From the late 50s until the mid-60s,
As I struggled through the mid-summer heat,
I searched but found neither retreat nor relief.
From before sunrise until after the setting sun,
a little boy labored with a hoe in the hand in the
Spring or with a big cotton sack on his shoulders
in the Fall. Very little favor was the lad ever given.
I longed for the brevity of a sweet release.
It wasn't enough to be shaded by a willow tree.
I craved for the lasting joy of being forever free.
Freedom to feel a cooling comfort upon my body;
Freedom for my soul to set its compass toward my destiny;
Freedom to refuse futility and determine my own choice of toil;
Freedom for my spirit to be dislodged from the cherished delta soil.
By grace, my spirit rose from Cottonland to a higher richer ground.
And like an eagle, I soared high with my wings on the wind.
Categories:
winded, america, childhood, freedom, work,
Form: Free verse
I’m sitting on my lawn chair
Outside the night is cool
I hear the trees swaying
The breeze chills my skin
It knocks on my hippocampus
Am I here or where it blows?
Breeze, you are timeless
From queens to divas, the same
You carry me back to my childhood
You go from high to my lows
You leave me bereft as you leave
You come at my like a windmill
Alone I’m ash on your windy night
It takes a Starry Night like tonight
It takes a Van Gogh to go with you
I would go mad like the wind
I would chase that lonesome boy
I would ride his Sirocco to him
But I am too sane to be a zephyr
Enough wind, it’s time to go in
Make sure the windows are closed
No wind, you can’t get to me
No, you will not breeze through me
The nostalgia you profess is shuddered
The lonesome boy is here within
I wish you would take him with you
But, that would mean we are you
When I’m dust we’ll both join you
We’ll chase the highs to lows
Come and visit me next time
I’ll bundle up and be ready
Just in case you carry me away
I won’t repeat what Vincent did
When he met you on a …
Starry, starry night
Categories:
winded, childhood, night, nostalgia, star,
Form: Free verse
Sitting waiting, waiting for the light,
anticipating the retreat of the night.
The mallards have gathered awaiting their feeding.
They always appear to be fiercely competing.
A song birds trill permeates the air,
spilling out it's chords, tender, fair.
A boisterous crow joins the conversation.
Flying to and fro with his long winded explanation.
The full moon fades tucked somewhere far away,
as nature greets a brand new day.
Categories:
winded, nature,
Form: Light Verse
this wheat
quivers
like flesh
beneath
the whispers
of love’s lips
softly tracing
tongued secrets
around the edges
I tremble
the same
within
these thoughts
Categories:
winded, wind,
Form: Free verse
the cold refreshment
sweeps through the redtop mountains -
the sunny-blue wind
~ ~ ~
pleasure of rolled down windows
and grandson’s afternoon nap
1/25/2019
Categories:
winded, grandson, weather,
Form: Senryu
I wrote a poem,
it was long winded,
but I'm posting this one,
because I binned it,
and as it went,
it was an accident,
and with the bin full of goo,
save that poem I wouldn't do.
Categories:
winded, silly,
Form: Rhyme
All the words I wish to say to you
Have all been said a thousand times before.
So I won't bore you with them now.
You've already seen the northern lights,
Winter's morning, and old forests all.
So I won't show you what you mean to me.
I know love songs greater than the ones that I could ever hope to write
have tiptoed through your radio.
So I won't bruise your ears with mine.
The broken mirror in your pocket paints a better portrait
than the stained glass windows of the church I built for you inside myself.
So I won't let you in.
Objectively,
You've had better than I could ever hope to give you.
Objectively,
That's fine.
Categories:
winded, feelings, heart, love, love
Form: Free verse
Luke lived in a place prone to an earthquake.
One in the offing made him shiver and shake.
He decided to act with full speed
Throwing caution to the wind indeed.
And moved to south Florida for safety’s sake.
Categories:
winded, fear, humor,
Form: Limerick
My friend let me share with you,
the secret of what I do,
It really is a mystery,
I have no clue is the truth you see?
It just happens to me.
I ask many questions,
I don't pretend to know,
of what's so familiar it makes
my heart glow. It just is.
From lifetimes ago.
I have a story of what it might be.
Floats around in my head,
demands attention from me.
Compelled to write an
arrangement on life.
Hearing the language
of what's behind my eyes.
But I don't know why.
I love all the same,
everything about this crazy game.
I'm fortunate and grateful to hear,
Another voice in the Wind out there.
Even if understanding's not clear.
It feels quite right,
like the warmth of a light,
Like the smell of a fresh spring day.
I'm in love with it,
when it comes my way.
A mystery this voice in me,
as puzzles are shown to my eyes.
And I don't know why….
But to my own surprise….
Sometimes I try and it's not quite right.
Sometimes I don't and then it takes flight,
and it's right….and a quiet write into light...
but I don't know why.
Just a glimpse you see… it's the oddest part
of the secret me.
Categories:
winded, friendshipwrite, voice, love, voice,
Form: I do not know?
If only to write...
~is a poet's gift,
deepest of thoughts
to form rhythmic lips...
If only to love...
~is a lover's dream,
fullfilling barren hearts
from an endless stream...
Winded whispers
if only to write,
winded whispers
if only to love...
If only to write,
if only to love,
morning and night
to below from above....
Categories:
winded, faith, love
Form: Free verse