Long Plainer Poems

Inspired by the painting "Highland Lassie" (1871) by Thomas Faed.

(Verse One; In introduction to Cailin)
Walkin' on the highways, searchin' down the byways,
Tromps a lonely figure on the Highland roads;
Peerin' from the Highdown, breezin' through the...

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To MOM; March 11,1979
This is the story of an animal trainer,
Whose mettle and courage, couldn't be plainer. 
A search'd reveal if you'd care to explore, 
None greater exists than El Eleanor.
She's faced the very meanest...

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Miss Jill may find a way.

As I thought about your kindness
And the kids you teach at school.
I pondered how any help can come
From the ink of this old fool.

Is there any value in his work?
Reading...

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“Knock, knock” “Who’s there?”  I haven’t a clue
What day is it? Who’s at my door?
“Here is some breakfast I made just for you”
Says some stranger who slept on my floor
The sight of the eggs...

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I was recently voted top three in my field which was a humbling experience I've never been bothered about awards. But being third showed me the appreciation people have for what I do and inspired...

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And even after night became dawn
After confession tumbled priest and pawn
I still wish, forever, O you did come
Push back the cubicle to your face
What joy there could tell ransome
What opportunity of unfolding grace

Had visions of...

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I suppose it is surprising
And I shouldn't let you know it,
I've a hankering for the poetry
Of that old time Hoosier poet.
Perhaps you think his poems with
Their easy, rustic flavor
Are not poetic offerings
Sophisticates would savor.
"Little Orphant...

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November, I don't want you
I don't want your phrases
I don't want your time
I don't want your care

December, I don't want you
I might enjoy your praises
I might like how you try
I don't want you there

January, I...

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GRAINS OF SALT

Events and things have meanings
Meanings to everyone
Within us is beyond what is apparent
Sometimes vague and in unqualified form
But are often called sentiments.

Which of these are within
The ourselves historicity and yearnings
Our thoughts, hopes and...

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Male peacock struts his finery all over the yard
Being egotistical is his tiny petard.
The plainer brown females are utterly star struck.
Wanting a little bit of his attention; is that a cluck?

The pristine white hens’ feathers...

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Poems – rhyming  or
Free verse – straightforward,
Which paint a picture
That make us laugh or cry,
That strike a chord within us!
Not ordinary! Not untaught
Or unlearned! None of those!
I used to think that others
Were on a...

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So much

Once I was so much bolder then I felt my heart break in two
Once I was so much colder then I realised I couldn’t make it through

Once I was so much clearer then colours...

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How terrible it were hearing his voice
With half-shut eyes asleep in a half-dream
I fought until I could fight no more it seemed 
Non suffering is the memory I made my choice

Comforter, where is your comforting?
Sorrow...

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Lions, tigers and bears alarm me, no-brainer!
Zookeepers seem to like them and circus trainers.
Some blokes put gray in your hair - like Freddy Krueger
but strokes are not funny, I panic 'round cougars.

Pythons, parrots and apes...

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It's all about love, whatever we do
It's the reason we get up each day
Everything else is to allow our love
To flourish, to give reason to say

I'll love you till the end of the earth
Until this...

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It's all about love, whatever we do
It's the reason we get up each day
Everything else is to allow our love
To flourish, to give reason to say

I'll love you till the end of the earth
Until this...

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LOVE  LESSON


I give my  lesson for their son.
Room plain, cracked, greyed -
Rubbed away - curtains frayed.  
Good  furnishing  -  none,
Except the big photo  
Of two lovers  long...

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Being melancholy confusion,

saying seriously that we are who we are,

that mountain of dandruff was what we saw,

they all lose anyways so why not chop it off?

At the sound,

at the towns,

we were liverworts and lackadaisical not?

They...

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My last wish is simple
To lie beside you dear
In eternity’s arms
There to sleep so soundly
Free from earthly alarms.

My last wish is simple
Told you in a whisper,
Writ in my final will
Just as you remember
My promise to...

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