Home Away From Home

Day Nine

They picked out a small piece of property
Not even married a year
Cleared it of underbrush
Each time they visited the sea.

They walked the dimensions of their land
Discovered every tree and flower,
The birds that sang in the spring and fall,
Transplanted trees growing too closely
And placed them to thrive at the entrance.

They hoped to bring their family
In years to come
To create memories of summers spent together
Making a home away from home.

For years they traveled together
Bringing their children
To the salt spray of the ocean
Always stopping by their property
To walk through the growth of trees and imagine
A home through the twining brambles.

Recently they retrieved a small building plan
From far beneath forgotten papers
They are retiring now
The trees they planted no longer distinguishable
Among the scrubby pines
That choked them
Perhaps, soon
They may build a small home
Where memories could be made of summers
Making a home away from home.

The King's Chair

Day Eight

upon viewing the motion picture, THE KING'S SPEECH

I do not know what I was expecting
But it was the King of England!
His chair, each successive ruler's coronation seat
For the past hundreds of years
All the history, the pains and suffering
The hope, the joy, the treachery
The lives no longer present
Yet somehow there, expectant

The King's chair
Not of gold or other precious metals
Not plush with silk or valuable furs
Not encrusted with jewels and inlaid pearl
Instead a work of humble craftsmanship
Of wood intricately carved

What has happened in our world
That provides within us such overblown assumptions
What can this teach me
When even royalty had not seen wealth
To the extent modern society prescribes
We have advanced
Beyond the modest
Have inaugurated acquisition
Of things
And the mechanisms
Of industry and capacity
That profess to make
A footstool of our discontent
And still we seek,
We long
For a righteous governor

I Have Learned Many Things

Day Seven


I have learned many things
But did not expect to continue learning
In areas considered absolute
Which does not mean truth is changing
Only, through shades and highlights
Its shape reveals
Where once the edges carved a sharp and angled plane
They curve and layer and fold one upon another
But all is still geometry

If I Could Use All I Have to Give

Day Six


If I could use all I have to give
If I could give and it would carry through
If expectations would hold
So the effort would not be wasted

I get there and it dissolves
Fades away as if never begun
Pack up enthusiasm yet again
But I was so hoping
I really thought
It was supposed
No,
Not
This time

I am ready
I bring everything I have
Yes, I can see this time__it will be serious
The purpose is too important
We can accomplish so much
It will be great
I am ready
Will no one
No,
Really
What a shame
But, I thought
I thought

For Justice Rides the Morning

Day Five


For Justice Rides the Morning

It is okay, the day closes
You cannot be blamed for another's lie
For those who know you, those who matter
The truth remains and will not waver
Rest in this
Let the rumors fade within the quiet shadows
Hold firm through the coming blackness
For justice rides the morning

Surely A Time Will Come

Day Four


Surely A Time Will Come

Surely a time will come
When you will not veil your being
Behind themed and constructed costumes
Meant to hide your being

I try to find it in your song
In case you relent or inadvertently hide it there
It is not the orchestrated experience
But your melody I seek

You Can Give Us Money

Day Three


You Can Give Us Money

You can give us money
We have many things to do
You can give us money
There are many hungry here
You can give us money
They need clothes and shoes
You can give us money
The nets keep sickness away
Celebrate survivors
Scholarships will educate
Websites are expensive
Utility bills grow higher
Unemployment rises
You can give us money
We can reach more people
You can give us money
You can give us money


But


Who will speak with them
And hold their hands
Who will laugh with them
And celebrate achievements
Who will walk with them
And protect the neighborhoods
Who will pray with them
And miss their company