The Road Away

I tried to walk the streets

I tread when I was young,

stopping time and again

reviewing what’s been done

remembered where and when

the dreams I keep were born

and began to comprehend

where yesterday had gone.

I had not remained to watch

the changes going on

and now on my return

there was emptiness, not song.

The roads had all diverged

and taken everything along,

and I was just one traveler now

and very far from home.

(c) 2009, Copyrights belong to the writer, HT.

The trouble with poetry …

(answering Billy Collins’ poem by the same name)

I realized after reading your poem

how small my fish tank is

and how I forget to care for it

on account of having to deal

with bankers who are real sharks.

.

I wish I had rabbits right now.

And knew enough to care for them.

And knew how to sell them

like your poetry book

that I have in my hands.

.

I know of your urges

and I have broken in tonight

to share with you

a memory of summer asphalt

cooled by a fire hydrant

spitting through a tin cylinder

knocking over laughing

children who never saw

a lighthouse or dewy grass.

.

I stole that from no one.

.

But I know what you mean

about secretly wanting an end.

© 2010, Copyrights belong to the artist, HT.

Ode to My Love

by RC

In my life, you are the bright, shining sun.
Your presence makes my heart begin to glow.
As beautiful and graceful as a doe
And as innocent and pure as a nun.
Over you, wars are fought and battles won.
To lose you is the source of all my woe;
Such a day, I don’t want to come to know
Because, to me, you’re always number one.
Perhaps, with my penning of all these lines,
Something deep in your heart and mind will click
And, looking back, you will see all of my signs.
You will realize what you have always meant
To me, who hath always thought thee heav’n sent.
Perhaps then, I will be the one you pick.

Magic and Monsters

by AB

almost learned to deal with the confusion
and then you threw me another curve
don’t know why this is so hard
can’t just push this away
you didn’t imagine me
and i’m pretty sure i didn’t
imagine you
i tried to be honest
just hope that you can be
honest with yourself
because i’m not so sure right now
i just can’t
understand why you can do one thing
and feel another
can’t understand
why i can say one thing
and mean another
i guess without the magic and monsters
we’re coming crashing down
making the jump
or maybe not
i hope i didn’t think wrong
when you told me what you did
i hope you don’t think
this means i’m leaving
because that just won’t happen
i’ll still love you
forever
like i told you
just don’t leave me behind
in the dust
when you decide
please

Waves So Blue

by BL

Roll on, waves so blue
For it’s change that often comes to you
Waiting under the mellow skies
Holding all that lives and dies

When storms come, you see them through
Then show off a calmness new
You’ve had my love through all tides
Though you couldn’t see it for a wave has no eyes

The colder and shorter the days
The less I see the waves
But inside know they’re still there
Swilling beneath the fresh sea air

Hold on, waves so blue
Maybe someday I’ll be close to you
When the air is warm and the days long
I will sing you sweetly our secret song

Red

AM

Red is a rose on Valentine’s Day
A sweet autumn apple
Or a splendid sunset
Ending the perfect day.

Red is fire, a passionate blaze
Or smoldering destruction
Devastating, consuming
Everything in its path.

Red are Christmas baubles
Draped upon a tree
Twenty-six hearts and diamonds
To a deck.

Red is rage, burning fury,
A bull charging the toreador
Consuming wrath that clouds your mind
As well as your sight.

Red is gentle, careful love,
A colored heart adorning a card
The first time your elbows accidentally bump
And a shy kiss under the stars.

Torrid

Anonymous

We’re spinning, whirling, spiraling,
like an amusement park ride,
never-ending, I can’t get off,
I can’t get over you,
I can’t get around you,
not that I want to.

I’d much rather stay right here,
in front of you,
obvious.

I’d prefer to let you,
brighten up my world,
shaming the sun in your brilliance,
have you warm me,
in that ineffable way that you do.

Maybe this is selfish,
it’s certainly sinful,
but, somehow, when your smile,
sets my soul ablaze,
throwing everything else into,
imperceptible shadow,
I can’t bring myself to care.

An Ache

(anonymous)

It’s a feeling unlike

any other

a pain, need, want, all

in one.

It’s a burning, turning

in my core,

my heart, stomach,

down to my knees,

rising into my throat.

It rises to my eyes,

prickling, burning

there.

It escapes my throat,

my eyes,

but burns still

throughout me

an everlasting

ache

Always You

By MO

11:11
the red light illuminates,
the first bright twinkle as I
throw my head back,
candles flicker, my cheeks puffed,
a coin plunks into the water as
I look over my shoulder,
the clover I lift to my face
is even, not odd,
the penny is smiling up at me.
It’s you every chance…
so where are you?

The Holiday Season

by MO
The warmth of those inside,
and the chill that blows in
as each new face enters,
the din is comforting,
the aroma intoxicating,
drugging, somnolent.
Cheer and familiarity,
together, as no other time.
Family and friends,
one and the same,
as glasses clink and laughs
carry through the house.
That time of year.

Elegy: The Vacant Seat

by JO
Just an ordinary day
stunted by a grievous call.
At the foot of the hospital bed,
the family stands astonished.
He lays thoughtlessly,
unknowing of those who care.
His daily walk interrupted suddenly
as his breakfast goes cold, uneaten.
Waiting, watching, praying, hoping,
for a miracle that would never come.
Feelings needed to be concealed,
From the children.
Touching his weathered hands
and talking to his deaf ears.
A one-sided farewell.

And then a final breath.

The loving feeling within
when he came to see me play
is vacant like an empty seat
in the crowd.
But you never vanished from my heart.

Color Poem

by EH

Green are my mother’s forgiving eyes,

A jungle where the bugs can hide.

A peaceful and powerful, calming sound,

A pair of shoes that embrace the ground.

Green is the smell of laundry hung to dry,

Green are the leaves that reach for the sky.

Grass growing graciously, food in the wild.

A soft forgiving cushion for an oblivious child.

Monet’s emotions captured in paint,

Sculptures of ancient envious saints.

An innocent chalkboard, empty and bleak,

A noble cause and a need to speak.

Summer Lost

by KC

Sunny days and cool breezy nights

Driving to the beach jamming out to our favorite songs

With the windows down and the summer winds blowing our hair

Gathering quarters for Hampton’s parking meters

Racing to catch the waves on the boogie boards 

Running out of the water getting sand all over the towels

Putting suntan lotion on soaking up Hampton’s sun

Playing football with unknown friends

Walking the strip looking for boys

Finding summer loves 

Sitting on the beach watching the sunset

Getting beach pizza from Tripoli’s

Endless nights watching fireworks

Bonfires with the family

Telling scary stories 

Summer days and summer nights slowly end

Friends leave for college with high hopes

Waking up early to catch the bus

The cool autumn air approaches like an omen

Until next summer

To Be – Or Not To Be – A Fish

by JRW
 
Do you wish that you could swish,
About the world as does a fish?
Never having  – to emerge,
Always happy to submerge.
All the day he tries and tries,
To eat all others half his size!
All the while evading others –
(Those big toothed, big-finned mothers!)
I’m sure at times it could be cool,
To always travel in a school;
(Of fish that is)
To swim so quickly – and be free
Amongst the creatures of the sea.
Yet, it’s not perfect if you look
At your buddy on a hook;
If you’re not careful you could get
Yourself snagged – up in someone’s net!
No I don’t think I’ll ever wish
To trade my life to be a fish.

The Truth About Dreaming

Night falls upon us

And the light that was shining is gone

The unruly wind is casting

While echoes remember our song

Seconds seems to diminish

As moments appear to grow

Where you are in this darkness

Is blinding and unwilling to know  

Cadaverous glowing

In all words that you say

Credence is fading away

Those days are gone now

When the forest whispered the truth

The wind screams its sorrow

As silhouettes dance on the roofs

The truth about dreaming

Is reality’s word written blue  

Recalling these memories

Etched and stained in the mist

Raining and pouring

Throughout the eternal eclipse  

Darkness enclosing

While this world is asleep

Calling your name is desperation

Promises are yet to keep  

Cadaverous glowing

In all words that you say

Credence is fading away

Those days are gone now

When the forest whispered the truth

The wind screams its sorrow

As silhouettes dance on the roofs

The truth about dreaming

Is reality’s word written blue  

I sail the ocean

I sail the brine

Throughout these waves of memories

I am unable to find

Searching through archways

Of the sacred path

Where we will meet once again

When destiny conquers wrath  

Cadaverous glowing

In all words that you say

Credence is fading away

Those days are gone now

When the forest whispered the truth

The wind screams its sorrow

As silhouettes dance on the roofs

The truth about dreaming

Is reality’s word written blue

Midnight is calling

And I’m sleepily dreaming you