I keep the House of Silence—
Its rafters built of Air—
The Relatives that visit me
Are ones I cannot share—
My Mother—Discipline of Snow—
My Father—Thunder’s Will—
My Sister—small Anonymous
That slip the windowsill—
My Family is the Province
Of rooms the Soul inspects—
Where Kin are stitched invisibly
By unrecorded texts—
What lineage I cherish
Is breath—returning, plain—
The Hearth that never asks of me,
Yet warms me—just the same—
So should they call me “Daughter”—
I bow—but keep apart—
For Blood is but the outer door,
And Silence—keeps my Heart.
Sold on a cheapskate cheesing.
Cupcaked' by a cheesecake reasoning.
Kids, plenty for the
Cakewalk.
Kids, plenty to play
Hopscotch.
Kids, plenty of energy goes
Non-stop.
Disparaging remarks marked up by the
Loudmouth loosened by fool-proof
Foul Alchohol percentages.
It's far too soon to start with those
Remarks.
Gliding by.
Hiding behind our
Rollercoaters' ropes.
Ready to Ride,
Side by Side,
Since this high.
Goodbye.
Razor-sharp wit halved the delicate patience.
Good times vanish, in wood varnish.
Drive-by relief roaming without induction.
Family Values
It made me feel good to see the family,
mother, father, son and daughter
sitting together on the spread blanket at the park
heads bowed around their picnic lunch, a tradition
of saying grace before the meal not often seen,
when they all look up at the same time, laugh and
point at the tweet just received on their iPhones.
The values we adhere to
In this family of mine
The things we've always stuck to
They have surely done us fine
Although we stick together
We still give each other space
The friendliness and love we share
Would find in no other place
You know if you ever need me
I'll be at your beck and call
Be always there to catch you
If ever you should fall
It is not the slightest trouble
To be there at your side
I know you'd do the same for me
I hold your love with pride
As we have the children come
Teach them to be the same
Accept that we all make mistakes
But never harbour blame
By a cozy little fire
‘neath a soft lit Christmas tree
I just can’t help but think about
what Christmas means to me
I think about my Mom and Dad
so thankful they’re still here
though Dad was never really one
for lots of Christmas cheer
I think about my children
all grown up and on their own
each one doing all they can
to make a happy home
I think about my husband
and how lucky I must be
of all the girls in all the world
his gifts are just for me
I think about the friends I’ve made
while most have come and gone
A bank of memories overflow
with gladness overdrawn
I think about the choices
I have made throughout my life
how each was like a stepping stone
how some were filled with strife
I think about the hard times
and the person I might be
without the love from God above
to see things differently
My heart is filled with blessings
God has given graciously
by a cozy little fire
‘neath a soft lit Christmas tree
FAMILY VALUES
Foes have arisen in our day and age
And they have taken their act to the stage
Making their laws in the nation’s courtrooms;
It’s families they’re after to destroy and to doom.
“Let’s turn on the families”; they act to devour,
Yet the family’s the root of our nation’s great power.
Victory is certain when families are strong
And we can be sure that our freedom’s prolonged.
Let us go back to the values once set
Under those leaders, and let’s not forget.
Equipped with strong families, our land will survive;
Strong families will keep all our freedoms alive.
This poem is an acrostic of FAMILY VALUES.
My mom is a rosebush
lovely and red
but if you are careless
you’ll wind up quite dead.
My dad is a slide rule
useful and endearing
whose entire career
has been engineering.
My bro is a penguin
laid-back and cool
who hangs out with buddies
his size up at school.
I am a journal
tucked out of sight
listening, watching
more chapters to write.
We are four
corners of a square
connected by thin lines
inside the same lair.
Family Values?
My great grandmother was your family values.
She scrubbed your floor and burped your baby, while my great grandfather
looked for work as a dishwasher.
When have you ever valued my family?
I work, my will work.
You give her six weeks maternity.
I have no pension, sometimes the tension the builds and I scream at my
daughter.
One time she had lost her keys and sat outside until I got home.
Where had she been to get those bruises?
When have you ever valued my family?
Yes, you like me to work.
But your dogs chase my daughter when she walks on your yard.
Your eyes wave sticks at my face when I drive by your home.
Family Values?
Where is your God?
Mine is nearby.
I pray one day that your lies choke on his truth.
Until then, I seethe in the heart of my suit 5 days a week, waiting for your death or
awakening.
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