Money
11 Sept 2023

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

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.

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.

More (Haiku)
20 April 2021

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ReMinded
30 Sept 2023

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

The Life of Poetry
2 November 2023

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

BTW

Mature
19 July 2021

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

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!

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.

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.

Tuning
February 2021

My piano is out of tune.!
February.

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.

Wanderer
24 January 2023

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

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.

Sleep
18 April 2021

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

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.
.

Naked
8 July 2021

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

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

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.

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.

Quality of Life
24 September 2021

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

More than words can say
5 July 2021

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

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.

Be Gentle
11 April 2021

Be gentle, the day has just begun.

2 September 2021

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

Awe

15 January 2024

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

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.

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' ".

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)

A Forever World
Dec 10 2022
My words are my Worlds. Christmas thoughts.

My favorite walk was in the forest,
My body soul got more rest.
Where the wild cried out peace.
Where poverty was only leased.
Where love held and hold.
I felt so brave and bold.
A Forever World kind and right.

My favorite music made me smile.
Words were true and wild.
Mother made breakfast every day.
My best friend called us out to play.
Fresh sweet tarts, jam and bread.
Chores at home filled my head.
War was far away, then stopped..
School visited by the local cop.
A Forever World with steady light.

Rent was due and promptly paid.
Allowance for theatre, table laid.
Uncle and Dad played crazy eight.
Parcels sent never late.
A Forever World with girls and dates.

When I woke up early morn.
A new world  no fight, safely born.
Country drive was never far.
Dad had a old find car.
A Forever World was new delight.

Neighbours near were easy friendly.
Christmas cards mailed, presents sent were plenty.
Chestnut grew on backyard trees.
Same tree where dogs would ***.
A Forever World sweet on sight..

The time that we were living here.
A time with wine and beer.
A time when our loves were warm.
A time we kissed every storm.
Kids played in safe green yards.
That dreamed delicious cakes and tarts.
A Forever World on birthday bright..

If only we were here with words,
A Forever World free and bright.
A Forever World,. Time to start. To All, “Good night.”

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.

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.

Intimacy
17 February 2023

In the photo, sepia blood,
One of nine still here.
Eight were lost, queerly stood.

Here or there, I ponder,
Suddenly disappear!
Where is it I wander?

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.

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.

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

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

19 March 2021

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

Direction Haiku
5 April 2021

Direction lost.
Physicality grounded.
Merry Go Down.