bear sweet my coat and wear it best
its arms from me around your chest
don’t weigh my spirit dark and dead
I’ll be e’er-woven ‘tween each thread
its bound’ries bind you deep the night
those shimmered stars your only light
so when you ache for cold’s reprieves
my love waits warm within its sleeves
time might have brought a fade or stains
but years will show that warmth remains
left o’er from times I’d claimed it’s clutch
when we’ve shared hugs or just a touch
you’ll know I’m there and haunt it still
soft scents ‘just mine’ deep in its twill
to knit your thoughts to our dear start
like charms have knit you to my heart
our ‘goodbye’ words I’ll make my last
but hold me midst this frock, and fast
when mem’ries fail to shape my face
saves sweet, this coat, our last …
embrace.
Copyright © 2025 Gregory Richard Barden
do you want a dog hair coat
will six pounds a day be enough?
my giant dog sheds so much
you can come to my house and vaccuum
and collect enough to make yourself wall-to-wall carpet
a couch throw, a coat, and a sweater
There will be times that are gloomy
cloud covered in grey
when days are looking dingy
nothings going your way.
Do you rise to the occasion
or fold under the weight
feels like walls are closing in
a psychological state.
Break free from the darkness
and the joy that it taints
better days shall appear
like a fresh coat of paint.
l saw him looking as l was walking by
and in those days, l was really shy
and my friend said 'did you see that gorgeous guy'
and l said no....and asked her why
she said he was definitely looking at you
l said no, that cant be true
for she was the prettiest of us two
he said l was the one, and that he knew
l was sweet 16 and walked on by
he was 17 and a handsome guy
he was standing at the gate of our local pub
he was waiting for his lift , to the football club
l was sweet 16 and didn't wonder about
the blue eye blonde guy, who gave a shout
it must be for her , she's prettier than me
he said 'do you want a coffee' ? there's ones near here
l said l don't think so....my friend said great
he said maybe next week, and he'd bring his mate
l was sweet 16 and l fell in love
with the handsome guy , waiting for his training club
we married at 18 on an Autumn day
and we kept our promises , come what may
l asked once 'why pick me' and not the other
he said l wore a blue suede coat........... and its his favorite colour lol
The bright sunshine signalled a new
dawn,
Lazily, I stretched and yawned,
Not truly ready to face the day,
As I looked out of my window, my
neighbour shouted, it’s beautiful
today.
On a thin and fragile branch,
I noticed a Robin was resting his
feet,
A charmer he was , and to my eyes,
he was a treat,
His colourful coat was white, brown
and red,
Seeing him made me feel glad I had
gotten out of bed.
With his melodiously sweet trill,
the leaves on the trees seem to
flutter with his song,
Notes rise and fall and with the
gentle breeze, the branches swayed
in a rhythmic dance,
His tune filled the Spring air, and
not long, a female came along,
Witnessing their interactions was a
beautiful moment for me. Sometimes
in life, unexpectedly beautiful things
do happen by chance.
by Zyrool
A silver shield—
not polished,
but burnished with time,
like moonlight caught in stone.
This is not a banner of conquest,
but of endurance.
At its center: a fox,
mid-step, not snarling—
alert, alive,
the patron saint of disappearing
without being lost.
She knows the back ways,
the soft ground,
the difference between retreat
and wisdom.
Beneath her paws:
wild thyme and yarrow,
not roses—never roses.
I want the plants that heal quietly,
that grow in stubborn places,
whose roots remember drought
and bloom anyway.
Two crossed quills above her head:
one black,
one gold.
Words as weapons,
words as balm.
My shield is etched with stories
that cut and comfort both.
Colors?
Deep forest green—
for stillness.
Ink blue—
for the sea I never stop carrying in my chest.
And a single streak of ember orange—
foxfire,
the moment just before change,
or flight,
or truth.
And the motto, curling beneath in worn script:
“Not loud, but lasting.”
Let them come with their noise.
This is the crest of the patient,
the watchers,
the ones who survive
by becoming
exactly themselves.
bear sweet my coat and wear it best
its arms from me around your chest
don’t weigh my spirit dark and dead
I’ll be e’er-woven ‘tween each thread
its bound’ries bind you deep the night
those shimmered stars your only light
so when you ache for cold’s reprieves
my love waits warm within its sleeves
time might have brought a fade or stains
but years will show that warmth remains
left o’er from times I’d claimed it’s clutch
when we’ve shared hugs or just a touch
you’ll know I’m there and haunt it still
soft scents ‘just mine’ deep in its twill
to knit your thoughts to our dear start
like charms have knit you to my heart
our ‘goodbye’ words I’ll make my last
but hold me midst this frock, and fast
when mem’ries fail to shape my face
saves sweet, this coat, our last …
embrace.
( photographic art of watercolor by Angus McEwan taken from public domain files at FreePik / Flickr )
Maybe you could tell, I wasn't doing that well,
so you took off your coat and gave it to me.
Felt the warmth of you in shades of powder blue,
though it was supposed to be our spring.
Always looking over your shoulder,
your soul seems wiser and older..
yet leftover seasons won't let you be..
what was it you hoped to see?
Weeks and months came and went,
fragile years so quickly spent.
Are you happy now that I wrote?
Or maybe angry..
I never returned your coat.
Coat Hangers
My coat hangers in
my walk-in closet have yet to
pass my
harsh and severe and
strict bringing to
an end doubt test of
worth.
My coat
In the value of the user in value formation.
Establishment of space use.
It is necessary to be able to channel the dark gas of space into the coat.
More power for application.
I carried fifty billion five hundred thousand people with a coat.
Body measurements are calculated for weight flexibility.
Processing the steps requires more performance.
Extra stiffness power for body joints.
"In our hands is the future of all wildlife with whom
we share this earth. They cannot speak so we must."
Quote by _ Constance
My mother saved up years for a long Lynx fur coat,
oh, she was so proud to wear it;
I thought nothing was wrong,
when I was young.
But now,
I find it distasteful;
eleven Canada Lynx,
to make but one fashion fur coat !
Sadly, I inherited that now old coat;
it is in my storage room for I cannot sell or look at it.
I think of those beautiful Lynx that are harvested,
perhaps as they sleep in their caves;
in a secluded boreal forest,
do they kill babies ?
For a hat maybe,
that is sad;
as they do not harm humans ever,
being nocturnal dusk to dawn hunting.
In my mind they are walking in the snow;
their huge feet leaving footprints as they silently hunt.
A crawling held a walled frame as passer-by beheld too
A football helmet and high school pennant encased against a wall
Tapestry of day shades painted wall of ledged held rolled flag.
Sorting out struggling moments, listening to Dolly Parton: A coat of many colours, a rainbow of wisdom
sang for changing. Turning back is possible, a turning point means new feet to walk on.
I mean further, new feet to dance on. Let me take you for a dance. We can get our wings ready to fly. Let me be out of my dreams for a while. Let me be. Just let me be dreaming for a while.
Let me be the coat of many colours knitted to be worn.
Let me jump if it's possible,
Let me caress your soft song.
a song's beauty starts
with old notes to be played with
~listen to the best
In ebb and flow of wind, the rag doll’s tossed
icy fingers coat the flesh -
warmth of car, ditch my coat.
One late fall morning I took my walk,
and in the early morning sunlight.
I saw that winter had visited,
sometime in the middle of the night.
A soft blanket of white did conceal,
the dreariness of an autumn gone.
It had replaced it with a jeweled coat,
of a million diamonds upon my lawn.
I stood there staring across the field,
enjoying what nature had to give.
I thanked God for all of the riches,
that comes from this Ozark way to live.
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