Memorial Poems

He was my neighbor for over forty years and his name was Jim.
When I think about what a good man should be like, I think of him.
He and my uncle were former co-workers and friends.
It was sad when I learned...Read More

My brother works at a carousel
In a tiny mountain town
And riders come from near and far
Because of its renown.

It mostly brings out smiles
And occasionally tears
But when the music starts, all trace
Of sadness disappears.

Except at a memorial
When someone local’s died.
The ride...Read More

Together we stood, as if one, our thoughts in unison,
there were others among us, they were but shadows,
when we moved, we did so together, our charge- our defeat,
we died together that day, as one, our bodies blooded and battered.

And all...Read More

Safe Havens 

The house is quiet. 
It is past the hour of dawn, 
and before the hour of noon. 
Yet, nothing is moving. 
The world here...
is upside down. 

The Light walks in places, 
yet full of shadows, 
to run them...Read More

Lies to Our Self

I will be okay. 
You, she, we, me, us...
are just fine. 
All the time, 
we talk too much, 
and not enough. 

Lose weight, 
stop smoking, 
no joking...
Screaming at the mirror, 
on meth, how dare them?
Gathering in my...Read More

Finally got home in the dead of a cold night 
With the Gators starting to pull away in this holiday fight 
It seems like this is the end to the day full of games 
That featured college students who are...Read More

It was sunny and the wind was on the lake today
As I heard the flags fluttering away
The bronze plaques floated on the wall 
I reached out and read the names one and all

Memories abound of you before
And I remembered what...Read More

MEMORIAL
   nothingness-
      the grief,
      such sorrow!
      then emptiness,
         weeping
      ...Read More

Beneath rugged oak tree's shade, and the voice of  nature's mirth; 
Evergreen wreaths tied with red velvet bows lean back in repose, 
Adorn thousands of soldier's headstones laid to rest upon the lap of earth. 
A rhythmic verse passing...Read More

The sacred summit with a sinister side.
Once, a site where ancient cists 
held urns of ash from bone remains
of status people long deceased.

This ground from the age of bronze,
made victim by modern man,
who quarried where dead were burried.
In stealing his...Read More

Rain-grey days are the worst
for his presentation.
Weather's distraction
steals his thoughts
as it stills his soul.

Most days the others ignore
him, busy with their own
productions.
He is the only one who reads,
the others seem to sit and speak softly
to a polite and punctual
audience.

So he...Read More

Last Christmas Day I sat down to weep,
watched as snow fell burying the earth cold and deep,
Last Christmas day I waited in vain,
sitting alone while my tears fell like rain.

My lover was fighting so far away,
and could not come home...Read More

"Patriotism":
a concept,
a con job,
trotted out to excuse the waste of war:
Gallipoli, of course,
was the greatest con job here,
the guilt trip
"for the fallen"
still going strong a hundred plus years later
(let them rest, you fools).
"Patriotism":
is that what you would call 
millions of...Read More

The Fine Lady

It is the first time I can remember, 
that I cared about china. 
Which pattern to pick, 
where to buy it, 
and why. 

The first ladies pick their dishes. 
They pick special placements, 
for the guests of the...Read More

This is as close to death 
is I would care to come.
I was visiting a friend 
in the graveyard 
under the noon day sun. 
The last time I’ve seen him alive 
he had bounced a few checks.
Because he owed me...Read More

Memorial of a Loved One

In Memory of My Mother, Irene!

Some memories so terribly painful be, 
and will not leave my memory.
I took care of my bedridden Mom
for five years and then..
On that sunny, dreadful July afternoon
I knew the Grim Reaper...Read More

The year my mother wed his dad,
a red-haired boy would come to be
best role model I ever had.
Dale lives on in my memory.

Each day with Dale was so much fun.
He brought our family such glee,
not just to us - but...Read More

Goodbye, Homo Erectus!
Talking monkey with the rainforest tan
Bent knuckles scarred ...
low brow crouching,
and arched eyes wondering — 
Looking at the bright yellow rock
dusk paper moon burning
Green banana hope 
is swelter swagger of nuclear dawn man

Bad buy, Homo Sapien!
Curious chimpanzee, ever...Read More

Mami Swirl
Rapper girl
Distant Star
Songbird in the morning mist
Hold me
Against the dawn
From the wrong
That this life has now to bear
For you’re the one that we loss
The one we loved so well
The one with the big, broad grin
Mami Swirl
Rapper girl

Music indiscernible
B minor...Read More

Angels live in heaven, so I heard them say,
in pristine celestial beauty they glow
as the sparkling stars in the crystalline milky way,
but often they descend on earth, I know.

How do I know, you may ask me,
I’ve seen the radiance in...Read More

Vera Selena (Osburn) Hinshaw - June 4, 1935 - July 19, 2018

Thank you, dear Vera, for nearly 66 years of marital bliss!
How I cherished our time together; you, my love, I truly miss.
Ours was a priceless partnership based on mutual...Read More

Oh,
precious
memory.
I pray that we...
won't splinter in two!
We are fond, lifelong friends,
snugly tethered together;
our bright smiles beaming tête-à-tête
Oh, may we never say goodbye, so...
my heart sings whenever Dad comes to mind!



Memorial Of A Loved One Poetry Contest  
Sponsored by: Chantelle...Read More

Admonishing against arrogance and apathy
Building lives buttressed with leadership brace
Caring for his children, blending compassion and circumspection
Daddy* dearest is decisive, determined, diligent, dedicated, disciplinarian...

Empowering with his enabling encouragement
Fatherly figure, firming up family fortress by his faith-fortitude
Godly in gearing, guarding, governing,...Read More

The day my mother passed-   I was shattered,
     I found myself wandering in a trance;
my sister had to hold my hand like a child,
         there was...Read More

I treasure the memories of your guidance,
Your gentle advice, always aware of my feelings.
You took the place in my heart of my absent father.
You always said I was the daughter you never had 
but always longed for, and you were...Read More