I watched the news last night
at 11 o’clock on channel eight.
As usual,
it told of disaster,
death,
loss,
and sorrow.
I hate repeats.
First Appeared, Animated Blue, volume 33, 1980. All rights reserved.
The world has become a
Watch, watch world
Cameras in the streetlights
The workplace, at the Malls
Inside the grocery stores and
Even in your homes thanks to
Smart TV's, smart phones and your home
Security system, satellites spying eyes
Are everywhere invading your
Privacy
Eyes filled with pride, he watched with love
He whispered "Thanks" to God above.
Walked slowly down the aisle his bride
He watched with love, eyes filled with pride.
So beautiful her wedding gown
The aisle his bride walked slowly down.
With elegance so natural
Her wedding gown so beautiful.
With vows well planned, both took their stance
Quite natural with elegance.
Eyes for each other, hand in hand
Both took their stance with vows well planned.
Married now much to discover
Hand in hand, eyes for each other.
With wedding rings they sealed each vow
Much to discover, married now.
We watched from the upstairs window
when we retreated from Dad’s bellicose anger,
that family next-door laughed and played
as if they had nothing to fear from adults
who put on a happy face when out and about
but dissolved into dark shadows at home,
dark shadows that whispered evil things
and shouted when you tried to explain
there was school work needed done,
and please don’t leave a bruise the teachers can see.
I felt like I was being watched
Looked to my right, my left, down on the ground
Saw nothing
Walked another step
finally looked up
there was an enormous leopard watching me
high in my oak tree
a smug look on his face
I wanted to ask “comfy up there?”
but I didn’t.
lovely lively lithe lambs leaping
making merry without peeping
nurtured by nature’s natural safekeeping
older sheep’s aged joints are creaking
pleasure in seeing little lambs, they’re seeking
we are being watched
by our observant oven
she keeps us honest
when we mix batter
too bad she cant set herself
three hundred fifty
two dogs sit at my feet watching me type
they are my staff, Buddy and Beau
They follow me around as if they are ducklings
and I am their mama duck
they would cram themselves into the bathroom
if I let them
but I don’t
this mama duck has limits
I am thinking about making them bacon for breakfast
but they also like turkey and ham
we like feeding our babies up
Daddy duck and I
They follow him around if I am not home
Which has only happened three days in a year
and will not happen again for another year
in the meantime, they are on guard
watching me, making sure I do not leave
as I just returned home
It's sunset.
Shadows cast across my face,
blades of grass
as tall as an oak tree.
Closing my eyes,
they fall on darkness.
I watched you grasp for air
You fought and fought hard
I felt helpless
I wanted to help but didn’t know how
Your hospital monitors were going crazy
I wanted to cry but couldn’t
It was like voices in my head saying shouldn’t
Witnessed your agony and pain
Tears wanted to fall
I held back
Your eyes and body went into a seizure
I knew from within
You would be leaving this Earth
Suddenly your body went lump
I felt your leg and it was cold
Your eyes were closed and then totally breathless
You got your heavenly wings
I cried uncontrollable
Into the skies your soul soared
You roam now in the ever after.
As I sat and watched the sun this morning, rise
It made me realize
There were children waving "Bye"
To the blue birds in the sky
When I sat and watched the sun this morning, rise
The blue birds flapped their wings
And the children on their swings
It made me realize
That children are having fun
And blue birds fly in the sun
"When I sat and watched the sun this morning, rise"
As I watched the sun this afternoon
I thought the night would be here soon
It made me realize
That when that sunlight dies
I'll sit and watch this evening's moon, rise
I sat and watched this evening's moon, rise
It made me realize
There were stars out in the skies
I could hear the angels sing
And I thought...what else this night might bring?
"While I sit and watch this evening's moon, rise"
The watched pot never boils.
The watched clock slows.
The stalked knows,
to watch the suddenly still ones,
that lie moored with anchor bestowed,
just out of reach, wanting, staring, blinking,
in bated breath,
to sneak a furtive peak,
deceptive.
The watcher's silence and stillness disclose
the watcher's deception in plain sight.
The little birdie you hope
will not notice you when you freeze
to take a snap, or secret close-up glance,
is watching you intently.
The watched are watching you,
waiting deceptively on-watch,
as time slows, and
the game of mutual deception,
plays out.
If a watched pot never boils,
why am I looking at the steam from the pot?
Then I burned myself.
Watched it, well not IT, not the balloon
with a clown attached to it.
Watched a true story better left alone
I’m all alone
I must dispense the dust cover of fear
My pillow is mauled
in toss and turn
My hand must not rest over the cliff
I wake up into full sunshine
as if
all the light that has ever been
hits me on the chin and cheeks
Funny how the dark tucks you in
and the dawn pretends
you’ve never been
and never will
be frightened again
I watched the waves
Just to feel
When nothing is real
Fantasy is a real escape
I feel the drain
Stress leaving my mind
And I feel
The wind on my cheeks
I smell
The salt of the ocean
I feel
The sand against my toes
I just
I just want to be free
I'm so tired
Of fighting
Of crying
Of trying
So here I am
All inhibitions cut loose
I just wish
The waves would take me away
Take me far away
To the better days
I left behind
Won't you please
Just take me away
Prayers unanswered
I sat
I watched the waves
Just to escape
When nothing is real
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