Empathy, Sorrow, Guilt, Shatter
In the physical world, nothing really matters
Dead will be dead, the sufferers may not survive
Because, none could savour the "Grand Privilege Platter"
Pleasure, Love, Compassion, Discern
I want to unlearn all these concerns
Because shards of me die as the days slip
But what could one do,
If they aren't privileged enough to earn
Beneath me, the Grand Canyon unfurls
like an ancient manuscript,
one inked in ochre and rose.
Sunlight drifts across it,
the strata revealing
what the earth remembers
Wind rises from the chasm,
carrying the cool scent of juniper
and the far-off murmur of the river.
Light drifts across the strata,
revealing what the earth remembers
long after we have forgotten.
It brushes my skin with a tenderness
I didn’t expect from a place
carved by violence and patience
in equal measure.
The walls descend in vast terraces,
each layer a quiet confession
of oceans vanished, mountains lifted,
worlds undone.
I feel time loosen around me~
not as a threat,
but as an invitation
to stand still enough
to hear the planet breathe.
Far below, the Colorado glints
like a blade softened by use,
cutting and smoothing,
cutting and smoothing,
its persistence a kind of prayer.
I am transfixed
realizing that endurance
can be a form of grace.
Beauty is not always gentle~
sometimes it is the echo
of everything that has broken
and yet remains,
vast, open,
and astonishingly alive.
I awakened to your symphony of
trees’ foliage gently blowing,
and twilight’s lure of the moon.
This morn the birds of songs trill,
delights the retired couples beneath
a candy striped awning.
Grand Dame August,
with your regalness that doesn’t wane,
please do not part.
The children need more time in
their freedom in your sunshine
kissed days at the parks, pools,
and beaches.
I cannot bear your leaving,
you are the queen of summer,
your sunsets melt on my toes,
as I lie on Fire Island’s smooth sands.
The seabirds’ sorrow in their flight,
as soon comes the wooing of
the cool September eventides. ~
And in some mesmerized way
I AM ABOVE THE OVERPASS
I CAN SENSE THE DRIFT OF SILENCE
I FLOUNDER AND FLAP
WITH PASSION AND WONDER;
AN ERRATIC DISPLAY OF DISCIPLINE.
WHilst I contine to steer the ship,
Indolently,
Slapping hands away.
Personally met Lionel Richie’s Grandmother
It was on a bus trip in Baltimore, Maryland
She was sitting at my dinner table in a Restaurant
Her stories were worth listening
The story of Little Lionel Richie
How the conversation started, I told Mr. Richie’s grandmother that I
was related to Eubie Blake being my Great Uncle
Memories so heartfelt
Starlight entertainment
That day I will never forget
A sweet soul
Voice of wisdom
Celebrity talk
Walk of fame
A man of golden music
Lionel Richie’s grandmother my discover.
CRISS-CROSS PIVOT -GRAND SLAM
. First Set
. love all
. first serve
. clean ace
. first game
. to love
. I’m inspired
. shot selection
. spot on
. hit line
. each time
WHITEWASH
. second set
. first serve
. double fault
. opponent rallies
. fights back
. tie break
. five seven
. third set
. take tumble
. call physio
. Retire Hurt
Enriching value into his Grand Son
Preparing him to become a commodity
Component of striving integrity
Education mode
Sustained episode
Grand pa’s teaching being attention in every lesson
Taking his wisdom for all its worth
To the highest in the ultimate
My Grand Father prepared me for college
Showing the protocols of lectures and usage of the Thesaurus intellect
His teachings didn’t stop there, it was a preserver
4 hours every day in typing perfection
Technique and skill Fundamental
Up the keyboard letter being
Concentrating on accuracy and not speed
My Grand Father wanted me to have office skills to excel
Grand pa knew best
In his last words to me he said, “You are going to remember this old man”
It’s hard to forget someone who had interest at heart and love for his Grand Son
I miss my Grand Father and his caring ways
My mind runs on him every day
I think often, and will never forget
Sorry he is not still here being my regret.
Little Red Riding Hood
riding solo in the hood
wondered if she should
hit the wolf where he stood.
He was pretending to gather wood
but she well knew he was up to no good.
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
My family, not grand but warm and bright,
Bathed in faith, trust, love and long lasting light
With my spouse the linchpin, the centre stage,
A shining grand-daughter, eight years of age,
The apple of eye of the family,
A daughter-in-law, teaching happily,
Elder son dipped in programming passion,
A young one, with management attraction,
With all under my soft supervision,
Making four walls a home free from tension.
I still see her ghost.
She's at the woodstove cooking and baking.
Perfumes still roam the air.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Dear Dear My Dear
Arianna,
Sweet grand daughter !
I always boast
of you, My Dear !
I love you most.
You're to reflect
my childhood
exact perfect !
Valued treasure :
Great gift of God,
My best pleasure.
Don't let anybody put out
the bright, ardent flame
of your enduring faith:
call on His holy name,
He's worthy of each beautiful praise,
He's worthy of words that amaze!
In this grand symphony,
let's find our grace
with another delightful phrase;
in this grand symphony,
let's join angels faithful to Him,
praising His stunning creation
with joy and adoration,
showing that courage
despised by earthly lords,
by vile men that swing their swords!
It's the true God we joyfully proclaim!
Don't godless people without kindness
look for pleasure, for that quick substitute
to replace their worthless emptiness?
Have they ever expressed gratitude?
Don't they look for instant gratification
in wicked deeds that bring damnation?
In this grand symphony,
let's find our grace lost to sin,
once prey of Satan's trickery;
oh, let's return to the God
of holiness and mercy!
There's no sweeter song than ours,
it's an angelic hymn
resounding in the halls of Heaven:
where no sadness is allowed!
When you died
We wept and cried
So much you left
Inside unsaid
Buried with
Unexpressed regrets
Nothing to do with
Your grand children
You adored us
Unconditionally
Our youth our zest
Our innocence
No judging ever
Pure candid love
We gathered
When it happened
And I was the one
Who insisted
I’d sleep in your bed
I felt so privileged
Never doubting
You had visited
And kissed my head
Watched over me
Nestled there tiny in
The palm of your hand
Keeping me warm
All night till morn
AP: 1st place 2021
Winds blow in the Meadowlands
Flowers bloom as bright,
The sun warms the land;
Oh, that angelic light.
A fox is seen roaming;
Eagles flying high;
A bear is fishing by the creek
A deer is watching by.
The freshness of the morning spring;
The greenery of the trees;
Ah, you can smell the freshness
amongst that morning breeze.
Untouched and full of nature,
A land full of life;
All is natural in that grand land
So pure and so precise
Stuck in the sands of time
(The beauty of life)
Golden sun, the days begin anew,
Morning whispers, painting skies so blue,
Dreams stir gently, hope comes into view,
World awakens, promises mine,
Life’s sweet song forever rings fine.
Shadows creep across the darkened floor,
Moon dances, secrets knock at the door,
Night’s hush settles, stars inviting more,
Velvet night, peace we seek to grasp,
Calmness found within a gold clasp.
Through the seasons, time will always flow,
Petals open, breezes warm and slow,
Stories written, in rain or sun’s glow,
Our trodden paths we learn and hope,
Love’s roots shall always deeply cope.
Our laughter is adrift in breezes,
The heart finds moments that always please,
Kindness is sown, bearing fruit with ease,
Each day cherished, as worries cold,
Grace helps to fulfill lives, be bold.
Your future beckons with dreams to spin,
The journeys wait where courage begin,
All fear dissolves, letting hope rush in,
Chapters written from the cool heart.
Boundless enjoyment shall soon chart.
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