Original Poetry - The Care Package

The Care Package

The day after
they lost four
in a bloody battle
and a road side bomb
care packages
left unopened
Jim got cookies
Dave got CDs
Sandy got stationary
Eric’s contained one picture
a sonogram of
his first child
who will never know his father.

Original Poetry - Building

Anticipation
and excitement
are one and the same
she can wait no longer
heart pounding in her chest
as he holds her hands in his
pressing her against the wall
she turns her head
exposing her throat to him
he leans close and breathes her in
their hearts beat in rhythm
as he tastes her skin
she pulls him closer and whimpers
too long has it been
building

Original Poetry - On the Road to Nowhere

On the road to nowhere
the GPS sent us
not a soul in sight
except for that guy on the bicycle
I still think he was a ghost
riding the same ride
over and over
ending at the old, rusty wheel
and the unmarked grave.

Original Poetry - Chapter Book

Her life is like a chapter book
offering only a little at a time
leaving you wanting more

Yet her coyness is not to tease
it is for her protection
from those who want it all

Her heart has been bended
folded
mutilated

Thrown on a dusty table
leaving it for the next browser
ear-marked at the juicy parts

One day, a kind, old librarian
will find this prized selection
and put it back where it belongs

Behind the protective glass of his love.

Original Poetry - Missing Chapter

Pages ripped from a book
and thrown into the flames
of fear and doubt

Hiding the words that hurt
yet garbled voices echo across
the years and the miles

The manuscript of my heart
still beats with distant memories
like the rhythms of a song long forgotten

One page remains
of a story still being written
one word speaks volumes.

Original Poetry - Confused Memories

Confused scribbles in chalk
on the blackboard of her mind
once erased lost forever
memories of dust floating in the air.

Original Poetry - Hold That Tongue

Holding my tongue
before I say too much
offering my heart to you
like the proverbial lamb
for you to sacrifice
twisting knife of your hatred
oozing emotions
until they dry up
drip drip dripping
onto the floor

Original Poetry - Do The Math

I added you
subtracted things
from my past
my futon beer bong jean shorts too
multiplied our debt
and divided our friends
but one plus one
is greater than me
for I am less than zero
without you

Original Poetry - A Broken Man

She opens her eyes
like the sun breaking through the clouds
and smiles

My heart breaks
because she used to be mine
and I wallow in self pity

Breaking my fast
on stale bread and cold coffee
because I don’t deserve better

Tears fall slowly
like morning dew
on a waking leaf

And I sit
in the broken chair
and stare out the cracked window
of what my life used to be.

Original Poetry - Breaking Bread

Come to my table
and speak of days gone by
before guns and knives
and actions you can’t take back

Come to my table
and speak of a future
of living side by side
and working together

Come to my table
and speak to me
in words I can understand
where forgiveness is an option

Come to my table
and break bread with me
mano y mano
I am the enemy no longer.

Come to my table.

Original Poetry - Autopsy of a Dream

The pages fall
cracked and yellow
from the yearbook

Faded memories
and broken promises
reveal themselves to me

We always said
we’d be together
always

Travel the world
never settle down
and live forever

I sit and stare
as tears fall
onto the page

Like drops of rain
washing away the pain
but the memory remains

Of how we said
we’d be together
always

But not forever.

Original Poetry - Castanets

Is it the liquor
or the movement of her hips
that make my head swim
as she clicks her castanets

Faster and faster she spins
the clickety-clack fills the air
as her skirt twists and turns
the sequins reflecting the light

An ancient dance as old as time
the Mariachi tries to keep up
with her seductive moves
and our eyes meet

She smiles and lowers her gaze
she has me in her spell
of her I am intoxicated
as my heart beats faster

Clickety-clack
go the castanets
speaking to me in Morse code
of an ancient ritual bathed in love.

Original Poetry - Castaway

I am a castaway
on this island called loneliness
burning fires day and night
like so many bridges between you and I
in hope of being saved
but the ships that sail by
only want one thing from me
that which I cannot give
and the sand between my toes
is washed away by the tide
along with my hopes and dreams
my message in a bottle
is a cry for help
and I cast it into the waves of desperation
but every morning, alas
it has washed up on the shore again
unopened and unanswered.

Original Poetry - Descending Into Madness

Descending Into Madness

 

Up to the basement I climb
turn off the lights to see

I wake up to dream
and live to die

I’m afraid to be brave
for I love to hate

Alone in the crowd
Unable to move in space

I am rising
as I descend

In this prison
I am free.

Up to the basement I climb
turn off the lights to see
I wake up to dream
and live to die
I’m afraid to be brave
for I love to hate
Alone in the crowd
Unable to move in space
I am rising
as I descend
In this prison
I am free.
- See more at: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/wednesday-poetry-prompts-212#comment-3382669

Up to the basement I climb
turn off the lights to see
I wake up to dream
and live to die
I’m afraid to be brave
for I love to hate
Alone in the crowd
Unable to move in space
I am rising
as I descend
In this prison
I am free.
- See more at: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/wednesday-poetry-prompts-212#comment-3382669

Up to the basement I climb
turn off the lights to see
I wake up to dream
and live to die
I’m afraid to be brave
for I love to hate
Alone in the crowd
Unable to move in space
I am rising
as I descend
In this prison
I am free.
- See more at: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/wednesday-poetry-prompts-212#comment-3382669

Up to the basement I climb
turn off the lights to see
I wake up to dream
and live to die
I’m afraid to be brave
for I love to hate
Alone in the crowd
Unable to move in space
I am rising
as I descend
In this prison
I am free.
- See more at: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/wednesday-poetry-prompts-212#comment-3382669

Up to the basement I climb
turn off the lights to see
I wake up to dream
and live to die
I’m afraid to be brave
for I love to hate
Alone in the crowd
Unable to move in space
I am rising
as I descend
In this prison
I am free.
- See more at: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/wednesday-poetry-prompts-212#comment-3382669

Up to the basement I climb
turn off the lights to see
I wake up to dream
and live to die
I’m afraid to be brave
for I love to hate
Alone in the crowd
Unable to move in space
I am rising
as I descend
In this prison
I am free.
- See more at: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/wednesday-poetry-prompts-212#comment-3382669

Original Poetry - Don't Forget to Remember

Don’t Forget to Remember

Do you remember
when I held you in my arms
rocked you to sleep
made you feel safe

Do you remember
when we went rollerblading
riding bikes
playing games

Do you remember
when you cried
and I told you
everything would be okay

Do you remember
I tried to be there
but I couldn’t
for one reason or another

Do you remember
that I love you
and you’ll always be my little girl
no matter what

Original Poetry - If I Were Like Everyone Else

If I were like everyone else
you couldn’t tell us apart
you’d miss my sense of humor
my shy smile

If I were like everyone else
You wouldn’t know me
because I wouldn’t be unique
the man you fell in love with

If I were like everyone else
life would be boring
we wouldn’t get the same jokes
or the puns we toss at each other

If I were like everyone else
maybe I’d still be there
but I am my own person
And I cannot be who I am not.

Original Poetry - In the Company of the Unseen

In The Company of the Unseen

You walk past me
like I’m not there
not recognizing
the sacrifice
I made
for you
for them
the children
who play
and laugh
I am a guardian
in the night
so you may sleep
and dream
I cannot sleep
I don’t wish to dream
for they turn
to nightmares
of nights alone
out on the wire
with my weapon
and silence.

Original Poetry - Let Me Go

Let me go
rock and roll
eat drink and be merry
for my days here are done

We had some good times
and we had some sad times
but we always got through them
because we were together

And now we must part
for He has called me back
and I cannot deny Him
be at peace, my love.

Original Poetry - Let Us Gather

Let us gather
around the fire
and speak of better days

Let us laugh
as we reminisce
back when the world was new

Let us cry
as we remember
those who have gone before us

Let us hold on
and perservere
and live through the pain

Let us live
and love
and just…be.

Original Poetry - The Truth About Black Friday

Have to work on turkey day
what is this world coming to
when Walmart ruins my holiday
making me leave my family for a few hours

We sit together holding hands
giving thanks for this bounty
we lost two more yesterday
from a roadside bomb

I can’t believe this traffic
this is the worst way to spend Thanksgiving
we make so many sacrifices
to be with loved ones

A mortar hit on the way to chow
and they have to feed him through a tube
he’ll never walk again
at least he’ll be going home

I’m so stuffed
I ate too much pie
I don’t want to clean the kitchen
I’d rather drink beer and watch football

Sirens blaring, bullets flying
giving thanks for my training
I just want to get home in one piece
enjoy a beer and watch some football.