Tomorrow’s rose – part 3

Angels of the meadow cover picture

The ‘ism options

 

Capitalism

Man prospers in proportion

To his own effort and ability

Or fails for lack there of

But it’s up to the man

 

Socialism

The collective collects

From those who can provide

Gives subsistence as needed

Subsistence is subsistence

 

Which means

Just enough to survive

But really means more

If you know the right people

If you are on the inside

 

Fascism

Government owns

Enough of the economy

To dictate the economy

 

One ‘ism

Offers prosperity

 

T3001-2009


 

My mangy mutt is resting

 

His muzzle on my fingers

My thumb brushing

His cheek and temple

Together we sit reclined

Beneath a burgundy throw

 

On the television

Della Reese and Tavis Smiley

But I can’t hear them

The sound is down

 

It’s not important

I wasn’t watching anyway

Just sharing time

With my best friend

 

It’s not mange

Perhaps cancer

The vet’s not sure

We tend the pain

 

New medication

Made it worse

Back to steroids

After eight days

Can we reach him again?

I pray so

 

Three to five months

Diagnosed fifteen months back

He’s asleep at this moment

His head in my hand

Legs spasm

 

Sand falls from the clock

His coat is rough with scars

I have my own

 

It’s never if

But how your life is spent

His won’t be alone

 

A million frantic thoughts

But at this moment

My mangy mutt is resting

 

T3002-2009


 

Only your path

 

There’s no right path

Or wrong path

Something you must do

To be happy

Something you’re not

That keeps you sad

 

Wherever you are

You’re supposed to be

What you do there

Is up to you

 

Faith in God

Is believing in something

Better

 

There’s no harm in that

 

T3003-2009


 

Blackstone

 

The crumpled sack

Lays on the floor

And I don’t care

About it being there

Any more

 

My heart’s legs

Are kicked from under

It’s open and amputated

 

His last meal

Was grilled steak

 

Held his head in both hands

Kissed his forehead

As his life dropped limp

Pressed mine against him

 

Last heartbeat checked

None

 

He might have wondered

Why outside without leash?

Why so much steak?

Why dad’s smile was forced?

But he trusted and died

 

Cancer hadn’t yet taken

It’s ugliest turn

He was alert and happy

With a sore paw

 

Blood bread crumbs

For his path

No tug of war

No lengthy walks anymore

 

We barked at the deer

Barked in pack bond

Smiled laughed and kissed

Snuggled and held on

 

It was his reason to fight

 

So tonight as I write

It’s cabernet sauvignon

And my glass was full

When I started

 

Somewhere in my smile

You can see if you look

These are my greatest loves

And my reasons to sing

 

My heart will rise

When it’s ready

It’s not yet

 

T3004-2009


 

The deer

 

Story of a girl

In a woman’s body

Lines corner her eyes

Suggest kindness

 

Teeth not perfect

More like mine, true

Traces of small town

 

Her look managed

Unique and beautiful

It takes a moment

And a young daughter

Nice

 

We talk

It’s your story she says

Tell it like you want

With each exchange

The story I want, is hers

 

She’s extraordinary

I paint perfection

A palette of memory

Canvas of chance

Sketch of words

 

Approach too fast

Respond too slow

It’s a dance

I don’t know

 

Awkward I stumble

Startled hope disappears

Still there, I stare

Into silence cruel

 

I’d die again

 

See I lost something

I wanted so

 

T3005-2009


 

Ponderance

 

When my days

On this Earth end

And ashes are scattered

As dust on the wind

Digested as worm dung

As mud in the sea

And settled as dust

At the base of a tree

 

I won’t question sad times

Good bad or glad times

Living close to the land

Or the loss of a friend

 

As these are all things

In the scope of God’s plan

 

I accept and embrace that

 

Which leads me to one

Final question

 

What’s with the potholes?

 

T3006-2009


 

That no one knows

 

In my mother’s eyes

I found a child

 

Her starving heart

Wanting to be seen

 

Striking at time

Her body the vessel

And age an umpire

Who missed the call

 

Longing for trails

She’d no longer reach

Finally free to fly

 

T3007-2010


 

Photos by Missy

 

My mind’s focused

On the girl

Who’s watching the guy

At the moment

He sees his bride

 

Floating invisible

About the room

She steals the magic

That enters her view

 

No angle she can’t find

Delight, in each instant

She captures in time

 

As the bride and groom

Enter the dance floor

She’s the sparkle

At the edge of the light

 

T3008-2010


 

Did you mean it?

 

The question is do

The answer is yes

I do and I will

 

It’s unkind of you

To bind my emotions

 

I learned to deny thoughts

A difficult lesson

Silence

 

Now I know

I’m not strong enough

To survive you

 

I prefer surrender

Don’t know how to deal

I sabotage my defense

 

See where that leaves me?

 

You were here and then gone

Now you’re back

 

Will you leave again?

Are you really back?

 

I lack courage to trust

Or ask

 

At this point

I don’t trust myself

I feel trapped

 

I’m still learning

And I don’t understand

 

So yes, I do mean it

And I’m afraid

 

That’s all I can say

 

T3009-2011


 

Ink of my heart

 

Cupid’s full quiver

Of blind arrows scattered

Void of all knowledge

The target is you

 

I’ve written for you

My whole life

And just didn’t know it

 

I don’t know it now

It will be seven years

And we’ll never meet

 

I’ll marry your ghost

And find Heaven

 

T3010-2020