Eternity

Eternity

Eternity comes

As time grows shorter it looms

Weaving a fine robe

Righteousness and mercy kiss

Bride price paid carved in God's hand

Simplicity Complicity

Simplicity Complicity

Finding a simple rhyme is rough

Like don't rhyme tough with through

Trying to keep it simple and clean

Is as overwhelming as a lean wave on the ocean

Sometimes the choices you view are few

Like thread from your new trousseau when you sew

Proper accent may not pass if  you're in Kansas

In all your life you never saw such sass in Arkansas

You will certainly face a lot of laughter

If english you slaughter after you say dafter for daughter

She'll get mad that green eyed freckled ginger

If she sings and you burn or singe her poor singer

I've had a ball and can't recall if I got them all

I'll retire now like an old lady in her small shawl I shall

Discordant Mope

Discordant Mope

(a double Acrostic)

Disheveled  dude meets demure darling disarray in my head

I feel inverted my heart inside out on on display like a deli

Scrambled signals seem silly now I was scared spitless

Capsizing my heart till you calmed chaos with love's logic

Overturned defenses on my head feet over teakettle oh no

Reversed roles as passive becomes assertive charms the charmer

Dislocating my firm resolve into a donkey jawbone disjointed

Agitated but attracted anxious to taste your ambrosia

Nonchalant I'm not nervous nelly nattering nonsense again

Topsy-turvy we tumble tangled into bed at night

Our crazy love keeps me sane

*Almost half of my wife's poems seem to be about me. It's my turn. This is our story. Years as 'just friends'. Quickly engaged after 'starting' to date. Year and a half before wedding. As for process, I thesaurus-ed the heck out of 'upside down'. I went to rewrite the scribbled list and happened to sort it alphabetically...hey. I put the first letters into a scrabble solver app. Discord jumped out. So in an upside down way got the lines/words 1st then the acrostic out of it. Too bad drocsid isn't a word. It could have been backwards too. Also bonus points to anyone that noticed that 'mope' in the title is a anagram of 'poem'. 

Seasons of the Heart

Seasons of the Heart

Winter

Christmas season

New year's celebration

Wipe off the dust in the corners

Of my soul what should I

Send to goodwill

And peace

To all

All examined

Some set free some tied down

Freezer burnt compassion chipped out

Hot tears touch icy heart

Flood from melting

Springtime

...Sea shells

*It got late. I got lazy. This is the last of the Dr. Coffee manual typewriter poems. It also doesn't follow the prompt of  'sea shells' wait. look up there ^ That will confuse those who don't read the fine print.     

Esscents of Life

Esscents of Life

Southern magnolias and mint juleps afternoons

Western mesquite saddle leather and tumbleweed

These are the scents of direction

Latex rubber chickens and oily clowning greasepaint

Pungent cheese shops and fish slapping dances

These are the scents of humor

Farmer's market earthiness guitar strings metallic oxidization

Musty hymnbooks communion juice anointing oil 

These are the scents of freedom

Christmas spice and pine branches Thanksgiving turkey and sage

St. Patrick's corn beef Halloween candy corn Easter ham

These are the scents of celebration

Coffee breath licorice cigars and manly musk

Cologne Colgate and garlic oil saturating skin from cooking

These are the scents of self

My sister's nail polish my brother's pepsi

My mom's cooking my dad's aftershave my wife's body spray

These are the scents of belonging

This is the smell of success   

And I Stand Alone

And I Stand Alone

The transitional time of year has unfolded

The trees have lent their ear to nature's calling

Leaves turn a lively palette of red, orange, purple, and yellow

They dance and spiral through the air with wild abandonment

The fall waltz isn't eternal and undoubtedly comes to an end

Leaving flora's garb like a basket upside down

In depth layers of leaves cover the ground

Strewn haphazardly as sea shells upon the shore

And I Stand Alone

I work downtown giving out parking tickets

Some think it's dangerous some think it's shameful

Mostly it's senseless monotony round and round the block

From the cafes come flowing tantalizing smells

The window signs advertise a variety from sweet to savory

The rich strong odor draws me in for a tasty bowl of soup

Simplicity of white sharp blue cheese hot wings fill the void

I think of my favorite scent of childhood as I pay

And I Stand Alone

I step through the sparkling puddle

The rain's passed good thing my reflective coat isn't porous

The yellow reflects in high gloss windows as i walk by

I see myself flash by out of the corner of my eye

I have a fantastical thought of a 2-D world beyond the veil

In a passing bus window I see the beauty standing beside me

I decide to throw caution to the wind an roll the dice

I turn to her with a big smile to say something nice

And I Stand Alone...

* In case you didn't notice this rambling prosetry vignette used every one of the 31 daily prompts of this years Octpowrimo. 

    

Seeing Red

Seeing Red

There were lots of places I went with this. Blood. Garnets, Hero of Angry birds. The colors of Canada and so on. I also wanted to get these poems I had typewritten at Dr. Coffee posted before the end of Octpowrimo. Then it hit me--the Sith. Their color is red especially light sabres. This is inspired by 'The Force awakens'

That Dark Knight

Princess

Mother

Has occupied

Herself with enterprise

Of great force and of great purpose

She will not go gently

After son or

Father

Flyboy

Will disappoint

Shrug shoulders walk away

But when she asks he'll cross that bridge

Lay bare his burning heart

Jump to great depths

My son

Dark lord

Call of Spiritual duty

Call of Spiritual duty

All hallow's eve is close at hand
Fall colors emblazon the ground
Tall skeletal trees wind stripped naked make a stand
Pall of winter's icy stab is felt all around

Dark cavern hold hoards of twisted creatures fantastical
Hair raising shrieks create a cacophony bombastical
Mark the insidious plans made by a council unecclesiastical
There's one thing in the breach believers prayers monastical

Pray hard and raise the the active living cleaving sword
Sway heaven's blazing angel light brigade to action
Melee with vile hosts of the ancient dread dragon Lord
Dismay their schemes so evil gains no traction

Has your door been invaded by a costumed cutie
Spaz not you ivory tower does not need to be defended
As long as you've done your spiritual duty
Whereas our Father unlike his kids is not easily offended

The Hammer Falls

The Hammer Falls

The hammer falls

The Underwood snaps out words

 The hammer falls

Bang bang Maxwell's dead

The hammer falls

A nail is driven home to build one

The hammer falls

The preacher's fist drives home the point

The hammer falls

The judge condemns the prisoner

The hammer falls

The blood of Jesus sets the prisoner free

The hammer falls

The dulcimer string rings like a bell

The hammer falls

The piano sings out it's songs

The hammer falls

Grandpa can no longer hold on

The hammer rusts

Heaven calls another saint home

*I ignored the prompt for today. This is one of four poems I wrote at a coffee shop. I saved them for Octpowrimo. They had set up a table with a manual typewriter (underwood) and various random people typed whatever came to mind. They may turn it into a self publish book. The crisp stacatto clatter of keys striking paper was satisfying. The repeating line came first. The rest just sort of flowed. Both grandpas were gone before I was born. I didn't know where the last couple of lines came from. Then I realized (as i wrote it back in January ) this was subconsciously about David Bowie/Alan Rickman*    

Danger Trolaan

Danger Trolaan

Fear is all you have to fear--not true

Forget to pay your taxes and you owe

Fright night poltergeist ghosts that go boo

Flicker of movement deep in the shadow

Each of has a thing that brings sweat like dew

Even though you can't explain you know

Eventually you find there's something you can do

Easy or not look fear in the eye and say no

Are you afraid of mice? smack it with your shoe

Always looking for love? propose to your beau

After facing down a clown tell it to shoo

Allow a marksman to shoot around you with a crossbow

Release your parachute as you plummet through the blue

Reload your rifle and load up on ammo

Run away back lit by the bomb that you blew

Relax meditate take up tae kwan do   

Nature's Calling

Nature's Calling

Come heed don't lock yourself away nature's calling

You'll learn to plant trust in the Master Gardner

Like autumn leaves the hands of time are falling

As you plow through life you will need a pardner

To pluck out sin fear and doubt it takes such toil

You'll learn to plant trust in the Master Gardner

Do not let wild winds plant bad seeds in good soil

From the joyless ashes fresh growth sprouts anew

To pluck out sin fear and doubt it takes such toil

You'll have to wait for resources to renew

After brokenness new life grows from within

From the joyless ashes fresh growth sprouts anew

Rivers flow mountains move though we're born to sin

It's not too late to let love change your nature

After brokenness new life grows from within

Seek His love for it is a seed to nurture

It's not too late to let love change your nature

Like autumn leaves the hands of time are falling

Come heed don't lock yourself away nature's calling

*Part of the poem I almost wrote: 'Expressive Nature' Nature is calling...Nature is crying...nature is screaming...Where will we be when nature is silent. But it ground to a halt. At least I didn't go with my very first thought. 'the call of nature? When I was a kid that meant a euphemism for needing to go to the bathroom...'*    

Snow White

Snow White

White

Ice cream

Vanilla

From a black bean

Dark pod brings sweetness white pod brings cotton

Sheets in the wind

Smell of fresh

Clean bright

White

Snowing

Soft as wings

Of morning doves

The Prince of Peace made the pure sacrifice

His blood my sins

Once crimson

White as

Snow

Planting of the Lord

Planting of the Lord

I

want to

be a tree

Rooted steadfast

Flexible and free

dancing against the wind

Bowing before angry storms

Bent bowed sometimes permanently

But not broken bruised not despairing

Strike me with lightening I turn hard as stone

Cut me down I never stop reaching

Hold hope let desire sprout forth

I hold wisdom to my heart

Like hippies who hug me

I'm a righteous oak

Singing for joy

Clap my hands

Come birds

Angels

Creatures

Sunshine

Good soil

Fresh rain

Green leaves

Heal nations

Find still waters

Bear bushels of fruit

*Job 14:7, II Chron. 16:33, Is 55:12, Jer 17:8, Psalm 1:3, 52:8, 92:12-15, 128, Proverbs 3:18, 11:30

Absurd Word

Absurd Word

Hey how you feeling

My unconscious is a hobo muttering

I don't know when

She left me

A terrorist of senseless violence

Of the heart

Ripped open and screaming

Until I grayed out

Floating

Feeling nothing

Locked in the chamber

Of secrets deprived

Of emotional intellect

Struggling to understand

Irrational complexity of humans conditioned

To respond like a drooling hound

Of hell that I'm in

Suffering long 

But not upbraiding

Wishing to re-braid

The tattered threads

Woven on an empty loom

Looming large all the little hurts

Like nettle whips dipped in venom

Stings burns throbs now numb paralyses

Can...not...move

On into the sunset

Of our time together

We've made mistakes

Not easily fixed

On the horizon

A few gray days

Don't make a storm

Don't make a big deal

The cards on the table

Set before me

Good choices I'll make them

Work like a dog 

Tired but loyal

To a fault I'll let them slide

Down with me and lay

Your head on my shoulder

The burden bear my soul

*I don't know what this means or where it came from. Somewhere between free verse and stream of consciousness. I kept writing till I ran out of paper then typed it out practically verbatim. 

Unsavory Sonnet

Unsavory Sonnet

Can anyone be so thoughtless and unkind

Wrath is pouring out sludge to fill my bowl

Your words have left a bad taste in my mind

My life has been made unpalatable

My disposition usually so sweet

Has turned to humor acidic and sour

Your attitude stinks like wet unwashed feet

It is vomitous to abuse power

Surely you know that is not leadership

To steamroller truth like a highway skunk

Puts me off my feed when your tongue's a whip

Your cheese is ripe blue the smell makes me drunk

My bitterness is so unsavory

It is my desire that you would bite me

*I was feeling so contrary today. The prompt was "savory". With stuff at work and the political debates I had to go the other way and spew this out. *

Stone Rolled Away

Stone Rolled Away

(A double nonet...Octodectet?)

I had a deep emptiness inside

A wide cavern of loneliness

I covered it well I thought

Boulder of bravado

Be loud to distract

Make a false trail

Lead astray

But you

Stayed

Up close

Personal

Never prying

Not going too far

Wanting only to talk

Eroding strong defenses

Hand in hand exploring tunnels

As one finding treasures in the dark

*I noticed after that the shape looks like the stalagmites and stalactites in a cave* 

One Day Four Seasons

One Day Four Seasons

(A double Musette)

Wind blew

Winter here soon

Lips blue

Table

One Labbat blue

Label

Blue sky

Sunshine tear fills

My eye

Bird song

I want to sing

Along

Too hot

I want to strip

Bad thought

Fall leaves

Blue harvest moon

Grain sheaves

Shame Shaming

Shame Shaming

(A Villenelle)

Some people have got to pour out shame

In person on line behind the back or anonymous writing

Why should the victim take the blame

A stupid kid comes up with the worst nickname

A depraved bully makes you their plaything

Some people have got to pour out shame

College boys seek acclaim with a voracious numbers game

She wants some bling that slut was just a weekend fling

Why should the victim take the blame

Whatever famously is your claim to fame

A jealous troll will scorn and mock everything

Some people have got to pour out shame

I guess the slow moving target has the biggest frame

Do they think their acid tongue has no sting

Why should the victim take the blame

The fight is ripe our basic human rights to reclaim

Don't let bottled words poison your heart's spring

You have got to pour out shame

No victim should take the blame

No 'range...Rhymes with O?

No 'range...Rhymes with O?

You've just got to go with the flow

Tough thing for a stick in the mud to know

Like a midnight bump on the proverbial toe

Flexibility is key is quite the blow

When your skull is like the forehead of a buffalo

As calm as a bull in the rodeo

Let God have control just let it go

I ain't no teenage queen of ice and snow

I've got a temper like a boiling volcano

Let love flow like sunshine through a window

Sounds like the emperor,  Skywalker's foe

Good good young jedi let it flow let it grow

Don't worry be happy there's always tomorrow

Let bozo play banjo like a psycho on the radio

Not true just because Elton John plays calypso on piano

Soar with the colors of the wind over the rainbow

Not so fun in the middle of a tornado

When a blade of grass pierces your heart like an arrow

Roll with the punches learn mental judo

I'm punch drunk and moving slow

Out of step like a square dancer at the disco

Follow the right hand star till morning glow

No Tinkerbell in my ear just a mosquito

My lost boys are children of nosferateau

Don't rock the boat, man, be mellow yellow

In the river you go nowhere if you don't row

You'll drown if you don't fight the undertow

Follow the flow of the tide and walk when it's shallow

I'd rather surf  the wave hit the barrel carve the hallow

Cowabunga hang 10 hang loose crouch low Mahalo

Wait! It's only dead salmon that go with the flow

No! I will overthrow the apropos

I throw tabasco on my burrito

I wear my big boy pants commando

I throw my dice and break the casino

I wear my freak flag like a weirdo

I jump on my mower and reap what I sow

I stand for justice like a super hero 

I scream sorrow into my pillow

I dance a flamenco mambo fandango tango

Follow me and I will be the flow 

*If this is too sarcastic for you, read just the italics. It's lovely!*

I have the Right by Law

The prompt is strong. As a kid when I thought of strong, I thought of cowboys, gunfighters and lawmen

I have the Right by Law

I saunter down busy streets

Hand on my holster fingers on my weapon

Some smile and nod I say Howdy

Some look away or scurry from me

My steely gaze flickers to and fro

I miss nothing while seeming not to look

I am looking for trouble

I am looking for lawbreakers

Discordant eerie harmonica plays in my head

Or a driving classical imperious march

My hand drops my weapon appears

My bullets spit out justice

No, I'm not a sheriff in the old west

I'm a parking bylaw enforcement officer

My weapon is an electronic handheld

My bullets are tickets on a window

Just don't you dare call me a meter maid

I prefer (in an imitation John Wayne voice) parking ranger     

All the Lively Leaves...

All the Lively Leaves...

(an acrostic)

All the lively leaves

Leap in a chorus line to the rhythm of the wind

Landing as softly as a butterfly whisper

Tunnels of trees down the lane

Have an infinite palette of fire and sun

Even the half naked tree dances free

Little children squealing run and leap

Into the piles poppa tried to keep neat

Visiting rabbit's hair turn from brown to white

Evergreen trees stand staunchly unchanging

Like soldiers enduring a parade

Yet they tap their prickly fingers to the beat

Libraries of trees

Each lovelier than a poem

Amber umber ocher orange

Violet burgundy maroon pink

Even golden butterscotch lemon yellow

Scarlet crimson red... 

...cover the ground like the blood Jesus shed      

Unfolding Fall

Unfolding Fall

The fall season is now unfolding

See them fly hear the geese honking

Summer is gone the leaves fallen

No more sunburn no more pollen

Don't want to think too hard and make up a reason

To celebrate because this is the fall season

Winter's coming but not quite yet

Rain not snow but still cold and wet

The wind rustles the restless leaves

Like pirate bones when their grave heaves

When the wind picks up and my fingers are numbing

By the chill in the air I know winter's coming 

Twisted

Twisted

Generations of flaws spin through the spiral helix of my skin

Like a beast outside your door coiled to spring

The corkscrew of repentance unplugs the fountain

Joy twists through a heart that's entwined with love

I'm a hefty fellow from a large family

I like food, sweets, and coffee like the rest of my kin

The only time we're not quiet is playing pit or Yahtzee

Generations of flaws spin through the spiral helix of my skin

There are pleasures in the world like a smorgasbord to try

What starts as a joy can have such sorrow to bring

Nothing wrong with a little more your desires will lie

Like a beast outside your door is coiled to spring

Beware what's planted when you seek pastures fresher

Quickly a trembling molehill becomes a volcanic mountain

Try to screw the lid down but it causes such pressure

The corkscrew of repentance unplugs the fountain

You get caught in whirlpool when your sea is storming

The wind whipped vortex tornado touches down from above 

Get thru the souls dark night and joy comes in the morning

Joy twists through a heart that's entwined with love 

Thanksgiving

My brain is porous
Just cooked Thanksgiving dinner
This is a haiku

Taster's Choice

Almost every day I take coffee break at the Artful Dodger here in Regina, Saskatchewan. It has a great vibe for writing poetry.  I finally earned my free stamp card beverage. "What can I get for free?" "a  coffee or tea" "Maybe mocha or cappuccino?" "I guess" This is what they made for me. It was perfect. I was inspired enough to try a 'Rondel' which I first thought sounded like a singer from a 50's girl group. Here goes.

Taster's Choice

You can taste a soul

By the taste of their coffee

Sweet bitter strong or spicy

Dark plain skim or whole

Some are works of art in a generous bowl 

or a goodwill Styrofoam you only drink for free

You can taste a soul

By the taste of their coffee

Some share their warm maple pecan cinnamon roll

Alternative lifestyles drink healthy green tea

Opening the eyes of your heart is the key

If you want to make open friendships your goal

You can taste a soul    

I will play

*Today's prompt was not tantalizing me. It just didn't fit today. "How are you?" ,asked the barista. "tantalizing!?!" .I replied...nope "Well, you look tantalizing." No way! It's been raining/snowing for three days straight here."The tantalizing snow cane swirling from the sky." nah. It's almost Thanksgiving here in Canada. So, no tantalizing, inspirational smells yet. So I grabbed an old notebook to wrassle  down some ideas. When I stumbled on this half formed poem about the harmonicas I always carry around with me. A line or two and I'd be done. The laziness was just too tantalizing...

I will Play

Playing in the parkade

Hiding from the rain

Playing in my bedroom

Hiding from the pain

Playing in the market

Trying to make some change

Playing at the bus stop

People looking strange

I play for joy

I play for fun

I play in the night

I play in the sun

I play like a symphony

I play like a midnight train

I play to release the tension

I play to release the strain

When everything else is gone

I

will

play

Stay Sharp

Stay Sharp

Sharp as a tack

Sharp as cheddar

Sharp as a blade

I once had a razor wire stiletto tongue

Delighting in popping egos with a poignant point

Sharp as a tack 

My wit is more like a nutty swiss now

Full of holes where my mind was

Sharp as cheddar

We are iron and steel striking sparks

It is your love that keeps me true

Sharp as a blade

Love is Orchid Rare

Love is Orchid Rare

In the purple rain

Hard and cold as amethyst

A heart full of pride

A magenta mind

Plumbs depths of depravity

Brain dense as eggplant

Rich burgundy soul

Seeks mulberry vanity

And lilac visions

Lusty lavender

Leads to pomegranate stains

Violets can't hide

Bruises like sunsets

Maroon drops of grief distilled 

Crimson stains the wood

As a grape is crushed

Heaven's royal majesty  

Sweet communion wine

Imperial sealed

In the periwinkle twilight

The stone rolls away

The Prince of Peace reins

Scarlet bride can now wear white

Love is orchid rare

I can't see the sparkle

I Can't See the Sparkle

What a miserable day to try to write a poem

When the dismal clouds weep from the sky

I would much rather be hiding at home

I can't see the sparkle

In my car to go to work to make my mark

In the beam the wet road diamonds shine

When I keep myself in the dark

I can't see the sparkle

A lump of rock deep in the earth

Might hide a priceless diamond

When I don't see what I am worth

I can't see the sparkle

A flimsy stick of matchwood sits

Smelling of hell and of sulfur

Until a rough and flinty patch it hits

I can't see the sparkle

With lowered lids she hides her eyes

I don't know what she thinks or feels

Until a tear wells and softly she cries

I can't see the sparkle

One finger softly tenderly lifts her chin

I close my eyes and plant a kiss

Until her gaze reveals what is within

I can't see the sparkle

Into the Void

Into the Void

Out of void life arose

Arose and gave the first breath

Breath of the divine gives life to a lump of earth

Earth created for our care

Care for our earth as a home

Home and family are the only riches

Riches hoarded rot the soul

Soul and spirit and flesh are at war

War is the great beast unchained

Unchained it devours give it a collar and chain

Chain of command and honest watchmen to see

See the oppressed set free

Free to speak free to live free to love

Love is love is love is love is a choice

Choice for light or dark

Dark is no light cold is no heat

Heat like a thousand suns burn

Burn until earth, sky, and elements melt

Melt back into the void

A Matter of Time

A Matter of Time

Time

Time lord

Take time 

Make time

Break time

Play time

Face time

Double time

Half time

Military time

Time after time

Time on my hands

Time on my side

The sands of time

Time waits for no man

Time to pay the piper

Time to do whatever you want

Time flies when you're having fun

Time drags when you're at work

Time to remember the words to the song

"If I could save time in a bottle"

What have you done with your bottle of time?

As a baby, my time bottle nourished me and put me to sleep

As a child, I dipped my wand into time

Time was a big shiny bubble

Hanging in the air and then gone

The time between child and adult

I chugged time with wild abandonment

And lusty cheer

Over time, I developed refinement

I would pour a glass of time

And savour it as a connoisseur

Now, time burns my throat and warms my belly

I sip time slowly, one shot at a time

Time has a spicy, oaky, smoky, earthy flavour

Someday, I'll squeeze my last drop of time onto my tongue

Sigh, and smile, and swallow one last time

After that, timeless void, divine eternity, or reset to zero

I really don't know

I will just be a matter of time