prescott-robbins
I was born in Ohio in the fifties. The youngest of four, my parents found me different than my siblings. I was dyslexic and unable to read or write. There was no understanding or help in those days. School was bleak and hard. I read my first book (The Hobbit) at nineteen. I had never read a comic book nor required reading in school. I picked up my second book in my mid-thirties. Read several but took months to get through a few chapters. However, as I read I got faster and fell in love with words. I began writing and although it was untried, I liked it. I read and write often and printed or not, the "words" I write warmly blanket that child who couldn't. I'm thankful for sites like Hello Poetry. Gifted words of your own. Husband to the same women for forty years, father, dreamer................
They go into battle, not against an enemy seen
But of the human mind, in pursuit of a life long dream
A profession which defies logic, there's danger we agree
But;
they long to be firefighters
so off to the academy
Their hearts call them out
ready day or night
To walk through doorways burning
For the ones trapped inside
Each time they leave the firehouse
Their fear left behind
Cars crushed together, bodies ripped and torn
Bending steel with pressure, the jaws of life once more
Return to the station, ready for the call
We each in our mind create a block
of doubt about the unknown
Bravely they will walk
brothers through the smoke
The fire continues to rage
each time the bell tolls
their mission is a timeless one
no one left alone
They run through doorways burning
of themselves they seldom think
Storming buildings willingly
For hostages within it deep
Jan 15, 2017
Jan 15, 2017 at 2:07 PM UTC
Our lives are vast;
minds endless thought dreams of love
Souls long for oneness
Spinning silently uncontrolled through closed doors
Eyes upon me lonely, scared,
yet hurriedly confident
Feelings masked by frozen smiles
Lying down, blanket pulled over head just short of my eyes
Seeing through everyone
but not pass myself
As the morning glory opens to the new day
and closes at night
My heart opens to love and closes to darkness
as
I
awaken once again to my reflection in the mirror
with eyes closed
Jan 12, 2017
Jan 12, 2017 at 11:52 AM UTC
family and friends are like the stars
some times their bright
other times without light
sometimes you see them
and other times you won't
but
like the stars during the day
you can't see them
yet their always there
Jan 5, 2017
Jan 5, 2017 at 11:49 AM UTC
I'm thankful every time I see your face in my heart,
for it will never become a memory
my mind may steal from me
Jan 3, 2017
Jan 3, 2017 at 7:24 PM UTC
So it's come to pass
I'm asking myself alas
what on earth have You planned for me
I've been blind you see
Unbeknownst to me
Yet created for your love wholly
I've got all the stuff
Which man measures as enough
Yet my soul screams---it's still empty
I'm asking you why Your son had to die
Was it just so I may breathe?
I've made my own way
It's not bad some would say
However unsatisfying to me
The road sign I see
On the highway I speed
Reads *** drugs, money and greed
Although I gave in
It was fun to begin
It's only led me further astray
At the end of our time
We sit and wonder why
SHOULDN'T THERE BEEN SOMETHING MORE
Well I'm glad that you asked
For our Lord Jesus Christ
Preset your purpose eternally
So give Him your life
Lessen your burden and strife
Living by his book will set you freeC
Jan 2, 2017
Jan 2, 2017 at 4:07 PM UTC
I remember when time started to matter and I was unaware.
I remember when the stars were further apart.
I cant remember when the earth was flat, but should it matter I didn't roll off.
My belt wrapped tightly around my waist secured to my belt loops.
I've never felt gravity ******* me towards the edge.
However I've watched birds flying in formation beyond the horizon taking a steep dive and then gone
from sight.
Did clouds continue past the shear face of the earth unable to maneuver the ninety degree turn?
I've dreamt I'm flying with arms spread wide, over my house, the neighborhood, the ocean enshrouded within those clouds as we nudged each other towards the abyss.
I've heard the old ones talking in the pubs, brandy in hand, saying that the first ships that sailed did see the edge.
That the whales gently tried to nudge the great ships back away from the edge.
And yet, the harpoons flew through the air piercing sharply, deeply, and deadly into the ****** sides of the whales' dark round flesh.
Their blow holes sounding their last lonely warnings cry,
turn back,
the edge is near,
turn back........
Jan 2, 2017
Jan 2, 2017 at 12:52 PM UTC
remembering how I felt
walking through the door
but
wishing I'd never opening it
RAGE-PASSION-HATE
The words you said to me ringing through my ears
"I have nothing left,
I don't care about your feelings!"
The door slammed behind me
tight to the jamb
the windows shook
feelings took
my heart be ******
I WAS UP HALF THE NIGHT
knowing you were right
I loved you with my feelings
which is never enough
I WAS UP HALF THE NIGHT
Dec 31, 2016
Dec 31, 2016 at 12:01 PM UTC
The eclipse of a sinking heart
shackles the mourning sky.
Sifted through tired trees
draped in red moonlight.
The echo of the bullfrog's croak
heaves its barreled chest.
Not for air's might
but for sorrow's last gasp.
It's grip weights heavy
webbed fingers twist and pull.
Hanging on the Lilly
the currents eternal drone.
Alone in the twilight
where darkness drinks the glow.
The pond's surface swallows
whatever descends the soul.
The trumpet flower silenced
by the wail of the bullfrog
tangled
in
the
moor
Dec 30, 2016
Dec 30, 2016 at 11:15 AM UTC
All I really remember about first grade is the long stick the teacher always had in his hand.
Several weeks into the first grade the teacher asked each child to come to the black board and spell a word he would give them. When it was my turn I walked to the front of the class and took the caulk from the tray.
The teacher said the word and I turned to the giant black board and spelled the word.
I looked up at the teacher and he looked at me and said "you spelled it wrong!"
I looked at the word on the board and then back at the teacher with a question on my face.
He repeated again "that I spelled the word wrong!
He said just go sit down!
The teacher asked another kid to come up and spell the word I did.
See, this is how you spell the word correctly.
I had heard this before from the teacher but I didn't know what to say.
I said that's how I spelled it, with a small smile on my face. Hoping he would see that I did spell it right.
YOU DID NOT SPELL IT RIGHT!
He was loud now and I sank deeply into my chair.
The room seemed to get really big and he made me feel really small.
WHY CAN'T YOU SPELL HE SHOUTS AT ME?
I didn't know what to say.
He shook his head and then shook the big stick at me.
I can see in his face that he's mad. He walks swiftly towards my desk.
He's right in front of me now and tells me to sit up straight.
His face is red and his eye's are mean.
He raises the pointer into the air, just above his shoulder, his arm half bent like when someone is using a fly swatter.
His eyes focus between me and the top of my desk.
His arm moves forward and I think he's going to hit me on the top of my head.
His hand moves quickly and the stick becomes a blur.
There's an explosion when his stick hits my desk.
There's no noise now, everyone is quiet.
Quiet and fear settle in the room.
At first I don't cry, just shake.
I turn to get out of my seat to stand up, but I trip on the metal bar that connects the desk to the chair.
I fall sideways and hit heads with Chris who sits next to me.
Chris starts crying and I fall to my knees.
I try to get up but I'm frozen to the floor.
I want to get up, lay down, crawl under my desk.
But I can't move.
Some of the kids are crying now and I can't hear if the teacher is coming to hit me with the stupid stick.
I start crying because I'm so embarrassed.
I wish my big brother was here he would save me.
Someone screams, don't hit him again.
The teacher realizes what he's done and retreats to the front of the class.
He looks at the big black and white clock and sees it's just a few minutes till recess, so he tells the class to go outside.
Some of the kids stand up but they don't move.
In a softer voice the teacher says it's o. k. go outside and play.
Two of my friends help me up and we walk to the door.
I'm afraid the teacher is going to call my name to stay behind.
I'm looking down as we enter the hallway and see the ugly green speckled tiles on the floor.
The closer we get to the outside doors the farther away they look.
With three squares left I break free of the hold my friends have on me and run through the door and then across the sidewalk.
While sprinting over the grass I look up and see the tall tree in the middle of the island that separates the driveway to the front of the school.
The branches are low and I can climb up if I can get there.
I jump with my hands up, and crab the lowest branch, throwing my feet against the trunk and pull.
I climb to the top of the tree and sit on a branch.
I almost fall out of the tree when the recess bell rings, it sounds so much louder now.
Another teacher is telling me to get down right now.
I shake my head no and look away.
I'm safe now, none can get me here.
I think about the word I spelled in class and I know I spelled it right.
But all my home work and class work and tests have big red F's on the top of the paper. As the weeks went on the F's got bigger and the circle around the F's got bolder,
and I begin to cry.
I'm not different, I'm just me.
I failed first grade that year which is almost impossible in 1957.
I returned the next year to the first grade. The kids in my first grade class think I'm to old and big to play with and the kids from last years first grade class think I'm stupid.
That afternoon when I got home I ran to the boat house to hide.
I'll hide here till I get old.
My brother can bring me food.
I'd be o.k. alone
I like alone
I' am anyway
I say to myself, in a soft, pale, sad voice,
I spelled the word right
I didn't find out I was dyslexic until I was 22 yrs old.
Until then I was just stupid.
That was a long time ago........
Dec 29, 2016
Dec 29, 2016 at 11:17 AM UTC
You're older now, a teen in full stride
You're a young man with a boy still inside
I've helped you grow and I'm proud of what I see
You're a wonderful addition to our family tree
Please listen to me as time goes on
What I share with you is life's long song
There's a bond between us that can't be broken
It's unspoken words of two men in motion
We can look at each other without a word
Yet we nod and know we've understood
I'm proud of son, you've grown strong and true
Your love completing the man in me too
Love, Dad
Dec 28, 2016
Dec 28, 2016 at 11:37 PM UTC