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Ramp on the Ridge

Ramp on the Ridge

by | Dec 10, 2022 | Uncategorized

Inspiration:
Seeing the same thing on my list of goals for a quarter century without making any progress.
 
Medium:
Pigmented ink pen and pastels.
 
 
Ramp on the Ridge
A chasm separates who I am
from who I want to be,
a constant reminder of the man
that’s falling short of me.
 
It’s far too far to climb down safe
and back up the other side,
and no way to ever go around,
it stretches far too wide.
 
I don’t have skills to build a bridge
nor boards to span the deep,
just enough for a ramp on the ridge,
so I’ll run and take a flying leap!
 
To never have jumped has the same effect
as t’have jumped and to have died,
either way these words end up silent,
but at least with the latter one I tried!
 
So if these words are never read,
it means they fell and died.
But since, apparently, they are not dead,
welcome to the other side
     of me!

The Dragon

The Dragon

by | Dec 8, 2022 | Uncategorized

Inspiration:
Ever notice how much a trash truck sounds like a dragon as it roars between houses?
 
Medium:
Pigmented ink pen and pastels.
 
 
The Dragon
A dragon came down my street
picking up its weekly treat,
an offering to keep the peace
we’re more than willing to pay!
 
It roared devouring every load
then onward down the road it strode.
I’m not sure how far it goed
before it flew away.
 
We don’t dare ever miss a week
knowing the dragon cannot seek
twice as much to fill its cheeks
on the next offering day
 
And that suits me fine just as well
because our house will start to smell
and the neighbors will be able to tell
so take out the trash before you play!

One Car Back

One Car Back

by | Dec 3, 2022 | Uncategorized

Inspiration:
An experince I had while driving 2 of my boys home from a cross country meet on the highway.
Matthew 16:25: whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mosiah 2:17: when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
 
Medium:
Pigmented ink pen and pastels.
 
 
One Car Back
I let a car in today
driving home on the highway.
His face said he had waited a while,
and so he thanked me with a smile
as he took his place in front of me.
 
We drove tandem for about a mile,
then his road turned for his domicile,
and mine towards mine all the same,
a half-second later than I would have been.
 
And he a minute sooner than his fate
had I not slowed a half-second late.
But both of us slightly lifted,
the giver of the gift, and he who was gifted.
 
Tomorrow we may trade places
as we go off on our daily races,
and he gives me what I lack,
two steps forward, and one car back.

Insomnia Quandry

Insomnia Quandry

by | Apr 15, 2020 | Uncategorized

Insomnia Quandary
Three questions ponder I late at night,
In sleepless hours past twilight:
 
Is my place known in the universe?
If I died now, am I ready for the hearse?
And, Did I put the leftovers in the fridge?
 
To triple quandry, answers a single bridge:
 
If Yes, ’tis well with my unsealed fate,
but if No, ’tis already much too late!
 
So sleep on!, it matters not your wishes,
Leave for the morning the mourning, the dishes.

Grow’n Up

Grow’n Up

by | Apr 15, 2020 | Uncategorized

Grow’n Up
When do we stop laughing as children do,
enjoying life, careless too?
When does life’s slow grip grab us fast
with bills and troubles, slaves to the past?
 
Methinks the vine that strangles the free
grew up planted right next to me,
so close, in fact, I could not tell
it from me, heaven from hell,
 
til near too late I saw it’s hold
on my young children growing old.
So I cut the vine that held me down,
and played outside and laughed outloud
 
till dusk had come, now longsince gone,
kids to bed, and continue on
with work to do that must be done,
priority two after priority one!
 
I won’t be caught by the Hook,
I’m no fish, I’ve read the book!
Nor will I be fried by the Pan,
I’ll run away as fast as I, fast as I can!

Firmum Retineamus

Firmum Retineamus

by | Apr 15, 2020 | Uncategorized

Firmum Retineamus
With invisible chains to bind my mind
and unseen pains to tie my soul,
you knock me down, but you will find
I’ll rise again to take the toll.
 
And with each strike I’ll stronger be,
more determined than ever to win the fight!
You think your pains are weakening me,
but soon your bark will meet my bite!
 
Though sail is not stronger than fiercest wind,
and may fail in mighty storm,
unlike canvas, needled and pinned,
I grow stonger when I’m torn.
 
No matter how long the darkest night,
My inner battle will be won,
Nor how fierce the demons I must fight,
I’ll toil til my work is done.
 
You think I’ll give up in the end,
That I will never last,
But when you’ve left, defeated, my friend, 
I’ll be right here, steadfast!