Hidden Meaning

"Good night",
A wish against
Dark dreams, fright,
A spell
Against waking up
In Hell...

Revisionism

History, assuming it can be remembered,
Tells the story of people and their nation,
But as hard as we try to record the facts,
They are subjected to interpretation,
And twisted to fit a desired shape,
Or politically correct configuration...

Perspective

To the young ones it was
A shock, a surprise,
But not so much, when
Viewed by older eyes...

It's newer and better
The youths proclaim,
But while the words are
Different, the tune's the same...

1915, Somewhere Near Ypres

Guzzle down the rum ration,
Dull your fear, go over the top,
Stumble ahead in no man’s land,
Until a bullet makes you stop...

Rush Hour

Not out of love and devotion,
Rather, fear and necessity,
All this morning locomotion,
Towards another working day...

Stay Calm

Stress darts hit
In a flurry,
Leading to
Panic and worry,
Drag-down
Emotional slurry...
Stop; Breathe;
It’s not your hurry...

Before The Fall

Tired of fighting gravity
The old lady decides to quit,
And cane-walk shuffles
Over to a place to sit,
Soon joined by another,
Much-weathered, soul,
They trade advice on
Bodily damage control,
Under the skylight,
Next to the waterfall,
In the soon to be
Shuttered shopping mall...

由利の名言

Success or failure
Whichever comes true
Largely depends
On what you do

Writer’s Block

Unreel my mental fishing line,
Tie-up the end with bait,
Then cast it into the poem
Pond, and wait...
The words are swimming
Deep, out of sight,
I know they are there,
But get no bite,
No point in getting
Gruff, upset,
Next time use
Dynamite and a net...

Respite

Having dodged a day’s
Traps and attacks,
Time to lie down,
Breathe deeply, relax...

Magic

Not if, but when,
Strange things happen,
Now and then...

Skywatchers

Huge, hand-hewn stones,
Of unknown provinience,
Stood-up in gray rows,
Form a sort of circular fence,
An ancient holy sun dial
Laid out in the green grass,
Under the stars it measures,
Watches, the seasons pass...

Momentary

The soothing chorus of a well-loved song,
Heard while the sky turns golden-pink,
Transforms an ordinary end of a day
Through which I stagger and slink,
Into some minutes of anguished joy,
An uprush of emotion and bliss,
Embraced before time will destroy...

Post Holidays

No anticipation here,
Taking down the holiday lights,
Gone the joy, gone the cheer...

Treadmill

Sit back, relaxed, content,
Bills paid, answers sent...

Enjoy these moments
While they last,
Because the next
Wave’s coming fast...

Lost Seat

Leaden skies,
Crows cries,
Empty bench
Where she waited for the bus,
She, now gone
From us...

Powers Lake, ND

He was from the old country
Across the sea, ruined by war,
A place too damaged to fix
It like it was before,
A bitter place abandoned
For hope at a distant shore,
Where now he preaches
To a small congregation,
Offspring of others who came
To this immigrant nation...

The Unpredictable

Need to be prepared,
Just in case, in the event
A shock to the system
Is suddenly sent...

Her electric smile,
All promise and charm,
Given freely, alluringly,
A cause for alarm...

Ready, Fire, Aim

Act, before you think,
Don’t be the first
To blink,

Jump on the chances,
Make your own luck,
As for consequences,
Who gives a fuck...

Seen From Above

A strange, mental place,
When I find my way there,
Occasionally, aware of
Myself being aware...

Old News

Out in the cold, out of his mind,
Ambles an old man wearing a beret,
Carrying old news, bundled for an
Offering on recyclable garbage day...