Submit your work, meet writers and drop the ads. Become a member
Jun 2021 · 263
Depth
BTW Jun 2021
Depth
18 June 2021.

It takes the emptiness of another to raise that aspiration for yourself.
Jun 2021 · 86
Imagination
BTW Jun 2021
Imagine
17 June 2021

Imagine a life without imagination

Monotone colours of  life relations.

*** only for procreation.

Missing the best sensations.

Dull flags for empty nations,

Cheese and pasta saturation.

Recreation swings not slides,

Only seeks without hides.

Teeter totter,, no mouth wide squatters.

Worse not doing what we naughta.

Imagine not  gives me fright.

Seeking nothing out of sight.

Dreams without Alpine hills,  

Movies without monster thrills.

Credit cards, no monthly bill.

No whoopee catch me pils.

Story books of history,

Without what could be.

Imagination should get more credit,

There, glad I said it.
Jun 2021 · 123
Challenge
BTW Jun 2021
Challenge
12 June 2021.

Days when walls too tall,
Times when you hear the call,
Challenge to live is overall,
One alone can’t do it all.

Resource thin. you want to win,
Noise, confusion, lose the din,
Time for all to step right in,
Calm the seas, tame the wind.

Some man the sails, others hale,
Gather pails, patch the wails.
When together challenge spins,
Only joined, will you win.

Trust and love weapons need,
Set aside fears and greed.
Build that team, face the truths.
Together you will never lose.

If any treasure left behind,
Is seen solely yours,
No one is at the oars.
Read the board, check the score.

This is the game of life,
Courage wise giant size,
Win as one, share the prize.
Team together old and new,
More to life, than bad weather.
Jun 2021 · 68
Grandpa's Complaint
BTW Jun 2021
Grandpa's Complaint

18 May 2021

Being a grandpa, challenge the system,
Everyone expects with your age, you have wisdom.
It’s not simple, you remember that,
When you were younger, you were a brat.      
Before you were ancient, and terribly old,
You never did, what you were told.

Always delighted when you heard of a scandal,
Something folks had trouble to handle.
Milkman too long at neighbor's door,
You knew that he was trying to score.
Kids don’t get it, shop at the store.

Much that we used to think was bad,
Now on TV easily had.
Sight of a garter or nylon or two,  
Hardly raise any kind of “to do”.
Burlesque was a place for dance and song,
Now those places are all closed and gone.
Today it’s a striptease, too much to see,
Even a shock for an old guy like me.

Grandma’s gone to that heavenly place,
Here no one even says grace.
Seems we are putting gas stations away,
Fuel cards for places where rascals can play.
We used to go to the old drive-in show,
Our friends in the trunk, all in tow.

No one had cash except Mom in her purse ,
Now credit card trouble take first.
Birthdays are getting hard to take,
Too many Candle’s my birthday cake.
When kids come to visit they try hard to smile,
Don’t want to stay for a long while.

Stories of lore kept me true,
When we were young, we knew what to do.
Seems now no one knows a doodle,
Have to look it all up on Google.
Not sure what they’re learning in school,
Just hope it includes the golden rule.

Soon married with kids of their own,
Half living in faraway homes.
Most of us old folks learn how to text,
Passwords making us all total wrecks.
No one at all will cash a bank check.
Look at you crazy, an old geezer fella,
Check to see if your eyeballs are yella.  
Course now some of us drink quite a bit,
Otherwise this world would give us a fit.

Fortunate now we have neighbors who too,
Happy to share their stories with you.
It’s getting harder to get around,
Taxis and buses cancelled in town.
Some shouldn’t drive, all squint and frown.
Hard to walk with those sore hips,
So keep driving,  parking lot hits.

One old lady, the other day,
Dented my fender at shopping way.
Wasn’t screaming or yelling took place.
Was handled with gentle grace.

Well time flying bye, my hair in long locks,
Everything closed by virus talk.
I think I’ll get up from my chair, take a walk,
Pick up my mail at the far away box.
Look to see if the pension has come,
Pay my bills, hope some left for fun.
Who knows, might even see someone.
Jun 2021 · 357
Lullabies
BTW Jun 2021
Lullabies
10 June 2021

Sing my lullabies at dawn with the sparrows.
Flirting, chirping awaiting listeners to my song.
Perhaps one will respond.
Words don’t matter.
Only Ares arrow.
Jun 2021 · 118
GypsiesHaiku
BTW Jun 2021
Gypsies
10 June 2021

Twisted their backs in pain.
They danced the night away.
Broken banjos.
Jun 2021 · 68
Souls Within My Soul.
BTW Jun 2021
Souls Within My Souls
10 June 2021.

To the furthest horizon they bring light and life,
Strength I need as I weaken by time and age.
Each holds the flame and memory that I loved and cherished.
None flicker in the gales and storms of torments eternal.
They will pass with me, tender quiet and peace of acceptance.

Each priceless treasure in the home I held.
Foundations on which I grew and sustain before my passing.
I will drip their wax on the tables of heaven.
For soon they will fade and turn cold.
Only their memory will you hold.

Cry not for their loss as others grow to show the way.
They knew of this day.
Perhaps I can be one of yours caressing you.
I wish it so. I wish it so.
Jun 2021 · 85
Humidity
BTW Jun 2021
Humidity
9 June 2021

Fog on the windows,
Replicate in my brain.
Morning risings from my bed,
Wet with sweat unlabored.
Everything creaks and I croak,
Like an old bullfrog grumbling.

To sleep in a warm bed,
Once the heat of another,
Was welcome.
Humidity spots instead.
Jun 2021 · 350
Feeling Guilty
BTW Jun 2021
8 June 2021

When our love is over,
And only worked for me.
My judge  murmers dear,
I am not “Guilt free”.
Am I worth the price,
You pay to be with me?
The beauty you carry,
The smile when you greet me,
The day that we married,
So precious they true be.
You are that gentle women,
That always sets me free.
Those times we are together,
When flesh has ruled my day,
Tell me true.
Am I worth the price you pay,
When I am into you?
Jun 2021 · 866
Unhugged
BTW Jun 2021
Unhugged
7 JUNE 2021

Unplugged and disconnected,
Estranged the viral way.
Time lost forever,
Socially astray.

Unarmed by sadness,
Care  by stranger names  ,
Forgotten days of gladness,
Life is rearranged.

One day the doors will open.
Never be the same.
Age line steeply sloping,
Most not in the game.

Clock slowly tocking,
No one can it tame.
Some are still talking,
Don't know who to blame.
Jun 2021 · 70
Pause
BTW Jun 2021
Pause.
4 June 2921

Covered bbq in one corner,
Two hanging plants, flowered vine.
Water fountain, Buddha sitting on its fall.
Morning dove , maple keys, ,    
Circling oak.
Lily’s.
Hummingbirds.
Lawn sprinkler metronome slow swish,
Wasted some.
One black squirrel, anticipating unknowns.
Music  drifting across the road,
Cloud faces.
Deck empty, needs paint.
No one home.
Jun 2021 · 71
Welcome Summer
BTW Jun 2021
Welcome Summer
4 June 2021

Quiet sounds of the ‘hood’ deft with the summer rain.
You are so welcome again.
Grateful praise for those warm days,
And nights when it’s hard to sleep.
Soon the rains will come soft and plain.
Somehow I missed the sheep.
May 2021 · 139
Rainy Night
BTW May 2021
Rainy Night
31 June 2021

Cold from the north brought the rain.
At the window, trees shivered the low.
Somewhere hurt, pain again.
Alone awind lonely flow.
Dreams are hard to find, rainy nights.

She was in my bed, making me restless.
Asleep, deep in another world, crying.
Through the door slats, nightmare Crept, holding her unstirring.
Drops rat-tat onside, this rainy night’s cold light.

Ashes in the fireplace, gray in that way,
Reminding flames past didn’t last.
Heat played astray.
Half-empty glasses, chocolate mark sash.
Shoulders low, head bowed, cold rainy night.

Funny how the room emptied.
Echoed songs unheard, still waiting their turn.
Such cold rainy nights, love’s heat denied.
Cold night’s burn, nothing learned.
Could just be the weather.
May 2021 · 78
Upside Down
BTW May 2021
Upside Down
27 May 2021

Today.

My world seems upside down.
Like being on the wrong side of town.
I can find my way home, but not in a dream.

Stopping for ice cream and peace.
Deep breaths thru my skin to my soul.
Noises, sounds, smells - strange, hold me.
Hold me.

My world is upside down.
May 2021 · 74
Philosophy
BTW May 2021
Philosophy
21 May 2021

Meaning of life, the great mystery,
Taking some time on it, over my cup of tea.
Plato, Socrates, Heidegger, Kant,
Renee said think on it, maybe I am.
Mornings always the best time for me,
Making sense of things as I try to ***,
Wondering why some men are bigger than me.
Their ideas seem to fill up the room.
Some of them make most women swoon.
Buddha got the answer sitting under a tree,
Letting go of things would set me free.
I live on the edge, I try to unwind.
Can I burn calories just using my mind?
I would love to ponder and get the scoop,
Sorry my friends, can’t wait for answers, I have to ****.
Tomorrow perhaps the answers I’ll see,
Again, at the windows, drinking my tea.
Who’s that out there, standing under my tree?
One walking his dog, same questions as me.
May 2021 · 69
Logistics of Social Costs
BTW May 2021
Logistics of Social Cost
Thoughts of my morning.
24 May 2021

It costs so little to set aside the commodities of prejudice and prejudgment.
Yet we all carry the burden and the expense of their weight.
They are a specific inheritance from suppliers, including our ancestors and history, that we need not treasure. They are not ours. They are weapons developed by others. We have all felt their pain, seen their power, triaged the damage to our common good, counted the increasing prevalence of use today.
Moments of reflection on how we negatively assess the actions of others using those stereo judges, would save us from distributing hurt, anger, and pain to others. Who sent us our pain? Why did we buy it? We can be more diligent with the “goods” we sell and keep on our self shelf.
Who stole our laughter, our peace, our humanity, our care, our tolerance, our forgiveness, our respect, our acceptance of difference? Traded them for anxiety and fear?
This is the time and opportunity to examine our values and to share love and respect. We have the tools. They are also commodities. They are being misused.
Let’s spend less on protection and more on prevention.
If you’re not sure how, follow a child or a puppy.
Such a low cost for such an amazing reward.
Love you.
Not hard to say.
May 2021 · 130
Untitled
May 2021 · 73
Uncertain Certainty
BTW May 2021
Uncertain certainty

17 May 2021

Twisting left and right for place to stand,
When certain worlds seem shifting sand.
Truths soft in hardened hands,
Confusion near in distant lands.
Mortals search for friends and foe,
Which is witch no one knows.
Standing tall  falls, strong winds blow.
Opinion fast while facts stay slow.
Times fade as history passed,
Distortions brighten every class.
Keepers in that ivory  tower,
Waivers sweet our fruit to sour.
Careful in this war of strife,
Risky now our paths of life.
Honest used to be our goal,
Uncertain now certain takes its toll.
May 2021 · 74
Wonder Who
BTW May 2021
Wonder who
16 May 2021

When I read my poetry I wonder,
Who wrote those lines?
Not who I am now, I have changed,
Every day.
Who am I?
May 2021 · 87
Your Day
BTW May 2021
14 May 2021

Some mornings empty,
Your soul and music fills you.
Make today your day.
May 2021 · 109
Opening
BTW May 2021
Opening
12 May 2021

A piece of paper torn,
An ancient book in reindeer cover.
The forest bush with wet bark worn.
Stains of morning rain.

A baby’s warmth in loving home,
Rabbit’s twitching as foxes hover.
Clumped grass.by untethered stone.
The smoke of oak.

A mother’s glance, touch of new love,
Clouds in  big sky  Saskatchewan.
The crystal blue water of mountain flood.
Dreaming meaning.

Finding sparrow’s feather flown,
Pearled wave on island sand.
Purple skies of sunset storms.
Bus station.

Passion of a kiss,
Loss of a friend,
Knowing  the end of bliss.
A memory lost to time.

Pain of age,
Wasted youth.
Hurt of rage,
Forgiveness.

Quiet whisper of  wind,
Sky fired with thunder and cloud.
A Nursery book worn thin,
Prayer at bedside.

Lined and holding for monies due,
Hungered lion on flank of gnu.
Bite of  winter,
Music from an attic window.

Spider’s web covered in dew,
Honeyed pear ripe and full.
Apple fallen straight and true.
Midnight moon.
May 2021 · 73
Glasses (haiku)
BTW May 2021
Glasses
10 May 2021

I need new glasses.
Old news badly broken.
Who can fix that?
May 2021 · 140
Entrapment
BTW May 2021
Entrapment
5 May 2021

Caught between myself and myself.
My freedom nerve suppressed.
Challenge is to stay well,
While not party dressed.
One of me says a fool,
The other buys the rules.
Only time will tell.
Is this heaven, or hell?
May 2021 · 103
Dross
BTW May 2021
3 May 2021

Butcher, baker, candle maker, all glathered in a room,
Course time was late, earlier than noon.
No one had expected, what was yet to come.
Nothing to anticipate, recipe, or drum.
Butcher brought knifes, sticks and stone,
Baker broken spoon.
Candle wax, soap, and smoke were discord strewn.
No gold or silver ever found a place,
No one bowed their head, prayed holy grace.
Didn’t need a face.
What was put together would never last,
Was just a clump of things,
Older than the past.
Thought best lived with teeth and ***.
In the corner an old *** from witches brewed.
Threw all the pieces in for naught they knew.
Stuck out every way, never seemed a seam.
Kind of thing built by motley dream.
Wondered whether should be free,
This bit of dross poetry,
Looked a lot like me.
May 2021 · 85
Essence of Gods
BTW May 2021
Essence of Gods
2 May 2021

Eyes of your children hold the essence,
Of the Gods you deny.
Gentle, sweet, unbroken trust,,
Waiting to hide in the dusts,
Of life of your pride.
Gift of youth soon lost as you wander,
Paths long waiting for your eyes.
Hold them close and strong.
Soon they will be gone.
Apr 2021 · 534
Quiet Morning
BTW Apr 2021
Quiet Morning
29 april 2021

Reflections on the sea of responsibility,
Realize the deficiencies of mood and logic.
Decisions selfish and unrewarding, impromptu,
Bring the prize of self defeat, pain and endless regret.
Burdens of debt in the baskets of life.
Unbalanced on the heads of the lost.
Struggling to find the way.
Conscience stirs then looks away, but all pay the price.
Lonely game hide and go seek in the stilled rising sunlight.
How to make call, “:You’re Out”?
Apr 2021 · 147
Spring Rains
BTW Apr 2021
Spring Rains.
28 April 2021

April flood, earth bloom, spring clean. Tao.
From earth to the streets,
Winter leaves,  fills the trees.
Yellows, reds, greens primary, air fresh, scented new.
Squares on the walk rechalked each year.
Skates track the tar, paint the youth.
Arms entwine, ivory vines, warmed sun near.
BBQ kitchen centre, wicker chairs, dusty awning, railed brass..
Popcorn melody, grahams in chocolate sizzling over smoking ash.
Avian song parts the traffic din low……
My heart opens each window.
Welcome  now.
Apr 2021 · 167
I Chew on Your Bones
BTW Apr 2021
I Chew on Your Bones
26 April 2021

Little meat in my stew, so many of you wry.
Pasty meal, “why try?”
Stories of past victory lie with Valkyrie,
Oars, thrusting seas consummating,
Roaring as blood floods rock cliffs and coast.
Raspberry jam on toast wet with sweat.
Odin sleeps while I starve.
Apr 2021 · 124
Up All Night
BTW Apr 2021
Up All Night
26 April 2021

Surrounded by lack of light,
Where is the boundary?
Sudden spirit in flight,
Where will I roam?
Walls have no home.
Child runs alee.
Is that the devil I see?
Who set me free?
Apr 2021 · 216
More
BTW Apr 2021
More (Haiku)
20 April 2021

More to poetry,
Than the words spoken,
Not necessary.
Apr 2021 · 82
Snow
BTW Apr 2021
Snow
21 April 2021
Crystal on green glass.
Patterned reminder of life infinite.
Who should deem prettiest?
Apr 2021 · 779
Truth
BTW Apr 2021
Truth
19 April 2021

To read, is not to learn.
To cry, is not to suffer.
To love, a fantasy.
To pray, is not ecstasy.
To search, is not to find.
To give, is not to be kind.
To take, not greed.
To do well, is not to win.
Who can speak the truth?
Apr 2021 · 183
Sleep Dreams (Haiku)
BTW Apr 2021
Sleep
18 April 2021

You are asleep.
Your dreams are sweet and true.
Life has blessed you.
Apr 2021 · 64
Meadow
BTW Apr 2021
Meadow
17 April 2021

In the quiet meadow lay a tiny child.
Murmuring softly, left here in the wild.
She has no name, no one to call her own.
Here in the meadow, she has her only home.
Shadowed by the brush and grass,
Life will never last..

Somewhere in the valley, stands a mother free,
Her child has passed, buried by that tree.
Emptied by pain and loss, we all can bemoan.
Such a hunger, when you are alone.
Apr 2021 · 256
You are my music
BTW Apr 2021
You are my music
16 April 2021

You are my music, the strength of summer storm.
Gentle song of springtime, when earth grows firm and warm.
The soft light of morning, dancing waves soft horn.
Sheep in the meadows, waiting to be born.
The miracle of love songs, from those teenage years,
Kind, loving, that rock away all tears.
The healing of young child’s dreams.
Water of fall’s clear falling stream.
Wind kind and gentle, holding life for me.
No place I’d rather be.
You are my music, unfolding of my life,
Holding you in my arms, my wife, my willing wife.
The soft sounds of twilight, pillowed at your head.
Sleep and rest, love times, spoon fed in our bed.
Awaken in the morning, you are my daily bread.
No symphony will fill me, as you do each day.
Every touch of time with you, my proper way.
I found the paths of love with you, the staff that keeps me strong.
You are my music. The Gods have heard your song.
So grateful here, where love belongs.
You are my home, my sweet one, ever on.
Apr 2021 · 3.1k
Login
BTW Apr 2021
Login?
14 April 2021

I would love to climb Mt. Everest
Conquer storied  seas.
Login never gives peace or rest.
Seems I am never me!
Who in the world do they see?
Login never set me free.
Apr 2021 · 88
Overwhelmed
BTW Apr 2021
Overwhelmed
11 April 2021

And now I find I am overwhelmed by you,
Your youth, your beauty, your life before me.
Outside my class he said, while you lay in my bed.
I crave your arms, your grace, your quiet,
And fear my times alone, when your mind and care,
Seem to be in another place.
How do you have such power as you smile?
How do you know a man so well?
Apr 2021 · 282
Eternity's Touch
BTW Apr 2021
Eternity’s Touch
8 April 2021

Music my one, your touch on my skin.
Heaven so close, far from love’s sins.
Songs of your heart singing our rune.
Crossed as your cello, strings finely tuned.
There on beaches, moon kiss each dune ,
We danced, filling heart’s room.
Bright as stars burning the dark,
Keeping together when some forced apart.
In fading light of the day,
Your touch forever, our music plays.
Apr 2021 · 91
Living in her grace
BTW Apr 2021
Angels
7 April 2021

How did I find an angel?
Her smile and gentle gaze.
Every day enlightened, her amazing ways.
She loves me, shows every day.
How did I find an angel?
I’m living in her grace.
Apr 2021 · 146
Direction haiku
BTW Apr 2021
Direction Haiku
5 April 2021

Direction lost.
Physicality grounded.
Merry Go Down.
Apr 2021 · 170
Fundamental
BTW Apr 2021
Fundamentals
3 April 20214

Care for our bodies, our world, our spirit, our identity.
Fundamentals of life.
Moments, passions shared in pursuit constitute our entity.
Under morning stars, reflections of seas curling on trees budding.
We can hold our partners hand, quiet affection and appreciation.
Whole hearts fill.
It is not the hook for nourishment in a pond,
Nor a hymn sung by a choir of children,
That brings us to that quiet place.
Rather our common heritage, hearing nature speak.
Can you hear the trees humming, feel their embrace?
Smell storm winds over a desert, empty?
For me it comes with a peace that awaits hunger,
Fed only by sharing honored.
Quiet time in a noisy world distracted.
The bird still sings of life to fill.
The worm dies, the moon is cold.
Fundamentals. Partners in care.
Mar 2021 · 93
Times
BTW Mar 2021
Times
30 March 2021

When I was young, each morning filled with hope,
Skipping school, jumping rope.
Rode my bike, hide and seek, played games till pedaled weak.
Stayed outdoors, till lights came on.
Energy, dawn to dusk, dusk to dawn.
This morning from my bed, kissed my wife, on her head.
Rose for breakfast, and with those oats,
Headed bath for comfort soak.
All those games just a joke.
In my gardens where flowers grew,
Arthritis blooms, pains renew.
Bills seem bigger, challenge looms.
Wife says groom, pickup brooms.
Seems to be so many rooms.
Mar 2021 · 131
Books
BTW Mar 2021
Part, Past, Our book.
29 March 2021

Call up leather of books.
Skins thrown past each curtain.
Your soul doeth me sustain.
Meet on this stage. Look.

Surround of poem and lace,
Songs writ deep rhythm time.
Sing sweet Angel, cry “passion mine”.
We meet each day, too few.
Grace found renews our place.

Hold myths of rebirth.
Shared trust be earned.
Our parts all will learn,
Never return to earth.
Mar 2021 · 430
Noise
BTW Mar 2021
Noise (Haiku)
29 March 2021

Communication.
When does it stop being noise?
When love listens.
Mar 2021 · 132
Eccentricity
BTW Mar 2021
Eccentricity
24 March 2021

Some are not compliant,
On rules others reliant.
Though tracked from their nose,
To the tip of their toes,
Who they are no one knows.

They act in oddest ways,
Some up at night, not in days.
They live trip of the edge,
Bets that few want to hedge.
Computer, camera, watch them roam,
What will they next call home?

Always lifting the ante,
Sometimes plain, others fancy.
Often go to a dance,
Anyone has a chance,
Love, laughter, and prance.
Their spirits are their worth,
High though still on earth.

Some people just shake their heads,
Choose to lie in their beds,
With ones that they truly wed.
Normalcy never alone,
Living life on their phone.
"Eccentric", they dare bemoan.

When your humor has left,
Eccentrics see why the theft.
Mar 2021 · 103
Insanity
BTW Mar 2021
Insanity
24 March 2021

A world of insanity reins,
For some, no constraint.
Thriving the Crazies,
Live in the hazies.
Mar 2021 · 74
Spring
BTW Mar 2021
Appreciation
22 March 2021

These are the sweetest times.
Stepping into a new spring.
Your arms mid-day lifting me,
To greet and celebrate our love.
We age as we grow, time slows.
Pains of life awaken our gifts.
Each day more precious.
Each kiss, hug, moment too short.
Each more tender, more sweet.
It is the first taste of maple. Our table with the Gods,
The strength and courage you hold,
That continues our promise unbroken.
Good morning, full of love’s promise.

Admiration,respect,appreciation eternal.
You are my strength, my life, my spring.
Mar 2021 · 152
DAWN
BTW Mar 2021
DAWN   2021-03-20

The mornings lie quiet, barely awake,
Cool calm air slides in over my deck.
A dove struts across bragging her break,
Of gray-white breaths welcome here.
A squirrel visits chewing full neck,
Sweet cones no cream sparkles left,
On rime holding taste of pine speck.
Gentle beams caress the yawn of dawn.
She stirs to kiss me and drape across
Velvet still hanging over the edge of her calm.
Morning in my soul pulling away the moss.
Rise gentle she wisps whispers my quaking brow.
Tomorrow again and again you will know,
Me. Ever new, ever old, ever on your soul.

B. T. Whittaker
Mar 2021 · 162
999 Haiku
BTW Mar 2021
19 March 2021

".....ations" stress,
All of your mind and body.
Some worth waiting for.
Mar 2021 · 126
Drawn
BTW Mar 2021
Drawn
18 March 2021

Cold sand, rock, unwind the darkened skies.
Passion’s tidal rhythms broken.
No place to hide. You lie still, nearby.
Moonlit shadows were burning fire,
Tokens pull me to your sea.
I am unquenched.
Paper-torn bordered fence.
Passports tossed.
Clock bells ring a broken pier.
I pause my poems to hear its warning.
Dark ship of hell docking.
The fog clears.
Laced lines of tears drawn.
Too soon, dawn does not come.
Next page