STILL THINKING OF HER AFTER THE FACT

in my wakefulness
i still dream of you, always you
i am consumed by you
for you of you, your face
willing to leave an impression
on my pillow with a perfumed essence
that lingers long after, to fill my lungs
with a desire continued, though
my longing for you to be with you
has no beginning or end
each night to be loved by you
to know even in my dreams
awake or not you have changed
my world forever in the ways of love and life

by Michael Perry

FIRST STEPS

he has a smile, giving in, to sparks of delight
ready to make an impression, as he learns
to walk up right, his little hands, feet pick up
the pace, having no fear, no fuse whenever
he falls down he gets back up making his way
as he shows us how its done, he learns so fast
clapping his hands; a daredevil in the making
i am in love with this little boy, he makes
my heart swell, as i look in his eyes, i see
my son, his father, watching his son as he
takes first steps, we watch together, as i
remember way back when, the joy i felt
as my son took his first steps, now it comes
full circle, amazed at this little boy; my grandson

by Michael Perry

IN MY LIFE

in my life i have known this
a woman, she is life; through
the window of her soul, i see all,

transparent she becomes,  lives an angel
she knows me, i know her, there is
so much more, we share, go through

each moment spent, her face is love
pure and light for in a thousand of my dreams
with her simple style, takes care, only love emanates

from her, none will compare, as we share
with just a touch, i know her, i see her
she knows, i am here, ready to hold her in my arms

with undying love, never to forsake her, all we create
through the years, we will go on, go on, together
we breathe life, into each other; she, i, us, no other

by Michael Perry

NO REGRET

there is time and there is place
above the quiet of it all-then, as now
absolve oneself to memories lost
try as they might, like words on a page
to form the familiar;  all the joy the sadness
the mundane, waiting collected, gathered
to this place, to go to in time of need
as one does  in reflection, introspection
to consider, to establish, to determine
if only by chance, to let in, or turn away for good
in this time of why and what will be, to witness
to interpret the past, present and future by the ashes
of the once was, drifting, lifting away, simple now, in quiet
flakes of gray snow swirling, gathering to float upward
into the winds of change, as one individual swept up in the
middle of it all, gathers their thoughts, looks skyward  and
readies themselves once more to continue walking
along the many miles of shore in the name of no regret

By Michael Perry

SWEET DREAMS

the soft boil eggs hissed, hysterical
while my mind wandered, and the bacon sizzled
she continued to sleep, i left her alone
i smiled to myself, her sweet perfume
lingered through the air, while i took
the paper, searched for the crosswords
soon, the sun was coming, high up, i rose
after a while not hearing any movement
so i went to the room and quietly opened the door
the darkened shades, kept the room dark, no wonder
she hadn't gotten up yet, her face against the pillow
child like and peaceful, i touched her arm gently
she smiled with her closed eyes, she said
just a couple minutes more i was having
a wonderful dream and its just getting to the best part

by Michael Perry

FLOATING ON WATER

i have headaches
i deal with them
been to the doctors
each one, checking my head for clues
no one seems to know
the root cause, whatever it is?
on this particular day
it was going to be hot
no air to speak of
the oppressive sticky kind of day
that turns sweat sour
ready to cling to everything it touches
it is the first day of summer
just right to go into the pool
i lowered myself in
the water was biting cold
i was able to tolerate it
until the water moderated
as i slipped all the way in
felt the water gently caress me
comforting and inviting, i stretched out my full length
floating on my back, eyes closed, buoyant, comforted
for the first time in my life the headaches were gone
within minutes i had total relief
i couldn't believe it, i began to cry
still floating, afraid to move, i stayed in
until the sun was going down
as i celebrated my freedom
from the grips of a pain,  that i never thought
i would escape from- here i was, in the pool
pain free- for how long would be anyone's guess
i never want to leave, but at some point i had to face
the fact that this was temporary
there would be other days, the fight far from over

by Michael Perry

THE MOON HAS A STORY TO TELL

to watch the moon, is a study in time management
i have the patience- and for me all time is fleeting
which is something i am finding out for myself first hand, nevertheless while on this one particular night, the moon shows large close to Earth, bigger than most other nights, in it's seasonal turn as i look close, studying the surface, the pocks, the craters
every side, angle and depth, of it's everchanging face
wondering what secrets does it hold close, as it sits suspended
in the dark twilight night after night, i don't know why
still, it's just something i have always pondered ever
since i was a small child, looking at it, ready to bring to mind
all the childish rhymes of youth, that have the moon as it's subject
made me wonder, kept me fascinated, about the mystique of
what is real and make believe,  giving my childish mind, flight
now in my declining age, coming fast to it's forgone conclusion
its important for me to settle opinions, unmask, reveal the moon
to discover what lies beyond it's solemn face, to tell me the truth  
of what else its been hiding from me these many years soon gone

by Michael Perry