Summer slope

The sun has dipped down, dimming to a low glow
hand over eyes to see ahead
shadow of cut grass piled on field

Scent of fresh lawn everywhere
Garage light on, banging of metal
Dad is sun burnt

Pool filter whirring, someone talking from open window
Sweet sticky watermelon dripped on sidewalk

Phone rings, someone screams
Laughter

Evidence of a day well worn
sighs from those who sleep tonight.

Call from home

Mom called me today
standing in front of 8255

Explained how the trees had grown
neighbors house dingy
paved driveway instead of stone

I stopped to wonder
to go back now, lonely and cold
everyone gone and grown old

Hanging on memories, just like I have seen
vowed that would never be me

Funny how times and moments
you took for granted, bored teenager mood perhaps

If only I stepped back like I do now
appreciate the scene
like a fine work of art

Wherever family is
there is my heart

Gypsy

The gypsy in me
wanted to travel
next town over, perhaps even farther

Troubles evaporate
like the surface of the sun

Meet new people
loved by everyone

Reality is, I already tried it
toughest thing ever had done

Stronger for it
thankful now

Blessing in disguise

No more do I want to run.

True Beauty

Outward charity
show for all the world to see

Isn't that how it goes? Check off with a photo op
smile, pause and walk on

Never look back
at hungry eyes, sad and lonely

God knows true hearts
No need for $10,000 dress
or splash in the news

Kindness is always welcomed
Never done perfectly, try best you can.

Fancy

Hair done tight
nails bright

Chanel bag
is it real?

draped in jewels
lips red

You ride the bus
drive something used

Peacock proud

How we get caught up
in exterior
disregard words said
Cruel, mean and selfish.

Always time to change.

UP Camp

Rag rugs
scatter on wooden floor

A fly got in
swat
squish

Arctic water
waves on skin
reddened feet
only dipped for seconds

Sand everywhere
watermelon rinds
tossed in weeds

Several dozen
orange pop
bottled in glass
in the IGA paper bag

hot dogs on sticks
picked from the tree

Amber evening
fire blazing
sparks shoot skyward

Glowing skin
out too long
sweatshirt hood

Sleep well tonight
on a bed from 1940
when has this blanket been washed?
Too tired to care.

Stormy Weather

Thunder cracks
craggle skin

Puffed eyes
sighs begin

balls of tissue
tumbleweed landscape

turmoil trouble
don't we all go through

scary moments
blackened skies
pressure builds

Sun comes again

Goodbye

Moment
something ends
another begins

Where is the fanfare
movie music
timed tear

Look back
switch off light
close door

Tuesday night

Shimmery moonlit glow
leafy shadows dance on the wall
soft whispers of nightlight

Little one tucked in
ghostly breeze taps shutter
like Morse code

Dog curled in corner
father under reading lamp

Florescent stove top casting
green beams of illumination

flickering TV screen

Pop of log
flame licking tinder
red cheek from sitting to close

time for sleep

Depths of Despair

That's it
life is over
hang my head
doomsday

1,895 time happened

Sun will shine
smile will form
joke breaks gloom

I guess I will live again

Mental

I watched you suffer
you didn't even know it

Living daily
voices and fears around you

Refuge in family
tales of your day

People are after you
someone trying to do harm

Once in a while smile would crack through

God gave you joy, different than most
I hope you had fun
now you are at peace

Plan

I had it all set
sorted out

this would go here

that would be there

Not so, the Lord knows

Thankful
unanswered prayers
thought I had it right at the time

What I do know, I know nothing
of the life ahead of me

Fear taken over by Faith

Melancholy

Drizzle rain
dim lighting

Soft sounds of door creaks
rustling
perhaps a mouse

Steaming tea
Book by your side

Blanket up to chin
world to hide

Stoic Finn
We love our misery

Feels so good
to feel so sad

Used

Nothing
calls
emails
visit

Name comes up
What does she want

Take, all about you
So sad

Family

Oh my little one
how have you grown

Rocking to sleep
First words and little laughs

Melted heart each time

Moving on

Always remember
I Love You

96

"Don't ever get old"
she told me with a smile

remembers when
she was young

Running
Climbing
Swimming

All gone now

Sloped over
Shuffle

Effort to move
another to help her up

Still dressed in her Sunday best
Handkerchief tucked in her sleeve
Halls cough drops
covering the "halitosis"

Don't take it for granted
she was trying to tell me

Perfect

A prisoner of your own perfection
Not a hair out of place

Smile white
Dazzling personality

Never a mistake

The pressure you must face
To look good on paper

Never a bad picture taken

Envied by many

I feel sorry for you

To find humour in blunders
is the best therapy

Say the right thing
Shine at a party

Are you truly happy?

I say let go

Ugly

My own worst enemy
broken pieces
shattered esteem

Something as it never
seems

Stand strong

Never go back
again

Schedule

Day set
into rectangular hours

Go there
Be here

Broken itinerary
Panic
Anxiety
Fear

What do I do?

Suvival

Winter
scraped a piece of me

Darkened nights
Knee deep snow

Parallel

to ancestors of the prairie
and mining camps

Hopeful eyes of better days
heartache comes so easily

Sun simmers slowly
Through the gray gloom sky

Look of relief, you made it once more

Crickets

Bugs singing
out back window

June night long ago

warm breeze

Fresh scrubbed sauna skin
hint of cholorine won't rinse through

Baby cries middle of the night

fan going
white noise

What will be tomorrow?

No sunscreen

plenty of trees
ideas

to do

Heartache

Lost love story told to me

Can't be that bad
snap out of it I want to say

What if I said the same thing

to me?

Worry

Worry is a friend of mine

It sits on my couch
when I watch TV

Driving

Walking

Talking

I lose worry, and worry where it went

Sometimes it goes on vacation
comes back well rested

Money

I said something to the clerk today
before I never would

The look given
enough to turn and run

I am one of those people, I have waited on before

I was standing up for myself
it came out all wrong

Trying to explain would only make it worse
understanding, will be my new best friend.

Middle America

Bus was late
fruit gone bad
Nothing to wear but 70 pairs of shoes, it's true

Poor me

Time

Hurry hurry
quickly

For what

Where are you going

Could have
should have

Easy to fall back on

Today is the first day
of the rest of your life

Life's Lesson

What was a concern at 20
seems so trivial now
To go back and take things lightly, serious was I
how many times thought the world was crumbling
Still do
Need to be pulled back by the Lord
His love and the path that is to be

Days will be gray
sunshine too
Like a muscle, perspective &
outlook become stronger
Rubber ball bounce back
when before
taking an eternity to glue

20 year old me
do not fear

Let go

Thoughts waterfall
from mind to fingertips
unleashed years of emotion
Hardened Finn that is me, cannot say things I should
for I am rich in the sense of love and being loved
More value than any object or material so many hold first.

Save it for later

Avoidance can become a disease
like soft concrete to harden cement
Waiting too long
makes one numb
Pray it will never be me.

Poem One

Why did I do this?
something always wanted
like the pendulum swinging
always there
silent, back of mind.
Writing perhaps to nobody
who cares
sets one free.