Friday 30 October 2020

Let Go Let God

 Let Go Let God


I was young once so wild and free

Playing in sun running with wind

Just me


I was a teen in on the scene

Playing it cool played for a fool

Damn zits


I studied hard partied harder

Paper in hand--"want fries with that?"

In debt


Earned a chef hat elbows in grease

Drank up my tips nothing left but

Burn scars


I helped people with challenges

I was poured out weary burned out

Let go


Heard mission bells soup kitchen cook

Part time chaplain weary burned out

Fired


I'm not my past or my failures 

Not who I was or what I did

Let go


I've learned to breathe and be at peace

Lay burdens down give up control

Let God


Free to stay

 Free to stay



My eyes have been set

Down the disappearing road

Wanderer in heart


Dreamed I'd make it far

Looking toward distant shores

Stayed home twenty years


Two hours away

At my first stop stayed ten years

Found a life and wife


The folks moved away

My love wanted to follow

Ten more years are gone


I never did no 

Wandering after all that

My roots set me free...



...To stay





https://youtu.be/ISwlW7JEZCA



Thursday 29 October 2020

Sci-Fi Fable

 Sci-Fi Fable


As a little sprite in my bed at night

0pen my window  bathing in moonglow

Sound of passing cars gazing at the stars

Dream of stellar trips in sleek rocket ships


Blasted off to heights hit city street lights

Floating near jet set a real space cadet

And the only stars Hollywood boulevard 

Only wars I see? Fights on T.M.Z


Villainy bar come wretched hive of scum

Drinking a Major Tom from an old tin can

Depression has pull like a dense black hole

Lost in space today home far far away


The moral rings true in what I've been through

Shoot for stars and moon lose ties and maroon


Wednesday 28 October 2020

Believe

Haiku 


Believe in magic

Unexpected results flow

Pure wonder restored


Tuesday 27 October 2020

Bizarre Bazaar

 Bizarre Bazaar 


B izarre thoughts strange times

I rregular sleep patterns 

Z any faces in the mirror 

A bnormal goofball that's me

R evenge  of the weird

R eMARKable nerd eccentric geek

E xtraordinary non athlete flaky freak


B azaar collection of unusual toys

A bberant behavior not quite deviant

Z oned out zonked out zzzzz

A typical spectrum respect 'em

A vante-gard style whimsical poems

R hythms outlandish pentecostal=unorthodox?


Idiosyncratic: when your role models and media representation  that you most identify with...is the entire cast of the Muppets!






Sunday 25 October 2020

An Ode in 6/8 Time with Solo Riffs

 An Ode in 6/8 Time with Solo Riffs

(Dedicated to John Yusik who was taken Oct. 22 2020. [6/8 time=6 syllables/8 line stanzas)

I met John in the mission in drug recovery program. He was doing very well. Started attending Vineyard church on Sunday nights with me. Became fully involved, on worship team ect. Met Gila, dated, married, they had a baby girl(now 11-12 yr old), and got a good job. I moved here. One month ago saw Gila on Facebook no pics/mention of John. In private messages she told me he had relapsed, she had to kick him out, and they didn't where he is. Yesterday she posted that he had passed away on Thursday. Its bittersweet.

Kamloops town shit went down 

In North Van. Had a plan

Bottom hit tried to quit

Mission bound freedom found

Life in gear Jesus near

Was his friend ear to bend 

Vineyard church end of search

Got a life blessed with wife

In the basement electric guitar in hand. He would play for hours. When the hunger called he would play and scream and cry til the storm went by. He taught me some funky chords and alternate tunings. Sounds like celtic alien opera bled from his fingers. Acoustic blusey worship for morning group devotions would wrench your heart.

Married guy wife and I

Got to hang laughter rang

Board game nights 'Men in Tights'

Out to shows friendship grows

Baby bump hurdle jump

Got some work earned that perk

Child come like the sun

Shadows chased big grin placed


I could see it wasn't easy. He was a worrier when he should have been a warrior. When settlement money came south Saskatchewan was calling our name. Family waiting. "I know it its flat, Johnny boy, but no avalanches, rock slides, or forrest fires, besides,  the sky is wide open and sunsets last forever."

Marching time takes our prime

Paths we crossed connection lost

Decade flew hardly knew

Got a look on Facebook

Of his spouse girl and house

Saw no John had he gone?

Back to pain lost in rain

No more song now he's GONE


He fed the monkey on his back. It finally consumed him. I had hoped and wished for better. For a wonderful while he had it. His wife is a glorious Valkarie Phoenix who will rise from the ashes of a life he left to burn. He did one good thing. Her name is Adrienne. His girl is the best half of him left to shine. 

Life is not as easy as 1+2+3=success.  Real life is more like trying to solve an equation that involves algebra, calculus, advanced geography, and quantum physics in a hurricane. He got caught up in the...

Tornado 

Nado

Ado

Do

O

  O

    O

      O





I sigh i change i try

 I sigh I change I try


I

Had a dream

Back when I was young

To be a stunt man on film

Tumble down stairs jump my bike

I am old and fat

Just stand up

(Sigh)

**

I

Had a dream

To be a rock star

I got myself a guitar

Learn some chords learn some songs

Now I'm in the park

Just busking

Change

**

I

Had a dream

Thought I was a writer

Work life distractions ball dropped

Since I found Octpowrimo

Every October 

Now I can

Try


Saturday 24 October 2020

Free the People

 Free the People

(A La'Libertas)



Where there's music there will be hope

As long as words let freedom ring

While we have breath we gonna sing

Every heartbeat that's how we cope


...Free the people with music...

...Don't worry about a thing...

...Every little thing gonna be alright...

...Get up stand up dont give up the fight...

...Let's get together and be alright...

...1 love 1heart give thanks and praise to the Lord...


Lovelights gleaming prophets dreaming

If you're drowning I'll throw a rope

A net to climb the slippery slope

Got tears streaming love redeeming


...we who believe in freedom...

...somewhere over the rainbow..

...what a wonderful  world...

...whisper words of wisdom...

...the stars look very different today...

...let freedom rein...


Me gustsa tocar guitara. Me gusts cantar del sol

Mariachi me acompaña. Cuando canto mi corazon




Friday 23 October 2020

Randomly Inspires

 Randomly Inspires


(An acrostic ottova rima)


Randomly the muse it inspires me

Anywhere or time striking like lightning 

Notebook channels raw electricity

Down it flows my God it is frightening 

Once it starts it sparks burning like a tree

My hand puppet writes automatically

Like a burnt out bulb that suddenly dies

Yellow ring of light fading from my eyes


Inspiration flash rumbling nowhere near

No matter how hard i try to listen

Softly falling rain is all i hear

Perhaps I can't write if there's no friction

I must go hunting don my mining gear

Rubble I've sifted to see the glisten

Emerald words set in a ring of gold

Sapphire eyes sparkle ruby lips wax bold




Thursday 22 October 2020

A Taste of You

 A Taste of You


Roll a taste of you around in my soul

Bitter sweet flavour intoxicating

Tongue sweet and sticky warm cinnamon roll


Kisses like candy sweetest she stole

Spiced rum and redbull invigorating 

Roll a taste of you around in my soul


Rich salted popcorn i want the whole bowl

Creamed tart cherry pie exhilarating

Tongue sweet and sticky warm cinnamon roll


Buttered blueberry cream profiterole

Rich morning coffee so stimulating

Roll a taste of you around in my soul


You make me tipsy high out of control

Suck a raspberry its titillating

 Tongue sweet and sticky warm cinnamon roll


I come willingly no need to cajole

You are a buffet commemorating

Tongue sweet and sticky warm cinnamon roll

Roll a taste of you around in my soul







Wednesday 21 October 2020

Hello Numbness

 Hello Numbness

(A nove otto)


Hello Numbness where are my friends

Isolation hits me again

We wear a mask we couldn't touch

I touch the screen and see your face

Order something from our old place

I sing when life becomes too much

Broken spirit feels like dry bones

My heart is sprained when folks throw stones

Thank God for faith its a great crutch

Monday 19 October 2020

Sweet Wind Smooth Path

 Sweet wind smooth path


Cologne cuts air like a falling axe

Sickly sweet hides my rotten soul

Putrid


Words bitter roll in salty waves

Despite rinsing my breath has a

Stale taste


I feel the heat words blasting me

A cold snowflake I melt inside

Rough touch


My colors fade shit colored shades

I see through you a black hole stare

Dark sight


Disrupt debate conspiracy 

Waves of voices it's all I hear

Roaring


Visceral wounds dark sky daytime

Pure sacrifice holy lamb's blood

Dripping


Creation's breath come flow through me 

Holy spirit a gentle breeze 

Sweet wind


Narrow rocky steep winding trail

I've climbed and cleared in peace I walk

Smooth path


Know Pain Know Gain

 Know Pain Know Gain


Pain

I know

Row on row

Stab in the eye

Icy wind come on blow

I've known anger I've hid to cry

Take the hits because I'm a stoic guy

Find the valve or the pain may just drive me insane

I put words on a page when life has gone awry

And found it helps and that is why

I've learned to let it show

I find when I 

Let it go

I know

Gain

Saturday 17 October 2020

Rainbow Warfare

 Rainbow Warfare


(Double haiku)


Downside up flop flip

Mirror looking into you

Outside in deep skin


Red herring sunrise

Tickle pink green thumb white lie

Agent orange dusk


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Herbicides

Thursday 15 October 2020

Perspectives of Community

 Perspectives of Community

(Double diamante)

This is my ode to this thing we do every October. To be honest I usually say, "not this year. Knowing my procrastination  and easy distraction I'll  end up grinding it out in the early hours of the A.M." and I often do. However, the more I do the easier it comes. First of November I'm sad its over. My favorite part of this exercise is the prompt--perspective. I am constantly amazed by how a simple word or phrase that is the prompt is taken to so many places, depths, and styles that I would never think of.


Octpowimo 


Difficult beneficial


Stretching teaching enriching


Prompts forms comments kudos


Encouraging sharing showing


Warm       safe


Community 


****


Confusion


Trepidation puzzlement


Scribbling scratching sweating


Heartache experience lessons victories


Purging preaching rejoicing


Multifaceted prismatic


Perspectives 




You'll See

 You'll See


Truth can be subjective 

Only you know what you know

Let others be you mirror--you'll see


No truth is absolute

Reality is filtered by experience 

Truth can be subjective 


Others will try to negate your truth

Bend your will to their bias

Only you know what you know


To thine own self be true, however 

There's surface blemishes you may miss

Let others be your mirror--you'll see


Let other be your mirror--you'll see

Only you know what you know

Truth can be subjective 


Wednesday 14 October 2020

The Phantoum Box

 The Phantoum Box


The box does not define me it protects me 

That is what they told me and I believed

There is an open top I step up if I want to see

Relax in the shadow I was relieved


Relax in the shadow I was relieved

Until I heard the voices whisper 'You could be free

That is what they told me and I believed

Pockets filled with fruit of knowledge I climbed the tree


Pockets filled with fruit of knowledge I climbed the tree

I dropped out and straight into a trap

Until I heard the voices whisper 'you could be free

I visualized the key and then I found a map


I visualized the key and then I found a map

I traveled explored and found my way home

I had dropped in and straight out of a trap

I can return think inside the box wherever I may roam


I traveled explored and found my way home

There is an open top I only need step up to see

I can return and think inside box whereever I may roam

The box does not define me it protects me



Tuesday 13 October 2020

Harvest Falls

 Harvest Falls


Silly Billy really chilly whistles shrilly 

The Halloween scene so obscene makes him scream

A harvest of autumn leaves fall serenely i am a child again

A strong wind strips the quivering tree clean


For insulation the nation libation is a pumpkin spice coffee lactation

Rosemary sausage celery stuffing cinnamon nutmeg pumpkin pie

I serenely fall in leaves autumn harvest child again

Family feast riot and to my diet again I say goodbye 


Crazy lazy hazy afternoons ridgid frigid nights

Mountains of fire hued leaves crunch underfoot

Harvest of autumn leaves fall serenely I am again a child

Burnt leaves trick or treat fireworks corn roasts smell of soot


Whirling twirling swirling the start of snowflakes' assault

Sun clearer warm days dearer winter nearer

As harvest Falls autumn serenely leaves me a child

Then who is this old man in the mirror?



Sunday 11 October 2020

The Poetry Kid

 The Poetry Kid

(A rispotto)


My muse is small inscrutable 

I asked for strength it gave me wax

I asked to soar transmutable

It clipped my wings gave me an axe



I sweat through form repeated metre

Struggled with rhyme I'm no cheater

I found rhythm and flowed like wind

'I won', I screamed my muse just grinned


Forget Frozen Smoke

 Forget Frozen Smoke

A series of Tyburns


Debt

Regret

Forget

Silhouette 


Home to pay the debt of words I regret wept in the shadows


I'll never forget their etched Silhouette against that window

****

Woven

Frozen

Chosen

Broken


Bound by spells woven my heart left alone was Frozen in time


Chest slowly melted chosen to be free not broken sublime

*****

Masterstroke

Broke

Invoke

Smoke


Near the shore floating swam the masterstroke waves broke less intense 


Words of light invoke purging prayers rise sweet smoke of incense 




Saturday 10 October 2020

Raven Writing Desk

 Raven Writing Desk


Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I ca’n’t take more.”
“You mean you ca’n’t take less,” said the Hatter: “It’s very easy to take more than nothing.”

*****

I don't think..." then you shouldn't talk, said the Hatter.

*****


Life is full of juxtaposition

Juxtaposition of similar contrast

Contrast of uneven harmony 

harmony of elements elemental voids

Voids solidly filled with heavy air

Air your differences same as always

Always together alone

Alone together

Together thoughtful emotions shield

Sheild the emotional 

Emotional thoughts have more power

Power makes weak strong but vulnerable 

Vulnerability opens the heart

Heart felt thoughts

Thoughts nonchalantly heartfelt flow

Flow like the whimsical wind

Wind practically dancing

Dancing practical whimsy

Whimsy laid out in steps

Steps taken form a boundary

Boundaries are kindly selfish protection

Protection of self kindly creates

Creates space

Space to fall all the way to the top

The top of the rock bottom

Bottoms end

End the pain softly begin

Begin conscientiously instinctively 

Instinctively feeling the way

The way way to a new old home

Home you've always never seen


L

Thursday 8 October 2020

Bounding over Barriers

 Bounding over Barriers

(A diamante)


Boundaries 


Necessary healthy 


Protecting respecting caring


Fence -- defense--###--wall-- prison


Daunting stalling breaking


Unnecessary unhealthy


Barriers

Hothouse Pains

 Hothouse Pains


1. Prompt: 'growing pains'

the older I get
the more pains I grow.
Day by day now
I'm growing pains.
Multiplying, growing 

this pile of pain. 

A wild weedy garden of pains
have i grown.
I groan and moan

 and bitch and whine.
I've nurtured and aged them.
Collected and stored

 a stellar cellar of fine whines. 

Every night I sample the whines
from my growing pains.
I breathe deep of their
bitter perfume with hints sweet.
I languidly roll these whines on my tongue.
Some i swallow silently
save a shuddering sigh.
Some get caught in my throat.
Those i cobra spit
halo hoodie hiding me.
I have a list of growing pains
to remind me.
The first day I feel nothing
will be my last. 

Make Desire Follow You

 Make Desire Follow You

(I did a monotera with a Converse at the end. They are loosely based on the 7 cardinal sins  with the heavenly virtues at the end )


Desire beckons from street light gloom

Touch my rosebud come pluck my bloom

Come up the steps come see my room 

Come meet your doom, come meet your doom


Shiny trinkets fuel your drive

Crush all others alone survive 

Seek higher thrills to feel alive

Your soul deprive, your soul deprive


Nectar of gods feast of delight

Just one more taste one silky bite

Wipe off your chins your belts too tight

Heartburn all night, heartburn all night


There's a desire to be noticed

Seen as better ego not missed

Check your mirror it is self kissed 

Narcissist twist, Narcissist twist


Rage and ruin pumps blood like drugs

To rant and rave and act like thugs

Ends in yelling and shattered mugs

Too late for hugs, too late for hugs


Grass is greener over your fence

Desire for more is so intense

Wish for dollars when counting cents

Drop the pretense, drop the pretense


Oh damn you sloth my oldest friend

Soul viagara my will extend

I'll take a stand apathy end

Victim transcend, victim transcend


******


I faced lust and walked away

I leashed my anger now, stay!


I sold my greed God meets my need

I will rise up go plant good seed


I humble my self put others first

Take a little less to quench that thirst


Its not what I lack but what I can give

Love joy peace kindness faith thats how to live









Tuesday 6 October 2020

House Shaped Heart

 House Shaped Heart

(Free form shape poem)


A

Word 

Fitly spoken 

As golden apples

Placed in a silver frame

Bringing the house a warm rich glow

First you must plan lay foundation

Measure out firm parameters 

Now you can place a solid frame

Emotions burn electrified

Thread heart wire thin build connection

Power crackles illuminate

"Art is a wound turned into light"

A reclaimed quote shaped into place

Except for paint frilly curtains

And furniture I can live here




Monday 5 October 2020

Year, END!

Year, END!!

( a blitz poem)

Fall Already I'm not ready

Fall forward spring back

Back to school but should we?

Back to work -- if you're lucky

Lucky never seemed so lonely 

Lucky to be alive 

Alive but full of fear 

Alive but bored so bored

Bored and restless no outlet

Bored and frustrated with those you love

Love in the time of cholera 

Love in the time of covid

Covid stalks us like a beast

Covid operations come to light

Light the eyes of Jack 'o lantern

Light the Autumn leaves on fire

Fire on the mountain run boys run

Fire lighting up the Hollywood sign

Sign of the times

Sign of the apocalypse 

Apocalypse now in our time 

Apocalypse with good delivery

Delivery comes in 7-8....months

Delivery room Delivery system

System of a down-- Toxicity

System designed to keep people down

Down in the gutter down in the mouth

Down the hatch down to the wire

Wire me the money 

Wire fences corral illegal children 

Children are our future

Children put your mask on go to school

School of hard knocks 

School of Rock 

Rock the vote! Stone Trump 

Rock rock never stop

Stop the insanity 

Stop the criminals, Green hornet

Hornet and Kato save the day

Hornet invasion cellophane winged death

Death came for thousands 

Death needs a vacation break

Break the bank break even

Break a leg break wind

Wind at my back I set sail

Wind push me out of 2020

2020 is almost at an end

2020 is A Kathy Bates in Misery year

Year

End!





Saturday 3 October 2020

Move, Roam, Free Me.

 Move. Roam. Free Me.

(The prompt: beauty in chaos. (Not the beast in peace) couldn't find a pic of a model in a tornado. We were encouraged to do free verse. I had done that on the first day before I saw the prompt written up. So I bound my self to doing both a kyrielle sonnet and an acrostic (the title) in one  poem.*Misanthrope: person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.)


Many pieces broken shattered 

Outside like they never mattered 

Viewed through lens of a microscope

Ended up in a kaleidoscope 


Random images form a collage 

Overlapped frames of a montage

As blood from soul paint was splattered 

Mosaic peace broken shattered 


Flowing streaming tidal wave thoughts

Ranted aloud verbal ink blots

Everyone thought him misanthrope 

Ended up in a kaleidoscope 


Many pieces broken shattered 

Ended up in a kaleidoscope 


Friday 2 October 2020

Northern Exposure

 Northern Exposure 


Us Canadians will get exposure

To harsh elements beyond our control

Getting frozen out torn by prairie winds

The secret you learn: hiding in layers


On the pound of flesh you leave exposed 

Bite of burning cold electrifies nerves

Fingers in rictus like touching live wires

How a cold shoulder can turn you so blue


Or flash bulbs expose backlit negatives

Called on the carpet there is no escape

So smile and swish strike a saucy pose

Exposure is good to gain infamy


You may fear the sun or the bitter winds

But pull back layers and your heart may bloom


* *----* *


Burried in the fall

Hidden in winter till spring

Seed finds summer bloom



Thursday 1 October 2020

I'm A Keeper

 I'M A KEEPER

(My mamma told me so)



You are the keeper

Of your own lighthouse.

If you want 

Your light to shine

You've got to shine

Your own light.

Shred your arrogance

Into tattered rags

As to take pride

In a clean clear lens.

So focus and amplify

The light within

And it will pierce the night.

You may warn others

Away from the rocky path

You have risen above.

You are a keeper.