None of us old folk ever talk about
how we were forced to play outside
every weekend and every summer day
from sunup until streetlights glow.
All those sun burnt faces,
shoulders and ears,
wet clothes and frozen toes.
sweltering heat, torrential rain,
blizzards of drifting snow.
But oh,
how we do love to ramble on
about how much fun we had watching
mud puddles drying,
icicles melting,
and how excited we were to watch the grass grow
into yet another year.
Category: Free Verse
Remember
Do you remember
playing out in the street
and a man came by
said he had something
sweet
and it’s yours
for free
if you come with me
Your friends ran away
leaving you there
with a smile on your face
and a ribbon in your hair
all they could do was stare
as you walked away
holding his hand
they never saw you again
Do you remember
that time down on Clary
when those two dudes
rolled up looking scary
with their nines at their side
when they stepped
out of that fine
looking ride
you said that’s
the life for me
the way it ought to be
not taking shit
from nobody
now your doing life
in the penitentiary
with a guy named Earl
Do you remember
that feeling
when you took
what he was dealing
and it left your senses
reeling
clear down to your
tingling toes
your fingers
twitching
your nose
itching
your mind numb
did you know
it was dumb
or was you too
high to care
as they
laid you on the slab
in the autopsy lab
the man said
what a pity
this girl was so pretty
but that was never
enough for you
***To You She is Mother***
bringer of life,
giver of love,
sculptor of minds,
painter of dreams,
the calmer,
the soother, the rock…
Holding you through the tears
of mistakes done,
when dreams won’t come,
when milestones are won.
Inspiring you to begin,
to reach the end,
and then start again,
flying higher,
going farther,
moving faster…
She cherishes you,
holds you,
knows you,
at times scolds you,
but you know she will always,
love you…
She is your
unyielding,
invulnerable protector…
Yes,
To you she is mother.
To me…
She is fierce,
soft,
gentle,
lover,
fighter.
inspiration,
imagination,
stimulation,
motivation,
admiration,
rolled into one package…
In that package, a brain,
brilliant,
calculating,
supportive,
unselfish,
forgiving…
In that package, a heart,
caring,
sharing,
loving,
generous
compassionate,
tender,
affectionate,
supportive,
romantic…
In that package, a soul,
the spirit of
an angel’s grace,
where evil,
has no place,
and even the saints would cry tears,
over her purity…
In that package, her hands,
a touch that can,
calm the rage,
that boils inside of me,
exposing my insanity,
steering me.
from the brink of,
catastrophe…
In that package, her arms,
that wrap around me,
bringing harmony,
peace,
contentment,
love,
reality…
To you she is mother…
to the world she is my wife…
to me she is,
my life…
~Comme Ci, Comme Ca~
Another election came and went
after it was over we found
we had a brand new
president or an old one
re-done
but one who doesn’t
represent the will
of his constituents
I’d call him a bully
a liar
a thief
but that would be
a compliment
First Kisses
I would love to say,
I saw lightning flashing,
heard thunder rolling,
fireworks exploding in the air,
like on ‘Love American Style’.
But I was too busy,
shaking and sweating.
Television and realty,
are never quite the same.
Jerry Brotherton 