The invisible waves of wind glide gently over me,
I sense a smooth stream stroke my shoulders,
letting me feel I’m on a swinging feather bed
like the cradle of childhood on which I lie.
As the tender zephyr softly sways me
I turn in a trance into a lilting buoyant leaf,
floating with the rhythm of the autumn breeze,
hanging on a hammock woven from wisp of wind.
One couple of days, clothed in nakedness, singly composed, and all in dismay
stayed off course, legally corrupt, credit a bill, and comp a tip, to leave and stay
yet, the nightmares I dream, on rocky feather bed cot, are dry bed streaming
ripped from their seam, well dressed, blessing and cursing all steaming.
Second of the first, the last day starts in May, friends are out and in friction,
seas don't rise for joy, nor can a drowning soul, can't will be truth in fiction
I blindly see an eye opener, lose luck, hear muted sighs, tighten, and roar
gone now loosely stuck in the lost and found, again and nevermore.
It’s always been a dream of mine
To walk down country roads with you
With sunshine on my shoulders
back home again to what I knew
I grew up in the mountains
The Rocky Mountains high
Where every day was diamond
Neath the wide Montana sky
We all would visit grandma
In a much loved old homestead
Where grandpa played his old guitar
To the kids in the feather bed
The wings that fly us home
Are the wings of love and joy
When memory comes a-calling
Thank God I’m a country boy
Oh Mary oh Mary
where is it you've gone
Your face but a mem'ry
as is your sweet song
Have you found at last
where you know you belong
Oh Mary oh Mary
where is it you've gone
Oh Mary oh Mary
life lived so obscure
You set free your soul
and gave your love so pure
All the slings and arrows
you did bravely endure
Oh Mary oh Mary
life lived so obscure
Oh Mary oh Mary
you should have been wed
And lived in a small house
with a big feather bed
But you made other plans
and you took off instead
Oh Mary oh Mary
you should have been wed
Oh Mary oh Mary
with the angels so high
You were handed your wings
as the world said good-bye
You been taken beyond
all the stars in the sky
Oh Mary oh Mary
with the angels so high
Oh Mary oh Mary
where is it you've gone
Your face but a mem'ry
as is your sweet song
Have you found at last
where you know you belong
Oh Mary oh Mary
where is it you've gone
Pink and blue
Think of you
Sunset in full view
Special time
Need to rhyme
I never had a clue
How much I'd love
This writing of
All my thoughts in phrase
Ode and song
Short or long
All my living days
Spent in thought
Bluebird sought
Make for her a nest
Scan the skies
For her eyes
Bluer than the rest
Lined with down
An evening gown
A feather bed so soft
Lilac air
Wind is fair
Carry her aloft
Come to me
I will be
Waiting until when
The day is here
When you are near
Not to wait again
Lake of beauty there in France
Invitation for romance
Of course you know what I'll now say
I want to go with you someday
We don't know French but no big deal
We'll learn together, so much appeal
There is in doing things with you
And I still hope you want me to
But if you don't I understand
And I'll still write odes by my hand
To let you know that I'm still here
Expressing love through words, my dear
And if one day that well runs dry
Just look for me up in the sky
A little plane can create art
With it I'll draw for you a heart
And loop-the-loop over your head
In yellow smoke, a feather bed
Of lilac clouds and Vera Wang
Ascends from you, those scents will hang
And blend in with my best cologne
Acqua di Gio descends down
A fragrant zephyr fills the air
Together, forever floating there
Bluebird how I long for you
My love for you is strong
I want to hold you in my hand
And kiss you all day long
I'd bring your meals, I'd brew your tea
I'd make your feather bed
I'd open up my loving arms
So you could rest your head
I'd listen to your thoughts and dreams
I'd stroke your tired wings
I'd lift you up when you were down
And tell you many things
I tell you that I love you
As I whisper in your ear
You turn to me and kiss me
Hearts go from far to near
I caress the frontside of your wrists
With the least perceptive touch
My fingers turning circles
Is the exafference too much?
I run my hands behind your neck
You've had a long, hard day
Relax and let me rub the nape
I'll knead the stress away
Lie down now on this feather bed
And sleep until daybreak
May all your dreams be sweet ones
I'll be here when you wake
Have you ever seen a puffed-up hairless dog?
I frankly did not think that I ever had, and I said as much.
This one is a big eater, he feeds more than a hog.
And he puts on airs, speaking of his manhood and such.
I could not wait to meet him, and it did not take long.
He was sitting on a royal throne, looking down on me.
He made arm motions to show me he thought he was strong.
I wondered how much more arrogant he could be.
He raised his wine goblet and yelled off with her head.
I realized with a start he was pointing it at me.
My hair was awful, straight from a messy feather bed,
At least I have hair, I told him with a bit glee.
With the stage name “Denver,” beloved poet John
to country, folk and beautiful soft rock was drawn.
“Take Me Home Country Road” made him a star.
What lovely songs for nature he strummed on his guitar!
With the stage name “Denver,” beloved poet John
became a 70’s phenomenon.
To tunes like “Grandma’s Feather Bed” and “Annie’s Song”
his fans would listen and sing along.
With the stage name “Denver,” beloved poet John
crashed his plane one day, and in an instant he was gone.
His art lives on even though no longer can he roam.
How apt his autobiography’s name: Take Me Home.
Dec. 29, 2020
For Brian Strand's the 'YOU SELECT AGAIN' Poetry Contest
Oh, her love was for a sailor
Alas, the sailor sailed alone
So she took up with a cowboy
Who wore boots and rode a Roan
He dried her tears and held her hand
And softly whispered in her ear
He taught her how to dance real slow
And how to drink cold long necked beer
And then one day the sailor came
Fresh from the Hebrides he said
He bumped into the cowboy's boots
Tucked just beneath her feather bed
He lost his temper and turned red
And he swore he'd kill the man
She smiled and said that wasn't wise
"You had best just leave while you can"
"He's a man that can dance real slow,
"And wrestle steers for a livin'
"He breaks wild horses hereabouts
"And his heart is full of givin' "
Oh, he heard danger in her voice
And he was not a stupid man
He hoisted his bag to his shoulder
Tipped his hat - struck a trail for Cheyenne
Her life is good - good as can be
And she lost her love of the sea
She smiles when she can dance real slow
And drink beer that is cold and free
10-4-20
Contest: Completely Your Choice (21)
Sponsor: Brian Strand
My dad is bigger than yours she said.
It made me mad; I wished she was dead.
Took my anger to my Uncle Ned.
He started laughing, happy instead.
Most serious now, sick in my head,
Ran to my cousin, Goofball named Zed.
He chased me off, his face spitball of red.
With laughter shaking his feather bed.
I decided to sit in my little she-shed.
Devoured Ritz crackers ‘til I was fed.
Refused to talk to my Uncle Ted.
Who was spitting a story about Brother Ed.
I rode off on my purple and pink Moped.
Had an accident, needed bandage and a med.
The nurse who helped me was named Mrs. Ked.
Beautiful, she was a recent newlywed.
My dad is bigger than yours she said.
I was shocked for a second, but then I read
A book, settled down, no longer in my head.
Seeing the humor of Ed, Zed, Ned and Ted.
There once was a lady from Maine
Whose fiancé drove her insane
They all called him Fred
He slept in his sled
His dogs howled again and again
Well she shot him twice in the head
The doctor said he was quite dead
The sheriff said, "Belle",
"I don't think you're well -
"You could use a nice feather bed."
2-3-2020
Contest: Your Best New Limerick
Sponsor: Tania Kitchin
As I rise from this comfortable feather bed,
I peer out a window and shake my head.
Relinquishing the grip of last night’s sleep,
rubbing my eyes to the kitchen I creep.
I see the old kettle that she used to make tea,
we would go drink it under the old willow tree.
We use to laugh and play and swim in the lake
and, I remember the summer she taught me to bake.
Always loving comforting and warm to my soul,
I remember she loved to fish in her pond by the knoll.
I close my eyes and I start to tear.
I can feel her presence and her voice I still hear.
My mother always told me to stop being a tomboy and act like a lady.
She would whisper to me, “I know best and you’re perfect Katy.”
Not long ago I noticed she slowed way down.
I was sad and she noticed me and, my frown.
Be of good cheer she scolded me,
I’m going home and, with god, I will be.
She passed from this world with a smiling face.
I whispered to her, “I’ll see you again Grandmother in that better place.”
Light dances with the idea of love
the sharks circle at mere plight
of weakness but you cant kick out
a ballerina tiptoeing across rivers
red flowing with contemplation
and the final twin feather bed calling
Tomorrow's successes seduce
the captain's chair empty
he's gone out for air
backed up pickup but the limbs won't move
just need another reason for loving you
The walls are built by more than just an emperor
The chains are laced in verse of discrimination
but I'm building a bridge to you
just don't jump and leave us to clean up behind
and as the cock crows it's going to be alright
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