If I must live alone in wait for thee
I would but think of thy fair voice in ear
and look to when a word from thee I'd see
perchance thy post will finally be here!
Ah, love thou puts my patience to the test
but for a daily care I've shared with thee.
this one "non-poem" placed there among the rest
gives birth to punishment unfair to me!
But I will do my penance with a smile
and write to thee of how I always feel.
Love words to thee I'm spinning all the while
because, though new, my love for thee is real.
And so I pray thee safe from distant harms
until the day I hold thee in my arms.
There is so much that each of us must do
to bring good order to what was our prior state.
It keeps the distance great between we two
what "will be" brings me hope and I will wait
I think of you encircled by my arms
to feel you pressed so close against my breast
as all the outside cares our love disarms
and all connections fears are put to rest.
All I can do for now is think and write
of what adventure our tomorrows hold
I cannot reach across for you at night
and with love's blanket seek to you enfold
I know you feel as I and long to be
with me in love with you, you loving me.
An ivy covered nest it shelters there
a couple who have newly learned to be.
In seeking a joint life they wish to share
full of flowers, fragrance, songs and sights to see.
It never was their plan to be just so;
'twas happenstance that forced their paths to cross:
we never can be sure of what we know
and chances can be gainful or bring loss.
But standing at that fork in their life's way
they took that trail which unknown lay ahead.
You can't decide both to go and to stay.
You need to trust your heart and not your head.
If my heart is right I know that you will see
We shall grow and blossom each most lovingly.
To dream of you is where my mind finds flower
I love to think of when we can be joined
In thoughts of you I've spent a frequent hour
The precious seconds with you I've purloined
But, oh the pain of being here alone
When holding you is no more than a dream
And all your words to me come by the phone
We snatch brief seconds guessing what we mean.
I hope, in time, to hold your hands in mine
Where are not most vexatious things to heed
No children clamoring to take the line
And I can give you all the love you need.
Though absent love has put me in a state,
You needn't think that I'll forget to wait
The spring is quite a season for the eye
I love to view the blossoms in the breeze
Around each corner something new I spy
Newly born like blade of grass and bud on trees
It is the hour of the birth of life
When frozen hands relax a deadly grip
All nature's males seeking out a wife
While youthful love on sprightly dance will trip.
I hope that soon I will not view alone
The glories of rebudding that is spring
I pray for prior sins I may atone
And then with other creatures I might sing
But I will tell you this, and count it true
Twill be no glory song 'till there is you!
The whisper of the ocean is my friend
I long to hear the babbling of a brook
The sound of water makes my senses bend
Into a place where others seldom look
The beach can be a special warming place
No matter if in February chill
For me it always marks a special place
To go there seeking solitude I thrill
I ask no other folk to understand
Or see what awesome beauty fills my eye.
To be there where the ocean meets the land
And feel a oneness, water, earth and sky
To think of sharing this would never do
But I would make exception, love, for you.
I cannot , Darling, help but think of thee
Though other cares intrude throughout my day
I, in seclusion, with thee long to be
To touch thy cheek and learn thy gentle way.
I reach for thee at night and can't thee find
But surely quite close feel thee nonetheless
It's because of thy possession of my mind
It's there I feel the warmth of thy caress
So soon would I compress the distance great
That occludes attempts to touch thee even now
And obviate the patient need to wait
I would whisk thee here and leave thee wondering how.
I sublimate my passions with thee there
What joy we'll know when we become a pair!
Love has a fine and gentle, precious sound
When first it wafts out sweet into the air.
It warms whatever being it's around
And fills the heart of one who's waiting there.
Some quiet place within my soul knows
The need inside me always to confess
The touch which planted fast in my heart grows,
Although it be a seedling, nonetheless.
The gift you gave to me is treasure true
And one that will not tarnish o'er the years.
What we may in the future chance to do
Will come to me with smiles and not with tears.
It would make my heart glad if by my touch
You too have shared this treasure half as much!
You shall not make my world a better place
By filling places where I am not whole.
Our separation gives us time and space
Which leads us both to ultimate control.
Should we neglect to learn these lessons due
And treat our pieces as if puzzle parts,
You finding you in me and I in you,
Will always lead us toward new broken hearts.
So take what I can give to you, my sweet.
I'm here for you as long as I may live.
Yet could I place the world there at your feet
It would not be the best gift I might give
To name the greatest service I could do:
It's to be all I need -- then come to you!
It's time that I should trundle off to sleep
I should not think these thoughts of you, my dear
I have tomorrow's rendezvous to keep
I should not fret because you are not here.
But think of you I must, for you I love
And miss the time whenever you're away
I can but look alone to God above
To bring us close together, this I pray
I know I'm only whistling in the dark
No earthly power can know what path we take
My dreams of us might only be a lark
And waiting for you could be a mistake
I don't know much of anything but this
My life will be a void without your kiss.
I did not ask to sit here thus alone
It could be worse than me alone with me
This empty feeling's not the worst I've known
The choice to separate came not from me.
Stretched out within this jet way to the sky
A sea of concrete, baggage craft and planes
I wait my flight and sadly wonder why
Through most of her is gone -- a part remains
I guess there is a place where no one goes
That holds the secret that we all might share
And if I ask to find it, heaven knows
If anyone would ever find me there.
Such places can not hold out hope to me
Reunited you and I will never be!
I don't decide just when to think in verse
The rhythms flow uncalled into my mind
Some time it oft can seem to me a curse
When unrecorded I leave them behind
At times I wave insistent thoughts away
And take control of pathways of my head
Sometimes I think they'll come another day
Like winter birds they fly away instead
But few could know what resolution brings
When on a paper I can place a thought
Or understand the song my spirit sings
To see what my creative labor brought
When all of my creative juices flow
It is the greatest pleasure one could know.
Love should be like the circle bathed in light
Found upon these candlesticks I give to you.
The flame will send its glow into the night
An abiding love in time will give its due.
I think if I could build for you a dream
It would be that you find this endless love
The fabric of your lives would have no seam
While bathed in light that shines from up above.
I know that paths from end to end aren't smooth
And times will come when darkness drowns the light.
Perhaps those times these words can help to soothe
And restore truth that sometimes slips from sight.
I know the love that's found while seeking peace
Can only with the pass of time increase
If you could walk beside me here, my queen
I think our lives could take a gentle path.
We could explore what now remains unseen
And I could dry your tears and hear you laugh.
I would, I think, find trails within the wood
Where nature spreads its verdant canopy
as we walk while holding hands we could
Look to our souls and be all we might be
For now our distances to oft cut short
The time we need to find out who we are
And though we try each other to support
The time and miles have proved a lethal bar
I pray each night for strength from God above
To wait out his plan for us, my gentle love.
Come lay beside me, hold me fast my sweet.
Exchange with me the treasures of this night.
We two can join a pleasured love elite,
while valuing each other's gifts a-right.
Let's strip our worldly outer cares away,
Our love the only blanket that we need,
And vanish all concerning of the day;
To outside interruptions pay no heed.
For I am lost in you -- and you in me
Our love will rise like butterflies to light
The gifts we give set one-other free
The fabric of our love a pleasant sight
Although we've loved our fill when time to leave
we both know, with the dawn, what we must grieve
Can I but hope to tell you how I feel
When days pass and I have no word of you.
I wish I had the chance from you to steal
The right to call and means of getting through
But you, with lover's cowardice abound,
And withhold from me the answer to my prayer.
My destination's in the lost and found.
You seem intent to try to keep it there!
I don't intend to complicate your life.
I just would hope that I could chose my way.
I don't, for now, see you a future wife,
Even should you be divorced some day!
I just want part of you, for now, that's all.
Too bad I can not ever chose to call!.
Days of spring mean special time to me
I walk along the arbor's gentle green
Beneath the bridge the river seeks the sea
My spirits rise to view this verdant scene
If not enrobed with gold from out the sun
This view would hold no change from seasons past
Because the spring has in my mind begun
My attitude seems warmer now, at last
It truly seems we make our place to dwell
Although we view it coming from without
The mind creates its heaven or its hell
And forces us to live in it, no doubt.
I could at last achieve my greatest hour.
Were I to hold the reins of mental power
I look up to the towering canopy
Of trees limbs reaching upward to the sky
And try to learn the lesson left for me,
A gift from nature none would dare deny.
As breezes blow, their swaying to and fro
Keeps all the gentle beauty in is place.
The need to bend, the trees all seem to know
And meet the force of nature full of grace.
I pray that I may find a way to take
The messages that I have chanced to see
So I can learn to bend and not to break
And, while I live, be all that I can be
This simple gift of truth is all around
The wood is where God's messages abound
Promenade
A gentle promenade into the light
as mommy holds fast to a tiny hand
while in her other holds the flowers tight
she gathered from within this magic land
The woman's eyes they gaze a wistful blue.
Her face is rounded in the deepest thought;
full of passion, lips suffused with dew
and all the glow that kissed loving brought.
Could I but walk inside that quiet glade
and touch the things that Renoir often saw
I'd live within the beauty that he made
but here I stand instead in total awe
To see his gifts turn turbulence to hush
What miracles of canvas, paint and brush!
Inspired by Renoir's "Promenade" seen during a trip to the Barnes Exhibit while
it visited the Philadelphia Art Museum in the spring of 1995. -- vdo
Fleetingly we touch each other as we pass
through our travels on to places yet unknown
while viewing life as through a looking glass
and in cold reflection we remain alone.
A miracle that we may find, despite
the ways in which we often seek to hide,
a part of what we're made of gains the light
that could stay lost in darkness deep inside.
When friendship bridges distances of years
Bringing with it recollections which are fond,
Sometimes of laughter -- other times of tears,
Then isolated hearts at last respond.
I feel the need to let you know it's true;
if you'll be real for me -- I will for you!
The finite nature of my life is not
so well displayed right to its very end
that it's obvious how little time I've got
or that my broken places may not mend
It seems as if the timeless hand of fate
in touching a bright face to leave its mark
permits the souls it spared to celebrate
but, if truth be known, we're whistling in the dark
To leave this life alive there's no escape.
We only fool ourselves with different thought,
elevate to warfare any little scrape
though the real battle we have not yet fought
I spend such time denying I can't know
when Death taps on my shoulder -- will I go?
By now you know how much you mean to me!
At least I hope, at last, that this is true.
To be first with birthday wishes I would be
but it is difficult so far away from you!
Were I with you, I might start out your day
at midnight sharp when wakened with a kiss.
Perhaps I might just coax you into play!
Would you accept a present such as this?
At daylight I would bring to you a treat,
a tray of fruit, no piece of which you'd scorn
would be placed upon your bed lap -- oh so neat!
Love, Bananas, 'Berries and a sunny morn!
And of course you'd have, for better or for worse
upon your tray, some sentimental verse.
In growing into who we're meant to be
we travel through a wilderness of trails
Sometime we miss the path we'd hoped to see,
unavoidably our vision often fails.
But if we try on failure to renew
the resolution to be who we truly are
and above it all to our own self be true
let truth become our single guiding star
At our long journey's end we hope to say
that we've been faithful during each life test
and though our choices often went astray
we always tried to do our very best
No matter what the outcome, this we know:
the "who you are" will teach you where to go!
Ocean Power
My heart is truly beating with the sea
as wave on wave comes crashing to the shore.
Each minute's precious music fair to me
as timeless into time my spirits soar.
And so goes passing second, day and hour
Of water rolling endless on the beach.
True glory be to God in all his power
To man such an eternity can't reach.
So I must celebrate the wondrous scene
And lift faint praise to all that I survey,
But weakly try to speak of what I mean
Words can not hope this beauty to convey.
The magic spreads before me where I stand
This majesty of ocean meeting land.
I can't help that I'm staring at your card
To remind me of this night I spent with you
To stare at you in person I was barred
But to stop me now is something you can't do!
I see your smiling face and recognize,
Remembering hours ago I held you fast,
Such pleasure just to look into your eyes
And feel the warmth your gaze upon me cast.
I know it's fearful now look ahead
To what tomorrow brings to aching hearts
I will not push -- I'll take what comes instead
And trust to wondrous and auspicious starts!
We both have many wounds that time must heal
But is there doubt what we've just shared is real?
Special Gift
I think sometimes to be alone with me
Can be a wonder full of pleasure rare
The peace that solitude can bring, you see
Can put to flight the thoughts of trial and care
It's not that I would banish from my side
Those loving souls who complicate my life
But I must have what often I'm denied
In duties asked of mother and of wife
I doubt that I would trade what either brings
I could not live without my family
And knowing how the quiet in me sings
For me to chose just one would not be me!
Just to know my needs this way gives life a lift
And to be at peace with me's a special gift!
I find my life is cornucopiesque
The plenitude surrounding me is great
While god in philanthropic arabesque
Leans closer still his bounty to donate
No one around me knows all I possess
They see the tribulations that I scoff
But tender friends and children to caress
Are fortunes which cannot be carted off
Despite these gifts I truly recognize
When some who would control me touch my life
The tears that I have hid behind my eyes
Blur the wealth while substituting strife
It's hard at times to live noblesse oblige
When your heart's castle undergoes a siege
You cannot know the way you've touched my heart
Temporarily is not the proper word
I grieve the fact that we are still apart
Despite what you have in the silence heard!
Our memories amaze me with their life
Without a time for meeting face to face
These feelings seem to overcome the strife
That we have fought alone in separate place
I still have dreams of being close to you
And finding time to walk, you by my side
And if heard that you and I were through
You've listened love to voices which have lied!
For me, the time with you not in my head
Will happen only after I am dead!
Betty Birthday Sonnet
How should one note the birthday of a friend
Whose generosity has known no bounds
Her altruism never seems to end
A try to square the books simply astounds
So I am left to try to demonstrate
Appreciation that I feel galore
With meals and trinkets which are less than great
And words with which the balance to restore
I say these thing somewhat with tongue in cheek!
There is no contest as to show our thought;
I doubt it true that either one would seek
To measure love by gifts that we have bought.
But I can say to you and know it's true
I can't give more than share myself with you.
I can't help think of being in your arms
While sharing time together, one on one
A new and loving feeling gently warms
The relationship that we have just begun
My darling it is good just knowing you!
You fueled the passion that gives birth to words
And lifted veils revealing treasure new
Akin to springtime flowers, trees and birds
This magic nature born in loving you
Gives wings to thoughts and helped my spirits soar
God grant the things we share are good and true
Our hearts can learn to sing now as before.
I thank an ever present Higher Power
For granting us each magic day and hour.
When I think that you'll be flying soon to me
And I will hear your laughter from nearby
It's such a fine entrancing thought you see
At last to view the twinkle in your eye
So far from me you live and yet we're near
In every way except proximity
Because I know you'll be with me, my dear,
Anticipation works inside of me!
Yet, as I know all things must come to ends
This visit, too, will bring a time to part
As with these verses, love to you ascends
And when you go it will be with my heart
I only dream of coming wondrous day
When my true darling never goes away.
At last I know how radiant can be
Your smile when sensing how someone might care
And maybe this time you won't chance to see
A time to come when he's no longer there
But could I help you try to break the script
That love is always dashing for the door
While clutching in his hand the heart he ripped
From the breast where issues love for ever more
I don't quite know if you can change this way
Or if the pattern fills some other need
But I assure you, there could come a day
At last you could from loneliness be freed
How our love tale will end is up to you
I promise I will do all I can do!
I look into your eyes and feel your love
It warms me, fills my heart with hope and joy
And who could fail to thank the Power above
Conceiving you did all his skills employ
But once again I serve the master cruel
By saving a fair damsel in distress
Again repeat the lesson as the fool
With each seductive gesture and caress
By now you'd think I'd learn not to repeat
The same mistake exactly once again
Look down once more and see her at my feet
A lover who's unworthy of all men
Oh, God might I abandon the despair
By finding loves in need of my repair.
I couldn't see the signals that you sent
I was confused as anyone could be
One minute I'd see love and then it went
And you remained just tolerating me
I guess it helped to bring your child, sweet
Afraid that she might lose her mommy dear
And I would kiss the ground beneath your feet
Which didn't help assuage the child's fear
And yet it was a wondrous time for me
To travel, just your daughter, you and I
The folk who saw us said, "Nice family!"
You saw me turn my thanks up toward the sky
I couldn't tell you what could cause more glee
Than having you and children close to me.
I felt the warmth that lay within your gaze
You touched me and your hands contained a fire
To think of then just puts me in a daze
To miss that hid but obvious desire!
O what a treasure to be wanted so!
Could anyone find higher value gold?
And yet to think back then I did not know
'Twas me your arms desired to enfold.
I promise my attention to the task
Of learning what goes on behind those eyes
When next within their golden glow I bask
That I might see right through the thin disguise
I hope you know how mightily it's true
When you are wanting me, I'm wanting you!
I never cease to wonder at the way
these word appear in time to fill the page.
And yet I never knew when time was near
when I must write and muse desire assuage.
I used to think from my emotions came
the drive to scribble rhythms on a page
but now I know I only have to aim
my mental dish at where these signals rage.
The blessing's mine to know that I can call
at any time to whence these verses flow
and transcribe poems as in my ears they fall
what I, just seconds prior, did not know.
I only wish that, for my muse's part,
Each such gift could be a work of art?
I ride this train as through this rain it runs
past fallen house and trees reborn of spring
the buds festoon banks counting trash in tons
and conflicts man and nature often bring.
Whenever we give gifts don't we expect
at least a "thanks" in word or some display
the gift enjoy position of respect
or use that shows it's cared for in some way?
But look around the planet that's our gift
and see what we recipients have done
to make better and in all respects uplift
and improve it far beyond what was begun.
For all our lack of care I hope and pray
The Giver won't reclaim the gift someday.
When I was just a child I used to fight
against the end of light we call the day.
As an adult I've come to love the night
and sensual respite it brings my way.
To fondle you and hold you in my arms
most often seems to happen after dark
brings what, in other venues, cause alarms
to think that rubbing lips creates such spark.
To share such things continually amaze
us two who somehow seem to leave this world
as in our passion up in smoke we blaze
and warmed before this fire we lie curled.
Had I but known what waited out of sight
I doubt that I'd have railed against the night.
I drop a coin into the open well
and strain to hear the sound its impact makes.
What kind of sound it is I yet can't tell
nor howsoever long the journey takes.
On my lips as falling object finds its path
the wish that I may always chose to face
both things that bring me tears or time to laugh
inextricably bind my soul with grace.
For finding what I have along that road
that led me to this well in open glade
in time it's been my choice where ere I've strode
from gifts my opportunities have made.
That final destinies are never known
Is part of learning just how we have grown.
Dear Lord, I wish to thank you for this day
and friends along the way I've chanced to find.
When I look upon my life I'm forced to say
it's not exactly what I'd had in mind.
It aches my brain to try to figure out
how twists and turns accumulate to this
and pleased I am that you choose not to shout
of how far from where I've aimed I often miss.
I doubt sincerely that you have a plan
with specifics on just where I am to go!
Chance will show us more assurance than
a vain attempt to learn what you must know.
But it often seems my gratitude abounds
when what transpires around me just astounds!
So many messages come from my heart
it's as if my brain was relegated last
It wasn't also so right from the start
all to often I have hid in moments past.
The times I chose to hide have cost me much
I think it best to show the things I feel.
Though I recall when I regretted feeling such
a plethora of pain which made me reel.
I found emotions in a prior life
while training how to spot and give them voice
and on learning that I'd lost a prior wife
to suffer wakened feelings gave no choice.
Since I have feeling where I once had lack
The love you give I gladly give you back
But now I answer to another call
to sing your praises comes not from upset
and though I feel it deeply I recall
I seldom wrote from joy -- more from regret
But this is love that's all so strange and new
because it comes with mitigated fear
I know deep in my heart that you are true
and with each daybreak I will find you here.
To know at last that I can be secure
gives rise to inspiration that is pure.
It seems as magic with you in my arms
to stroke your neck and listen to you purr
to share our day with wonders and alarms
to stop the time and slow its ceaseless whir.
I cannot help your wonder to reveal
as I enjoy the gifts you give to me
to share a love that's obviously real
in ways that no one else may ever see!
We sing our song at night before we sleep
and know the loving treasure that we keep!
So time is passing as it always does
and you are counting minutes as it goes
decrying stacks of years and all that was
how fleetingly it passes heaven knows
I wish I could with either words or deeds
reassure you that your value only grows
and tell you just how well you meet my needs
make me feel loved from forehead to my toes
But I cannot replace a word within
your mind that you have chosen there to keep
nor make know that aging is no sin
life's not a bucket from which your days seep.
On this, my love, forever you may rest
as day on day my time with you is blessed
Another banner day I've spent with you
Like children wondering at all we see
as side by side wide eyed these treasures view
appreciating all that life can be
The colors Vincent chose to grace a page
The crossing lines that Mondrian arranged
suggestive colors Monet chose to stage
to bring illusions home to eyes estranged
But we find art in every place we look
along the road, at home and in the sky
in children's voice and in babbling brook
such wondrous beauty almost makes us cry
How can our life be anything but charmed
When with this gift of wonder we are armed.
My love, my eyes are heavy now with sleep
I long to take you in my arms to hold
and lie beside you 'til the dawnings creep
and dark of night's replaced with morning gold
You make my days a gift to be revered
I treasure each because they start with you
and nights reward for having persevered
in searching 'til I found a love like you.
The glow of setting sun just makes me long
to hold you very close and stroke your hair
because with close of day there comes along
no longer lonely nights that we now share
Each minute of each magic passing day
finds me rejoicing that you've come my way.
Could I let pass a Valentine excuse
to write for you another verse of love
and leave this moment to a lesser use
than praise of you raised to the stars above.
You know that such a thing could never be
for me to skip a sonnet on this day
for so long as you within my life I see
I'm compelled to sing your praise in every way.
I know to hold you often is enough
to soothe your cares at closing of the day
and show those small expressions of the stuff
that makes you feel so loved in every way.
And so I write for you as from the start
Now more than ever, your love owns my heart.
Whose image in the leaded glass could shine
with light within as from an unseen sun
and with it's glow our mission to define
in terms of love for each and every one.
This stained glass angel that I stand before
transported from another time and place
in controversy almost never more
would be allowed to show her shining face
But now, in truth obscured by argument,
we catch a glimpse of angel's inner glow
snatched here in glass from out the firmament
displayed in light that future time might know.
What Angels teach is music from the spheres
With thanks above, the music reached our ears.
I sit with thoughts of you and start to write
to tell you once again what's in my heart
a task I do with love both day and night
the hardest thing is knowing where to start.
Your warmth toward me shows how much I was missed
when we are reunited at days end
and doing chores we check off down a list
reminds me what it means to be a friend.
I never counted on a partnership like this!
It was a thing of which I'd only dreamed..
And thinking of that night when we first kissed
could anything be good as then it seemed?
It teaches us some things we cannot know
like how love starts and what can make it grow.
Valentine’s Day 2005
Of course it’s time to
midwife or to nurse
for sake of season to my Valentine
my brain into delivering a verse
and use this gift particularly mine.
I know you never cease to be
amazed
at how the words pour forth
with love for thee
when other men would sit
there looking dazed
the sonnets seem to fly from
God to me.
Love
is the inspiration for my gift
I think of you and all my
senses lift.
LXV
T'was babes that brought me to your loving arms,
concern for children common ground for us:
to hold at bay their young life threatening harms
and give them health to live and play and fuss
I never thought this unexpected bliss
could come from such an unconnected act
and 'till that early April morning kiss
thought not of getting love and giving back.
Most don't expect that service could bring bliss
Some think that volunteering's thankless work.
But helping others always leads to this
And always brings an unexpected perq.
At first it all seemed very hard to do
So glad that perservering brought me you.
LXVI
Ok, another year has come and gone
another miracle of love and joy.
Wait! Weeds can still be found upon our lawn!
Perfection has not found this girl and boy.
Like marks in leather testify to truth
we have some imperfections with us still
and as we say good bye to parting youth
More marks will pop along, I'll bet they will
But I can't dream of better company
to pass away the ending years
No better match exists to age with me
for sharing wonder, laughter and our tears
So anniversaries -- come and never quit
It's fun to think of sharing all of it
LXVIII
It's often said we know not what we've got
until we lose the things we value most
while spending time on things not worth a lot
until we're left with naught but memory's ghost.
Thank God because I suffer not from this.
I know the bread side which my butter lies.
It's you that my heart knows it dare not miss
and this is truth I care not to disguise.
Yes, February comes with chilly days
the fourteenth brings me notice of the time
when I should sit and write of all the way
that show my love to you again in rhyme
Please dearest say forever you'll be mine
and ever more remain my Valentine!
LXIX
The freezing rain arrests the drift of snow
and forms a crust that glitters in the sun,
resembling not Nor’ Easters that I know.
It dashed the hope for deep snows when begun.
I hearken to a time so long ago
when as a child I watch the new flakes fall.
It seems to me back then when started snow
it did not end before it drifted tall.
The ploughmen roared on gamely through the night
to make a place for cars when came the day
and scarcely from the starting snow flake’s flight
with diesel noise and lights they made their way.
The snow storm and the plows all did their worst
But in the end, we know who finished first.
I am seldom ever at a loss to say
the many things that often cross my mind
and those who need to seek another way
when words don’t flow, I leave them far behind!
I don’t know which -- a blessing or a curse
that brings words so quickly from within my heart.
I’m only sure that it would be much worse
were it to be impossible to start.
My dearest, I can never credit take
for inspiration that from you abounds
any claim of mine is a mistake
it’s heaven sent when poetry astounds!
Just as I must thank my God for granting you
it’s God's gift that makes words I write you, too.
Valentine's Day it comes around again
again I'm blessed to spend it, love, with you.
By now, they're dim reflections of time when
we weren't yet fully coupled, me and you.
I treasure every instant that has passed
and thank my God for you into my life.
The thoughts of love for you are ever vast
and I'm so glad to have you as my wife.
So once again I keyboard words for you
and vainly try communicating love.
My darling, know that we are ever new
like you, our magic came from up above.
So know you this and lest you ere forget
to show my love I've barely started yet.
Hello there, Don, you’ve passed another year
And I’ve been privileged, sharing quite a few
In fact, three score and two you’ve had me near
Although it’s not all benefit to you!
But we’ve been friends in good times and through heck
And seen the ups and downs resolve to this:
To each we’ve been the other’s pain in neck
But through it all, no moment would I miss!
So here at Cosmos come to celebrate --
your broker and accountant being good.
I lose it and he counts what’s dealt by fate
To think of it, we both should wear a hood
But this I say of you and I should shout
There’s no finer guy than Don, there is no doubt.
February 18, 2008
LXXIII
I hope you never tire of hearing how
you sparkled up my life just being here.
And memories that hurt are missing now
Erased by you alone just being near
I think of you a lot when you’re away.
I long to spend our time just being with.
It’s joyous starting each and every day
with you to prove true love is not a myth.
And so an anniversary arrives
of that warm day when you agreed to say “I do.”
Together we have pledged to spend our lives
to pass our time together, me and you.
Just as the seasons bring both good and bad
Both ups and downs with you will make me glad.
Happy Anniversary,
July 20, 2008
LXXIV
No one can say by what I was possessed
To try to spin out poems in groups of eight.
It’s doubtful by great skill I will be blessed
but just to try to do it is my fate
It has been said that words belong to me
And writing sonnets comes as quite a gift
But you as inspiration certainly
can give my writing skill the biggest lift.
And so I’ve headed down that daunting path
To try to weave more than one hundred strings
Perhaps this task will only court the wrath
Of that fair muse into my ear oft sings
I can’t envision what this holds in store
I do it for you – you are worth much more.
LXXV
Reflecting on those distant early days
When we were new and nothing much was set
We both thought we would go in different ways
And both of us had so much to regret
The only common thing we shared was loss
As each had had a love depart our way
And though it seemed our paths were meant to cross
If we found something special – would it stay?
Although it was unplanned right from the start
We started spending time just being near
And found the pathways to our heart
Each passing day became more clear
We’ve learned it as the hands of time revolved
that we were always meant to be involved.
LXXVI
The myriad of things with which I’m blessed
are welling up within my very soul.
To tell of them quite often I’m possessed
but time relating thoughts will take its toll.
There probably are not very many ways
to say the same things over and again.
Avoiding repetition would take days.
Me find that time? I surely don’t know when.
So I slog on and try to put to words
the things I may have often said before
and hope my thoughts can take to wing like birds.
So I’ll set forth and see what lies in store.
By blessings that I find I have enjoyed
of course you know my spirits all are buoyed.
LXXVII
You never know when magic plans to strike
And season with the spice that makes the day
I only know the recipe I like
Recalling gourmet pleasures all the way
The taste of miracles is truly fine
They roll across the pallet side to side
I know their constancy cannot be mine
But presence now and then can’t be denied
Getting full of wonder isn’t hard.
It’s something that I’ve grown a taste to keep
It’s true they’re seldom growing in the yard
They make me thank my God before I sleep.
Magic, miracles, wonder all come true
They came to me in quantity with you
LXXVIII
Another day together is all done
and snuggles plan to cap the golden time.
As I recall the day was thus begun
As lightly turns the hours into rhyme
To share each other in a fond embrace
With touch and kiss and glance and happy phrase
However long our day there’s still a trace
Of you that lingers on with me through several days
A fool would pass such time and never note
How fortunate he was to share such joys
I claim no wisdom but it gets my vote
To elect my fortune better than most boys
I would be blind indeed to miss the view
Of my good luck in sharing time with you.
LXXIX
You are kindly to accept the words I pen
As if they were all writ by golden quill
I read them and confess that now and then
Forced phrase and rhyme too often have their will
It bothers me that I can not perfect
The work I craft to tell you of my thoughts
At time it seems to be from pure neglect
Light handed work with imperfections fraught
But knowing what a daunting task I seek
to say more than how deep is felt my love
And of your wonders let you take a peek
Is power owned alone by heaven above.
So I eschew perfection and instead
Just do my best to leave nothing unsaid.
The pleasure gained from being close to you
in truth, defies imagination bold.
I doubt that I would ever thought it true
A priori though by brilliant scholars told!
The fourteenth day of February's here.
Together years of nearly fourteen, too.
And I've learned as year has stacked on year
the joy that's gained from merely loving you.
My heart, praise God, has known so many joys
it might be hard to name just one the best
Among the scan my memory employs
it's you that stands so far above the rest
So I will do whatever I must do
to stretch the time that I might spend with you.
It must get old to hear the words I write;
as if I could with adequacy tell
how being with you brings endless delight.
But I can never say it quite so well!
God knows I've often practiced quite a bit
as all our minutes progress into years
but still I can not find the words that fit.
They always seem so hollow to my ears!
But I won't let my incomplete attempt
dissuade me from continuing to try.
Through your eyes, you have made me seem exempt.
With kindly heart you grant an alibi.
Although you will accept what ere I do
it makes me seek a higher goal for you.
LXXXII
Though asleep to the world, she reaches out to me
as my presence is detected in the bed
just as at times she snuggles close you see
well after dark before I rest my head.
It's what we do less benefit of thought
gives evidence to truth that's in our mind.
While sleep persists no fakery is wrought
in unconscious acts no falsehood can we find.
With countless acts thus shows what's in her heart
and warms me with discovered signs of love
that fills me up whenever we're apart
with gratitude for gifts from God above.
In a thousand ways as these it seems to me
with her is where I'm truly meant to be!
Valentine's Day 2010
LXXXIII
Great Good FortuneJuly 20, 2010
Our Tenth Wedding Anniversary
LXXXIV
Another day of wonder has arrivedLXXXV
LXXXVI
LXXXVII
LXXXVIII
LXXXIV
XC
Always so precious are you, sweetest one, XCI XCII XCIII XCIII XCIV
Is it true that Liz is really ninety-five? XCV
to work your magic on me every day!
I must admit it’s always been much fun
to christen each new place our special way.
O’er the passing years the things we share
reverberate in recollections dear
and each event we’ve seen, no matter where,
will warm my heart as memories reappear.
I honestly can’t claim to rise above
the thoughts that tend to cloud my mind with blue
but it would be so much easier my love
were I to sublimate with thoughts of you
No way could thinking lead me to despair
were I just to focus on you being there.
A pair of sixes is the current count,
the wonder that consists of passing time,
and all the projects together we might mount
could not but reinforce this love of mine.
The longer is the time I spend with you
the more I wish it earlier begun.
I tell you this and know that it is true
with you at times bad events can be fun!
I relish every second that we share
and wish that I could shape each and every day
to show you just how very much I care
to share my life with you in every way.
With every passing second that we spill
It is with joy our destinies fulfill.
Betty Birthday Sonnet
for November 14, 2011
We promised to abide no matter what
may come our way in months and years ahead
and even without if or and or but
we couldn’t avoid bad, have good instead.
As years fly by I can without a doubt
see exceeding hours of joy than those of grief.
So as our lives keep putting time to rout
to escape all challenge is beyond belief!
I guess this holiday I’m forced to face
a threat that I would rather not have seen
but with your love I’m in a better place
than any other that I might have been.
This God knows and ever more is new
I can face anything right next to you.
December 25, 2011
Such heavy thoughts can seize upon our mind
to blow away the wonder all around
impervious to beauty we might find
colors of dawn and gentle morning sound
It’s almost conspiratorial intrigue
that rushes in to steal away the joy
marching to us league piled onto league
toting sorrow to a happy girl or boy
And even then the illumination fails
the light that’s close at hand if we but look
could we but sense surrounding spirit trails
we might replace the sunshine that they took.
This I feel right to my very soul
My attitude’s the one thing I control.
I am astounded at the things I know
an eclectic list at least, if truth be told
I've worked upon it ceaselessly and so
confess impressing me, were I so bold.
Standing back to see this work and gain a view
I tear apart each feature in my mind
and in me wells esteem that's born anew
as ordinary things are left behind.
But honest thought is a relentless force
It tears at this sand castle I have built
it's summer breeze will quickly dry the sand of course
and turn this structure finally into silt.
Ah, truth will let the "full of self" air out
what I thought I knew I find myself without!
February 2012 and Liz Snyder has Ninety-five Years
She sure is using time without relief
but in the years while she has been alive
she’s done so many things beyond belief!
She starts with stardom, excelled to skate and swim.
She met a service man whom she’d outrank
succumbed to many charms John brought with him
left them with just ten kids and God to thank
These memories we know will quickly pass
some without notice some with loud fanfare
but to it all we raise a toasting glass
we’re truly privileged just by being there!
What of her years each one of us have shared
it’s been a treat we’re glad we weren’t spared.
Octogenarial Elayne
It's evening once again and we prepare
for spending a celebratory night.
Anticipating fondly when we're there
and hold Ima and friend within our sight!
The night's an anniversary of birth
four score years past on February 1st
is why we gather here tonight in mirth
to share a meal and slake a happy thirst.
It's a treasure to have shared a fraction large
of the passing time we celebrate tonight
five years short of forty saw me barge
into your life; I must have been a sight.
Each day stacked onto day it's plain to see,
you in my life has been a gift to me.
©
1995-2012 Van D. Olmstead, Jr.