HAIKU one of two

morning comes sunrise
take a deep breath feel alive
life begins again

night comes moon up high
exhale slow take it all in
body mind renewed

by Michael Perry

FRESH OUT OF IDEAS

i lived on an island
for a year so i could write
each day composing notes

there they sat piled up
collecting dust
until i filled out another

in the morning i would wake
eager to get started
my mind filled with thoughts

i sat in front of a blank screen
just watching my reflection
all the ideas i had were gone

by afternoon i walked to
get fresh air, watch waves
and the seagulls dive bomb

coming back in, grabbed a
beer and fell asleep
out of nowhere a good idea hit me

they say at that point
wake up while the memory is fixed
too bad though im a sound sleeper

by Michael Perry

GHOSTS

this house, with so many rooms how did we ever
think that we ever needed so many rooms
but still you convinced me, this house would change
everything, we have already been here a couple
months and still we favor only one room, such a
comfortable room, dark walnut walls , cozy inviting
a large fireplace  always with a fire in it, glowing warm
- we left all the other rooms vacant for now, every day
when the day was done, me writing and you painting
we would meet, right at five, i made us drinks, we sat
side by side going over each others work, discussing what
we had accomplished when we weren't together, you told me
how you had gotten so much done, the works were
flowing out of you, you smiled, i smiled back; happy for you
then you waited for me to say something, all i could do
is stand up and fix another drink, i mixed
her another one too, she said and you? and all i could
say was not too much today, maybe tomorrow, she patted
my hand, taking a sip of her drink, she said remember
why we moved here in the first place, the ghosts?,  we left
the ghosts back in the city, they did not follow us here, you
should be able to write unencumbered she said don't let the ghosts get to you, ok? i said ok, taking a deeper drink, finishing what
was in my glass, she said  there is always tomorrow, i  acknowledged her, she then said , be a dear and add
another log would you, i am feeling a bit chilled?

by Michael Perry

HERE IT ALL COMES BACK

the sea reminds me
every time, i come here
of what it means; beginnings and endings
i go there to stand  and watch
as the waves come in and out, almost like
breathing, water is life, like me, we communicate
with each other, somehow we relate
memories in the form of grains of sand
wash ashore, laid at my feet to peruse over
once more, each a piece of memory, establishing itself
something old, lost, long forgotten
but i remember, here it all comes back
over and over like ripples on a wave
flooding me with images, reminding me
i am human, filled deep with all emotions
that push and pull, like an ebb and flowing tide
to make me, who i am, make me feel to
bring me back, if only right here and now
to people and places, i thought were lost
i took them for granted, here they live and breathe
in the only way they can, here they communicate
to me, with the sea as my bridge between of what
is real and what is a dream i want to forget, either way i am
buoyant able to carry on, water as salvation, saves me

by Michael Perry

TWO OF A KIND

the man is silently sleeping on the overstuffed couch
made out of tough batting, wires and patched fabric
holding the whole thing  together with tape and ingenuity
he loves it , always falling asleep right after dinner
and before the news,  a small glowing fire in the brazier
keeps the small room light and warm, he moves slightly
a little snort escapes from his mouth and nose, as he
shifts in position, his little dog Moose holding court
on a small braided rug in front of the couch, he has
one eye open and one closed from a previous accident
with a mishap with a fallen tree branch, the
man was so upset, as he took Moose to the Vet
they tried but couldn't save the eye, from that
day they were inseparable as the man needs the
dog and the dog needs him to help avoid further
mishaps, right now it's quiet as the man is sleeping
off a couple beers he had earlier, Moose scratches
an itch behind his ear, it's now later in the night
both are fast asleep and dreaming; the man dreams
he wishes he was closer to his family as he misses his
sons and the grandchildren he has never seen, while Moose
dreams of his missing eye and the half views he will never
see again unless he turns his whole head in that direction

by Michael Perry

SNOW WALK

the couple went for a walk just before dusk
the snow starting lightly to fall, first snow of
the season, it was cold not overly so, they walked
hand and hand for awhile, not saying anything
both just enjoying the tranquility, through
the silence they kept up a good pace
as the street lights, cast out their shadows
they kept going, to anywhere, hand in hand
they both sensed the same direction
without missing a single step, they went, now it was
completely dark, turning around from the previous
direction they walked earlier, their steps were
filled in by the snow, erasing the way home still
landmarks did appear dusted in the new fallen
snow to make everything appear suddenly most alien
inevitably though, they found their way back, with the
lights on in the house inviting them to get out of the cold

by Michael Perry

MOURNING TIME

you stand there so still
feet dug into the wet sand
your back facing toward
the open dune with your arms raised
as if pleading; wanting to be taken
you cannot live without her, so you
pray to be with her now, as breezes coo
and caress, too gentle, almost kind
as if trying to soothe your broken heart
so the waves only puddle there at your feet
not the waves you were hoping for; ones
to push you out into deeper water, to
take you to her, it does not happen; you are
left standing there; alone, dejectedly still
as the sea whispers back, it is not your time

by Michael Perry