LD Goodwin

LD Goodwin Dec 2013

She is leaving,
leaving things behind,
they are just things she says.

                  She is leaving,
                  had enough silence,
                  deafening silence she says.

                                    She is leaving,
                                    and he won't know it,
                                    he doesn't even know she's already gone.

                                                                    She is leaving,
                                                                     starting over anew,
                                                                     to sleep alone, but sleep she will.

                                                                                                  She is leaving,
                                                                                                  naked to the sun,
                                                                                                  to be what she wants to be.

                                                                                                                                                    She is gone......

*.........for a friend.........

Harrogate, TN July 2013

LD Goodwin Dec 2013

Madiba

Who will pick up the torch and light the way again,
keep us on the path of equality and right?
A soldier of love and truth has fallen,
the world is a more fragile place tonight.

Oh young ones look deep inside yourselves with wonder,
at why they could not break this little man.
Take up the reigns and lead the march to freedom,
pick up the torch and light the way again.

*"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."-Nelson Mandela 1918-2013

LD Goodwin Nov 2013

Much Sooner Comes The Winter Now (an Empat Empat)

Much sooner comes the Winter now,
the racing clock tics on my wall.
Another wrinkle on my brow,
another Summer, Spring and Fall.

I try to hold the moment's peace,
much sooner comes the Winter now.
So I find solace in release,
and throw away the holly bough

I’m no longer reined to the plough,
and time is not my enemy.
Much sooner comes the Winter now,
but fonder is the memory

Of breaths I take, how many more?
What e'er the seasons will allow.
Adrift am I towards any shore,
much sooner comes the Winter now.

*Empat Empat
Early form of rhyming verse from Malaysia.
8 or 10 syllables per line.
A. b. a. b.
c. A. c. a.
a. d. A. d.
e. a. e. A.

Harrogate, TN November 23, 2013

LD Goodwin Nov 2013

Through Rabbit Ear Snow

Through rabbit ear snow
I watched all day,
and kept a vigil.
The sad click of hooves on pavement,
almost in time with muffled drums.
Bada dum, dum, dum.
Bada dum.
Bada dum.
The flag draped caisson,
slowly passing miles and miles of tears,
as a riderless horse sauntered aimlessly,
wondering, where is my master,
did he fall in battle, have I left him behind?
Slow stepping,
stone faced soldiers in parade dress,
each in their private war,
fighting back utter sorrow for their fallen leader.
A black veiled widow,
stood bravely
with brothers and sisters
and her Fatherless children.
She was not numbed by that cold November wind,
but her heart was,
by a ******’s aim.
This, is a woman,
strong and resolute.
With a grieving nation watching her mourn her husband,
she would never be more graceful than at that moment,
and her tear stained face could not hide her beauty.
Where has our brave knight gone,
so young and alive with promise,
and hope for his people?
His flame will shine eternal now,
his page in history written,
but not by his hand,
it was written by our hand.

*Fifty years ago, I watched history being made. Although I was only eleven, I will never forget*

LD Goodwin Oct 2013

You Walk The Windy With Her

You walk the Windy with her.
Hands brush, and cheeks blush,
a door is opened, a chair is pulled out.
I'll have what she's having.
Half a glass later, nerves are soothed.
Catch her, watching you.
Quickly look at her and you both realize,
you both want to kiss.
The waiter interrupts,
food is now secondary.
Check please.
You stroll the windy with her,
hand in hand now,
so much is said in silence.
Fingers touching fingers.
My God, please don't let go.
Cue the snow.
You brush the flakes off her face,
"Kiss her, kiss her now"......yelled from a 2nd story window.
People smile as you press your lips to hers.
Her breath carries the sigh that warms your heart.

You walk the Windy with her.

*I have never been to Chicago, maybe someday.........

Harrogate, TN October 2013

LD Goodwin Sep 2013

Try To Remember

Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
The fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December, our hearts should remember
And follow.

*Music: Harvey *******br>Lyrics: Tom Jones
From The Fantasticks

In memory of September 11, 2001

LD Goodwin Sep 2013

There Are No Little Wars

There are no little wars,
no little death or destruction.
No little event
filled with lies, deceit, and corruption

There are no good wars,
not for those affected.
The dead, dying, and homeless,
the shell shocked left afflicted.

There are no little lover's spats,
although they all appear to be.
Devastating battles, ego verses ego,
with no one ever set free.

Poised with a finger on the button,
thinking either one has weapons of mass destruction.
They find the ***** in each others armor,
and give their esteems a sharp reduction

Should I stay or should I leave here?
That, is always the question.
Either way the sun will rise
on a battlefield of tension.

And what of million dollar missiles
lobbed upon a question,
while Detroit looks like a warzone,
sorely in need of reconstruction?

*I had a fight with my wife, I wanted to leave. But my battle isn't with her, it's within me.
Should we attack Syria, or should we take that money to rebuild this great nation?

Harrogate, TN September 2013