*** This Painting I Do ***
(A Devotion Poem for Jim)
It is my heart
Painting your portrait
Out over this paper
After I caught your profile,
When you weren’t looking,
Casting your attention
In another direction,
While I blended in
The colors of your chin,
And you hadn’t known that
I’d peeked over
Your well-kept
Walls of mystery, which
Usually…no, always even I
Do not cross…But
Today the artist, I,
Let my sight spy
To set down the contour lines
Of your portrait, which
I promise when completed
To then hide this artwork
From the view of anyone else:
Beneath a cross-hatched weave
Of a thousand tiny strokes
Of glittering beams of gold,
And shining rays of silver,
Stippled stars overall to consume
You — silhouetted by all the light
Of God’s gracing and
My loving heart’s way
Of seeing you.
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(C) sally young eslinger 12/10/2022
Thanks be to God…
———————————————————————————————
(C) sally young eslinger 12/10/2022
Thanks be to God…
Concrete lanes going north ribbon themselves past barns and fields and small towns. A talk show interview plays on the radio, saying everyone has a story to tell. This morning a ghost of a passing moon hangs to the west, holding onto dreams. As I drive, I feel I’m in some kind of dance with friends of the past and friends of now. All I have to do is to pull to the side, close my eyes and watch the planets and stars dance beyond the blue. This land bears its history of prairies and forests cleared, of natives gone. Just before the turn off, ponds shimmer under the sun, giving a moment’s peace. Just beyond, some other people to greet, memories to envision another day.
travels luminate
landscapes of my many lives
reflections of time
McCain Was Well Kept
McCain was well kept even when he slept;
Then we knew God his life would intercept;
To heaven bring;
Hear angels sing;
Trump stayed in White House totally inept.
Jim Horn
Victoria’s Secret Well Kept
By Elton Camp
Those pictures of sexy lingerie
Women is intended to betray
Come buy here and look like this
They imply to each passing miss
Women like those are very rare
It’s why their pictures are there
Women’s fantasies to inspire
Marketers never seem to tire
To look that sexy and cute
It puts women into pursuit
Real women whom men admire
Don’t need such garb to inspire
There’s no need to look divine
Ordinary appearance is just fine
Men look, but don’t highly rate
Such a wife would intimidate
If my wife looked like that dame
She might be hunting another name
A regular wife will surely do
For I’m ordinary looking too
There's a quick remedy for those neglected smiles,
even your dentist won't tell you that...
it's still a well-kept secret;
grandma whispered it to mother,
and mother to daughter,
but not father to son? Isn't it hypocritical, boys?
All women must be kissed by impatient men,
and what's more attractive than
teeth whitened by inexpensive baking soda, guys?
It's time you made yours whiter than Paul's!
Shamelessly in front you strut
in your flimsy swimming suit,
curves and cleavage exposing
aimed to rouse and scintillate.
Stop! don't waste time on me
showing off what men had seen;
bare yourself and go naked,
you won't interest me still.
The flesh you fully reveal
is far from what I'm after;
it is the secrets you keep
that I want to uncover.
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