O map of skin where rivers deeply run,
Thou art the ledger of the years I've known;
The weary eyes that softened with the sun,
And silver crown that time has slowly sown.
I sing of joints that stiffen in the cold,
Of 'measured treads' along the dusty way,
For in this frame, though 'immeasurably old',
A 'steady flame' still burns against the gray.
Speak not of mere decay or entropy,
Quiet strength that rises through every storm,
A 'vibrant vessel' filled with artistry;
Resilience found in every 'weathered form.
Here's to feeling old, a bloom fading away,
Praising 'slowed hands' that hold each memory,
Yet leaves a tender trace of every day;
And a 'soul grown bolder' through its history.
For beauty lives beyond the face, we see,
In the 'unadulterated wisdom' of just being me.
her face is a quilt
ridges wrinkles and age spots
seasoned warrior
The heat of summer in his dad's car
The son takes his date to gaze a star
Lover's lane shines on so bright
Two teenagers groins take flight
It was Dad's Chevy's best years by far
SEASONED LOVE
In the love we have,
the seasons test our oneness;
we bound in onement:-
I can be something of a ham,
take my energy or leave it;
Here’s the deal I am what I am;
Imperfectly immaculate
is the vibe I aim to transmit;
Addictive I have no gateway;
Left so hungry with a tidbit,
come feed on a seasoned entree.
I tuned into yesterday's presidential debate
where neither candidate came across great.
Two seasoned horses at the gate, one will
determine this country's fate.
Too many problems on our plate and they
began to argue about some thing innate..
The borders, inflation, and two wars in our
lap and these old blokes discussed which
golfer has the better handicap!!!
Seasoned homeless men in olive-green and black
camouflage jackets,
whisker-stubbled faces,
fatigued eyes once of youth's brightness.
They not too long ago raised their hand to
swear the oath,
in the shelter kitchen are many bustling
volunteers.
Brewed creamy coffee warms the grateful
men's throats.
The Catholic church across the city street tolls,
it's resounding bells in chilled autumnal air,
a knell of hope.
Honeycomb paper turkey decorations on the
center of long cafeteria tables.
A hurting truth about America, our country,
is our homeless veterans.
They served, they suffer.
A Thanksgiving for the exhausted-
and, often, unthanked. ~
A chicken dish and the chef who prepared it
end of season birds
hiding within colored leaves
only to be seen
The older woman is seasoned, sassy and secretive, just ask Ms Mim
She can unleash her confidences, but she has learned to keep them
Knowing when to keep quiet, is learned in the hardest of ways
But the experienced crone realizes it makes for much better days
Still life Pics Seasoned Hearts
David J Walker
Still life Pics
Of moving parts
Midnight mix
Of seasoned hearts
A morning sun
An evening moon
The day is done
And gone too soon
And you and I
And I and you
The time goes by
But hearts stay true
Red is yarrow
Yellow Blue
A new tomorrow
In borrowed hue
The still life picks
Its falling parts
But saves for Styx
Its seasoned hearts
I acknowledge You' are my eternal Father, I was
Born an earthly birth, in a corner of a universe
That drew its breath, from Your word rather
More You were, and are and will be; no mortal
Thing çan ever conquer me.' Though i know my
Parents bore and nurtured me, its you who alone
Who own the whole; the spirit heart and soul of
Me.' You sent your son to, get me freed.! from any
Trace of death dark seed, co-heir with Christ my
Opened eyes do see, i lift Your name in all in Majesty
My only hope and trust and guide, i place in You
Forever and ever, and much more besides.! I thank
You Father, for victory won, and the Holy Spirit dear
Lord; who always overcomes, the shadows of any fear.
I used to claim, I'm just getting old til
a friend said, "no, seasoned", with a gentle scold.
It does sound better. I must admit, but am still
pondering which spices fit?
Was I seasoned by the sea with its salty air?
Am I spiced by my anger which at times flares?
Was I peppered by my individual journey, and all
of those people who influenced me?
Are those milder spices acquired with time, like
a touch of coriander, or a pinch of thyme?
I'm hoping to acquire a taste for sage as I
could certainly use some at this ripe old age.
in spring
I am tears on your window,
and spears of thistle,
piggybacking your breeze …
in summer
I am warmth on your brow,
and dew,
cool upon your dusk and dawn …
in autumn
I am burnt colors in your gaze,
and the chill haze,
tugging your tresses …
and,
in winter
I am the keen kiss of cold to your cheek,
the meek hopes of your hearth, felt,
and the melt of snowflakes …
on your tongue.
Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, January 14, 2023
We could widely perceive reasons
for healthy win/win spiritual relationships
and deeply feel seasons
developing wealthy cooperative sacraments
growing nutritional food
and natural fuel
and nurturing fertility
Becoming therapeutic fruit
of nonviolent communion
when ego traumatized nature
lets co-passionately go
Of ancient AnthroSupremacist
monotheistic Capitalist
win/lose degenerative
zero-sum games
Condemning all sacred life networks
to ecocidal lose/lose death
Of Golden Ruling Gaia,
blue/green revolutionary
birthing deep round wombed empowerment
fertilized by richly robust
solar-seasoned
polyculturally polypathic
panentheistic health wealth experience
Deep inside peaking
and wide outside valleyed
ego/ecofeminist depolarizing
spiritual-reasoned/natural-seasoned
health-wealthy economic enlightenment,
ecologically nutritional
empowering
co-invested
So MeWe can widely perceive reasons
for healthy win/win relationships
and deeply feel seasons
of wealthy cooperative sacraments
growing polycultural food
and polypathic fuel
and polyvagal fertility
and polyphonic fantasy.
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