Gonna Fly Now
(1976)
Let's go the distance.
Push against the resistance.
Keep pushing no matter how tired you are.
Stay strong, run far.
There is no day tomorrow.
Keep your dreams alive today and forever.
This is your time now.
Put in the hard work.
When the lights are out, work harder.
Underground at the gym where it’s darker.
This is your story.
Reach for the glory.
If you had one chance, would you take it?
You're gonna fly now, you’ve made it.
Blood sweat and tears.
Wake up early and get in gear.
You were born for this.
You have a heart kid.
Even when I’m old and gray.
All still put up a fight at the gym any day.
You're investing in your health.
I cannot fail.
Feel the burn deep inside.
Dig deep with pride.
A faint whispering in my ear,
Little nudges I do hear,
Tired eyes begin to tear,
Messages coming in clear,
Transmissions of cheer,
"We are near,
"You are here,
"Get in gear,
"Be Sincere,
"And have no fear.
"Don't interfere,
"Volunteer."
I veer towards the right,
Steering into the Light.
Disappearing from sight,
As I peer into the night,
I witness the blight,
Gaining the might,
Fighting for our sphere,
I take flight and reappear,
The damage is severe.
I'll burn so bright,
All they see is white,
A flame here to ignite,
Your spark,
Illuminating the dark,
"They're coming to make their mark,
So here is where I'll park."
Says a whisper in my ear.
Calibrated Calendars
02 4 2025
David J Walker
Celebrate
The day
the month
the year
The way
We calibrate
our calendars
In gear
For another round
Around the sun
Another day
A week
A month
Is gone
Another year
I fear
If fleeting fast
Beyond the
Mornings cast
Of sun rays
Along the path
Of life in ways
We will never understand
As we stand
And demand
Answers
We will never understand
And then
again
It’s gone
There is so much this world can offer
But “been there, done that” settles in
There is no need for us to scoffer
At ones' stay put and “hasn’t been”
Think you have seen the earthly beauty
When hitting trodden tourist paths?
Come to big cities, gleaming snooty
Yet never try to take bypass
Bunch ways less travelled, places hidden
The shores, the mountains – take pick
They are wide open, not forbidden
Drive on dirt road to get a kick
We seldom see unspoiled beauty
With eyes so tired of TV
Before you leave, make it your duty
Watch starry sky, because it’s free
Let autumn leaves be quilt aglowing
On which you cannot leave a mark
To Nature’s mastery be bowing
Spectator sole, bewildered stark
To sit and listen, forest speaking
With jumbled words of rustling spigs
Lo, smell the wind, aromas streaking
Of flowers, water, fungi, twigs
Sunset at desert, small bonfire
They put one’s mind in gear shift
Important things you thought of prior
All take back seat so “tout de suite”
No one is coming spoil the moment
Yours to imbibe, save evermore
That’s what you get, as your bestowment
For sneaking out through backdoor
May 13, 2024
Schools and many stores are closed;
Banks and barbers, too.
If you need to buy some stamps,
There’s nothing you can do.
Docs and dentists do not work;
The Market has no trades
And you may find a door that’s locked
At pool halls or arcades.
It’s a day for chilling out,
Relaxing in your home –
The perfect time to make some calls
Or read or write a poem.
For New Year’s Day’s the last hurrah
Before we’re back in gear.
The holiday is over, as
Tomorrow will make clear.
Wonder what type of poems will be best
In my new couplet poems only contest
Will you wow me with colorful vocabulary
Will your poem be monotone, dreary, merry
I agonized over who wins a trophy the three
But every single entree is from a winner to me
So get your wonderful writing chops in gear
My contest is on until the 2nd of the new year
Though it likely won’t take me forever to judge
As you poets are know it’s in contests you love
climb up high
on cold leather seat
and put the key
into the switch
set the handbrake
good and tight
step on the clutch
make sure it’s not in gear
pull out the choke
and pump the gas
switch on the power
and step on
the starter pedal
once it catches
let off the pedal
give it some gas
ease in the choke
foot on the brake
one on the clutch
shift in the second
not compound low
step off the brake
give it some gas
ease off the clutch
with a lurch start off
some today
will proudly say
they can drive a stick
but I wonder if
if I put them in
in 1950 truck
if they could start it
let alone drive
The sun is out, the sky is blue;
I’ve done the things I’ve needed to,
So I can sit and watch the flow
And how the river sparkles so.
I can’t stay long, but while I’m here,
Before I have to get in gear,
I’ll soak some rays, my mind serene,
As I enjoy this urban scene.
I’m rarely calm, so times like these,
With sunshine and a gentle breeze,
Provide a respite for my mind,
Where I can leave my stress behind.
Disarmed
Bullets fall silent
against words
well chosen
Their caliber
muted
— the target on fire
(Villanova University: March, 2024)
Stuck In Gear
Motion
not an absolute
The world
is never still
Inertia
tries to write the law
Where stop and start
are nil
History
at the speed of light
Consensus
in the math
But standing
here
While stuck in gear
— the notion leaves me flat
(Villanova University: March, 2024)
Before The After
Don’t bog down
in research
Spontaneity
the thing
Truth
is most elusive
And joy
a passing Spring
In flashes
of an instant
What’s timeless
will appear
Thinking often
kills the goose
That lays
— both far and near
(Villanova University: March, 2024)
Deafening Silence
Things most often named
before understood
Then never renamed
for the bad or the good
‘Particles of light’
we now know as waves
But ad infinitum
their reference stays
A ‘Tablet of Paper’
consisting of sheets
Two ‘Bolts’ of lightning
fused Franklin’s belief
A ‘Softball’s’ still deadly
meant to careen
And ‘Deafening Silence’
— spurs wonder indeed
(Villanova University: March, 2024)
tally of real rally
had been vacated in valley
submerged by sally
(evaporated in valley)
(a vagrant ((virgin)) in valley)
(very variable vaunting veracity vibrantly voiced in valley)
(got eaten in gally)
(took God for granted in galley)
(has a lot of gall by gully)
(murdered in Mali)
(was sort of smelly)
(would have big belly when in valley
blood of poem runs thin
were great after they had been
famous and free from sin voiced
what I have believed
a great Horn poem you received
now I am relieved
latest and greatest
read Horn Haiku would suggest
have won a contest
he had been haughty
should see her beautiful body
news would be naughty
when we persevere
have a great happy new year
wish you had been here
incorrectly would do steer
my bad news will appear
car was not in gear
Do have a horrendous Horn Haiku
humorous numerous happy day on
display while I will plan to play and
start to pray
The Christmas tree salesmen
Are back on the street
And “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Shout all that you meet.
TV’s are tuned in
To the Macy’s parade
And tables are set
For the feast that’s been made.
Pies and baked goodies
Are packed in the car
As people prepare
For their trips, near or far.
The sun’s shining brightly,
The wheels are in gear
For both traffic and family –
Thanksgiving is here!
I’m staring at my notebook;
The page is lined but blank.
I’m like the driver with no map
Or gas within the tank.
I’ve got the engine started
But I have no place to go,
So I’m sitting here in neutral
With my spirits sinking low.
It doesn’t happen often
That my mind will not engage,
Yet my musings somehow managed
To get words upon the page.
It’s almost time for typing,
For what finally seems clear
Is that sometimes simply idling
Is enough to get in gear.
Say it louder I can not hear
Harsh words like a spear can bring fear
Cherish all those you hold dear
Wipe away their tear
Things are never as bad as they appear
Be of good cheer
As you put the car in gear
Leave the beer
Watch that deer
Just so we are clear
Your love I revere
Hope it is not just a veneer
Nor insincere
And love will persevere
Or reappear
And not simply disapear
And never veer
That dress is sheer
Hold the wheel and steer
Have no peer
Why do you leer
A terribly tired, trashed-out old truck,
lacking in luster, down on its luck,
longingly looked at a lithe little Lexus
there at the bar, fresh in from Texas.
Depressed, dejected, and driven to drink,
wipers not working, and too beat to blink,
he summoned his strength and shot her a smile;
seems ’twas the first she’d seen in a while.
Given a green light, he got it in gear,
kicked doubt to the curb and patted her rear.
Flush-faced, he flipped in reverse in a flash;
those were no lady parts under her dash.
————-
Alphacouplets - rhyming couplets where the first line ends in a noun and has 3 or more alliterations using the same letter prior.
Dear I Left Flowers
My dear we were once madly in love, I thought
Then why didn't we both tie the knot
To think of the dreams you tear
The love that you fear
We matched well
Dear
All was swell
My car was in gear
But you walked far than near
You left for that lowlife all for naught
My dear we were once madly in love, I thought
1/18/23
Writing Challenge - Andaree Form - Poetry Contest
Sponsor-Constance La France
2nd
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