Twilight Times

I won gold with this poem..about the picture




I am a creature of the twilight times.
One night the trees burned, hot sparks flying
across the midnight sky.
I ran, my nose singed with smoke and fire.
The beast clawed at my feet
but finally it died,
smoldering in the night.
At dawn I climbed a lone tree.
I sat in deep melancholy
on the twisted blackened limbs.
Destruction framed by a perfect new day.
I watched the ash fall
around the smudged edges of my new life,
wishing I could return to the velvet green of my youth.
One by one a flock of cardinals
gathering on the ash covered tree
offering me the color of their song.

Without Her

This poem won gold in a contest about loss, from a man's point of view..

Without Her
Again this morning, they gather
in the high white pines
and along the back clothes line.
The birds watch the window, waiting.
The empty bird feeder swings in the wind.
I watch them from my seat on the front porch.
They have no interest in me,
it is her they are waiting for.
She use to fill the bird feeder every morning,
no matter the weather.
The morning doves approach me first
hopping across the boards of the porch,
heads held sideways asking perhaps,
"what has happened to that old woman?"
I ignore the chatter and sip my weak coffee,
still after a month of trying it doesn’t have
the punch of the stuff she use to make.
I find it strange that the smallest things
are what I find hardest to bare without her.
I use to take for granted all the clean socks
and underwear that use to appear like magic every day.
A chickadee cries hauntingly from the pine tree.
I ignore the call and continue to sip my almost cold brew.
Just as I am ready to go inside I see it,
the flash of red fluttering above the trees.
Every year my wife would wait for them to come.
Some years they never were seen.
Her favorite bird, perhaps because they were so rare.
My heart aches in my chest, wishing she was here to enjoy this.
I think about the empty feeder
and the bag of feed wasting away in the porch.
A female cardinal joins her mate on the tree.
Two cardinals now that is a rare sight.
With tears on my cheeks I go into the porch to retrieve the birdseed.
I can feel my wife's light laugh drifting on the wind
as I walk back to the pine trees and fill the feeder.

Empty Nest

This poem won bronze in a contest..we had to write about nurturing...

Empty Nest

Autumn has come too quickly.
My daughter has left
for her first year of collage
the last of my children to leave home.
My hours seem long,
I’m lost in the wanting
to change things back to when
my children were young.
I know in my heart I have
nurtured her enough
that she has wonderful wings
to fly on her own.
Fall leaves blow,
raising color.
Scarlet and orange,
like curled butterflies,
they flutter across the yard.
The smell of dead flowers
their fragrance still sweet
even in death.
May’s renewal,
now a distant memory.
The wind blows hard,
a tiny bird’s nest falls at my feet.
Weaved within
my daughter’s lost hair ribbon.
A small bird flies out of the tree,
winging its way south.
The mother bird has long ago
taught it to fly on it's own.
I wonder is the empty nest
breaking her heart?

Dream Weaver

Dream Weaver

The lingering wind
sings me a poignant song.
The clouds go drifting by
weaving night time visions
of renewed tomorrows.
The babbling brook speaks
humming through
the silence old oaks
offering hope.
Mother Nature,
spins contentment over me.
Oh dream weaver
sing me a hopeful song,
a familiar lullaby of optimistic wishes.
Sent me firefly dreams
bright with luminous magic.
Let me see the stars
dancing through the night.
Dream weaver spin me
Illusions  from the
warm milky way.
Let me drift in the warmth
of your night time promises
sleeping under a blanket of wishes.
Let your soft tune float in my mind
until morning brings my sweet dreams
into the harmony of daylight.

If The Sky Was Made Of Paper

If the sky was made of paper
I would use the rainbows
to paint my love song to you.
In hues of sapphire and mauve
I would fill the cobalt sky
with my love words high and wide.
I would underline "I love you,"
with fluffy drifting clouds.
My declaration of love
would drift and speak to you,
feeding your senses with
my promises of forever.
When the sky turns indigo
I would rearrange the stars
to offer you a night time symphony
of shining glittering love.
All this and more I would do
if I could.
But this poem is all I have
to tell you that I love you
and want to be yours forever.

Uncovered

The greenish brown lawn
is filled with leaves.
Red, yellow and burnt orange
they cover the brownish lawn
with their splendour.
Suddenly the wind sweeps
uncovering the
white and blue starkness
of two small blue jays.
Motionless blackened wings spread
across the brown mud.
A orange tabby cat, howls
from the top of
the grayish white fence,
scolding me perhaps for
uncovering his half eaten supper.

(Won Gold for this..had to be lots of colour in the poem.)

Heaven Waits

Mama the stars are calling me.
An angel waits just beyond the clouds
Mama don’t you see her?
She wants me to come with her
but I am afraid you will be lonely
without me here to kiss and hug you.
Mama, she says God will be here for you
and my journey here is done.
I’ll miss you Mama, please don’t cry.
My angel is walking me home now.

Waiting On God

Waiting On God
The solitude of worship draws me.
Tantalizing mist of the divine calls.
With shoes of mud still tied to my feet
I try to find stillness and grace.
But like magpies my thoughts
chatter constantly.
My mind won’t still.
I feel like I am in exile.
Then one day when
I start to believe all is lost.
I feel the chants of flowers,
Push through sprinkles of silver fog.
I hear the prophetic mockingbirds sing
and God walks out of the clouds
to sit at my feet.

Broken Heart

Broken Heart
When the sun woke me up
with softened gaze
I saw your reflection
bathing in sunlight.
Bronzed and smiling
you appear in all
my daydreams.
I remember you
from old love songs.
You’ve appeared in all
my recurring love stories.
Baby, don’t give me
that wicked tempting smile.
I won’t fall for your charms
because I know who
you really are.
You’re my next broken heart.


(won gold for this in a contest)

Pumpkin

Pumpkin
The stars blistered
the midnight sky
when I found her
plump and golden
sitting in my garden.
Her limbs were
stretching to the sky
her body plump and firm.
She filled my tiny cart
with her lusciousness.
The stars danced
across her body
revealing her beauty.
I placed my cane in the cart.
stumbling with disjointed steps
I mindlessly pushed her
toward the house.
I dreamt of devouring her.
The cart slipped from my hands.
Bouncing down the rocky hill.
my lovely took 
a wild midnight ride.
At the bottom of the hill
I found her looking like
Humpty Dumpty
Shattered into many pieces.
Oh well, I thought,
there is always another pumpkin
In the pumpkin patch.

The Earth Weeps

The Earth Weeps
The earth steeped
in destruction and alienation,
dreamt of
the warm kiss from
past morning suns
fringed by dewy rainbows.
She longed for
the golden moon
to fall across her chest.
Visions of fragrant blossoms
mixed with green leaves
and budding sprouts
occupied her dreams.
She longed for the
tiny footprints of
furry woodland creatures
to tickle her belly again.
Weeping with sorrow,
the earth dreamt
her children had returned
to honor and look after her.

Welcome Home

Welcome Home
Lead me to where,
the succulent scent
of sweet maples
hang delightfully
In the air.
Draw me across your path
of waffling leaves and grass.
Escort me through the
solitude that streams
along your graceful road.
My thirst is never filled
until I see the
beauty of your splendour.
I hold you in my dreams
when I am far away.
I hear your ancient voice
beckoning me to walk
once again down
that familiar welcoming road
to my childhood home.

Illusions

Illusions

Morning sunlight

filters through the

haunting haze.

Tree limbs sparkle.

Limbs wrapped

with silvery

miasma bracelets.

The alabaster air

hangs dewy and thick,

veiled in mist.

Sheer golden wings

of sunlight dance

like flickering fireflies

through the phantom film.

Magical illusions created by God.

Wind Chimes

Enchanted Love

Enchanted Love
The gypsy clouds
were dancing wildly
across the pale blue sky,
serenading us softly
with crooning love tides.
The birds were singing
eternal whimsy tunes.
Nature was strumming
fiery love songs.
The magic worked
we succumbed
by falling madly in love
under the blue limbs
of an enchanted tree.

Daisies In Heaven

Daisies In Heaven

She is dancing in a field of daisies
Her translucent figure a little hazy.
Twirling in the morning sun
She is having so much fun.
Her hair streams out like golden silk,
Her skin glows, white as mother’s milk.
Standing by her life’s dried up stream
She tries to capture misplaced dreams.
I longingly watch her from afar
As she places daises in an old jam jar.
Her vision is so bittersweet
I want to breathe in her scent and keep
My child safe and here with me.
I can never understand how it can be
That years from now she will still be eleven.
I want to ask her, are there daisies in heaven?

Hazel Is That You

Hazel Is That You
Hazel is that you?
Have you seen my glasses?
I’ve lost them by the tree
I was trimming.
Darn it Hazel will you
just get your big butt
out of the air and help me
find my glasses.
And for goodness sake
why are you wearing that
green underwear?

(written for a contest about this picture..had to be funny..well how couldn't it be with this picture.) Won Bronze

God's Artwork

God's Artwork

How can you
not believe in God
as you watch indigo waters
falling in brocaded moonlight.
A frozen wink of God’s beauty
twinkling in the windows
of a crystallized cabin.
Nature’s beauty framed
in diamonds and taffeta.
Silent splendour steaming
like soft satin.
Only God could create
such beautiful artwork.

Lady Lavender

Lady Lavender
Wisteria,
Sweet Lady Lavender.
Her violet scented clusters
yawning in bursts
of glorious flowers.
Enchanted branches
displaying the charm of
summer’s delicate delights.
Cascading mauve scented
flowers spreading
across dazzling green foliage,
bringing psalms of perfumed
tranquillity.

God Is

God Is
God is in the dewy misty droplets

that fall across my lawn.

He is in the birds that nest

and sing to me as morning dawns.

God is the water in my watering can

that I pour across my glorious flowers.

He is in the pebbles, sand

and the warm spring showers.

God is in every breath I take,

He is the creator of all humankind.

His touch is seen in all things I make.

He is with me all the time.

God is in the reflections of cool deep waters

flowing in rivers, lakes and streams.

He is the Saviour that I meet at the Communion Altar.

He is the answer to prayers and a weaver of dreams.

God is my Saviour and my friend.

He is the author of all my life’s pages.

God’s love for me will never end

It is unvarying and never changes.

Aging

Aging
Years have rolled up like blinds
distortion at work.
Ceremonies have come and gone,
no point in counting the minutes
So many have passed.
Observances and acts
Yawning behind fallen leaves.
I am a long way from the beginning.
But how far from the end?
The heat is still on,
But my old bones feel cold.
My years have been cut in half.
I breathe deeply hoping
To remind myself that I am still me.
I know I am standing in a doorway
Between evening and day.
Serenading me, age circles
With her faceless invitation.
She tap-dances past my door,
I kick up my heels and join her.
Surprise shows on her wrinkled face.
She evaporates behind my faded curtains,
Leaving me more amused than concerned.
(Won bronze for this piece, had fun writing it)

Butterfly Poems

BUTTERFLY BALLET
Colourful wings;
conspicuously marked.
Statuesque beauty flutter
with constant motion.
Stroking boundaries;
trailing in circular motion
frenzied by the perfumed ecstasy,
they discover
while dancing across my flowers.


LADY OF ROMANCE
Lady of romance
dancing through sunlight.
Wirling and floating
fine lined beauty
Colors softly muted,
Glides across the grass.
Wonderful collision
soft wings touching
grace in motion,
Winging gracefully
exquisity flirting
across my yard.
(This one won honable mention in a contest for butterflies)

Febuary Love Poems

(Won gold for this one..as you can tell lots of contests about love for Valentines Day, also most contest want free verse, which is new for me.)

Daydreams

In my daydreams
delicate harps create a love song
that only we can hear.
In my daydreams
minstrels juggle rainbows
across your sparkling eyes.
Flowered compositions
comb your body with surprise.
You glide across the room
vivid desire
lights up your face.
In my daydreams
Heaven’s wondrous splendour
has answered my prayer,
making you love me
the way I love you.


(Won bronze for this little piece)
Curtains
The shadows move
across our love.
Curtains fall
I see all
Written in your lies.

Black And White

Black And White
A bright red umbrella
and you kissing me
until I wanted to melt,
across your body
like ice cream
dissolving on a hot sidewalk
on a scorching summer’s day.
That is what I remember.
Everything else
appears to me like a dream
in black and white.
The wings of our love’s promise
originated under that
colourful umbrella.

(This poem won gold in a contest to write a poem about the picture)

Diving

(Written for a contest about this picture using a list of twenty words)



Yesterday I went back
to that same beach,
with paint and canvass
I painted a picture
of our love story.
Wading through silver water
waves high on the tide,
seashells, crunching under our barefeet.
Like crystal, they break into tiny pieces
falling into the deep sea.
The beach extends wide,
water reflecting the blue skies.
You tell me,
“Ebb and flow of the tide
Is like our relationship”.
I notice the ripple
of sunny sandcastles
that shine in your brown eyes.
Afraid,
I stroll into the ocean
Diving into the first big wave
I can find.

Mother's Bible

Old, creased and worn,
the page edges torn

stained with tears,

showing much wear

Mother's bible was the heart

and would always be a part

of the prayers that made us a family.

Grandma's Bible

Grandma's bible was leather and worn,
Verses underlined,
her own words written in ink
on some of the pages.
Many prayers had been said,
Many pains expressed
as grandmother found comfort
in her special book.
I wondered how many tears
had fallen on this holy book.
Tears of sorrow, happiness and praise
Offered to God, because of his word.

Poems

Mysteries ignite,
and you come bursting
through the womb of creation.
Miraculous birds sing,
eternal flame proclaims.
magical words crown divine,
Illustrious essence,
creative words cascade
freely from my pen.
Poetry, phenomenon gift received.
Words joined, entwined
celestial strands unfold
with creative angelic wings.

Sweet Firefly

You are gone,
but in my dreams.
I watch you dancing barefoot
across the dewing grass,
with one of grandma's jam jars.
You are catching fireflies.
Your sweet laughter ripples
as you add each golden
bug to the jar.
My laughter joins yours
and I reach out to
hug you.
The dream fades too quickly,
taking my breath away.
The tears come streaming
down my face as I realize
you are still dead.
The morning sun
falls upon the dusty jar
still sitting on a shelf
beside my bed.
Later I will take those jars
and fill them with fireflies.
I will pretend you are dancing
beside me once again
My Sweet Firefly,
Do they have fireflies in heaven?