("July 7 - Hot and Blue", 2024, original encaustic)
Turning to Become
As they say, humans are like onions,
Densely layered and prone to making others cry.
But I think a better metaphor is Earth herself,
After all the Good Book tells us
We are created in God’s image.
At the surface all is sweetness and light,
The abundant fruits of survival’s tricky game,
While just below tectonic plates drift to a darker rhythm
Leading to all sorts of uncontrollable forces,
And at the core, something unknown,
But pure and original nonetheless.
So with us, we show our best at the surface,
While just below swell the barely repressed tides
Of biases and bigotries, passions and poisons.
And at our core the mysterious essence abides,
Pure but powerful,
The clear light of primordial awareness
For lack of a better, poetic term.
Each of us is such a complex world,
The micro expressing the macro,
Each of us challenged with being ourselves
And getting along with others.
From cradle to grave Life is the constant,
While we the change
The world is turning to become.
(7/10/24)
("Toats Coulee Pine", 2019, original encaustic/pen & ink original)
Light and Dark
Love is not all sweetness and light
it is also a blade
cutting deep
separating flesh from bone
Both together
the joy of embrace and acceptance
and the pain of loss,
the terror of the void
light and dark
always dancing together...
(9/24/11)
Scintillating Dreams
Searching for magic, in everyday places
it was always well hidden
until you lit the way.
Now I see love, in surprising places
the most marvelous, your face.
Take me to your dreamland
we can combine our fantasies
build ourselves a castle
spread 'cross seas.
Together we'll let our souls free
filled with our own eternal bliss
with our favorite past memories
a place for only you and I.
Thoughts of your lover fresh on the palette of your mind
you answered my thoughts reassuringly and smiled.
"And I will always remember..."
When I recreate you, carved out of necessity
my world, only memorable moments.
Like your last laughter,
somewhere beyond this distance.
The minutes scurry by when I close my eyes,
Us, as lovers, envision fate, tangible.
A goddess, you are, your soft lips parted,
whiteness of gleaming pearls unraveled.
The sweetness and light have never left your face,
As, I look a little closer, just to be sure.
Little things touch my heart,
Things give my day a glow,
A kindness acknowledged
Or the call of a cheery hello.
Family gatherings are noisy but fun,
Four generations
Great-grandparents to Great-grandson
It isn't all sweetness and light
We don't always agree
But we never fist fight.
Life isn't dull,
It's complete and exciteful
Although at my age
I find a lull
Welcome and delightful.
Like all families
We have shared memories galore,
And in the future
There will be many more
Losses and gains
Happiness and joy
But they will forever remain
Our Girls and Boys
Even when I am gone
And no longer there
The collection of memories
Generations will share
They both breeze in, like bright new stars
Nice clean clothes, nice new cars
But they hide their truth like chameleons
And blend into the scenery of Machiavellians
He talks behind her back and she behind his.
It’s all sweetness and light; but a quiz?
Both smiles hide fork tongues
And eyes never leave the floor
They’re the perfect couple, blond and blue eyed
Perfect and emotionless husband and bride
She spits venom when they disagree
He spits contempt the moment he’s free
For days a curtain hung limp, torn and broken,
They’re nods and eyes, glared-words, unspoken.
Stubborn, determination neither gives ground
Curtain remains half-mast, flaps in the lounge.
Now they spend money to replenish their vows
Apply the glue of a mortgage in a new house
Anything that might distract from emotions they feel
Two fish, wriggling to escape the fisherman’s reel
David Cox 23/06/22
Sweetness and light
can’t make everything right
But you’ll never go wrong
putting them in a song
SIMPLY THOUGHTS
Searching for magic, in everyday places
it was always well hidden
until you lit the way
now I see love, in surprising places
the most marvelous, your face.
Take me to your dreamland
we can combine our fantasies
build ourselves a castle
spread ‘cross seas.
Together we’ll let our souls free
filled with our own eternal bliss
with our favorite past memories
a place for only you and me.
Thoughts of your lover, fresh on the palette of your mind
you answered my thoughts reassuringly and smiled
and I will always remember
my lips swiping you all over.
When I recreate you, carved out of necessity
my world, only memorable moments
like your last laughter,
somewhere beyond this distance.
The minutes scurry by when I close my eyes
us, as lovers, envision fate, tangible
a Goddess, you are, your soft lips parted,
whiteness of gleaming pearls unraveled
the sweetness and light has never left your face.
This is really good fun
no one can see me at all
but I can see everyone else
this is astounding, feel so tall
It's amazing what you see
when nobody has eyes upon you
so free to watch on and on
especially to know what to do
Looking now seeing weddings aplenty
love proposes for women love man
as man seeks women for his bride
bringing kids to extend life according to plan
Divorce is banned, no separation
harmony rules forever and a day
such sweetness and light to be found
hold it close before going grey
Invisably enlightened overall
nothing hidden for my eye to see
amazing dreams to wish upon
feels strong like that large tree
(I have written this poem from a quote "If You Became Suddenly Invisible What Would You Do And Go". You would realize no one could see you anymore but you could see them.)
A Poetic Plea
Poets bring some sweetness and light to the Soup
There's too much bitterness and ain't that the truth
A little spice, lots of love goes a long way
Blowing over the sea and far, far away.
Poetry is the language of a poet's heart
A language not meant to tear people apart
Those wishing to stir up enmity and hate
Do not use poetry sites to cast your bait.
7th April 2021
Little known virus billed with hype
is much like the elusive snipe
look for clues and bilk mysteria.
COVID-19 is a blight
take your temperature, dispel fright
combat the urge of hysteria.
Cancellations? don't groan and gripe
take wise advice to wash and wipe
learn CDC’s criteria.
Counter laziness, use your might
raise your normal household fight
reduce viruses, bacteria.
Social distancing is an archetype
of honest help instead of tripe
Heed experts in your area.
Apply intentional foresight,
Observe limits with sweetness and light
Thank God this is NOT malaria.
March 16, 2020
On the surface
you’re all sweetness and light
But ...
the truth is life isn't a game
and if I were to start digging
digging deeper than a gravediggers soiled shovel
I'd see through your libelous lies
which spread daily
like a cankerous carbuncle
Well honey
I’m shooting from the hip -
why can’t you simply sit on your fingers?
Just cut the crap
I’m through with your festering fallacies
get a life
and leave me to live mine in peace
THE CRAP SHOOT POETRY CONTEST Poetry Contest
Sponsored by John Lawless
4/29/19
At times I'm all sweetness and light
At times I'm just darkness and blight
When I'm sweetness and light, everything's right
When I'm darkness and blight, my world turns to night
O, how I wish I could turn off the switch
Or pretend it's a computer glitch
After vows I uttered many moons ago.
Arose two shadows more greater than Van Gogh.
Out of the darkness and into the light these two
shadows grow taller after every sunset delight.
When night follows and their away
these so called shadows
Cloud my dreams with sweetness and light.
With hope someday they will fancy me
without mindfulness spite.
Cheeky little monkey
All sweetness and light
Huggable and cuddly
He brings such delight
He gets in moods a lot
And has a habit of annoyance
But you can’t stay mad with him long
Cos he is as cute as they come
I love my little Jordyn
I love him so much
I can’t explain
The closeness we have together
And his incredible touch
He is my baby boy
My youngest little man
The cheeky one
Of all the clan
The peaceful wish is too much to ask
Of my teenage daughter who wants a blast
Sleep would be nice
A life wouldn’t be so bad
But this is not a laugh
When she makes me mad
Her hormones are racing
Not a little girl
Where did she go
My sweet princess
I really don’t know
I just wish she would realise
The sacrifices I’ve made
But not anymore
She can make her own mistakes
Two little boys
All sweetness and light
They’ve been through the mill
But they are my rocks
Oh I could squeeze them tight
One day she will grow up
And be all nice again
Or has she gone for good
I hope that she will come again
Boys oh boys
Where did I go wrong
You two are so good
So I must have done something I should
I love you all
And that will never change
I just hope she remembers
What she has put us all through
My hubby and I are so strong
She nearly broke us
And tore us apart
I just want to ask her
If she has a heart
I don’t feel I know her
Like I used to
She has changed
And an exception
To the rule
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