TAKING A DRIVE
driving down a back road
taking a drive through
Eastern Shores Maryland
going fast, feeling the car
as it purrs and hums under my
direction, the stereo plays as
the black top blurs in front of me
and behind in the rearview
the day is unseasonably warm
for late February, i can hear the hum
of the electricity in the powerlines
as i go fast, faster, harder then i should
i cannot help myself, the adrenaline rushes
then from out of nowhere, there is a farm
coming into view, something made me
slow down, there is a corral with horses
so i feel the need to stop-there were
two brown and white females and one
shiny black stallion, they were running back
and forth, the length of the enclosure
stopping every once in a while to feast
on alfalfa- i was awestruck, not sure why i stopped
but just taking a moment to watch beauty
in motion gave me pause, i never really took the time to
just slow down and appreciate my surroundings, i
watched them a couple minutes more, just leaning
against the fence, taking in the moment, when out of nowhere
a black sports car was racing past me down the same road
i was on, at the same rate of speed i was doing before i
stopped, a police cruiser was right on his tail in
hot pursuit- when i got back into my car, i thought to
myself, hey that could have been me.
by Michael Perry
Feb 27, 2022
Feb 27, 2022 at 12:57 PM UTC
SHE IS
my frame of reference when speaking of love
whenever she looks at me, that's all it takes
she is, what makes my whole world worthwhile; without realizing
all the ways, so easy on the eyes, ready to ease my mind
a safe space, a place to lay my head
she is, all the love songs needing to be sung; perfect harmony
complimenting all the ways i need her to be
with her my heart is spoken for, more than just physical
she is, what sees us through all the times; day and night
my life preserver if and when i need saving
capable and steady, with life's twist and turns, i run to her
she is, that safe harbor i drift to lovingly; every time
body and soul , all that i adore, this woman i would die for
every thought to keep my mind sane, on an even plane
she is, the easiest decision i ever made; a revelation
my once in a life time, all the moments we share
my love and salvation, a driving force, so deep down
she is , my days and nights my forever in dreams; realized
my one true love, as we stand the test of time
the sweetest gift received, as my heart beats steady
she is, all my reasons why i live and breathe; say a prayer for
by Michael Perry
Feb 13, 2022
Feb 13, 2022 at 1:45 PM UTC
Our day was the most normal of all
meeting for breakfast, we were in love
looking into each others eyes, here
at our favorite café, where we met most
days, we sat at a corner table which
was set with fresh picked flowers
we ate croissants and drank chicory
oh to be in love like this, then at one point
it happened, his mood seemed to overtake
the moment; like a cloud covering a sunny day
then he casually said to me without any
further instance of emotion, that it was over
he could not go on anymore, he had fallen
out of love with me, how could this be
we had been together for a long time, there
was no consignment or strings attached, foolishly
thinking, we could make this work, albeit
discreetly, he left me in stunned silence
then got up and removed himself from the table
as I sat alone for a moment, quickly acquiescing
to leave, making my way home where I
paid the babysitter and sat in my chair with my head
back to ponder next moves-oh yes there
would always be next moves to make
by Michael Perry
Jan 17, 2022
Jan 17, 2022 at 4:03 PM UTC
Mother Sun, Father Moon (inspired by Sylvia Plath)
your little girl, like Mona Lisa never smiled
still you breathed me to life
i was undeserving, given center stage
while a hidden pain lay until exposed
i fell off the edge, not back to earth
a sanitarium waited, i lived till i died
-you both have yourselves to blame
by Michael Perry
Jan 9, 2022
Jan 9, 2022 at 9:56 AM UTC
NO SECOND CHANCES (inspired by Sylvia Plath)
in all my moments alive, as the inky darkness thrives
among the trees standing in shadow like black animals
at attention, undefinable, they stand frozen, like me
what of life or death, ah, treacherous with obscenity's
i curse you stars to be wished upon, you have failed me
i am without voice, nor a tongue nowhere to be found
i am but a little girl lost, searching for a way to go home
i am without point, verge of insanity, still looking, always
so i write as a salve to explain away these wounds inside me
it has given me perception to delve into psyche's not mine
what i could not find or fulfill in my short time alive, i know life
like death is a one way street no second chances, a dead end
By Michael Perry
Dec 28, 2021
Dec 28, 2021 at 3:14 PM UTC
SPILLED WINE
Our nights are always the same, we start it mundane
just simple, then a sip of wine to alleviate the days pain
we ease into it slowly, as the conversations get started
one glass at a time, we talk about our day, the kids, the car
will dinner be on the table this time? we laugh, we giggle
we hold hands by the fire, by the third or fourth glass
we have moved on to the meaning of life, the state of
politics; ready to declare what side, we are on...we do this each night
in spite of ourselves, you'd think we'd know better
but with a touch grape on our lips, to let the obscenities' flow steadier
we stamp our feet, and gnash our teeth, to make our point sharper
as the night rolls around, it gets later and later, now dinner is burnt
as we set blame on each other, we loose inhibitions, as we become
all glassy eyed and slurred, finally we reach the end of the bottle
we're bad, what a shame, too late for another run, empty stomachs spurn so we order take-out from the place down the street and nurse
huge headaches that feel like hell on earth, we go to bed as if still
friends and lovers, as if nothing has happened, that is until tomorrow when
we imbibe once more, getting our favorite bottle of wine from the local liquor store
by Michael Perry
Dec 26, 2021
Dec 26, 2021 at 11:25 AM UTC
NATURE-HAIKU
rise up to the day
catch every white silence
bask in cold water
By Michael Perry
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021 at 4:17 PM UTC
She bought this light green chair at an estate sale, with a red pillow as an accoutrement she smiled like a young child; proud of her find, all I could do was smile back, afraid to hurt her feelings, you hate it she said, I can tell-would it make you want it more if I told you it was from Ernest Hemingway's estate, such a find- I was in a bidding war with another woman, I purchased it for you
its been a couple years hence, sitting in my light green chair, she knew it was the perfect chair, to do my writing, she would smile, if she could see me here, shades of the writer that I am
time to move on, all the memories left- I sold everything; never though, would I sell the light green chair with the red pillow, as it reminds me of her always
By Michael Perry
Dec 12, 2021
Dec 12, 2021 at 4:55 PM UTC
JUST US 2
me and you together
in love just us 2
we will be
so happy
then along came he and
now we are 3
there is love for all
to go around
can't you see, we can she said to me
another year another day
by mistake, now we are 4
my head hit the floor- surprise you said to me
add a dog and a cat
house in the burbs
living out the dream
with bills up to the hilt
make it day to day- what to do
when love is in the house, no matter you see
she said to me- We- are a family
by Michael Perry
Dec 11, 2021
Dec 11, 2021 at 4:18 PM UTC
SHOCK OF WINTER
the ashen grey sky leads
as the forerunner of whats to come
whilst the taste of snow flakes
incite the buds on the tongue, it is as if
when warm turns to cold, we are lead to believe
that this grip of ice bearing down, may feel
like forever, and for you already growing old
thereby freezing your impression of what to believe
that somehow this is not living, hence
given your preferred inclination for a few degree's more
you might wish though, to be somewhere else
for at least a few months time until
the cold shock of winter barrels and blows over, in its due time
by Michael Perry
Dec 9, 2021
Dec 9, 2021 at 4:12 PM UTC