The terra firma
A domain which teems with life.
Sans it, landbound die.
Terra Firma
David J Walker
I
How big a place must Eden be
Its borders unknown
Its politics not on display
Its laws kept by passing clouds
Each from the lips of whispered scripture
The peacock's song can be heard
Under the canopy of a transplanted forest
Of oak and birch where the
Cock will remain as long as the
Hen is secured
The world need not be a bigger place
than this
II
What lies beyond the secured borders
Is a matter of speculation
The anticipation of more will drive
The curious mind mad with the
Scent of an unknown difference
Until it is named
III
Only madmen claim dominion
Over air and ground and sea that
Transcends life
The comings and goings of ideals
That means nothing to the mountains
As humans evaluate the usefulness
Of claims and how to prosper
IV
You may know me by location
I am from (Insert the name here)
As if there is a distinction on this
Small blue planet whirling
like a Dervish on
The unknown path through eternity
If this is a sojourn then we will
Meet and rest with others
who will know us
As terra firma
terra firma truths - A Haiku
terra firma truths
a very, weak hell roars
because of the heaven
flames eternal burn
lasting forever always
lies of earthen dad
heavenly Father
cover-ups demons so fell
protect as I fly
off into the skies
rapturing soul spirit soars
because of the heaven
5/2/19
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2019 ©
When both my feet don’t touch the ground
Lightheadedness proves overwhelming
Turbulent thoughts going while coming
They swirl about me round and round
Cloaked in black a moonless night
The howling dreadful spiteful wind prevails
Spellbound drags me over hills and vales
Like a ragdoll in the midst of a bullfight
Trails of lingering spirit ghouls
Hover over murky haze of mistiness
Harassing in dark gloomy cloudiness
Wrangling reaping mangled souls
Blurry visions twirl above
Creating mayhem in their path
Unleashing bold raging wrath
Till afar I think I see a dove
Fearing I’ll break into a coma
I force myself to get a grip
Catch my breath with every dip
Holding out for familiar terra firma
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
(a time piece in space)
behind yonder face
the fat queen lays indolent
subjects scurry blind
a hive of activity
driving each day into night.
© Harry J Horsman 2017
drinking champagne
in a savage champaign
before I was born
after I died
through magnetic fields
spinning
charged
specially relative
that's why my name
is written on them
I wander north
and south of course too
following the streaks
with exquisite corpse
and synapses behind
though with no sense
in a parallel universe
invisible
but still there
real or unreal
through land
and through nothing
sunset mocks rice fields
soil embraced by widow weeds
life source diminished
Back on terra firma.
Solid ground beneath my feet.
Self confidence returned.
No longer inept.
Back on terra firma.
And Daddy's little girl.
Wise-cracking ball breaker.
Tongue lash ready to unfurl.
Back on terra firma.
Step back and let me pass.
I'm in a hurry to catch up.
With my past, at last.
Back on terra firma.
Confidently supreme.
Blessed with so many talents.
It makes me want to scream.
Thank you Dad for planting me.
and Mum, to let me come.
Now, all I need is company.
And a lot more FUN!
Inspirered by a Rose
my attempt at Old English
Terra Firma
If heaven ræste on thy brow
and Hell beneath thy feet
Thus life would be more crowded Now,
Thou has taken seat
Earth playing in space.
Rolling over and over.
Sunrise, sunset, spin!
This chain of rusted iron and fallen tears is strung together,
forged of poorly tempered links,
cast into the water untimely,
the choices called to account.
There is no jury for decision,
no panel for propriety or loyalty,
and that metal is riddled with holes throughout,
holes that hold steady between the weak iron,
holes which time will fade.
Oxidation slowly burns away this tepid and unfocused purpose,
obliterating importance and leaving nothing but red, or green dust.
A corpse of what poor choices that were made,
left for the isotopes to feed on,
which they do.
Where the rock is king.
And the earth beneath it all is always laughing,
laughing at our fear of silicate embrace,
the love we have for our belligerant air;
So here we burn together,
here we rust and wilt away, petals to the barren ground.
we blow away...
Where the rock is king.
War and Peace collide in vain
Mankind will suffer anguish and pain
As the earth warms up through ignorance and greed
One day we'll find it hard to feed
In case you'd forgotton we're all the same race
If not in religion but surely in faith
Father daughter son and mother
Why do we find it so hard to love one another
This poem will not stop the pain
But maybe slow the wind of change
How many times have you cried
When on the news more men have died
Jesus and Mohammed said "i am the light"
Why on earth do we take their name in fight
Strip away the colour of skin
You'll find we all own a skeleton within
Remember this: There will come a day when there will be no more
the circle begins.... we're back to war
One day we all will finally depart
Take your body but leave your heart
A final thought as you go about your lives
Try to see the world through each others eyes
Be kind and caring to one another
We've got this planet........ we have no other
They grazed their sheep upon my grass
So many centuries in the past
In feudal times,a monastery of hope
'Til King Henry divorced the Pope
In later times upon my hill
They set a smock windmill
As Victoria came on her throne
A brewery made this site its own
Later in more social times, a public bath
In which poor folk cleansed at my hearth
The 'sixties brought a different call
Under an impersonal shopping mall
Change continues on,so persistent
But my soil stays,omniscient
Whims and fancies fly sky-high
Each man's dreams touch the troposphere.
Some find it within themselves to break
Free from earth's restricting sphere!
But come they must for their final roost,
To earth be still fast-bound.
From dust ye came and there ye'll rest
Merged finally with the ground!
So soar on high to the utmost point
Go light years hence from the earth.
But do realise that come what may
Your one with your place of birth!
I know that visions of galactic jaunt
Find pride of place in you.
But humble origins is your lot
Find realism in all ye do!
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