Bottom of the hill is a fast stream,
shallow current through rock careens,
never once gets past your knees,
under a bridge in a sylvan scene.
Most ignore it as they’re driving by,
young boys see it with prying eyes,
four down there, not even five,
building a dam, rocks piled up high.
Get a huge thrill when the waters rise,
packing mud in the gaps in the side,
to their minds a big flood tide,
their hands are small but their dreams wide.
A few feet away, one panning gold,
there’s a rich vein here, he’s told,
swirls like prospectors of old,
no luck yet, but he ain’t gonna fold.
Littlest one chases minnows fast,
tiny feet do nothing but splash,
runs a race, his mother laughs,
he ain’t gonna catch no dinner like that!
Sun’s coming down and it’s half past four,
they hate to leave, always want more,
have to hit the grocery store,
a tragedy when you’re only four.
The great wild sea roars,
High waves crashing far away,
Stillness on the rocks.
"Note: AI image generated to complement the themes of my original poem."
My heart is stone, my heart was sealed,
Long before you had appeared.
Tell me why, my dear, how, my dear.
You managed to churn up my insides for a whole year.
So, my darling, why so darling?
You throw rocks at my head,
But you willingly catch me before I fall dead.
If not my darling, why so darling?
both sides you show I just so fear.
So tell me, dear, why and how, my dear,
Are you messing with me?
Or are you just darling?
Creek gurgling over rocks.
How, Just, Perfect,
is that?
splash of water
a skipping rock
memories are made
The warning stands tall
Yellow diamond of dread
Stones tumble toward the surf.
Watch the ocean cliffs
Brake before the rubble strikes
Safe past crashing waves below.
A river of rocks
Tumbling from mountain top peaks
Crashing, crunching, covering
What caused them to roll?
Perhaps, it was nature's call
On the rector scale- an eight
cascading post-haste
various shapes and sizes
avalanche of black and blue
when all was serene
could see it all raining down
loved ones obstructed from view
Eruption of words
Spills on furious spark of night
Entanglement unsettled-
Dawn tumbles on edge
A falling of union breaks
From hardened hearts of stone.
Orange sign weeps stone,
Jagged echoes float upward,
Gravity spins out of tune.
Silent mountains melt,
Crag and gravel softly drift,
Time forgets the falling road.
Rocks & Hard Places
How do we protect children
from a world — so inflictive
How do we prepare children
for that world — once protected
How do we keep them out of the vice
of this paradox
How do we ... How do we ...
— how do we
***
Skinning The Cat
Losers are drawn
to authority
Like moths being lured
to the flame
Curiosity killing
more than a cat
Willy Loman
— forever in pain
(Dreamsleep: May, 2026)
Falling rocks like love
and friendship can go down fast
what a disaster
Saying, I'm sorry
giving out much needed hugs
crush the rocks to sand
Found a rock
Cool as hell
Pulls me under
A magic spell
Heft in hand
Delight sky-rockets
Brush it clean
Fill my pockets
Pocket rattle
Waistband weighted
Rock-nerd-mode
Activated
Quirky, dull
Or sparkling jewel
Can’t deny it
Rocks are cool
A golden mote grates
on dusky blue
portent of divine excellence
radiant white nestling
in the humble nook
honed by an oyster
who unveils prized secrets
of the deep
in shadowed places.
have you met the happy rocks?
I did not believe I had
they are right around the corner said my weirdo cousin Chad
I ran to see what this was about
and saw a lovely cheerful sight
someone had painted rainbow rocks and stacked them exactly right
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