The future
In about two million years this whole place is going to be a desert.
Perfection
The bright moon, shining in all its glory
Hovers over the pristine lake
I sit beneath a canopy of stars
The atmosphere still as can be
Normally, at this hour, I hear the wolves
But this night, all is still
They’re never a threat, always off in the distance
But, I enjoy their howls; they’re free to speak their mind
I lean back my chair and listen to nothing but the waves
The River is higher than usual for this time of year
My ideal summer night – just the moon, iced tea, and quiet
I remember many nights like this as a kid
I was always afraid of the wolves
They causes my toddler eyes much panic
My father told me that they’re God’s creatures
And they were here before us
That was enough for me, so ever since
They have not bothered me one bit
So, here I sit with the bright moon
Shining in all its glory
Thinking back upon my life
Realizing how blessed I am to enjoy these nights
And just then, a bald eagle flew overhead
Yes, this night was perfection
No need for social outlets, telephones, or television
Just nature’s lessons and me
So calm, so peaceful and so healing
For just a moment, all is right in the world
THIRTEEN
This is not about the kitchen table
The kitchen table never touches the floor,
hangs from the wall like a shelf.
The kitchen table where we ate so many dinners,
its three sides and the three of us.
The kitchen table where we read the small script
of our small drama.
The kitchen where my mother cooks and cooks,
and I am nine, standing in the doorway
with my friend Julie,
my cousin, at the table, changed in these two ways:
her handsome nose now bobbed to a nubbin
her delicious rough-bark name sanded to a smooth plank.
I introduce her by the wrong name,
the kitchen table a witness, holds my humiliation like a stain.
(#5/12): “Pokemon Gone”
These mindless hordes
Have descended everywhere.
Roaming recklessly
Night and day.
In a craze to capture,
What, exactly?
© 2016 SP
Walking Through Life
Who will walk with me
down life’s path?
Will someone take my hand
and with me traverse life’s terrain?
Who will it be
that shields me from life’s wrath?
Will someone protect me across the land
never letting me to feel pain?
I will hold your hand
and walk through life with you.
I will not leave your side
or let you lose your way.
By you I will stand
closely stuck together as glue.
Protecting you with pride
and never ever leading you astray.
We will walk together in glee
as ambassadors on love’s behalf.
Each other’s right hand
in sun and in rain.
Living life as grand
as the sky is big and blue.
Hand in hand, side by side
as darkness falters to our glorious light.
Cancel the Band…no dancing tonight!
Cancel the band…no dancing tonight!
Under the Canopy
out at the Lake
the wedding took place
though it was a mistake
The bride knew for weeks
he was not the right guy
but she just couldn’t handle
saying “goodbye”
She put on her makeup
and dressed up in lace
repeated the vows
with a veil o’er her face
Then …after the wedding
in front of the guests
with the moon shining down
she was put to the test
a pain in her breastbone
was cause for alarm
Panic set in …
She grabbed the groom’s arm
Here they were
in all of their Glory
but this would be
the end of their story
The Jeep was decorated
packed and ready to go…
till the Honeymoon ended
when She finally said “NO!”
(#4/12): “Uictoria” (“Victory”)
An interest kindled.
In childhood, inspired.
Those early stumbles.
Uncertain despair.
Those cold mornings and long days.
All sacrifices made.
Surmounting obstacles and conquering all challenges.
In a quest for perfection.
One precise goal.
One luminous victory.
One shining gold.
All the years of sacrifice have paid off.
© 2016 SP
Surrounded my Soul
The pain of the darkness that surrounded my soul.
Their wasn’t no more light in my soul.
The darkness of the pain that surrounded my soul.
Will never be no more light of love.
the love that used to be in my soul was.
Darken by the darkness of hell.
August Memory
We rented a Jeep to travel over
rutted roads to the family’s
welcoming piney wood cabin.
When we reached our destination,
the panic I felt had dissolved into joy.
We were cloistered by the tranquility,
hominess and comfort of the
gingham curtains and canopied bed.
Outside, the half-moon sky recalled
the glory of the vast hours spent
reading, swimming or rowing the
tboat across the lake where we
talked through the idleness of
August’s green days and genial
nights that came in late summer.