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218 · Aug 2019
Seething
A Benedict Aug 2019
What’s always good for them!
Whatever makes them rise.
Feelings trampled upon,
disregard,
hypocritical nature,
I am here and,
I count!
I have stories to share.
Anger continues to mount!
I matter.
183 · Jul 2019
Growing Memories
A Benedict Jul 2019
Ivy-covered garden,
soft evening breeze,
whistles through the beaten wooden trellis,
that once supported the climbing vine,
now parted from the feeble frame.

Luscious green leaves,
stems grow strong.
Trellis yearns for yesterday,
when days were longer,
filled with innocence,
garden now full of abundance,
overgrown with bittersweet memories.

Ivy once a young sprightly sprig,
now elegant,
overrun and overtired,
from her trellis.

Jasmine perfumes the sweet,
thick summer air.
Ivy’s memories,
hanging onto her mighty trellis,
strong reliable foundation,
dancing together,
season after season.

Days grew shorter,
the wood grew older,
ivy thirsted with lust and desire,
to spread her leaves.

In the garden,
the trellis still stands,
rain falls down his cheeks.
A smile cracks in the wood,
a smile as wide,
as its rounded arch.

The ivy still beautiful,
after all these years.
Worn, tired and broken,
faithful remains her trellis.
181 · Dec 2019
Thankful Enough?
A Benedict Dec 2019
Grateful abundance.
Abundant gluttony.
Cornucopia’s contents spilled,
overflowing like spring-soaked streams.

Satisfied?

Stuffed, sweating and stupefied.
Crumbled morsels piling,
higher each November.

A lack of thankfulness.
Abundant gluttony,
And you’re thankful for that?!
A little bit late since the holiday has passed...
175 · Jul 2019
One Short Year
A Benedict Jul 2019
What a difference a year makes.
Within one rapid revolution around the sun,
there were new people I counted upon,
and now they’re done.

New places,
new faces,
new discoveries,
as one single, solitary spring,
yielded new blooms,
as life began anew.

Friendships forged,
and favors done.
From simple basic bonds,
as fresh excitement filled my days.
Sounds of Van Morrison,
sang through endless summer nights,
but only after the summer shower.

So many conversations about life,
and the many triumphs,
tragedies and places,
from the past,
into the present,
and in between.

A new home found,
a home loved.
A home with friends,
these brothers and sisters.

On one occasion,
powerful torrents of rain,
wind and devastation,
moved up the coast,
as my family moved closer to me,
and I took care of them.

With bread broken in the darkness,
that night when the power went out,
and wine guzzled to the last drop by candlelight,
hearty toasts toasted to strong friendships,
toasts to good times,
toasts to loyalty.
What a difference a year makes.

Then the leaves fell hard,
not only on the common walkway we shared,
but upon the camaraderie,
that was forged,
and on those days that I thought would never end.

As temperatures dropped,
The friends grew cold too.
With all the favors done,
guidance given,
affection offered,
timelessness now became uselessness.

When the snow fell,
these flakes also scattered one-by-one.
Away they went.
Away.

Then the spring sun rose,
while that cold wind continued to blow,
through the trees that once carried,
friendship’s friendly leaves.

No more bread.
Empty bottles of wine.
As the doves scattered,
they vanished like dust,
and these friendships disappeared,
while my heart banged a broken beat.

But a lesson was taught and learned,
protect each month,
and guard each day,
because what a difference a year makes.
174 · Jun 2019
Sunsplash
A Benedict Jun 2019
On a flower-potted balcony,
over the creaky,
cracky wooden railing.
Behind some thorny,
yellow rose bushes,
just in front of the tall,
line of pine trees that,
border the perimeter,
towers a green,
grimy garbage dumpster.

A gaze towards the sun,
a quick glance at the clock.
6:43 in the evening,
and sunlight’s
shadows drop lower,
just past the receptacle.
A patch of splendid,
sunshine dances,
upon golden tufts,
of trash poking through,
the greasy garbage,
next to a hilly mound,
of emerald green grass.

Shadows sojourn,
speckling the sparkling,
sun-splashed plain.
Now 6:47,
and the trash doesn’t,
look so bad after all.
154 · Aug 2019
Motionless Emotion
A Benedict Aug 2019
Lying motionless,
cold and emotionless.
stirring without movement,
thinking without thought,
languishing alone,
forgetting what I initially sought.

Watching the hands,
of that motionless clock.
Mindful of each tick,
mindless of the next step.

Trapped in a cage,
defined by bars,
of unaccomplished,
achievement.

Waking the next day,
to face it again,
only to lay motionless,
in my emotionless, vapid way.

Apathy,
my strongest strength,
and my greatest fear.
149 · Aug 2019
In Vino et Veritas
A Benedict Aug 2019
So many feelings,
bottled and uncorked.
Like fine wine,
They mature,
waiting for such sweet release.

I am bitter no more,
for you and I have,
traveled so far and,
for so long.
I will always welcome our past.

I turn around to go,
grab two glasses,
so that we may reminisce about,
our many journeys together.

When I return,
you are gone once more.
And again,
I sip alone,
toasting you,
celebrating us.

While the wine is exquisite,
what we had was even better.
I quickly cork the bottle,
to try to keep the memories forever.
143 · Aug 2019
Anona
A Benedict Aug 2019
O silent summer’s end,
silence upon sands of amber gold.
Gardens of abundant color,
no longer to tend,
whispering wind,
evening’s presence of cold.

September’s song,
music of change,
as nor’west winds push,
bright blue skies forward.
Desolate harvest,
sparsely filled grange,
pristine purple dusk,
heavy canvas now lowered.

Stalk severed field liter the plot,
sprinkles of frost upon sunny orange hue.
Deer scatter upon hunter’s first shot,
seasons repeat each year anew.

Autumn enters as cool breezes dwell,
summer solstice my love we bid farewell.
"Anona" is the Roman Goddess of the harvest. With autumn nearly upon us, I thought I'd share this poem.
138 · Jun 2019
Befriending A Demon...
A Benedict Jun 2019
Ever befriend a demon?
A demon who lashes,
one who lurks inside,
thrashes and thrusts,
with nowhere to hide.

Ever been scorned by a demon?
A demon who angers,
a monster within that disguise,
of sorrow swallowed by hate,
fury hiding one billion cries.

Ever been hurt by a demon?
Have you been tortured,
by one who finds delight,
through the damage he inflicts,
with a simple flex of his might?

Ever find the soul of that demon?
In the hellfire where it burns,
an eternal blaze that never dies,
just look into the sadness,
of that demon’s eyes.
128 · Jul 2019
So Here's What Happened...
A Benedict Jul 2019
A great deal has happened,
since we last talked.
Actions speak louder than nonsense,
and nonsense speaks my language.
It’s my native tongue.

Anyway, I visited hell twice,
and when I went back a third time,
a sign said that it was closed for maintenance so instead,
I went out for a Fuego Especial Burrito.
Later that night,
my stomach felt worse,
then the pains any hell could give me.

A great deal has happened since,
we last fought and I subsequently left you.
My new Keurig machine spits out,
Tepid, ****** drops of putrid sludge.
I guess the warranty was too busy,
holding up the refrigerator to be mailed in.
You used to take care of those things so well.

I joined a yoga class to release the stress,
from broken coffee makers,
and from what life had dealt me,
but I had too many problems,
with the positions…
The cobra bit the warrior,
and the downward dog ran right to the tree.
I still have lots of stress in my life,
I remember you had a way to make it disappear.

A great deal has happened,
since we last met.
The leaves turned orange,
during autumn’s depressing annual drop,
and they vanished,
like I did from you.

I learned quite a bit,
about people,
and what moves them.
I learned much about myself too,
and how I’m not much different than most.
Love is my motivator.

A great deal has happened,
since we last walked together.
Although I still watch the ocean,
break along the sandy shoreline,
I now do it with my shadow.
My shadow is much quieter than you,
and I dislike the silence.

At night I forget the chaotic day,
problems with work, family and my insecurities.
I realize it doesn’t **** to be me,
but there is still something missing…

A great deal has happened,
since we last talked…
I’ve endured two trips and burritos from hell,
the changing seasons,
I tore my groin at yoga,
and I stood in silence at the sea.
But one thing has remained constant throughout,
I’ve never given up hope,
that one day,
we may share a cup of ****** coffee.
Wrote this after reminiscing about my ex-wife one night shortly after we split up.
127 · Jun 2019
Summer's Yard
A Benedict Jun 2019
Bright green tufts,
of grass grow in the yard.
Each blade climbs steadily,
each sway gently,
in the early,
evening summer breeze.

The summer breeze,
gently touches your soft cheek,
as do I.
I caress its softness,
the soft, skin’s purity.

Your purity,
reaches inside of me.
Touching my mind,
grabbing hold of my soul.

As my soul rises,
my eyes rise too.
I look at your face,
and gaze into your eyes.

Your precious eyes,
stare out the window.
Intently you glance,
at the bright green tufts,
of grass that grows in the yard.
125 · Jun 2022
Lacrimosa II
A Benedict Jun 2022
These tear ducts are barren, dry, and void of overflowing release.
My sleep is filled with dreams that my eyes be filled with streams.
The suffering is the easiest part.
Getting through this arid landscape is difficult, if not impossible.
The window opens to the breeze
as I smell the sweet summery air through savory trees.
How I recall the past and days of hurt.
Times I wish I could be even as high as dirt.
I wander through my own Forest of Arden,
not feeling care,
not a scare,
life in full color I dare…say.
Cobalt blue filled the sky.
Tear ducts still empty—that well, still dry.
As I’ve grown older,
the callouses of life have made me stronger,
perhaps why I can cry no longer.
If I could only wash my troubles away.
Tears, please come without delay.
122 · Sep 2019
Campaign Trail
A Benedict Sep 2019
Being a political campaign manager,
is like pulling wings off of flies.
Except for the poor,
filthy creatures,
don’t deserve that type of torture,
while the campaign manager does.

Campaigns are tough as hell,
and if your candidate wins,
that’s where you’ll probably end up,
steered there by all,
the empty promises.
Carried by a wingless fly.

Campaigns are loathsome.
The lies.
The attacks,
and attacking.
More heartburn,
compliments of the
fast food,
late nights,
early mornings and,
the colleagues’ coffee-breath,
wafting into your face,
as they yell only inches away
from your nose.

The campaign manager,
wishing he could float away,
on the red, white and blue,
campaign event balloons,
wishing he never returns,
at least not until,
the next campaign.

Every voter always seems,
to have a question,
at the wrong time,
and the campaign manager,
always has the answer,
“Not to my recollection.”
“We’re looking into the matter.”
“No comment,”
******* off the,
communications director.

Everyone has an agenda,
but none more,
important than putting,
more copy paper in the printer,
for the campaign manager,
to begin printing up resumes,
for the next campaign.
And, those are the days,
when the candidate is only,
behind by four points.

Everyone has a vote,
and some have two,
or so it seems.
Grab those votes!
Or at least as many,
as the field director says.

But once the first,
Tuesday of November,
has come and gone,
you are left looking,
for a friend.
Has anyone seen,
a fly buzzing around here,
to talk to?
Since it's getting busy on the campaign trail, I thought this would be appropriate...
117 · Dec 2019
Motionless Emotion
A Benedict Dec 2019
Lying motionless,
cold and emotionless.
Stirring without movement,
thinking without thought,
languishing alone,
forgetting what I initially sought.

Watching the hands,
of that motionless clock.
Mindful of each tick,
mindless of the next step.

Trapped in a cage,
defined by bars,
of unaccomplished,
achievement.

Waking the next day,
to face it again,
only to lay motionless,
in my emotionless,
vapid way.

Apathy,
my strongest strength,
and my greatest fear.
114 · Jul 2019
Summer Skies
A Benedict Jul 2019
Planet king coronated,
in early summer night.
Shining brightly,
glowing majestically,
pushing out its radiant light.
Hanging in southern skies,
clinging to Scorpio’s,
stubborn back.

Antares orange pulsating,
each beat,
of the beast’s,
powerful heart,
as he maneuvers slowly,
stealthily,
and secretly,
driving piercing claws,
into the neighborly,
scales of justice.

Summer sky’s
stellar sight,
in a universal playground.
Breathtaking journey,
through an almighty,
game of wonder and delight.
112 · Dec 2019
One Short Year
A Benedict Dec 2019
What a difference a year makes.
Within one rapid revolution around the sun,
there were new people I counted upon,
and now they’re done.

New places,
new faces,
new discoveries,
as one single, solitary spring,
yielded new blooms,
as life began anew.

Friendships forged,
and favors done.
From simple basic bonds,
as fresh excitement filled my days.
Sounds of Van Morrison,
sang through endless summer nights,
but only after the summer shower.

So many conversations about life,
and the many triumphs,
tragedies and places,
from the past,
into the present,
and in between.

A new home found,
a home loved.
A home with friends,
these brothers and sisters.

On one occasion,
powerful torrents of rain,
wind and devastation,
moved up the coast,
as my family moved closer to me,
and I took care of them.

With bread broken in the darkness,
that night when the power went out,
and wine guzzled to the last drop by candlelight,
hearty toasts toasted to strong friendships,
toasts to good times,
toasts to loyalty.
What a difference a year makes.

Then the leaves fell hard,
not only on the common walkway we shared,
but upon the camaraderie,
that was forged,
and on those days,
that I thought would never end.

As temperatures dropped,
The friends grew cold too.
With all the favors done,
guidance given,
affection offered,
timelessness now became uselessness.

When the snow fell,
these flakes also scattered one-by-one.
Away they went.
Away.

Then the spring sun rose,
while that cold wind continued to blow,
through the trees that once carried,
friendship’s friendly leaves.

No more bread.
Empty bottles of wine.
As the doves scattered,
they vanished like dust,
and these friendships disappeared,
while my heart banged a broken beat.

But a lesson was taught and learned,
protect each month,
and guard each day,
because what a difference a year makes along the way.
102 · Jun 2019
Give and Take
A Benedict Jun 2019
Something given,
and something taken away.

A sunrise enjoyed,
its golden rays,
later darkened.

The sound of,
a turquoise sea,
lapping onto the beach,
quickly quieted.

The warm touch,
of flannel sheets,
on a February’s,
shivering body,
now feel icy cold.

Spring’s first scent,
of the rose,
stuffed away in a,
congested corner.

All that I’ve worked for,
and all that I’ve earned.
All that I’ve been promised,
and all that I deserve,
all once given,
only to be taken away.
100 · Mar 2020
Sunday Shadow
A Benedict Mar 2020
Shadow of the evening
drifts so slowly
playing the occasional
game of hide and seek
between the soft clouds above and
the dense thickets of trees below.

The shadow flickers,
fades and,
flashes amidst a canvass
of cobalt blue sky
bordered by emerald green grass
splashed with tufts of bright
canary yellow colored daffodils and
slices of violet swaying tulips.

The shadow of the evening
thickens and tightens
its powerful grasp
to pull the curtain open and
usher in Venus,
hanging in the western sky.

Her radiance sparkles upon
the purple backdrop
shining,
twinkling,
sharing her beacon of brightness
as the centerpiece of
evening’s show of wonder.

My shadow now gone,
sunken into the fertile fields
waiting for Dawn’s rosy fingertips
to awaken him once more tomorrow.
80 · Feb 2020
Stranded
A Benedict Feb 2020
With jammed compass
below cloud-filled firmament
sailing forward only arriving in the past.

Nearly impossible
to straighten this ship
without navigation.

Winds blow hard,
blow cold,
blow wicked.

Struggling to steer
this vessel of regret
through such waters of uncertainty.

— The End —