For Artist’s Sake

Thank goodness
perfection
doesn’t exist.

Thank god
religion
yet cares for its flock.

Thank heavens
the skies
are still so unknown.

And thank you
for a heart
that beats with passion.

The Old World

I remember the times
that old world was mine.
I remember the days
when daily, I’d pray.
I remember the hymns
that I’d joyously sing.
And I remember the lessons
and sermons and blessings.

But what I remember,
what I remember more,
are the people who taught me
of James, John and Paul.
I remember the people
who let me hold on
in a time when I could
scarcely see dawn.

For a time in my life,
they were the best of friends
and they stood by my side
while I sat by theirs.
They were everything
to a lost, broken boy,
but the only ever possible end
was obviously tears.

And the tears still come
from time to time;
a broken heart
for lost memories.
But while I’ll yearn
for lost memories,
I will always remember
when that old world was mine.

Perspective: ‘Famous’ by Naomi Shihab Nye

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177521 (more…)

Cost of the Toll

For the moment I dispute
Whatever thoughts you do impart,
I feel a genius none could refute;
A man of science, words, and art.
But simple truth that I must face
Is that I am a lesser man,
Because my knowledge has its place;
It only lies where my mind stands.
I do not know the world of truth
That I forever seek to find.
I only know how to improve,
How to end a clueless bind.
What matters is not what I say
If I do it for my pride,
What matters is not what I pray
If I pray for God’s left side.
What matters is the ear I use
To hear a newness never known.
What matters is what I peruse
To learn of seeds Vavilov has sewn.
What matters is a willing heart
And willing mind and willing sense,
For with these, when you do impart
The knowledge you have, hence
I am closer to my goal
Of the truth I seek to find.
Another cent for the ferry toll
Across the lake of clueless bind.

Blog 03/01/16

I haven’t posted on this website in quite a while. I have been writing poetry, but I haven’t been posting. I think this is mainly because I haven’t been recording what I’ve been writing. I type it all into my notes app on my phone with the intent of getting to it at some point… eventually… (more…)

Lyrics

These words are easy,
their melody kind,
and I’ve written hundreds
of these in my time.
But for every poem
that I have penned,
I would give each one up
to write lyrics again.
The best of myself
came with a voice
that sounded like Heaven
had lent angel’s noise.
I would take every word
and weave it in song,
and the voice would carry
each word along
into ears
and into hearts,
and my lessons in failure,
I could impart.
It was never perfect,
but my words were raised up
with each note added
to reach just enough.
I miss the piano
and I miss the guitar
and I miss how my words
could be raised above par.
And for every poem
that I have penned,
I would give each one up
to write lyrics again.

Rebirth

It’s begun!
That time of year when
daylight reaches the hours of creation,
when blood pumps to my fingertips
and ideas from my mind.
It’s the time of year when
writing does not just become a joy,
but becomes a witness of joy.
The seeds that were planted in the previous season
have now sprouted,
and new flowers whose names I know not
have burst into life with brilliance.
Thank what gods may be,
or thank the sun and stars,
for once again;
it has begun.