front porch in the rain

the rain forces me
to take shelter
up on the front porch
where everyone passing
can see me off and on like
the Christmas lights
but no one drives down
this far on purpose anyway
three or 4 a day make the mistake
realize the end is dead
or so they say
not a through way
the rain wets up the page a bit
wind in the face no one sees
this happen but that doesn’t mean
it didn’t happen because I
have been here the entire
time the rain has some answers for me
keeps me inside on a day
off from the grind locked
up high time stuck up in the mind
until those answers I find
left and intentional
the rain clears things up a bit
or maybe it’s just the view
from the front porch in the rain...

almost got away

stone wall for a desk
gloves on because it’s cold
more so than it has
been lately
stone wall for a table
cools the coffee faster
as the minutes
push on…

missing in action

seems to be missing
in action even a reaction
would be nice if possible
the smell of some incense
brings about inspirational
memories or memories
of inspirational moments
and all these years later
I still like my own handwriting
and only punching at keys
when editing these thoughts
feeling repetitive and not so inspired
but writing requires writing
and not writing is wasting time
as far as I know anyway
seems to be another rainy night
yet it’s still early but the sky
has gone dark as I try to find
my inspiration…

see through it all

see through all the fog
or is it smoke
from another
mid week blaze
burn one down daily
see right through the rain
watched my fire
survive the rain last night
three days rest
now back to the grind
more rest comes in three
still thankful even
the next day
see through the regularity
into something
to be be thankful
for everyday…

fire beats rain

moved out of the rain
hoping it won’t quickly
smother my fire
hot enough to withstand
first wave of light
rain but now it’s soaking
everything around
but dry where I sit
perched above under a small
roof can perfectly view
the fire from a distance
watch it fight the elements
and survive despite the wet
blanket falling fast
thankful for the day
the food and especially
the family I am a part of
thankful for my health
and security where I
rest my mind and body
recharges for the days ahead
left behind all the footprints
won’t ever retrace some steps
but might create a path
when I get comfortable...

steady movement

a steady movement
of the cold air
warm breath and smoke
mix as one deep exhale
drumming from the northeast
traditional on the calendar square
given to today
early enough to plan a path of thought
straight through
steady movement of the air
inside as well
a warmer version
like a tight shirt underneath
layers to keep out the cold
the steady movement of thought
doesn’t stop proved year after year
despite painful hands
through the delivery
hands full of steady movement
forward no matter
who sees some days
seemingly invisible
someone sees even in this deep
solitude if need be think of these
thoughts as prayers or positive thoughts
pointing in the right direction
steady movement says
keep on walking…

another thankful day

another day
but one to relax
be with those
who are the closest
being thankful
doesn’t require
it’s own day
but some need
to be reminded
to be thankful
really they do
and need the once a year
reminder historically
commemorating some
positive and some negative
facts historically
symbolizing the same idea
being thankful
on another day and today…

pen moves fast enough

green beneath
and behind it all
might surprise you
if given the opportunity
always here lucky enough
to test your luck
when there is nothing
to lose only thought
to gain and everyone
likes a good gain
and I relight it again
as the night remains
cold wood underneath
seated at the table
green beneath pen
moving fast enough...

different turn

took a different turn
already dark and cold
stars almost ready
to put on the night light
march overhead
took that turn that shook me free
from any group thought process
no group here power up and strengthen
in solitude no need for further distraction
coexisted three times done with that
do it pirate style someone else’s ship
good thing I am welcome as they say
took a different turn
and no one followed back to where I started
thirty-nine years planted some deep roots
and the trees have grown tall enjoying
a cold night on a young porch
in an old backyard where I ended up
taking that different turn four years ago
a night in March and never went back...

TodayIsTheDay #16

today is the day
to regain some of the focus
lost in the fata morgana
of my mind not sure
how many know how to unwind
that blurry vision
into the furthest
line beyond our sight
today is the day
sitting out under the night
the blueness of the day
has now turned to clarity
in the black of the night sky...

everyone gets worried

everyone
was so worried
about the reality
the election results
would bring
but somehow no one
expected the outcome
no one speaks of it in the workplace
because of its divisive nature
I don’t think this is necessarily
the right way to participate
in our democratic republic
but what do I know
and who really knows if our votes
are even counted in the way
we intend them to be counted
never had much faith
in a system that taxes us
instead of encouraging us
to prosper and build a strong
national economy fifty-three years ago
he was killed in the daylight hours
head blown off in public
struck fear into the hearts of people
grabbed their attention
and told what to think
everyone was so worried
in reality the days continue
uninterrupted and tomorrows
keep coming until you can no longer
remember to pay attention...

sun drifts off

the shadows on the page
look different this time of year
how many sit outside and both absorb
and repel the cold air
a mini battle to find
the right balance as I write
to find my balance
and three days in a row without
work is a vacation on my calendar
this mid afternoon light
is pretty much evening
considering it will be dark by
five thirty and the skies have been unusually
quiet today no signs of planes
anywhere large small or helicopters
daily alternate overhead but today
it’s quiet maybe it’s a sky holiday
nobody mentioned it
how many actually notice
the day long blue expanse above
without a trace of traffic in the air
it’s only going to get colder as
the sun drifts off...

seasonably normal

outside the sun shines
despite the cold air
seasonably normal I suppose
fire from the twilight
remained hot and smoldering
right through the early morning frost
finally up front and center
with these thoughts
the ones that never seem to stop
no matter how hard the eyes
are closed sleep interrupted
over and over again
wishing I knew the remedy
waking up exhausted still
as if sleep avoided this mind
all night long alone in a semi-familiar
spot but the back yard landscape
is where it seems
to flow from the pen...

woke up earlier

woke up before
light came through the trees
back to a spot like the old days
pot of coffee on the table
just no ashtray now
no one appreciated
what it may have helped
a writer produce
although I would never
give any credit to the damaging smoke
only the holy smoke
sitting for five minutes alone
before being told they no longer
have bagels on the menu
that seems odd
woke up and coffee was already made
dad must have woke early with the dog
then back to rest
short days and long nights
definitely drop the mood
a bit below the horizon
or so we think
with the lights of the sky
see Orion and think of
an old love short lived
but long term memories
knowing she shouldn’t have
gotten away despite reality
and the fault line is one I know
well wishers tell tales
of different scenarios
and where to cast my line
they don’t seem to understand
that I am not fishing
and no one is even watching...

throw my bucket down

listening to the sound
of November in the air
chilled as I am out behind
the house where I grew up
growing roots now here
look to the moon and same stars
this possibility escapes me
trying to focus and take it all in
as well throw my bucket down
with a few coins and a wish
if it counts at all
the sounds blend and become
one hum and then becoming
the silence of tonight...

Write On #9

pick it up
& put it down
forgotten
until found
two thirds
of a year later...

think deep enough

mad nonsense seen
for nearly a year building
climbing to a peak
but how many think deep
enough instead of reacting
with the crowds both
those who think they lost
and those who think they won
what about those who think
not much of the day to day
will change and all change starts
deep within and not from
the mad nonsense going on
in cities that think they lost
the popularity contest
ironically most thought
they would win
and they worried and spoke of
this exact scenario in the opposite
direction from those who now
think they have won
only time will tell now
if anyone on either side
or in the middle wins
in the day to day
or if anything will
change from within...

repeat for 25 years

there are days
and this empty feeling
no thought not a negative
empty but a feeling
of cleansing or reinvention
on a regular basis
to keep the thoughts fresh
not as repetitive despite the process
of repetition spanning 25 years
and probably longer
some days stronger than others
and the fullness of the night thoughts
pour like the rain came down today
there are days when no one else
speaks everyone keeps in their own world
which is powerful to witness
and be empty enough to appreciate
the solitude swimming through
another night without a fire
but plenty of thought
from this empty mind...

a few hours young

watching the rain drops
from a dry spot
out front tripping
over stones still stationary
stained with ink
and memories
might only be
a few hours young
words simple but to the point
watching the rain drops
knowing no one I know
does this and that might be
why I do probably not entirely
but not a forgettable moment
goes unrecorded does that itself
create a reality behind reality
or is it simply words on a page
put there no one special
for no particular purpose
beyond the emptying of a mind
full up with all sorts of thoughts
released watching the rain drops
said to give way to a beautiful day
tomorrow and I can see it
through the rain tonight…

history made

so Donald Trump won
and will be #45
if the system he defeated
lets him live to be sworn in
still one eye watching with
skepticism can truly never
trust the politicians
although this is the first
in modern history
with no political experience
so history was made
and only time will tell
the biggest upset in the history
of American politics
will #45 really be
the people’s president...

degenerate by design

find myself on the other side
back to some different thoughts
college days once thought
broke the conservative upbringing
with an independent lifestyle
twenty years later
independently conservative
still don’t never did believe
control was necessary
the control can be seen
through as the mind type
it comes from mainstream
society progressively becoming
more degenerate by design...

we are awake

is it even our choice anymore
has it ever been really
if it is then
he wins
let me call it now
I know it’s too early
the entire night ahead
and if there is rigging
going on the time is still
available to make her
the first in history
just like the one
sitting there now
part of me hopes it is
still up to us otherwise
the future holds no promise
of change from the control
structure the younger generation
was born into and lives within
this could be historic because
he is not part of their control club
he is right in saying
we might never get this chance again
to elect or select someone who is not
in their club of control
and since it seems that we have the choice
we chose him everyday
let me call it early
save everyone the worry
no let’s hope he is for real
and will improve our daily grind
and admittedly it is hard
to trust anyone running
for that highest office
because there is always that chance
that we are being duped again
so many already fooled into
so many half-truths
and distracted beyond repair
still positive shines
those who are awake
are not going back to sleep...