the streets smell of coffee
and the burnt ends of last night’s cigarettes.
faces move past me like they’ve been sandpapered—
eyes dull, shoulders pulled up like bad weather.
the mailman walks slower,
the bartender pours heavier,
even the pigeons look nervous.
something’s in the air—
a weight you can’t see
but you feel it pressing your ribs.
I drink my beer,
pretend I’m above it,
but the truth is my chest is tight too.
whatever it is,
it’s leaking through the cracks.
and we’re all standing in it,
pretending it’s just another day.
Self as spirit wishes to feel contrast,
flowing as magnetism, each breath reborn,
so recognising that the die is cast
as we’re being meditated upon,
strobes of bliss thunder usher a new dawn.
Instrumentalising our lower mind,
leaving all imagined knowing behind,
in timeless time when single is our eye,
we behold soul’s light to which we were blind,
whence in the vibrant void we wingless fly.
Mom in her apron
to the kitchen goes;
I watch her get out
ingredients that
she puts into rows.
Bubbling in me
is a child’s glee;
no meagerness
of eagerness!
The oven
door opens
and closes.
Love the
smell of
Pies!
Give me your hand, let's pause in time
As we embark on paths sublime
Fear not, dear one, just follow through
We'll break free from this world anew
Release your fears, let worries fade
Like shadows that no longer shade
I'll stand beside you, guard your way
And pierce through darkness day by day
When breath seems scarce in troubled air
I'll be your oxygen, I swear
Together bound by common fate
Our passion burns, it cannot wait
If weary legs begin to fold
And vigor dims on roads untold
Remember Earth's unending space
Move forward with undying grace
Should you choose to persevere
Through storms that make the path unclear
Just reach for me, our spirits free
We'll race through life in harmony
-
Yowling and howling, snarling and snapping
Came in through a window when my husband was napping
It sounded like a sound off, I was sure a cat would be dead.
My own cat bounced in moments later, his fur stand-up red.
What is going on out there? I asked, for now I heard low growls.
The cats were ready to fight, as snappish as Turkish towels.
Fred dove head-first under the bed and stayed until it was over.
Rolling his eyes about it was my St Bernard named Rover.
What’s going on?
I don’t understand what’s going on
The will of evil people killing me
Why? I don’t know, but it is going on
Maybe my simple single life is the reason
Reason? Reason for what?
Oh, yes I understand because I live my life
The path I created, Its unique constitution, and mine
And open just sometimes, guests can be a unique life
I do not accept any dirty and dusty ideology
I preach peace and independence, that’s the life
Oh, I am sorry, I don’t accept any dead style
Modern West Side psychology is not my life
I want to live my life
I always create my new life
Every day is a new life
I step every day into a new life
I enjoy it,
Meditation, contemplation
Life research and creativity!
This is my life!
Evils! Evils! Evils!
Go away from me!
Liver your life!
Not mine!
Who could cruise on in,
play Jerry Lee?
One deck is frozen,
in disbelief. A titanic
hit off the old block.
Fingers grooving,
what a shock.
He’s not jealous
of Billy Joel,
he’s his own piano man.
I took a seat, many
took an aisle, caught
off guard
by the talent.
Don’t know his name
like Princess does,
but I wish I could
go back in time
and kick back
on those kickin’ keys.*
*kicking - actively ongoing and enjoyable
When you hear me talk of revolution
and the changes that must take place
I mean, we need to find the solution
to put humanity back into the human race
We’re so quick to point our finger
when we see what’s happening in our land
We will let our anger boil and linger
yet we’re too afraid to extend our hand
We’ve let prejudice and violence
through complacency become the norm’
But if we continue to stand alone in silence
then we will surely perish in the storm
What’s going on in stellar skies
perchance eludes our earthly eyes
or mortal minds to e’er discern
regardless how we strain and yearn
or hazard to hypothesize.
Do galaxies ‘midst birthing cries
beget their astral enterprise
plus further realms to forge in turn
what’s going on?
Will we acquire awareness wise
enough to grasp what might arise
if Nature be inclined to spurn
our worldly ways, in manner stern—
still could Mankind yet realize
what’s going on?
~ Harley White
* * * * * * * * *
The poem is in the form of a rondeau…
A source of inspiration was the following…
Info and image ~ Arp 143…
The Wedding Prayer
Your hand I hold,
your ring I place,
our future dreams to unfold.
I see you there,
all gowned in white,
our union we will share.
I pray my Lord,
this bond we hold,
will keep until we get old.
Past chapel fair,
past garden grounds,
our marriage we declare.
And if in sickness,
we cannot be as one,
being by each other’s side,
we preseve our love,
cherishing memories,
and to each other still abide.
by Martin Braun
2.23.2023
Rake leaves in a pile
As big as my wildest dream
Then I jump in it
I’m in my prime,
just now finding my steps,
working on all four cylinders,
I’m a pistol, as sharp as a pin.
I’m not Joe Biden
I look younger in aviators.
My teeth are brand new
and who needs hair plugs?
I’m a spry 71, almost limber
just a little less stiff than timber.
Mockingbirds wolf-whistle me
as I jump out from a bush
to force some sage advice
down some 50-something
whippersnappers throat.
The world is loud
Everyone speaks in a rhythm I can't understand
They look at me strangely when I offer myself
And they believe I know what I have said
They are speaking another language
And there is no dictionary
As she looked into his eyes;
There's something stirring in his soul;
Cries of freedom, screams of free me Lord;
She sees this, as she prays for him;
His mind wanders, as she anoints him;
He stumbles under the power of their Father;
Jesus Lord our God ;
Has come to release his troubled soul;
Now set free now he's really for the kingdom;
Dying in her arms he's free now gone home with God;
3/31/22
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2022©
if we could only
be as good as others want
us to really be
this has been my top
priority as i see it
and want it to be
only God will know
about my abilities
which now do exist
not let go to waste
use to make others happy
should be goal in life
Dedicated to Dan Kerr
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