I'm noggin ha understand why nor postulate
rhyme or reason only ejaculate,
(albeit not prematurely) afore said date
inexplicable retention factoid remains
thus attempt to (poetically) communicate
and perhaps even entertain far fetched
scenario, where she responds, and I officiate
as designated dogfather toward fete,
perhaps birth of grandchild
thanks in part to manufacturer and affiliate
of friggin robust Groff seeds to active
courtesy after parents did consummate -
biological reproduction in utero
accomplished, completed, kickstarted
miraculous biological fate
begetting above named girl, I felt passionate
attended same school as yours truly late
nineteen sixties/early seventies,
and with exemplary grades did graduate
with honors Henry Kline Boyer Elementary
sometime thereafter, I lost sight
how her je nais sais quois presence did captivate
a presumption, she lived with birth family
at 306 Level Road and occupied residence
prior to ninety sixty eight
with two older sisters and a brother
if memory serves me correct,
cuz details sketchy, thus I will fabricate
ordinarily pathetically lame anecdote,
a pecker yule your faint recall state
with... ahem... great balls of fizzled fire,
this then puny lad, I swear to dog I intimate...
suddenly memory akin to blank slate
hence... fill in blank space,
how yours truly did capitulate!
There is a place inside
where the crime and grime hides
All thoughts and fails lie lifeless hand in hand
In the shadow of lies told
darkness unseen
knees cradled
head bent
furtively looking up
in fear that darkness
will feed upon
this dead atom
My make shift soul
Trapped in flotsam skin and jetsam bone
Never felt the warmth
always joined never part
There is a place inside
were the real me resides
Do you strive to be poetic,
while forgetting to be a poet
Your words when forced an epitaph
to what you never said
(Villanova Pennsylvania: August, 2020)