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Sep 2022 · 232
Fill Me
BTW Sep 2022
Fill Me
19 September 2022

Cold.
Hungry.
Lonely.
Bring me wine.
Bring me time.
Bring me love.
Bring me youth.
Fill me before I journey to stars.
Empty me as I die.
Sep 2022 · 169
Tide of Age
BTW Sep 2022
Tide of Age
18 September 2022

Remembering the dates, the times, the pain, the loss,
The tides of age wash over me. A deluge of memory,
Wasting, waiting, finishing me.
All has changed, all was new, all unknown, All, gone.
Where are the shores, the craigs of rock, the sand dunes,
That gave me peace and place, defined me, defiled me?
Rattling, rolling, bruised, I lay tattered on it’s mound.
Age destroyed my trophies, gold turned to old brass, broken glass.
None keeps what they win, wanted.
Tomorrow I will be consumed in the thirst of life.
Tomorrow, perhaps you will join me.
Tomorrow, perhaps you will see me.
Tide of age, all time unstoppable, all time loving you.
All time, loving you. Loving you. Loving you.
Sep 2022 · 152
You are beautiful
BTW Sep 2022
Every Day
16 September 2022

You are brave, beautiful, pure.
On every corner, in every place.
I don't know you, or your face..
Simply you live, one day die.
Sep 2022 · 189
When you are a dreamer
BTW Sep 2022
When you are a dreamer
14 September 2022

When you are a dreamer,
Your dreams show all true.
If you are a schemer,
Trouble waits you.

When you’re a dreamer,
Rewards thin and few,
Old love kisses are due,
Romance waits impatient anew.

When you are a dreamer,
Passion steams drum.
Heat weans in shelter,
Sheets left benumbed.

Music fill the morn,
Trumpet blow your horn.
Body holds no warning,
Love sweet and warm.

When you are a dreamer,
Need of great success,
Dreams lost manifest.
Aug 2022 · 154
Pillow Talk
BTW Aug 2022
Pillow Talk
3- August 2022

Head on my pillow, I watch you
sitting on the side of our bed. Hair tussled, eyes closed, night gown twisted showing a bare leg and breast.
You look pretty as a kitten in a basket.

You stretch over, touch my shoulder, bend down for a musty kiss. Soft lips part. Pillow Talk.
Aug 2022 · 194
Hard Times
BTW Aug 2022
Hard Times
26 August 2023

Sudden cold winds sweep the net.
Wrap up wool, thick blankets.
Leave the others, awaiting play.
Little sign, still damp gray.

Dog wandered days ago,
Nott. an easy sow.
Coins totalled wood,
Poor neighborhood.
Family month of pain,
Marking time, time again.
Fears have passed,
Courage strong.
Covid facts,
Street gone wrong.

West coast in sight,
Pavement empty.
Next tough night,
Not so plenty.  
Forage wide ditch,
For meal and clothes.
Nature’s mind must switch,
Wild red rose.

When you can’t get upstream,
When all seem wet dreams.
Alone, struggle true bereft.
When hard times have riches theft,
Spend your day, looking west,
Follow the dog, with wagging tail
She “nose””the way, never fails.
Aug 2022 · 126
Trust
BTW Aug 2022
Trust
25 August 2022

Blood red on edge,
They pledge,
Blood thick edge,
Home hunger stolen.

Truck gray rolling,
Soldiered stripe,
Green to rust pipe.

Held memory lost,
Promise morn frost.
Aug 2022 · 142
Uninhibited
BTW Aug 2022
15 August 2022.

Without judgement or restraint, you curled me,
Celebrating our love and passion, true and free.
Dancing on sweet air,
Hold me, caress me, touch fair,
Every nerve feasting.
My soul, my body, your spirits intwine.
Medusa's blessing.
Kisses soak unbinding, no moral taint,
On a sea of love, we travel heaven’s gate.

Be free, you said, anything you want, I will.
I trust you. Such love God's fill.
Aug 2022 · 162
Fate
BTW Aug 2022
Fate
10 August 2022.

To die bitter old men, yoeman’s mate,
Stare at the gate. unsaved.

Perils, future plans dangle.
Unloved darkened grave waits.  

Stone etched, trued fate and sign.
Take what I have. ‘‘Twas never mine”.
Aug 2022 · 318
Clouds
BTW Aug 2022
10 August 2022

Your fingers run down my soul,
Kissing the sun.
BTW Jul 2022
Change II

Leave a little on the table,
Bad karma, you're not able.
Times are tough, to  be fabled,
Saga written every gable.

World has left kindness short.
Take all you can, the old sport.
Many now throw keen sharp darts,
None behind, our fine art.

War and hunger everywhere.
Children crying, pain, despair.
Depending on your cutting back,
Are  they  ever back on track.

Never some for everyone.
Need exceeds each daily run.
Not a time for fame and glory,
Time to write  a better story.

Wish I had more to give,
Disappoint my own two kids.
Spoiled them when they were little.
Now no strings on my old fiddle.
Jul 2022 · 193
Change
BTW Jul 2022
Change
27 July 2022

Never expected, as selected.
Life rearranged, even deranged.

New default, not my fault.
Fate painted, future tainted.

Mad and angry, feeling mangy
Wonder known, time has flown.

New doors open, groping.
Always hoping, wet and soaking.

When I’m ready, feet are steady.
New change comes, still not done.
Used to lope, now it’s run.
Jul 2022 · 364
Aging
BTW Jul 2022
21 July 2022

Aging, the inverse relationship
Between capability and need.

A = N / C
BTW Jul 2022
Is there ever going to be enough time
19 July 2022

Suddenly it’s over.
Sun is setting in the west.
The darkness creeps in.
So much today was noted done.
Yesterday was full and felt complete.
Tired and ready to sleep, I pull up the covers,
Put my head down in the pillow, and wish for pleasant dreams.

Waiting this morning, I am blessed with a new day.
When the tears of morning are done,
Excitement of new possibilities sustain me.

Each day is full of promise.
Will there ever be enough time?
Jul 2022 · 184
Harrassed
BTW Jul 2022
15 July 2022

Always feel a cycle pedal,
Up, down, round and round.
Not winning awards, medals,
Mental,  some unsound.

Always try for happiness,
Want you to see I'm wise..
Looks like i raise your guardess,
Lose each time I rise.

Not just you when t feel slain,
Seems the whole **** town.
Pants caught in that greasy chain,
Almost pulled them down.

Harassment turns, looks my way,
Fills up those cold bold days..
Oh well, spin wheel again,
Still got some hell to raise.
Jul 2022 · 368
Reality
BTW Jul 2022
Reality
2 July 2038

Tattered Checker change-purse,
Zipper broken-worn.
Dented tin-full toolbox,
Sat with Clipper horn.

Handkerchief wash-snot-clean,
Work-boot bright-black-sheen.
Sweaty first dinner jacket,
Dusty rust-skin tack.

Stain-fold loving letters,
Hand scribed fuzzy matter,
Words he couldn’t spell,
Fear of burning hell.

Loved his owned reality,
Lived her life true well.
Jul 2022 · 287
Resentment
BTW Jul 2022
Resentment
30 June 2022

Shortcomings in cement,
Anger, pain, really meant,
Open window truth was bent,
Love no longer pays the rent.

Weight of steel bar sent,
Imprisoned acidic scents,
Reflected resentment.
Jun 2022 · 213
Travel Unstressed
BTW Jun 2022
23 June 2022

Travel Unstressed
23 June 2022

Waiting, the airport is crowded and full,
Announcements taking their noisiest toll.
Security playing it's cluster f*cked roll.
One passenger, weeping bag overflow.
Mamma 4 kids, all squawking in tow.
Baggage lost, no place to stay.
Travel past, was never this way,
Horse only needed, one bale of hay.
Price is inflated, oil price today.
Never the less.  we're ready to pay,
Adventure pending, awaiting life weighed.
Cabins out on that  rocky lake  shore.
Fish jumping, hooks already gore.
Canoe drifting, fir green on trees,
Oak logs in fireplace,  burning my knees.
Going to open that lost deck of cards,
Two weeks not mowing  backyard.
Look forward, each summer season,
Straying hot summer, no stress or reason.
Chores left at airport. the master plan.
Mountain country, awesome, so grand.
Passport quaking in shivering hand.
Cameras hanging, old dust and sand.
Can't leave my bag, here at my seat.
Take it with you, if needing a leak.
Safety warnings,  hang every aisle.
Terrorists coming with all their wiles.
No one really daring to smile.
Hearing now that loud roaring sound,
Meaning my flight has been final found.
Finally time to get out of town.
Next year. again, will travel bound.
Friends all gather, end of my journey.
I tell them I never hurried.
Vacation was best ever scurried.
Bank account empty, now my big worry.
Jun 2022 · 269
Strange Friends
BTW Jun 2022
20 June 2022

Strange Friends

20 June 2022

They call early,
Insistent.
Get up, each new day,
A priority.
Good morning friends,
You never end.
Each bend in the road,
We meet.
Strange friends these aches.
My day awaits.
I am awake.
Jun 2022 · 135
Age
BTW Jun 2022
Age
Age (Haiku)
8 May 2022

I pick you up,
Kiss your little lips,
To soon goodbye.
Jun 2022 · 122
Lost
BTW Jun 2022
When you are lost
4 June 2022

When you are lost,
Far from home,
No one there you’ve ever
known,
Nothing left to call your own,  
Angel comes to fill your horn

Years have gone since things were right,
Days filled,  fear, nightmare frights.  
All your life  played it tight,
Shared your dreams, lost your might.  

Hungered wolves now pound your door,
Meat and bones their meaner score.
Old and worn, you ‘ope the door,
Give them what they’ve waited for.

Comfort smile on your chin,
Hold that paper wrinkled thin,
Your name scribbled ink and pen,
Never will, be writ agin.

Lessons left in poem and rhyme,
Lost with you in never time.
Partner came from nowhere known,
“You’re not lost, you’re going home”.  

“Peace you sought,  never found,
In past years, local town,
Stark  and bare, sing love and grace,
Leave your goods, find your place”.  

“Other dress up in your clothes,
Play your music, hold your pose.
Now they’ll wander, on their own.
Wonder how, you stood alone.”

“Your strength came not wealth and gold,
Not from simply growing old.
Gifts from others, wise and free,
Lift you up, for truth to see.”
May 2022 · 145
Summer Heat
BTW May 2022
15 May 2022-

Silk sheets. Sweat air conditioned, owl-echo growls.
Not yet summer, war, pain, dissolution, summer on prowl.
All winter waits, snow-broken melt on pavement,
Pressing my head, your shoulder shakes, well-spent,
Winds raise the shingles, we twist again passioned.
Cool fall sun lies best on me like you, unrationed.
Whispering, snarling,  orange-layered ******,
Shake in summer heat's thousand spasms.
Hold back the drear of fallen leaf and dove torn.
Peace, comfort-thunder, insist again, warn,
I open your door unbarred.

Lighting, dark enlightenment, ash, strength spared,
Like ice in cold water , spoil the taste of spice and hair.
Lying touched, challenged, used, we stay bare.
Summer heat holds us here. Night, we become one.
Summer heat. It's not done.
May 2022 · 175
two dollars won
BTW May 2022
8 May 2022

"two dollars said I won.
used to buy a bit of fun.
now worth only one"

Not enough to buy a bun.
A loaf of bread? sorry none.
Tried for galloon of gas,
Tossed  me out on my ***.

Taxes seemed came to three,
Took my money "abc".
Now wonder, two dollars free?
Can't buy one dollar's need.

Told it's called inflation's gain.
Least it's got a pretty name.
Pay it now, all day long.
" 'for it's over, dollar's gone' ".
Apr 2022 · 121
Night Sky
BTW Apr 2022
27 April 2022

My night sky anchors me.
Infinity of stars , song of crickets.
Frogs crying in next yard pool

Surrounding me in gentled darkness,  
Promising light of the next day.
Orion showing the righteous way,
Moon glow.

Scented taste of newly mown
A gown of dewed web shimmering passes,
Awaiting realty of our primal existemce.

Another sound, deep and unwavering.
An owl blurring unnoticed,
A human’s cough and shuffle.
I’m grounded in my insignificance.

Whence comes comfort and stirring?
My belonging celebrates itself.
Apr 2022 · 114
Long enough
BTW Apr 2022
16 April 2022

It's been a long, snowy, cold winter.
Spring has been reluctant, slow.
Peeking in on my life then hiding.
Rainy dark, early morning days.

When is long enough, to satisfy those,
Who prefer, rather than pleasurable shortened times,
Prolonged hours with  friends in garden, park, or mutual consort.

Somehow I find all this focus on weather depressing.
Perhaps I am stretching things too far,
Spending time on the breadth of the tropic.
Apr 2022 · 190
Be Gentle
BTW Apr 2022
Be Gentle
11 April 2021

Be gentle, the day has just begun.
Apr 2022 · 107
Sweet Tea.
BTW Apr 2022
Sweet Tea.
29 January 2022

Sweet tea,  fill my awakening.
Silk leaf, hold each wonder high.

Stir silver spoon, glisten emerald blue,
Daylight come, Sleep fade-into shadows.

Dreams, prepare a gift for today.
Heated  kettle, soften each bud, lusting release.

Savour this moment,  my heaven.
Sweet tea of morning in my bed.
Apr 2022 · 132
Quiet Time
BTW Apr 2022
Quiet Times.
19 January 2022

Your footsteps whisper song,
Basement stairs too long.
Rustle of your clothes.
Crackle of sore flexions,
Sniffle of your nose.
Colours you so careful chose

Your hand on my pillow,
The rattle of your keys.
Hinges of the door squeak,
Silent morning sun.
Sliding o’er the fallen snow,   
Love the things 'bout you I know.

Shadow of that moonlit tree,
Where you head could be.
Waiting for those quiet sounds,
Set me free.
Apr 2022 · 713
Lately
BTW Apr 2022
Lately
28 September 2021

Feeling I've been late lately.
Changes happening too fast.
World not looking greatly.
Wonder if it will last.
Apr 2022 · 107
Oceans
BTW Apr 2022
Oceans
22 January 2022.  

In the infinity of you,
I find unending joy,
Calm as each wave,
Wash me pure.

Holding me under God’s sky.
Pain and sorrow find no hold.
Your courage true bold..
Your strength purest gold.

You leave not one behind.
Share, love, never blind.
Other find you angel fair.
Precious, gentle, rare.
Growing strong in your care.
Apr 2022 · 126
Preparing
BTW Apr 2022
10 April 2022

Social, psyche, and marital bonds bind us,
Challenging our demise.
Primary as elder I fuss hoping wise,
To secure your  plan beside.

Resources to fulfill all your dreams.
Priorities lie in rocky-life stream.
Family lies on my knee.
Best plan keep them secure and freed.

Children expect parents hold them heir.
Particular when pass unprepared.
Though our vows lie fresh and new,
Balance quivered, edges dewed  

Much depends other ways and mean.
Not all ready, skill tight and keen.
Future lying in their wake.
Give them all I take?
Remarried? Adult Children?
Apr 2022 · 83
War
BTW Apr 2022
War
War
3 April 2022

They watched you go.
Time stopped, they wanted free.
Every dream stayed with me.
Every dream😲agony.
Tomorrow’s pain will show,
Moon and fire only know.

Sleep alone,  little ones.
Strife  is here with his guns.
Over there behind those trees.  
Men die on broken knees.
Loved once, they hold their brave.
Soon they’ll sleep near tags in graves.

War forever holds their eyes.
Tomorrow time for all to cry.
Today I hear sweet good byes.
They stay here so you can fly,
Ignore the pain.
War comes to us again.
Mar 2022 · 194
The Moment
BTW Mar 2022
The Moment
Moments
27 March 2022

Musing. Where do I find my centre?
The essence of my being?
The accounting of my worth?
My person?
Not in my poetry, my stories, my self.
Rather moments unfettering the illusion of wholeness complete.
Greatest satisfactions of my life, are brief.
Infinity's experience,  distanced, solitary, lost.
No need for more.
Mar 2022 · 175
2022 War
BTW Mar 2022
2022  
In cold morning. on broken  deck, lies a child. Alone.
Dove near her heart, reminder of family,  peace she once knew.  
It  cries her pain.

Soon all will be lost, to love once again.
Close in deepest sleep, an angel missing.

How can this child lie among all the stars ?
How she sparkled, played, fingers spread!  
Unfulfilled.
Heart still.  

Heaven and earth soaked in her spill.

B. T. W.  2016
In the morning on the deck lies a man. He's alone.
There's a dove near his heart, a gramophone .
Most days more gentle, he senses the pain.
Soon he will be lost to love once again.
Somewhere close in her deep late sweet sleep,
One angel’s, missing this sheep.
How can it be he’s hidden among all the stars.
Where he sparkles, fingers spread, unfulfilled.
Heart full till heaven and earth soaked in it’s spill?
B. Whittaker
(As first writ in 2016 mourning my first wife lost in 2014)
Mar 2022 · 89
I should help you
BTW Mar 2022
Not your fault
5 March 2022

I saw your courage.
I saw your pain.
My prayers are not enough.
Mar 2022 · 345
Netaverse
BTW Mar 2022
Metaverse
4 March 2022

Yesterday, I stepped, fell into yours.
Some chapters were inspiring possibilities, health, happiness, no pain.
But it seems you haven’t realized any of them!
I didn’t stay long.. Too many other better offers.
Rather you, like me, had abandoned your ideal.
Misled by the thought of a tangible reality?
Overwhelmed by the book of others?
Acting on the fear of demons?
Welcome to mine!
Feb 2022 · 148
Bold
BTW Feb 2022
28 February 2022

How did we  let them make us old?
Tiger leaders have us cold.
Years gone by their tales we told.
Now the future, they sold.

Follow us they dare to say.
Watch us spoil the lights of day.
**** the children while they play..
Tigers like the world that way.

Most of us hear that song.
Let go on, right or wrong.
Suddenly the are too strong.
Tigers write our death song.

Courage now will be our cost.
Being faithful to our cause.
Freedoms we have lost.
Bold to be, blood be tossed.
Feb 2022 · 135
Toilet Seat (Bizarre Adult)
BTW Feb 2022
Toilet Seat
23 Feb 2022

Broken-day, torii brick shard, lying grey furred furrow.
Dust scarlet covered berm, breaking morn of plain plaid kids, unearned plastic, horror films.
Bones were home, no  longer borrowed.. They never lived.

White marbled Torso held court in  dark brown sack, dreaming bloodied, past ivory beige scars.
Soil green-lined paper reel, only new light, burning orange in midnight star wars.
Seal pink toilet seat stays, winds farrow, foul blast exaggerated by cracked silvered mirror candle, weeping.
Broken azul sky, cloud black bar. A red bacardi label, torn, 3 rusted cars..

Ash, twisted ***** sculpted tan oak, on a blue T shirt.
Somehow resting, orange flat steeple *****.
Reminds past heroes were longer, discarded, purple neutered..

A nose and an ear. Vulvae. A smashed CFM TV.

Somehow these pieces form the picture of tall thunder.
Holding me here.
Chaos grows on my living room floor, wait!
I  lower the toilet seat, crying over a dead cow, last night's beer.


Today I will hold my own.
Reflections on a crazy broken world including the Ukraine.
Feb 2022 · 169
There you were
BTW Feb 2022
There you were (Hauku)
31 January 2022

I am my body.
You are my soul and life.
I will never die.
Jan 2022 · 92
Sweet Tea
BTW Jan 2022
Sweet Tea.
29 January 2032

Sweet tea,  fill my awakening.
Silk leaf, hold wonder high.

Stir silver spoon, glisten emerald.
Daylight come, fade from shadow.

Dream, prepare gifts  for this day,
Heated, soften each bud lusting release.

Savour this moment,  heaven.
Sweet tea of morning, lie in my bed.
Jan 2022 · 119
Twilight
BTW Jan 2022
Twilihht
26 January 2022

In the dimming light,
My vision clears.
I see the gifts that I have.
I feel the love we share.
The embrace of those not here.

You warm me, shelter me.
Twilight in my home.
Jan 2022 · 88
Oceans
BTW Jan 2022
Oceans
22 January 2022.  

In the infinity of you,
I find unending joy.
Calm as each wave,
Washing me.

Holding me under God’s sky.
Pain and sorrow find no hold.
Your courage has no lie.
Your strength from purest gold.

You leave no one behind.
Share, love not blind.
Other find you there.
Precious, gentle, rare.
Growing in your care.
Jan 2022 · 97
Absence
BTW Jan 2022
Absence
20 January 2022

Empty hedge you bear no fruit,

Richest soil, no *****.  

Leave worthless suit,

Stilled endless bloom,

Held short by thoughtless root.
Jan 2022 · 102
Quiet Time
BTW Jan 2022
Quiet Times.
19 January 2022

Your footsteps, whispered song,
Basement stairs too long.
Rustle of your clothes.
Crackle of flexions,
Sniffle of your nose.
Colours you chose

Your hand on my pillow,
The rattle of your keys.
Hinges of the door tease.
Silent morning sun,
Sliding o’er the snow.    
Love the things I know.

Shadow of that moonlit tree,
Where you head could be.
Waiting for those quiet sounds,
To set me free.
Jan 2022 · 556
CFM
BTW Jan 2022
CFM
CFM.  (Adult)
5 January 2022

Hunger-wearing-black-booted-
Midnight-shadow-street-corner-­blue-
Bartender-bassoon-smooth-wailing-horn,
Tonight pull me while I'm burner-raw-torn.
Desiccate-night-thirst wake me. Tease.
Moon CFM drown me, break me.
Roaming-desert-music, seize me.
Viola-tight-throat-hum-love, sting!
Tonight no hope, I need to sing.
Dec 2021 · 175
Hallelujah
BTW Dec 2021
Dec 29 2021

Each waking morning I celebrate you.
You are my earthly love, passioned true.
In the cold of winter, the promise of spring,
You are my gift, always giving right living.

In the darkness of forever lasting,
I will dream of your touch, your laughing.
In the pain of loss, the thief of grief,
I have found you, Hallelujah. All relief.

Stay. Keep heart warm and free.
As you travel, cantor our soul alee.
Distance, an illusion of this world.
Beside you, hear my songs dance, twirl.
,
Softly, tenderly, I whisper your ear.
You are safe. I am here.
Hold eternal our bands, our hands.
In this ever strange, hungry, neverland.

Hallelujah.
I celebrate you.
Dec 2021 · 121
Restrained
BTW Dec 2021
25 December 2021

Restrained.

When I get there,
Will I remember why I came?
Restrained.
Dec 2021 · 91
Inevitable.
BTW Dec 2021
24 December 2021.

Inevitably, comes,
At an unsettling pace.
Time for the beach.
Dec 2021 · 152
Workshop
BTW Dec 2021
04 January 2019
Workshop

Sip of wine, sparkling eyes, gentle smile.

Chrismas decorations, miles and wiles.

Neighbours shoveling snow, laughing, kicking the edges.

Some have already gone south.

Lights blinking like fading stars, some didn’t.

Another snowflake on my glasses melting, like the years.
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