Selected Poems

These are some of my favorite poems from last summer. (They are still drafts, not final versions, and may not be shared outside this website without permission. Thank you.)

JUL-SEP Poems

A season’s worth at once?!  Yes.
Can I explain that? No.
But I do want to start posting poems again.

SEP

ARKANSAS REVEL

I am an Arkansan—able, proud, and free.
I live in a land of diamonds and quartz,
and opportunity.
I live in a land of honey and milk;
a natural state of wonder
with true prosperity.
And I revel in rebelliousness
when the cause is liberty.

I am an Arkansan—able, proud, and free.
I hum those fiddled square-dance tunes…
love pines, oaks, hickories,
white apple blossoms in the spring,
pink tomatoes, rice, pecans,
and splendors such as these.
And I revel in rebelliousness
when the cause is liberty.

I am an Arkansan—able, proud, and free.
I’m bold as a bear or mockingbird,
productive as a bee,
and gentle as a white-tailed deer—
but rough as a raving razorback
when I have to be!
Yes, I revel in rebelliousness
when the cause is liberty!

I am an Arkansan—able, proud, and free.
And I revel in rebelliousness
when the cause is liberty.
Yes, I revel in rebelliousness
when the cause is liberty.

[NOTE: This was a test to see how many
state symbols I could fit in one poem… or song.]

 

AUG

140831

I’ve been quite blessed
with all I have
and all that’s still in store.
I don’t want more
to appreciate;
I want to appreciate more.

 

140810

CHICK IN EGG

Why the effort,
why the urge,
why the struggle to emerge?

I’m designed
to fly—that’s why.
I’m a creature of the sky.

 

140808

PEACE CORE

To all, to each—
Shalom.

There’s no place,
there’s no grace,
there’s no peace
like home.

 

JUL

140728

OCEANIC

Golden Age
has nothing to do
with precious metals
or history’s splash and splish.
No. It’s another kettle of fish.

It’s access to the genie within.
It’s access to every wish.

 

140727

AND SO IT GROWS

The sycamore
outside my window
is such a pleasant sight,
greenly filling in the frame.

Still, by its rate of growth,
it soon will block the light
(or views of anything
except itself).

Nothing stays the same—
yet there’s balance
in each change.

 

140725

ATTEN-SHUN!

When I notice a parade
of judgments and tirades,
something that I used to dread,
I launch a litany of loves instead.

 

140723

NOTICE!

PLEASE
be considerate.
At least, please
consider it.

 

140722

LAST STAND

I stand on a prominence
that is crumbling all around.
It’s black overhead
and I am losing ground.

So why do I feel calm?
I’ve put my trust in you.
Also, as I’ve found,
there’s nothing I can do.

 

* * *

Photo Credit:
Summer sky by Jo Lightfoot