Medals on frames stood upright and straight,
Like guns marching on bloody road to Death March
At eighteen, he bore the pellets of war’s cause
Fingers wounded by splinters from a grenade
Spawned by raw courage for freedom’s glory
He counted black hours guarding his troops;
Piloting aircraft and landing on muddy swamp
Worse was the order to kick his dead friend, Paul.
Black nights fed thinner ribs with brisk attacks
Riddling air with roulette of mortar sounds,
Yet country’s honor soared higher than gray winds
A testament for a man of lofty ideals.
Tales of grit, battle scars wrapped in dignity
A body resting on heroes’ graveyard, our flag rising;
Until the end, code of gallantry filled life’s moments
Of one general, dear Dad, your spirit walks with me.
2nd place
I walked past ancient tombs and graves
past swaying green trees
and birds singing a symphony
to where they buried you
under a sea of roses
I find the scent both glorious
and sickening at the same time
you were my secret lover
and friend
we shared magical moments
laughing, crying
holding each other in sorrow
when I found out you died
I stood in the shower and cried
and cried
I walked around a ghost for days
thinking and remembering
you always brought me roses
oh, if I kept them all they would be
a sea of roses
I took a few from your grave
and they are in a glass on my dresser
wilted, withering
I heard and read that the airplane
you were piloting crashed
no survivors, ending of story
but it is not . . .
because I visit your grave
as your secret lover
my tears falling on your stone
the wind is strong today
taking my long hair, pulling it
I feel your fingers smoothing the strands
and hear your whisper "I will always love you"
and the birds are singing us a symphony
Considering the finale
Piloting my survival.
Anxious thoughts prevent deadly decisions
But these decisions have made themselves well-situated.
Still, prayers haven’t been answered
So I search and seek
Until I become conscious of where I am.
Idleness is my safest abode
I crave it when I leave it
And forget it when I drown in it.
No thoughts roam here
And the troubles do not keep me chained.
But I am without knowledge of the world
then can I feel safe in my humble, ignorant abode of nothing.
This isn't the golden mean
But the grey middle ground
That only darkens when dipped to either side.
It is not death that I seek
For death enters a void I cannot know
But the detachment from reality
and into the dungeons of the unknown.
Sometimes get stuck on a solo mission
As the only ticketed passenger in sight
But alternative routes are available
We just need to book our return flight
Begins by checking in with ourselves
To take inventory of our baggage
Choice in claiming what we keep
Option to offload damaged luggage
Purposely piloting our own plane now
Pulling levers to navigate any weather
Time to maneuver back into formation
Since life is better when flying together
Its only and me alone,
Piloting the ship called hard-ship.
No crew, no stowaway, it’s just me.
Can it get any easier; navigating the waters, the straits and sea?
I am in the blink of giving up, my heart heavy than an anchor.
I have no control, my rudder of life has malfunctioned.
The sea has robbed me the love of my life and my beacon of hope.
Dear LORD restore the meaning of life.
In my poems would be found colorants,
For the foul-smelling deodorants:
An advance interception of rants;
I’m dealing with human beings, not plants!
With Poetry busy like The Ants,
To deodorants shall be more grants…
In my poems exist, too, colorants
And when they find the space sibilants,
Their piloting pen Phonetician
By linguistics made Sound Magician…
Here and there purposed attacks of fact,
No doubt, for the sake of impact;
Yet, with Candor a Palpable Pact
If not the case, would have cons packed.
I stand on the edge of a spectacular canyon
A river in the distance far, far below
With mountains rising above each side
Reflecting in the rushing tide, as though
One might miss the verdant foliage crests.
New River Gorge they call this place
A flora and fauna national preserve
Nature's playground at its absolute finest.
Far below in the foamy surging rapids
Are braver people, reader, than I am
Piloting canoes and paddling furiously
Taking their river ride quite, quite seriously.
One visit to New River is sure to win ‘ya
To wild and wonderful West Virginia.
Reposted on Poetry Soup
October 13, 2022
There once was a wealthy tycoon
Who loved piloting his balloon
In Albuquerque
He rammed a turkey
And landed a wee bit too soon
I stand on the edge of a spectacular canyon
A river in the distance far, far below
With mountains rising above each side
Reflecting in the rushing tide, as though
One might miss the verdant foliage crests.
New River Gorge they call this place
A flora and fauna national preserve
Nature's playground at its absolute finest.
Far below in the foamy surging rapids
Are braver people, reader, than I am
Piloting canoes and paddling furiously
Taking their river ride quite, quite seriously.
One visit to New River is sure to win ‘ya
To wild and wonderful West Virginia.
WHERE THE NOR’EASTER FLIES
what is the weather, dear.
oh my! where we last sailed
the Nor’easter flies.
oh my, i’m blown over
my darling, that’s clear.
forgot you’re docked over there.
i’m inhaling (yes i do)
the counterclockwise winds
that are keeping you.
piloting your plane
without delay
spurring you South.
see the heart-shaped clouds
like tobacco smoke
as i slowly exhale.
sorry, honey,
i’ve tipped your coke
on the clumsy stewardess.
she deserved
a black eye
but all is well
now sit back
and enjoy
as i land this plane.
10/10/2019
the art of argument
piloting nimble persuasion
across complicit anarchy
stoic facts and sly lies
sparring in dueling sentences
5/17/19
Elephant with crooked tooth
and I did not know they had them
Lion cub in drag
funny to everyone but the cabaret master
prancing around in my thought waves
taking me hostage
Duck-billed platypus
with attitude from Hades,
wearing pink top hat
with glitzy yellow band
unnoticed in this parade
of misfits, even by me
Suddenly swans glide by,
piloting Boeing 747’s,
waving red hankies from cockpits.
Where is this picnic anyway,
I ask my muse who laughs
but refuses to answer.
Written April 20, 2019
Contest: Suddenly Swans
Sponsor: Maureen McGreavy
The narrow ledge
Led down from the ridge
Taking the steep side
Each step piloting
This descent into the heart song
Abiding deep within our longing spirit
Pivoting beams of sun flash
Through the soft flowing blanket of trees
Below to the far woodland floor
It's light cascading to stream
Between the real and imagined
Binding the present truth to Evermore
This searcher of beauty
This pathfinder of eternal love
Comes to rest from this journey
To find one's self deep within
Where the forest grows silent and lush
Where the soul finds peace
Holding to this enchanted secret
Encompassed in this timeless place
Deep within the well
Of something that always was
And has been the gap
Between the connection of our souls
And the ingredients of our map
BY: CAROLYN COWAN
2019 is a year to build endurance. When you reach the limit
and feel you can't go on, go a little further. It will build inner
strength and perseverance.
As an offering to the world this year make a pilgrimage of peace. Walk on the earth spreading love to all those who are near you.
The joy of this year rests on the state of your mind. Place it first in
your soul then descend it to your heart and finally in your body.
Then put it into action !
Remember, a thought becomes a feeling an emotion a desire then it finally crystalizes into an impulse leading into action.
When patience runs out, extreme insanity walks in
When tolerance is broken, madness rules
Ask yourself, ‘is it a madman or a master piloting my ship?’
I PRAY IT IS THE MASTER THAT HOLDS YOUR MAST
PUT FAITH IN YOUR HEART & HOLD ON STEADFAST.
Dec 31, 2018
#TO SURVIVE...
MENTAL TORMENT ARRIVES TO
"DO OVER" AND "TAKEOVER"
In Any Unexpected Moment...
TRESPASSES And LIFE'S DAGGERS Has A
UNIQUE SWAGGER!
YET,
WE WERE BORN BODACIOUS AND BRAVE...
AND WHAT FACES US, {COURAGE}
CO-PILOTS DEMAND!
UNDERSTAND, A SURVIVOR* SURPASSES, SURPRISES AND SUPERSEDES EVEN THE SURMOUNTABLE...
RECOGNIZING {RE-INVENTING} RESURGING!!!
"WEALTH WITHIN SELF"
"WILLINGLY WINNING :-)"
«STRONGER» THAN THE SPINNING...
NOW WE THRIVE! ! ! (NOT JUST SURVIVE)
PILOTING AT PATROLE...
EFFECTIVELY, WHAT WE CAN CONTROL...
«CLOSING HOLE IN SOUL»
LET'S FEEL AND RELISH THAT IN FACT...
ADDRESSING & REASSESSING...
ENRICHED OUTCOMES FOR THE "EVOLVING ONE"
«WHOLE! ! !»
Renee D. Gross {GHPPR} SEPT 23, 2023#
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