Best Sacramento Poems
When the season of splendor sprinkles
the scent of sprightliness,
when the koels and kingfishers sing hymns of hope
and merrily waltz their wings of chartreuse dreams, and
when from her day dream, my muse emerges in ecstasy,
I dip my quill in vivid shades of ebullient sacramento ink.
When in a gentle stroke, the first ray of the golden prince
caresses the myrtle terrain of earth - his beloved princess,
and she wakes up from her dark moss slumber
blushing and swinging in neon shades of love
in a moment of delight as she becomes
a pinnacle of rustic beauty
sparkling and swaying in shamrock hues, and
when the harmonious harp of the buzzing bees
wafts in the air as they suck sweet nectar
from the brilliant blooms adorning
my muse’s verdant malachite rockery
adding vivid lime vibrance to the hustle and bustle
of the grassy gorgeous flower beds dispensing
the aroma of exuberant pistachio thoughts of my reasoning -
and becomes a harbinger of hope for my creative quill,
I passionately let my avocado ink
to pen its inspiring pearls of perception.
When my muse ponders
on the fragility of life fraught with
hindrances and hiatuses for progress,
yet wonders on how life advances
and ascends in the rungs of optimism -
like buds finding way to bloom
even in a pit of rocky soil:
my ink blossoms in the tender glow
of my lilac dreams of love and peace.
~A Poet Cherishes Her Freedom~
People jogging, laughing riding gleaming bicycles.
Some serenely picnicking by the lake on thick, green grass.
Parking lots full of happy people in stores,
Mothers Day looked more like the Fourth of July!
I was so very blessed to see this, I plain wanted to cry.
Instead,with joy I cheered, and with glee and relief, sighed!
Nobody at my daughter's was behind their couch, with masks in hiding.
Children outside on their beloved sidewalks, with tricycles riding.
We all said grace and ate in our normal, familial spaces.
With faith in God first, before obnoxious social disancing graces!
The major hospital parking lot, I never saw it so empty.
As my part of California, is the land of His graces, aplenty.
Plenty of freedom here, we are no longer living in media lies and exaggerated fear.
As we do hold the rights in our Constitution, far more dear!
People are river rafting in the Sacramento River.
It gives freedom crushers a very cold shiver!
However, our Governor is unhappy with our lowering death rate.
His goal is that we live in constant fear, so only he can control our fate?
(Not going to happen, mate!)
I guess he does not know American History well?
He thinks he is a school principal and we run whenever he rings his unconstitutional bell.
Get a grip, Governor Newsom....dearest!
For you see, we hold our freedoms, forever first and nearest!
May 11, 2020
7:30pm PST
L.A.
.
They say the city of angels
Is run by demons
Like many other cities
But I’m not sure
Riding my Harley
Through Hollywood and Vine
I see the signs
But still have Santa Monica still on my mind
.
Bought mementos
In Sacramento
And in Malibu, I almost lost my mind
In Rodeo drive I shopped
Until I dropped
Had a room in the Beverly Hills hotel
A place I know well
And in The Brown Derby I dined
.
L.A do you love me
As much
As I love you
They say in Hollywood
The streets are patched with gold
But I’ve seen the other side
The down and outs
And the Hollywood dolls sell their hides
.
Money speaks in tinsel town
And the rich and famous
Come out when the sun goes down
.
But for the homeless
On the sidewalks and highways
It’s just another night
To fight to survive
And stay alive
.
Been to Burbank and Oakland
And on Venice beach
I played my guitar on the sand
And watched the sun go down
As me and my partner
Walked hand in hand
.
L.A do you love me
As much
As I love you
They say in Hollywood
The streets are patched with gold
But I’ve seen the other side
The down and outs
And the Hollywood dolls sell their hides
.
Why I love L.A so much I’m not sure
But the more I visit
I just love it more.
.
Peter Dome©2020.
Mississippi.
Mostly mild, wet, and muddy in winter,
but also chilly, cold, and sometimes snowy.
We feasted on ice cycles from tin or asphalt rooftops;
We screamed and yelled as we fought each other with snowballs; With patience and craftsman-like precision, we made snowmen as mothers watched with smiles, making us the best tasting ice cream.
Late nights and early mornings, we waited to hear from the newscast.
“The roads are too bad, and for the sake of safety, no school today”.
Such words over the radio or television are the only ones that mattered.
But it was not all fun and games in the Northern Mississippi Dixie land.
Rain, snow, sleet, or sunshine, there were always outdoor chores to do.
There was wood to cut and to bring in with the coals to keep us warm.
There were hungry pigs, chickens, a cow, and sometimes goats to feed.
Chicago.
One day out near the O’Hare International Airport, my feet nearly froze.
That was when I was driving a VW Bus that was fun to drive until it got cold.
Let the truth be told, Chicago is not just a Windy city by the lake; it’s icy cold. I had my Chicago share of winters in the ‘70’s.
In Chicago, with hardened and freezing bones,
on short days or long ones, life always goes on.
It was so cold that I could hardly walk.
It was so cold that I could barely talk.
It was so cold, yet nothing seemed to halt.
It was so cold that my whole body would shake, and my ears ached in pain as if they would break.
If New York City never sleeps, Chicago never stops.
In the dead of winter, people on State Street continues to shop.
Mayor Daily’s city kept the streets clear, and the buses kept moving.
California.
This year our heating system was first used on Saturday evening, November 7. It seemed that summer forgot to cool down and depart, or even stall; but ran head-on into fall. My trees are still very green, and the leaves are slowly falling because Winter is calling. It’s Sunny California in the Sacramento Region, and Winter is just around the corner. For a few years now, the rainy winter season has produced much heat, but little rain. Our hope is that this winter will be different for a change; perhaps cold and wet.
11102015PS
It happened without any action on my part.
All I had to do was just say, "Yes, I will go".
Moreover, it was not my dream, but my friend's.
However, from a child, I have been an avid sports fan.
My games of choice, and my childhood fantasies
were baseball, basketball, and later on, football.
From a child, I had pictured myself on the field of dreams playing baseball. When reality set in, I was content to see myself in the stands.
In 1974, I attended my first MLB game in Chicago. In 1984, I attended a Harlem Globe Trotters game in Oakland, Ca.
In or about 1990, I attended my first NBA game in Sacramento, Ca.
That left one major American sport to go, and it was a long-shot.
In fact, such a feat was buried deep in the bottom of my bucket list.
There were certainly other things placed in a higher priority, but life
happens, and so often we have very little to do with the happenings.
So in 2019, I was invited by a friend to attend an NFL game in K.C., Mo.,
and after a Greyhound Bus, an Amtrak Train, a rented car, and nearly a
4000 mile round trip, that game became the most recent item kicked off
my bucket list. In a very real sense, there were two buckets in one, shared by friends. My life's venture came as a gift. Who knew?
111220PSCtest, What Have You Kicked Off On Your Bucket List,
Chantelle Anne Cooke. 2P
There once was a youth from Sacramento
Who loved to spice his dish with pimento
His friends thought it worth a laugh
To spike for fun the carafe
They all left quick with no memento
AP: 3rd place 2020
In the saloon Tom, Jenna and Tania were talking about Christmas week
They wanted to spread some cheer for the good folks of Soup Creek
Tom thought Milton would make a good Santa and hoped he'd agree
Their meeting was rudely interrupted with sounds of a noisy melee.
They went outside and Ranger David was looking very bemused
In handcuffs was a scruffy individual who was looking very confused
And had mean beady eyes with long hair and a long unkempt beard
He was shouting obscenities waving his arms and acting very weird.
Just then Sherrif Koplin appeared and asked David what was wrong
David replied "I think he's on drugs or he's been in the sun too long
I was over by Calypso Canyon on patrol, when I came across him
He pulled a gun on me but it jammed, and said his name was Jim"
Sheriff Koplin said "he's scaring the kids we'd best get him inside
Then I'll telegraph Doctor Keller to come and get him certified
I'll put him in the jailhouse for his own safety and for ours too
Maybe he needs a spell in an asylum that's probably long overdue.
The overland stage arrived next morning, Doctor Keller had arrived
It had been a long sleepless night for the Sheriff but he'd survived
Because the unruly prisoner had shouted obscenities all night long
And for a man to behave in that way something was seriously wrong.
Dr Keller had brought an assistant along, who looked like an assassin
The doctor spoke briefly with the Sheriff then to the jail they went in
The docs assistant had a straightjacket and rope; tools of the trade
A crowd had gathered to listen to the racket that was being made.
They came out half an hour later with the patient who was now secure
But in the scuffle had badly soiled himself and stunk of fresh manure
Doctor Keller approached the towns people and he had this to say
"This poor wretched man is quite sick and we'll be taking him away"
The overland stage then arrived in town and all three climbed inside
A journey to Sacramento Asylum was about a five and a half hour ride
The driver shouted and cracked his whip and they were soon on their way
"Good riddance to you " said Sheriff Koplin "don't come back any day.
written on 22nd November 2022
(Historical train-ride on the first Transcontinental Railroad in 1870 from Omaha to Ogden aboard the Union Pacific Railroad) © 2009 (Jim Sularz)
Morning breaks again, we chug out to Bryan and Carter,
at Fort Bridger, lives Chief Wash-a-kie.
Another steep grade, snow-capped mountains to see,
down below, there’s Bear Valley Lake.
Near journey’s end, some eighty miles to go,
at Evanston’s rail shops, and hotel.
Leaving Wahsatch behind, where there’s the grandest divide,
with fortressed bluffs, and canyon walls.
A chasm’s ahead, Hanging Rock’s slightly bent,
a thrilling ride, rushing past Witches’ Cave.
A lot more to see, from Pulpit Rock to Echo City,
to a tall and majestic tree.
It’s a picnic stop, and a place to celebrate,
marching Legions, that crossed a distant trail.
Proud immigrants, Mormons and Civil War veterans,
it’s here, they spiked a thousand miles of rail!
We’re now barreling down Weber Canyon, shooting past Devil’s Slide,
there’s a paradise, just beyond Devil’s Gate.
Cold frothy torrents from Weber River, splash up in our faces,
and spill west, to the Great Salt Lake.
It’s a long ways off, from the hills and bluffs of Omaha,
to a place called – “God’s promised land.”
And it took dreaming, scheming, guts and sinew,
to carve this road with calloused hands.
From Ogden, we’re heading west to Sacramento,
we’ll forge ahead on CP steam.
And when we get there, we’ll always remember –
Stops Along an American Dream.
“Nothing like it in the World,”
east and west a nation hailed.
All aboard at every stop,
along the first Transcontinental Rail!
(The End)
"Young, skinny, wiry fellows needed!" want ads and posters stated!
(Thus the Pony Express to deliver the western mail was created!)
"You mustn't weigh over 125 pounds nor be over eighteen years of age.
We'll provide a horse and saddle - 25 bucks a week will be your wage!"
One of the fearless founders, Mr. Majors, was a very religious man,
And he had 'em take a solemn oath even before they began,
Swearin' not to gamble, cuss er git drunk er they'd be fired without delay!
He gave each of 'em a Bible and sent 'em on their perilous way!
They galloped frum St Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, Californy and back,
With a gun, their Bible and twenty pounds uv mail in their saddle pack.
They had a horn they blew to alert the stationmaster to saddle another horse!
'Twas the latest and greatest system 'til the invention by Mr. Morse!
They kept the mail movin' day and night through rain, sleet and snow,
Greeted now and then by disgruntled Indians and their twangin' bow!
They crossed the Rocky Mountains, arid deserts and Great Plains.
To avoid such rascals as Jesse James, they took the greatest pains!
This great experiment lasted about 18 months and gradually fizzled out,
When the telegraph and "iron hoss" took over that treacherous route.
But durin' its short-lived life it did the job the founders designed it for.
'Twas just another chapter of American history consigned to western lore!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(© All Rights Reserved)
Homeless On One Stormy Night
In the winter of 1984, I accepted a pastoral position in San Francisco.
The salary was not sufficient to live in the City by The Bay. So I found it necessary to obtain a second job. This relationship worked
well for two years. In the late spring of 1986, the church decided to
go in a different direction.
Losing a substantial part of my income meant that my family could
no longer live in San Francisco. So I kept my second job and moved my
family to Sacramento. We only had one car which meant that a daily
commute was not an option, not to mention the cost of such a venture.
I found a room with a dear friend and spent three nights a week with him.
I was home four nights a week.
After many months, my friend's brother needed a place to stay; so I thanked
my friend for his generosity and moved out of his home and into another friend's 50-foot boat. In a real sense, I was houseless but not boatless. I was alone
on a boat docked at Point Richmond across the Bay from my job. Here, I spent
the winter 0f 1988/'89. It was a short stay, but the memories are enduring.
There was no music, but I certainly experienced one rock and roll stormy night.
By early morning and my time to go to work, it was still dark and the power was out. I was afraid to walk along the dark walkway for fear of being blown into the water. So I exited the boat and crawled across the walkway, making sure to dodge all the fallen electric wires. Thank God I survived and went to work.
My homeless experience was much longer than these few lines. My lessons
of life learned about storms, about God's grace, and about friendships are
enduring. Yes. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
10252016 PS Contest, Being Homeless, The Seeker
The sky was sunny, the temperature was mild, and the wind was calm and mild. Tornadoes are known to rarely occur here, but the winds can get rather gusty. There is no hurricane season here, but the summer heat can often be rather terrorizing. In these parts, there is a rainy season in winter that often produces very little rain. Earthquakes are widely common in California, but not so much in this valley region.
As I was saying, the sunny sky had created such awesome beauty on a late spring day. As I drove home, I looked up and into the west and observed a sunset in this month of May. I tell you, the bright clouds nesting in the western sky is enough to take your breath away.
Clouds are said to be the 'Dust of God’s Feet'. Perhaps today he portrayed his feet being comforted in the setting sun. The clouds were snowy white and perhaps, they too were staring at their own beautiful sight.
San Francisco once embraced us with beautiful views and captured us with the flight of kites. Whether renting or buying in the City by the Bay, the views were always a part of the price. Clouds? I don’t remember clouds there, but most days, after the fog, turned sunny and nice.
Where I live presently, there’s no Golden Gate Bridge, no super curving street, but there are views. Yes, I miss the fog and the foghorns, and I wish we had the cool San Francisco chills on those hot summer days. But no, I wouldn’t take anything for the cloud views that never cease to overwhelm me.
Yes, my mind sometimes flows to the city of hills and chills and the views from Twin Peaks. But I like Sacramento with views of the High Sierras, and I like the clouds I saw today.
06012015PSContest, Sky Poetry, Anthony Slausen
Contest entry 101620, Old Poems, Free Verse (003)
Sponsored by: Poet Destroyer A. 8P
Within a 14 year period, I went from a Dixie delta farm
To a Chicago asphalt jungle, to a dairy land farm in Wisconsin.
From dairy land back to the jungle and from there, I returned to
Dixie land. From there I pushed westward to the streets of
San Francisco and on into the central valley of Sacramento
Not far from where someone looked towards the foothills and said,
"There's gold in them there hills". They did find gold in those hills,
But I have lived in this gold-fevered land for 33 years, and gold is not what I have found here.
I have lived in these United States from the south near the Gulf
Of Mexico, to the north near the Great Lakes, and on westward
Some three to four blocks from the Pacific Ocean. I have been
Rewarded with good people everywhere I have lived, but none
Have I been acquainted with more than these among whom I live
And worship.
I tell you, I have found a land rich with most loving and beautiful
People ever I have seen. They were not discovered on a street corner
Nor at a place of employment, but scores of them have been found
In the sanctuaries of churches.
In my church a few years ago, the speaker said, "The best people
In the world are those sitting in the pew next to you". I am fortunate
To be among such people, and I could not agree more. My wife and
I were with two of them today. I could say more about them, but
Two words best describe our experiences with them. They give
Themselves MAGNANIMOUSLY and love LAVISHLY.
092719PoSoup
It never brought me fame or fortune;
But still I’m content with the path I chose.
I never rose to high positions or seats of power;
But I’m happy to have influenced the lives of others.
At the pearly gates, I expect to hear God say, “Well done”.
Make no mistake about it, imperfection is in everyone’s DNA.
Second guessing has its place, but need not attach itself to us. I work hard to get it right, not wanting to redo it a second time.
Sometimes, on certain matters, I dwell too long thinking it through.
Though I tend to investigate, and my due diligence is above average; still, I failed miserably by making my first new car a Chevrolet Chevette. I was very young and inexperienced in the world of purchasing cars. Fortunately, it was indeed a mistake I never have repeated.
First of all, I needed a small economy car that was easy on the gas. However, my little blue Chevy was sluggish and did not like the hills of San Francisco. For seven years, it was literally an uphill climb until I moved my family to the flat lands of Sacramento.
Yes, I bought other four cylinders cars; but they had a lot more pep and power. And yes, although my little blue car cost me $1000 down and several years of payments, I learned my lesson well. And although it served me for some ten years, still I ask, “What was I thinking?”
06302016 PS Contest, Your Biggest Mistake
Thanking God, His most graciousness, I am all healed.
Totally at peace, my grateful body now feels.
Crushed knee, thigh broken in two pieces.
I howled uncontrollably,with no ceases.
Trauma center,six hour surgery.
Hospital, heaven on earth!
Food for royalty.
Kindness galore.
Perfection!
Tribute to UC Davis Trauma Center, Sacramento, California
Thank you, miracle workers!
Pangie Romios
Note to poets. Horrendous fall in November. Took 6 months to heal.
How great the ability to walk is! It feels akin to flying.
Thanks to all of you who wrote, read my poetry and supported me.
And a first class family, who stood by me, on this long road to
recovery.
All of you are angels!
5/21/2022
I have lived in three out of the four regions in America.
My experiences in some of them have been less than civil.
Issues in life, good and bad, may linger with us for life.
Stories that plague one's beginnings need not inhibit one's end.
Shielded from destructive effects in life, I did rise and thrive.
Satisfaction saturated my entire being
After we arrived at our new residence in '86.
Community spirit was there, alive and well,
Rendering a sense of family with great neighbors.
Anticipation of a better life for our kids was paramount.
Most experiences in this Northern California city were positive.
Every thought of leaving her filled my heart with grief and sadness.
Never had I lived for so long(35yrs.) in one community and loved it.
To every family member and friend, I say, "I brought you with me."
Of this I am sure: They say that home is where your story began; but
where I was born never felt like home to me. Like
nowhere else, Sacramento felt like home to me.
051223PS