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 Jan 2017
Sally A Bayan
Intrusion
~~~~~~~

The scent of pine came strong with the wind that morning
Blowing  above the countless small ripples that seemed to hurry
Traveling...uninterrupted...playing their game,
Unraveling floating tree branches,
Tangled in a mess, with cracked bamboo poles...

Red dragonflies, orange butterflies and green-breasted birds,
Hovered
Over the clear blue water...
Unafraid...
They knew they would be
Unscathed
So long as they kept a safe
Distance above the surface.

Water flowing was a soft, caressing music....
like a lullaby
playing, by the peaceful river,

The river...a vast dance floor, where serenity waltzed
Where leaves had fallen...carried further away
By the playful breeze...
and the nonstop current that ran deep,

~~~~~~~~~~~

Deep as the thoughts of a lone soul, treading the shore
Both hands in  pockets...taking time to walk
...lifting each foot from the crumbling sand
...while singing a song---


"Imagine there's no heaven
...it's easy if you try...
...no hell below us
...above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
...living for today....hmm...."


...kicked a small twisted can
three---four steps, then kicked a used paper cup
seemed to be good at kicking
not concerned about hitting anybody
like it was common territory....


"Imagine there's no countries
it isn't ...hard to do
nothing to **** ....or... die for
and...no religion....too
~~~~~~~~
imagine all the peo...ple
living...life...in...peace...hmm"


Walking...and kicking...there appeared a rhythm
Humming...singing same lines over...and over
Seemed to enjoy the walking
The kicking, the singing
And the wading

"You may say i'm a dreamer
...but i'm not the only one
...hmmm... someday....you'll join....
And the world...will be....as one....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

­The ripples rushed..........
..............down the waterfall
.................cascaded...fast...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~­
.....................and before long

....the river....
and the intruder
became...one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~­~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~the birds whistled
~~~the leaves rustled
~the wind whispered
They all sweetly sang
Like distant church bells
That softly rang.


Sally

Copyright July 2015
Rosalia Rosario A. Bayan


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Nov 2016
brandon nagley
Ere poesy was born, was born a woman we came to know.

A poetess, with word's that fit
A kingdom's grip; Her
Writing's lift.

Her writing's lift the cloud's from rain, her soul thou dost know; for her heavenly glow, can
Ease all pain's.

She gives herself, for everyone else, her books should be stacked upon ancient shelves, where memory don't go, and love won't fade.

She's the sunshine of the morn,
The Poe of women's floor's;
The Poetess of old that's
Become to be welcomed
And known- her literature
Raised up And shown-
Where the dead walk and talk
Where corn is picked clean of
Their stalks, she's the girl that creates wonders from the stars that is her home.

She wanders poetic streets, a pencil and paper her nightly meat.
Her mind goes past time:
Beyond thought, the world she greets, she needs no dime-
She's rich in her kindness,
In smiles she defeats.

An archaic beauty of the woods and the streets, where no shoes she needs;
To dance in a wild poetic style.


©Brandon nagley
©Lonesome poet's poetry
©Vicki bashor birthday dedication
Ere- before ( archaic form).
poesy- old form of poetry.
Dost- do.
Thou- you.

Happy b day poet Vicki.
.. may this be a better end of year for you.... And look up , trust God things will get better if you look up. Happy b day fellow poet, and friend.
Your friend Brandon.
 Oct 2016
RAJ NANDY
Dear Poet Friends, over the last few years I have seen some of our poets make passing remarks about Van Gog, thereby displaying their interest about this talented painter, who had died unrecognised!  Vincent gained full recognition posthumously, for which his brother Theo’s wife was greatly responsible. Hope you like this short and concise true story in verse. Best wishes, - Raj

   A TRIBUTE TO VINCENT VAN GOG’S
                      SUNFLOWERS
                        B­y Raj Nandy
  
”One may have a blazing hearth in one’s soul
  and yet no one ever come to sit by it. Passerby
  see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and
  continue on the way.” – Vincent Van Gogh(1853-1890)

A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY :
Though during his brief life-span of 37 years he had
remained almost wholly unknown;
His artistic talents began to exhibit itself during his
early years, -
To become a colossus amongst post-impressionist
painters in his later years!
The son of a Dutch clergyman, he had worked in
various capacities, -
In his uncle’s art gallery, in a bookstore, and pursued
theological studies in Amsterdam University.
Also followed by a short stint in Belgium’s coal-mining
district as a lay missionary!
At the age of 27 years took to painting with financial
help from elder brother Theo,
Who encouraged and helped him for the next ten years
or so.
This was the most creative period of Vincent’s life,
Followed by an attack of dementia when he cut his
own ear lobe risking his life!
On 27th July 1890, he shot himself, bringing his
great artistic career to a tragic end!

SERIES OF ELEVEN SUNFLOWER PAINTINGS:
Vincent commenced his famous sunflower series
to decorate his house in Arles, France,
While anticipating his friend Paul Gaugin’s visit in
advance.
His first four canvases had paintings of cut sun -
flowers in bunches of twos and fours;
Painted in Paris during Aug-Sep 1887, which the
world still adores.
But his later Arles series of seven still life canvases
are better known to us;
And this series of paintings had made Vincent
internationally famous!
The most valued of these seven is a vase containing
a bunch of 15 sunflowers, -
Now displayed at the Art Museum in the city of Tokyo;
A Japanese firm had paid 40 million dollars at an
auction for this masterpiece to show!

                    A SHORT CONCLUSION
Vincent brought his passion for sunflowers from his
homeland in Holland.
Which became synonymous with him like those ‘water
lilies’ with his contemporary painter Claude Monet.
Vincent painted the various stages of the flowers in bloom;
From its budding stage till it wilted and swooned!
Chrome yellow and yellow ochre made them look fresh;
And arid brown and somber shades showed its wilted stage!
Thus his paintings covered all angles of spectrum of life
itself;
In turn reaching a deeper understanding of how all living
things are tied together and made !
His explosive energy was displayed through his vibrant
shades of yellow.
Using red for passion, and green for conflict to show.
Grey shades were used for life’s inevitable surrender,
with blue symbolising infinity;
Thus this Dutch Impressionist painter harnessed a
moment of time in eternity!

Foot Notes:-
Dr Jan Hulsker, a foremost scholar on Van Gogh, had said that this Sunflower series of paintings brought Vincent eternal acclaim & fame! During his short life span he made 700 paintings, 1600 drawings, 9 lithographs & one etching. His ‘Potatoe Eaters’, ‘Red Vineyard’, ‘Starry Night’, - are all famous paintings. Paul Gaugin, & Claude Monet, were his other ‘Impressionist’ contemporaries. Impressionism  emphasised changing qualities of light & colour, visible brush strokes, open composition,  creating an impression of a moment of time! Derives its name from Claude Monet’s harbour painting titled “Impressions & Sunrise”. This art form became popular in 1880s and 1890s.
*ALL COPY RIGHTS RESERVED BY RAJ NANDY
 Oct 2016
Walter W Hoelbling
born 1900
when Austria was still a monarchy
    that did not know
    it was approaching its end

growing up as the daughter
of the mayor of a little district town
    big fish in a small pond
educated accordingly
as a ‘higher daughter’

   be a home decorator
   do needlework
   be a gourmet cook
   play the piano
   be a respectable member
       of the community and the parish

when she turned 18
after the end of world war I
the social order for which she had been prepared
simply disappeared

her father became a disillusioned monarchist
the town’s republicans elected a new mayor

she married a railway engineer
who left her after her daughter
    my mother
was born
she managed to survive world war II
as a single mother

watched her daughter
    fall in love with, at Christmas 1946,
    and marry in April 1947
a guy who had just escaped
from a Soviet POW camp
looked like a walking skeleton
       my father
AND
was the son of a communist
who  had survived  world war I
as a POW in Siberia

strange bedfellows

     they used to play cards together
     once a week
     with great gusto

     class warfare
     morphed into social entertainment

both my parents were working
grandmother  led the household
on the side did bookkeeping for local businesses
     to bring in some money
practically raised me and my brother
cared for us when we were sick
taught me to play the piano

was always afraid we would not get
enough to eat

for a while, as a little child,
I slept in the same room with her
and  learned that she had
a wondrously melodious snore
    going over an octave & some such

when, after grade school,
I had to leave at 5.45 am
to catch the train
    pulled by a sturdy steam engine
that took me to the high school  
    50km down the road
she was concerned when I
   rushing out the door
just grabbed parts of the breakfast
she had so lovingly prepared

when I left home for university
she was not happy
when I went to the USA for a whole year
she was disconsolate

she did enjoy her great-grandkids
when they visited, though

too much distance for too long
from the place of her birth
made her uncomfortable
in her later years
she needed a familiar place
that came with its familiar things
to do and know

she lived to be 87

I saw her last
after a second stroke
had mostly incapacitated her

a tiny woman
curled up
waiting to leave us
for a world that finally might heal
the pain and disappointment
she had so bravely mastered
throughout her life
 Aug 2016
Emily B
I have to admit,
I never pondered the mysteries
Of cornbread.

Mammaw fried hers
In the iron griddle
So thin and light
It tasted like
Sweet, starched lace.

Evenings like these
I regret
I never had her light touch.

Sunshine
Floated
On that griddle.

Her kitchen table
Was a magic place
I wish
I could take you there

Dream with me
We will neither one
Be hungry, thirsty or alone
Any more
Not a great one maybe
 Aug 2016
SøułSurvivør
I won't be on site for some time. I'm writing the story of my father's life. He's 91 years old. In a power chair due to severe arthritis. Almost completely deaf and going blind. He can't read properly now and, being a very bright man, is filled with ennui. He doesn't know what to do with his time. I want to find out about his life. I know parts which I will put in this poem you are about to read...

My father's not a nobleman
Born a farmer's son
He has not the title Prince
In my heart he's surely one

My father is not tall of build
He's not a rugged man
But on his shoulders as a child
I saw the Earth's full span

My father is not wealthy
Has no Goods to share
But in my heart I know his worth
He is a billionaire
He is not a Wise Man
Has not those gifts to share
But he has a high IQ
Is bright beyond compare

Raised in the Great Depression
He ate the slop for pigs
Now he's a survivor
His grave cancer didn't dig!

He saw Okinawa
Eniwetok's grim atoll
Code named "Ivy Mike"
The Bomb landed on it's shoal

He went to MIT
Far 'above his station'
And he did it with a handicap
A 7th grade education

He is not a saint
He is far from 'pure'
But in my mind he's worth it
His tale should endure

So I will write his story
I believe it should be told
He is a curmudgeon

But he has a heart of gold


♡ Catherine
Thank you for understanding that I cannot read right now. This biography will be taking up most of my time. I will be writing occasionally and doing a little reading. But I want to finish this book before my father goes completely blind. We can communicate by writing right now. But he has a progressive condition which will take his sight from him eventually. And he has mild dementia. But he enjoys talking about his life and the times he lived in. I'm sure they will make fascinating reading. I just hope I'm a good enough writer to do it justice.

Please pray for me and my father.
 Aug 2016
Ma Cherie
My Father: I Never Promised You a Rose Garden!
My Mother: Well I Never expected a thorn bush either!

I always thought it was quite funny
I remember this on sunny days
when my parents were driving my Father would ask my Mother if anything was coming from the other direction and he'd say:
"Is it okay George?
And my mother would say:
"Okay, Hit it Henry!!!"...I still have no real idea why...I remember and I sigh...
as a twinge of sadness comes sneaking in.

There were certain people that my Father did not care for and he would say they were snobs ..."****** intellectuals"... as a child I got confused by that but now it makes perfect sense....it was said without pretense.
I had to figure it out.

Without a doubt...
I have many fond memories of my family...especially my Dad, who really sacrificed more than anyone I've ever known
who sowed every seed he'd ever sewn
Raised 4 kids till they were grown
all the fading memories that I blindly used to perceive as bad...
have now melted into the Beautiful
They are now the things that endear me to them... as I remember...they make me smile for a little while.

My Father has passed now some five years... was born a simple man of simple means...
times for him or more than just a little lean
Shoes three sizes way to big
stuffed toes with old newspapers
a dresser drawer....fashioned Sisters crib
He was a Phoenix rising from those ashes
And he was never out of fashion...
a Master Carpenter... a builder of my dreams...
raising beams
dressed in denim bib overalls and a white T-shirt...a red, white and black bandana in his pocket to wipe his sweating brow

And now....ever since the day he died
I have tried...but my Mother and I now have this distant love
so I know he's still guiding me, and us from far above
I never would have made it this far
way too many scars...
It's a strange feeling to feel so very alone
feel like I have no real home
in the world...
I am a caretaker of an apartment....

I feel he would have done
anything for me  
he would never let me see...
such awful things
and be
down in such lonesome places
with strangers, such unfamilar faces
Or so I used to think

I've been at the very brink
Now I understand he wanted me to know
to struggle for my life and so I would grow
as even a thornbush would...
It taught me to be humble even when I couldn't walk
to listen and not to talk
even though I have my children, my progeny...
If sometimes I still can feel so very alone...
so no matter where my Gypsy heart roams
I carry those memories with me they are my church in the day...and in the night
I remember his final words
and I know.... it'll be alright
He taught me how to fight
and I am fighting beside him now...

I am carrying out his final wishes
I cook them in my famous dishes
My Father absolutely enjoyed the sharing of food...
Always was in the mood for something delicious...
So I sprinkle
them with his way
the things he'd often say
with his stoic compassion,
an understanding heart, so kind
I try to share his brilliant mind...
I am thankful that he wanted me and made certain I was here
His memory to me so dear...
with him I have no fear
Thank you Father
Thank you Daddy...
Love you Ma Cherie....

Cherie Nolan © 2016
I remember this banter between my parents and thought it was funny. Then I started reading this and it made me feel sad but it's all good it's all part of the process. :)
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