23 August 2021

Days of summer heated, change to a darkening crisper fall.
Life hardens, coils, preparing for the resting-rusting, of winter.
Uncertain. a chick-a-dee flutters nearby, astride berry-laden branches.
Winter snows, will soon burden it's call.

One lone black squirrel, stands squatting on it's edge.
Nose buried in an oddly brown fur tail, it's own.
Remnants of scaled snake skin, hold drops of this morning's rain.
A few old dry brown twigs, hang broken, thorny-brown leafed hedges.

Hints of dampness twist in the mild winds from the south,
Truth of illusion marks a yellow, uneven, fading, distant, horizon.
Somewhere, a tenor beagle howls, mournfully, to emptiness.
Young girls, moving together, striate their celebrations of youth.

There is an ache in my hips and neck this morning.
Heart wane filled, wistful.
Melancholy of dog days on unhealed roads twisting,
Memory of times, long past, fistfuls,
I never can restart, mourning.

I stand beside that long open road, neverland of lost dreams.
Fruit-bare search for meaning. Nature's transitions and streams.

Bad is Bad. (Haiku)
28 September 2021.

Bad is Bad.
Wasting too much talk.
Bad is bad.

Money
11 Sept 2023

Keeping track is a challenge.
Money is not your own.
Bills and banks are back.
Money is not your home.

22 July 2023

Scribbling in the dark on a piece of paper with a broken pencil, the child wrote the truth.

Scribble squish, just a random happening, without clear or logic.

God looked and changed the path.
The truth spoke.

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.

The Life of Poetry
2 November 2023

Remenbering the days,
The darts you throw,
Will hit the walls behind you.

BTW

Snow Plow
7 December 2023

I depend on the December snow plow.
Driveway needs done you know,
I’m too old for all of that chore.
Trouble enough, just the door.

Problem is it’s Christmas season.
Can’t dunp snow load on the road.
Traffic blockage one easy.reason.
Would be neighbor hood treason.

Decorations flashing nightly on our lawn,
Brightly light our celebration want.
Plow, for now, no place to dump.
Would bury all that breaks our slump

Presents could break our budget,  
If we can’t find ways to fudg it.
Santa never would find his way,
Without our amazing digital display.

Taking cover with the snow plow driver.
Waiting for the flakes to melt.
Says he’ll stay for fun and fiver,
Plus a glass of warm winter belt.

Music Can Make Me Cry
26 Januarys 2023

More than poetry, art, stone sculpture,
A violin, a piano, flutes,
Hold me.
Higher than I can climb on my own.
Deeper than I can reach with these arms.

Love songs cry.
Clear, not words,
Music,
Melody, overcome me.

Lifted beyond today,
To a place,  no pain, no fear, no loss.
Children, family, friends,
You are here.
Warmer than camp fire, flame under a star-lit sky.
Over snowy berms, valleys, pebbled lanes,
Opening wheat fields, endless expanse.
Peace.

Music live.  
In the woods, in the cities.
One tiny bird brings an opera.
Reedy waters, symphony.
From each meadow, divas, a tenor.
Forest, choir, spirits, ghosts.
From Dad’s workbench, voices of angels.
Mom’s eyes, heaven.

Under the streetcar rides my soul.
Clopping hoofs, rhythm, my heartbeat.
Rain drops, my breath.
Ocean waves, my birth, my being.

Today’s sun, tomorrow’s promise, yesterday's memories.
Thunder, creation.

My love, you bring each sweet tone.  
You gift my pedestal.

Sometimes music, can make me cry.

Tuesday
13 September 2021

Tiw’s day solo anon
The time seconds to dawn.
Heart thirsts love song.

Quietly stir the bed of stars.
Skies open on many wars.
Child broken by youth,
Little soothes me.

Calm is sparse, unreachable.
Harsh too feasible.
Time to reach the well,
Cast coin for voten’s spell.

More (Haiku)
20 April 2021

More to poetry,
Than the words spoken,
Not necessary.

Ceiling mirror falls,  
Humerus breaks, laughter spreads—  
Unexpected crash.

ReMinded
30 Sept 2023

The lost, the hidden, the cursed,
The Children, the Aged,
ReMind us.

Empty
26 March 2024

You heard deep travelled dark,
Right whale time of together.
Joy infinite momentary await.

Pleasure strips away truth.
Destiny bare, alone I ‘m empty.

09 September 2021

This morning trees speak of fall coming.
Leaves are changing in the sun and tilt south.
A grey squirrel sitting saucily on the highest twig,
Looks for more tasty nuggets, some already amouth.

Cooler winds now ripple my still fresh blossoms,
Pink in basket, soon to be stirred with frost.
A noisy flock of geese overhead heading like flotsam,
Calling unsettled direction, all loudly following the lost.

Many will return in the spring to continue their lives.
Buds will break through into early rising light of new days.
So many will be reborn, and thrive.
My fall is coming. I feel the flame. I am ablaze.

Sometimes
10 May 20#*


Sometimes your ache for freedom ,
Takes mine.

Sometimes 2 nickels,
Make a dime
,
Sometimes ,nothing makes any  sense.  
I'm sitting on the fence,

Sometimes.......

Sometimes.

Mature
19 July 2021

Maturity, nostrils of sweated horse,
Cloistered tight grain silo.
Owlets from oaken corse,
Wandering, none ready to **.

Awe

15 January 2024

How can I taste the sweetness of life.
I come to you

Music from the night.
24 Sept 2023

“Dance with me”, she said.
This morning, we be wed.
Dance with me. Our day flower fed.

Dance with me. The call of summer trees.
Hold my hand. Move to set me free.
Dance with me.  I am as the wind.

Dance with me. Music sways our mate.
No guarantee, I stay another date.
Dance with me. Before it is too late.

Peace from throbbing violins.
Let our love begin.
Dance with me.
Our last mortal sin.

Wanderer
24 January 2023

Old shoes  tired feet
Home, an empty surrender.
He is complete.

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.

Rest
17 March 2021

You are the warm blanket, peace as I rest.
The strength of Olympic pillars in my dreams.
The power of love with which I fly.
On the feathered mattress of temporary,
You give me eternity, strength, courage that survives.
Grateful, I rest.

20 August 2021

We crossed paths on that dating site.
Lunch on the road set the GPS.
You were just right, no less.
All dots on the map matched.
Our love story hatched.
Travel passed all the tests.
You know the rest.
Haven’t had any since!

Community, Immutability.
4 Dec 2022

Power common community.
Money, survival, impunity.
To have another, reality.

Respect, reliability.
Hunger, viability.
Freedom, liability.
Trust, possibility.

Privacy, brotherhood.
Immunity, motherhood.

Family for kingdom.
Hunger for freedom.

Ruthful, truthful.

Life choices by the hours,
Power all those of ours.
.

Tuning
February 2021

My piano is out of tune.!
February.

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.

The Illusions of who I am

9 September 2021

Father, husband, neighbour.
Manager, debtor, son whose favoured.
Every day a different flavour. .

Patient, uncle, old granddad.
Devil, angel, senile, mad.
Friend, lover, high school grad.

Pilot, mechanic, pianist, realist.
Poet, dreamer, schemer, meaner.
Each day there is a trend,
No end to how I’m bent.

I belong to you, decide.
I have no need to hide.

Ancient Patience
31 March 2023

Ancient trees, limbs outstretched,
Reach up. Seasoned, greet evening falling sun.
Each leaf alight, nature’s warmth fetched.
Hunger, now strong, early spring won.

Beneath canopies, awake azure green.
I am along a nascent forest bridge,
Dappled. Slow dance, bud keen.
Gentle breeze, stirs my every step, every edge.

A living choir plays. Praise to the light.
Holy embraced, their arts sketch line-shadow-blurred.
Canvas renews fond memories past,
Grounds hurt forgotten, trumpet safe interred.

Thirsty root dig deep, inspire.
Tomorrow’s promise, quenching beadles,
Necklace of puddled pearls, preparing fire.
Bracelet sun goldened wrist lit, life beget.

My steps turn homeward.
This day cedes eternal to fading light.
My heart, sated silence forward,
Guides my coming night.

Through trees towered high,
Ancient, paitience love,
Fills my heart with grace.
Fruitful life nigh.

Written by
BTW

Quality of Life
24 September 2021

Quality of life.
Some like peace, some conflict
I like the choice.

Naked
8 July 2021

Walking in the crowd of naked,
You move worthless.
None notice your pride standing.
Your soulless hanging.

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.

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.

Sleep
18 April 2021

You are asleep.
Your dreams are sweet and true.
Life has blessed you.

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.

Old married man
3 February 2023

When we sit together, holding hands,
When you kiss me, make me smile,
When love overwhelms me? a mile,
Sacrifice your freedom for me,
This old man wants you on his knee.

Shivers, passion, loving all your charms,
Hearing that, you love me, my arms,
Tremor-like a boy on first date.
Like a teeny standing at your gate,
Impatient nowhere I can gentle wait.

I only met you late in life, Match Ave.
Not knowing how much we would have.
Grateful lucky for each moment where,
Our time we can our life share.
Thank you for a second ever second fair,
Adventure that we fare and dare.

Journeys hold the challenge, keep us alive.  
Your love sweetest gift on which I thrive.
Perhaps I hold you closer, tighter,
That any man should keep right.
Watching you sleeping each night
When you dream and stir in fright,
I kiss,  touch your shoulder light.
Caring, old married, I care.
Old married man, soul bare.

Be Gentle
11 April 2021

Be gentle, the day has just begun.

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.

Love is the art of saying the unsaid,
Touch, smile, an embrace,
Celebrations of quiet.

When I am near you, I feel warm,
At night as you stand by our bed,
Comforted, confident, certain.

Mornings are best, we are rested.
A beautiful new day welcomes us,
Together, holding hands by the window.

Sometimes it is the unexpected,
A past due chore discovered completed.
A piano cleaned, and being played.

Sharing past pains, broken stories, no lies.
Facing every truth of love, loving.
Accepting my failings, my time, my age.

Now it seems contained in all you do,
The nectars of happiness, passion, joy,
I see you. I quietly love you.

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.

Always The .First Time N.

13 November 2022

With the glow Of first time,
Unbridled love, fireworks.
Nerve on ration.
Excitement in bloom. We are one.
We are bound in those magic moments.


First times.
Let our sea,
Ever be,
The first time.

Standing in the hall,
Waiting at your door.
Asking you.
Love burns.

First time.
Alive and free.
Breathless wind,  
Gasps freeze.
Burden left, steer right.

Make our every time,
Once more, our first time.
Love  Not fade or grey.
Fresh, new, every day.

Take my ready hand.
This time again, turn over the glass.
Stir again the sand in perpetual swirl.
Our first time with my girl.
It’s that time. First time.

2 September 2021

Vivacity hit,
Right in my gut today.
Too late, couldn't wait.

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.

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.

Inheritance
28 December 2022

An old metal toolbox, lock broken, dented, streaked with paint,
Sitting on the corner of Dad’s worn workbench.
Precious beyond measure, those old wrenches, altered, trusted.
Some twisted and bent, others ground, origins faint, rusted.
Years spent working, an old wooden garage behind the house,
Rented for ten dollars, a pit hand dug in the dirt.
Home shared, long late hours with an occasioned brown field mouse.
Dad worked a second job, late at night, second job, curing auto hurts.
Traded to his own sclerotic back, arm wrenched.


There was little treasure, little gold to measure.
Little wealth reflected in the obituary notice, not much,
Home drawn art, poetry, love letter, photos, Dad’s touch.
Little a banker could value.

I eyed that toolbox.
My inheritance he carried every day,
My reflections on years spent in his care.
His songs, his pain, his ability with a baseball, a horseshoe.
Good, bad, success, failure, unmountables, uncountables,
Keeping us safe, fed, loved, together, in historic time.

My inheritance was the ragged edge of that 75 year toolbox.
My treasure, his gift. Mine.

Italian Morning.

Naked, shivering by the door,
Cold rainy mist hides the sands,
The stir of restless beaches, old souls ever drifting.  

I feel the warm bed nearby.
Your eyes in sweet surrender.
Where have the overnights taken you.

Love anchors me in Lee shores,
By palm trees at the foot of grace.
I reach our for strength lost in time.

Are these tears in these drops,
Yours, or mine

Take Care (of each other)
Oct 22, 2022

These are the times,
My hope, my wish.
Take care of each other,
Never finished.

These are the times,
When life will unfold.
Take care of others,
Be brave and bold.

There’ll be others
Living alone, waiting for loving.
Cold in their homes,
Living for hugging,
Something they own.

You have the hunger,
Be kind and good.
You are the one,
Who understood.

Many mountains,
Not easy to climb.
Give me your arm,
We’ll be there on time.

Behind the camera

To my beautiful daughter now celebrating her birthday,
Love comes from behind the camera.
Mother's have their special place,
Always have that loving grace.
Behind the camera, my place.
Love you dear as father's do.
Spend too much time missing you.
Time to sing that special song.
Been away far too long.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

17 September 2021

11111

His numbers sadly spun
“I wanted 2”, he said.
“I wanted only one”.
He spun till he was dead.

19 March 2021

".....ations" stress,
All of your mind and body.
Some worth waiting for.

More than words can say
5 July 2021

I will hold your hand.
You will never be asked to let go.

The Gardener
11 Dec 2022

“Who is speaking?” Ogre I know.
“Hateful words”, somewhere below.

I , devil unwise,
Spoke regretful thought,
Stat surprised.

“Lost dark-heathen”, show me your marque.

“Dawn cry-scent blackened”, Beelzebub harked.
“Experience forgetter, thorn ever-last,”
“Asthmatic throb, last-pain-filled gasp.”

“Lucifer, foul-blossom, demon-on-hold,
Craven brass, once claimed true gold.
Alchemist silver, tied at my bow,
Exorcist arrow-rain, will, your way flow.”

Let me lie peaceful, eternal my own.
Fiend away, leave my wooden door home.
Wolf heed us  laden, stay further encore.
Peonies, roses, quiet my core!