LETTING GO

hold me, tight, hold me tighter
don't let go, hold me as if your
life, mine depends on it, hold me
its no use, still  with each minute passing
i can feel-the letting go begin- as i read your mind
- i only asked one thing of you, still you cannot comply
follow what i asked this one thing-why can't you understand me
i am talking to you, your not listening, why not, i am
looking right at you, am i not making myself clear, as i
can no longer feel the connection now being lost, almost gone
not much longer, like my body being ravaged, from within-
still it shouldn't have been a task, it's all i asked of you, and your
answer, like the hospital instruments, keeping me alive
they go silent,  like the unspoken response you give to me
we understand now as protocol demands we comply
for the disregard of human contact at this time

by Michael Perry

OUR BEST IS YET TO COME

to love you in this our days
we count, as if every minute- were to stop, all of time
willing to accept, the simplistic, uncomplicated, unbound
feelings we have for each other , two becomes as one  

like the moon sun all the countless stars
evolving around the two of us
we are the center of this, our universe
dark to light flying by, our love evolving, taking a stand

with just a smile, you are
my light, unfazed, never fading, elemental
comforting and warm, ready to guide me
i am  weightless, like air, under your control

we are two souls, who have searched
across the universe, looking for that one
lost until found, then not ready to stop  
as all becomes one, we are together, realized

as you lay your body next to mine, we are unapologetic
i can feel  your heart beating in time with mine, ready to dream
the dream of lovers who ask nothing else of each other
knowing that still up ahead, our best is yet to come

by Michael Perry

WINTER UNFORGIVING

in a winter unforgiving
be it sacrifice or sin
eerily cloaked in the white
of piety, no where to be found
in this, the season of lonesome times
we watch as the pigeons across the way
head for the park ready to scramble
and scrounge for a crumb or two
looking for battle, their survival depends
on it, for little sustenance found, they will fight
to the  death defending what they find
along  with the homeless man who
claims this as his home away home

by Michael Perry

SHORT AND SWEET

I love her, she loves me
there could not have been
a love story like ours  
a possibility of,  having a future together
without the two us ready to play our part

She loves me, I love her too
we have had each others heart
forever and always, our love story
is a passion created and cared for over time  
renewed by our sacred vow taken years before
      
Darling, Happy Valentine's Day-"I love you"

by Michael Perry

TIME AS COMPROMISE

today is your birthday
i can't believe how much
time has passed- between us, a coming and going
all the years piled up in a rush, now
as my look back begins, it began with my head
now with my heart, ready
to rethink, challenge your memory, the push and pull

i may not have been
what you wanted, i succeeded
just the same, beyond both our expectations
- still our connection to each other- or the lack there of
how we used the strangled, misused words, to describe
love, acceptance, understanding, caring, with our pained faces
scrunched, because neither of us would not budge, we drew a line
not to cross, you and i,  cut from the same cloth, agree to disagree
and each morning as i look at myself in the mirror, i see you, me
staring back, funny how that turned out,  so as i look
deep into your eyes, my wish on this  birthday, is that, if only
we had crossed that line then, taken the same side, i would not
have had to write about you years later, so candidly, still i am ready to shake myself free of continued guilt, and as time passes to
lessen the weight felt,  if  only you could have done the same
instead of leaving me here to hang on to empty space, between
here and there, so i will  continue to stare into the mirror looking
wishing, waiting, i hope to see some day that look in your eyes
ready and willing once and for all, as your sign of our shared compromise

by Michael Perry

MUTUAL RESPECT

with each attempt to create from a simple blank page
i hope to write something great, will settle for profound
parsing every word i use as a guide down through the age
to give it life, shape shift, twist, glean verb, from noun

to share the untold, reveal my truth,  unleash the unknown
and with each line i will write- to go there, get into, delve
showing that as a writer i have come along,  grown
reveal myself, show the world instead of hiding and shelve it

its has taken me years to overcome, claim i arrived and reflect
so to everyone who reads my words, the deepest of gratitude
for there is only the written word, and our shared respect to
do what we do, as we pursue all those still untapped multitudes

by Michael Perry

POETRY GIVES (haiku)

poetry gives life
to the like minded lovers
who breathe the same air

by Michael Perry

THE LETTING GO

as my face is buffeted
by the coarse wind gritty
with needle specks, i am forced to walk on
through it- to it, i am reminded, remembering
the when, why; what I did to you, to us
-with each step taken, I live it will atone for
willing to be blamed- for not being there for you
when you needed me the most
i was nowhere to be found
so if you cannot forgive me
i cannot forgive myself
and with this, i hope to endure, to take away the pain
i caused you, then, and there
i will put my body through all the paces
of self pity and remorse, willing
to take on the relentless
wind body blows, whatever it takes
- until we are released from this burden, satisfied
of the outcome that holds, binds us both
for in that time-the before, after; the letting go
-whichever comes first, a necessity

by Michael Perry

SCENES OF WINTER MORNING

in the morning as
the **** frost lays gathered
crystalline grey white keeping hold
across the landscape for now until
the tepid warmth of day slowly climbs
and like a blanket to be rolled back
another crisp winters day is revealed underneath

by Michael Perry

DO YOU HEAR THE QUIET

do you hear the quiet
listen as it calls
the silence reaches far, wide
covering the ground, sky
filling in all the cracks
where there is space
supposed to be, invisible, close, near
here, there you can feel it, looming
in scope, enveloping, whole, as you cast
your eyes across the way, there in the stillness
living arcs of lightening, throb, building
to illuminate, crisscross, with energy contained
drawn by heat, it bears down upon, to feed
the silence, ready to let your mind run wild
as you imagine in your minds eye, the sound of
fury, with a crack and hiss;  unheard, the power
of sound held at bay, in a safe distance, still faraway

by Michael Perry

SNOW (haiku)

as the snow flies cold
it blankets in purity
offered renewal

by Michael Perry

SO EASY

i felt so hopeless/ what more could i do/ knowing inside
something was missing/ then there was you/ with little more
than a kiss/ your gift has come to redeem me/ time after time
as our love becomes a flame/ my eyes are open/you've made me see

you are my breath- finally able to breathe
i am taken by you- bringing me back to life
in this love conceived, realized, you make it
so easy for me to believe that something this
good between us is real and will last forever

fulfilling all my dreams/ like a religion i am delivered
love has finally come true/ so easy; everything considered
you're love saved me/ like a clock without hands/ we fall
into the timeless sway/holding on/ you and i, all through
the night feeling our rhythm/ our forever- is here to stay

you are my breath- finally able to breathe
i am taken by you- bringing me back to life
in this love conceived, realized, you make it
so easy for me to believe that something this
good between us is real and will last forever


By Michael Perry

THINK ABOUT IT
end of the month
another day down
gathered in one place
ticking off time, going forward
or back, inside out- one by one
once one reaches the end
it repeats, and the count
starts all over again, thats how its
been done for eternity, a day
for night, a morning sunrise
an evening sunset, the morning of
the day after, all very orderly
in a month,  a year, for all eternity
what does it really mean- is there
more to it-then space and time
well, your guess is good as mine

by Michael Perry

PRISON CONFESSION

i wish it was that easy to wish for something
that seemed to be  out of my reach, all my luck
has run out, while i pushed every limit, every time
i used up all my chances, so here i am,  all alone
an empty vessel of that which made me tick, still
its too late to ask for more time, as  i squandered it all
every single previous minute, i was given, why
would i get a second more, i do not  deserve it
one would agree it was not an easy life, still that
was no excuse for all that i did- maybe if i tried harder
if given the chance, had a little encouragement through
the chain of events and how it would have turned out
different still we will never know, as the curtain begins to
open up, i can feel all the eyes upon me now,  as the
liquid begins to course through my veins, making my
eye lids heavy and through the haze of my minds eye
i can see myself learning to ride a bicycle, i fall off and get
back up, if only i had  learned my lessons, i am sure
my life all the way through would have turned out better

by Michael Perry

WHO DECIDES

it's cold today
as we stand near
the upturned earth creating
the last resting place for him
too young to succumb, his body
could not help itself, so it
succeeded where he failed, taking him
without fight or argument
so we wait here as
the hearse pulls in, followed by
a couple cars with others like us
who cannot believe, we are here like this
saying our good byes
it doesn't seem fair, or real but, who gets to
decide that- obviously it wasn't him, if it was
he would be here too, standing next to us
looking down-instead of up

by Michael Perry

HAVING AN ARGUMENT

we stare across from each other
our arms are folded, no one blinks
we show no regard for each other
brazen, our attitude, most stubborn

the clock ticks the minutes down
it's like we don't even breathe
we hold ourselves stock still
this is no longer a war of words

we have gone passed the point of return
willing to behave like two petulant children
without consent for the other's feelings, so we sit
like this refusing to budge, just then, the phone begins to ring

by Michael Perry

MELANCHOLY ROAD

first thing in the morning
as the pewter sky changes
just before into the golden sunrise

across the land shivering
under a frost crusted blanket
life is still, dead quiet

between the land and the horizon
lies a half frozen pond, one-eyed
ready to reflect a bashful moon up high

into the stilled darkness being enveloped
comes a mournful cry, animal or bird, there by
a single way that leads out, down melancholy road

by Michael Perry

WINNING TICKET

He was a poor man
willing to put his last dollar
on the counter to buy
himself a lottery ticket

thinking this might be it
a little piece of paper
that will finally bring him luck  
filling his life full with riches and dreams

in the morning, when he awoke
touching the ticket inside his pocket
he found a morning paper to read the winning
numbers aloud, and nothing matched

feeling sorry for himself until when
as he walked down the street, dejected, he came across
another dollar bill to spend, he thought to himself, this is luck
how can it not be, the next ticket will be a winner for sure  

by Michael Perry

OLDEST TREE IN THE COUNTRY

there is this story about a tree, in our town
oldest one around, surviving all this time
whether by wind, rain, hurricanes-even
lightening strikes, nothing ever brought it down
it stood tall; as people from out of town would
come and ask, what was worth seeing around here
so we would always point to the tree, it began
drawing crowds large and small, by word of mouth
people would come from far and near, wanting their
pictures taken with the oldest tree in the country
as the time went by the tree became quite famous
notably on the news, or stories in print, all of which
took on a life of its own  gaining all this notoriety-everyone
knew of it-this went on for years, and while at first, us;
the towns folk never noticed it, thought we had taken
care of the tree, we did not pay enough attention; people
had been touching the tree all this time, maybe for
good luck or a reverence for it; who knows, still slowly
it took its toll people even removed pieces from it, making
off with the bark as a souvenir, that's all it took, most
noticeable were the  bald spots along it's trunk, this
invincible tree which stood in our town for hundreds of years
was susceptible to only one thing, that  which finally brought
it down-the smallest of them all, unnoticed by the naked eye
- the final cause of death-a human germ, passed by a single touch

by Michael Perry

THE LAUNDRY PRAYER

she hangs out the laundry
her daily chore
a life lived chaste
happy never bored
on this day, a slight warm breeze
carries the smell
of fresh washed clothes
to far and near
always making her feel proud
while her bones carry a burden
of flesh worked hard
she knows she is worthy
she says her prayers
with her hands without
ever uttering a single word

by Michael Perry

VERSION OF A TONGUE TWISTER

so as the summer sizzle stalls into simmering on
and the fire flies flit catching light-deep into the night
so it goes- with each new day unable to carry
it's own weight from the heaviness the heat has wrought
rightly or wrongly, each day and night becomes
more brought about surrendering , slowly, sluggishly, straining into a
miasma of monotonous memory, where one needs a break from-
for nothing else will break this impasse excepting a cold front fast

by Michael Perry

HEAT

the heat cut through
like a knife to butter
soft, yellow, puddling and
the mirage up ahead, lead one to believe
there was water- somewhere to be found
which brought further confusion
-despair, when the mirage turned up dry

by Michael Perry

BE READY

if it is midnight, it could somewhere or anywhere
for i might be a  stranger, who just happens to be
passing through, so be ready, and know this for
i maybe different, in looks and design, not your cup of tea
despite ourselves we all know better, isn't it ingrained
into our souls, not to judge a book by it's cover, still
at this late hour do not make assumptions, know this
i might be a soul in need of help or a stranger who wants
to stretch his legs, grab a coffee and be on his way, still
the feeling wasn't mutual between us, i could tell
you wanted me to move on, so with decisions made
we both felt it was for the best, as i hit the  gas pedal
creating dust clouds between pavement and the wheel

by Michael Perry

CHILLED BONES

from my window vantage
crusts of ice build up
to crease the window pane
a wafting draft sneakily escapes
through cracks  beyond the recess of glass and wood
am I prepared to venture out
into the cutting cold
that waits for me outside
i debate, a moments wait
but i decide i must, for no matter what
you cannot convince me otherwise
today will surely be a lucky day, at best  
for all the signs point to it, I can feel it
right down deep- into my chilled bones

by Michael Perry

ORDINARY OR NOT MORE THAN THAT

you and i
once made a pact, to be not
like everyone else, to be
ourselves, no matter what
everyone else did, so we would do
our best, to not be ordinary, to stand apart

so here we are trapped
in the same old routine, this life
we warned ourselves of what would happen
if we slipped and became ordinary
the drain of being just plain, it was not
what we signed up for, so what? resist?

so maybe, just a thought, for us to ponder  
here's a penny for your thoughts
it seems about right, in some ways
ordinary served us better, just saying
how we spend our lives now, it could be worse, whether
ordinary or extraordinary, we are together
shouldn't that be how it's supposed to be, don't you think?

by Michael Perry

CONFESSIONS OF AN OLD MAN PLANNING WHAT'S NEXT

to see him in the grip of his 62nd year
he is not much to look -at all
salt, pepper spread of hair, lines crisscrossed
everywhere-  a sign of his wear and tear

with his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose
he needs to get from here to there, his sight is a goner
if anyone came here right now, they could walk up to him
and be greeted by blind hands going haywire

he's been married several times, he loved each wife
at the time they were married, not sure what they would say
about him if they had a chance to tell their story in heaven
he hopes they would be kind, to outlive them all, such a shame

he's had a good life, lived longer than most, in these parts
he thinks contrition is a long walk to be made, with the time left
and his touch of black lung scar, taking hold, a reminder to reflect
on the tough years he's had, while providing for each wife in turn

he's not sure what happens next, there's no plans for that
so all he can do is sit and wait, and think about
each day, as he stares down death for as long as he can
for he wants to leave this earth on a clean slate

getting up from the chair it's a slow walk taking forever  across
the porch, turning the handle to the front door, realizing it's better
late then never, saying to no one listening, its been a long day for
planning next steps, better yet, he thinks there is always tomorrow

by Michael Perry

WHAT WE TELL OURSELVES

there are sad things we can accept as fact or shrug it off
as our little voice whispers, depending on which small voice
is talking to you;  so picture this, as you think it through
in a house on a quiet street, lined with fences and trees
is a woman sitting on her barcalounger alone, on this last day
of the year, she is feeling unloved, still it doesn't have to be
as we all make choices daily- that's what we tell ourselves
still she cannot accept the fact of why her?-she ponders this,
with a cigarette glowing through clenched lips, she takes in
a long slow drag as the stifling silence completely surrounds her
all this time; so we surmise, it comes down to guilt of conscience there must be deeper things going on; we cannot get into her head, as she carries this around like an afghan shawl, it's her bitter pill- which she takes daily in a shot glass on a table by her side- steeling herself to cast away ghosts that appear from each year past- and all that it represents, will it be enough as the clocks ticks down, she can see the new year coming into view as she takes in a deep sigh, preparing  for the inevitable, she steady's her nerves for what lays ahead, she has no one else to blame, she accepts this as her norm

by Michael Perry

I AM A CHILD OF THE CITY

i am a child  of the city, tough as nails, who plays a part
hoping each day, no harm no foul, will come to me
some days are good while others are more than bad
you may have pity for some have none for me- i still believe

i am a child of the innocent heart, striving to be diligent
made out of tougher skin, a survivor, cavalier is a role i choose
my hopes carved out of make believe, the world is a video game
with me a player; fighting bad guys, some days I win, others I lose

i am a child who will always tell you the  truth - see it like it is
listen up, let me make it clear, plain as i can, i am telling you
it will take more than faith, wise beyond my years, doing
what i can, to get by, anything to hold on; make it through

i am a child under siege who realizes this is bigger than me
it is not easy to get away, break free, each day feeling more dread
hard to navigate- the in's and out's of my concrete confines, get by
i am a child  of the city, who lives day to day hanging by a thread

by Michael Perry

NEW YEARS EVE; A CONSEQUENCE

hurry quick, last day of the year
before the clock strikes twelve
say all that needs to be said before;

just a couple hours before
two lovers in a previous life
reconnect, over drinks, at
a familiar bar, soft light, warm fires
burning, intimate, beginnings of
a new beginning, they talked
as if, time never left, they held hands
where would this lead, into each
others eyes, they would look, capturing
that spark once lit

they decided to walk down town
capture the activities there, ring in the new year
as  they walked arm and arm, they were caught
off guard by a stranger brandishing a gun-he demanded
all their money, he refused, as the stranger gave a
warning, he still refused, a shot rang out, he collapsed
to the ground, as the stranger ran into the dark
she knelt by his side, where she wept in silence, there was
nobody coming, his last words to her, "if i had only known"
as the snow began to fall now in heavy wet feathered flakes
ready to cover up; a failed crime scene; now, fade to black

by Michael Perry

A MOMENTS PEACE, A CITY WAKES

before the day starts to unfold, still young
and within a moments peace until then
from my vantage point, up high, the 32nd floor
all the inhabitants below form  a different
kind point of view, heads down, the city wakes
with it's own perspective, the industrious ideas
ready to be made, and so do the pedestrians
they as little ants, cross ready to jay walk- no hesitation
they listen to their own inner voices no one else can hear
just as a  close call comes within inches-a yellow cab
jumps the curb, just missing two or three of the little ants
trying to cross, the cabs headlights trail-zigzag, turn, disappear
wanting to make a statement, made loud and clear
one long lasting horn blast that echoes in and out
of this cavernous canyon, made of cement and steel
all the dreams, the nightmares, the possibilities, ready
to unfold and so it begins, a city hums, it breathes life  


By Michael Perry

WATER IS LIFE

for me water is life
i am a child of the water
born in January, an Aquarius
i am like a fish, with gills
for lungs, kept under the water
i live and breathe, thrive
but if i am kept from, taken away
made to lose the source, all but keeps me alive,
the essential essence of all that I know
i will suffocate, unable to
survive, die

by Michael Perry

BREAK APART SCENE

i remember
reaching out, one day, to
your side of the bed, cold, unslept
that morning, the distance
was wide, between us
a chasm, self- created, too hard
to overlook, climb
the sound of silence
remained between us; detached
no code word, to interrupt, or save
for this was happening in real time
between us, a break apart scene

by Michael Perry

HAIKU in Three Takes

happening the snow
falling as white innocence
we have come to know

still there was no sun
if just one time, a little
is better than none  

rain begins to fall
we will not worry ourselves
till one cries then what    

by Michael Perry

THREE BROTHERS WITHOUT A BUCK

it was still mostly dark, with a crimson stripe
of the horizon, as my brothers and i trudged
into the thickets, ice snow chunks, crunched
under our boots as we tried to be quiet with every step
we felt our prey was close, a prized buck, we've
been hunting him for years without luck, when we spied
him a few years back and we said with each year
passing maybe this one, man against nature, as we wondered
who would win, yet each year, we came up empty-handed
so this year, we felt like luck was on our side, no reason why
it just was, so as we walked into the woods pushing branches
from this side to that, we pushed on, it was a couple hours now
as the sun fully rose, we still hadn't spotted him, we were
about to give up when my brother up head went shoosh so
we froze, both from the cold and the moment at hand, stock still
when a branch moved, it wasn't a branch,  it was him, the
prized buck slowly moving from side to side, it probably knew we were watching still it played along, none of us breathed except for the condensation  coming from all our all noses, in and out- it became a stand still none of us moved, neither man nor animal- it was a moment or possibly more as we stood that way- when the three of us took a step forward, one of us, which one, stepped on a dead tree branch that went  snap, as the three of us looked at each other in disbelief, not again, the  buck leapt forward over  a dead tree trunk and like that was gone, as we headed back to the car, no one placed blamed, we  were quiet each thinking what story we would use to explain why- as we all wondered to ourselves,  why we do this to ourselves year after year willing to leave our warm beds for  the chance to stand in the freezing cold, we created our
story of an animal made out of folk-lore status that grew from year to year

by Michael Perry

NO ORDINARY YEAR

usually a year
comes and goes
without nary a blink
we never recognize
the coming or the going
as it passes into time
still we know this year
will remain in infamy  
for all that we disdain
holding it against itself
we wont even say good bye
we will only say good riddance

by Michael Perry

TAKING A WALK

in the city visiting  to take my mind off things
for a just little while, so i thought maybe taking a walk
would be enough to clear my head, on this day somehow  
i took a wrong turn veering off  the usual walkabout
it was early spring, with no coat  still i felt confident
as i looked to recognize  a landmark or two, i was
sweating bullets, soaking through my tee-shirt
as a little voice said stay calm, while i clearly was
not- crossing over into a state of panic, it was mid-day
with time on my side-still i   could not figure out how
i had  made such a mistake to lead me this far a stray
by now i had walked for quite a while, feeling parched
i wanted something to drink, so i looked around, the
neighborhood was typical, close together , lots of two stories
with front facing porches, i sat down at the nearest one
hoping no one would mind, within a minute, my breathing slowed
my pulse beat a little less hard, then from out of nowhere, stood
a person over me and i looked up, to see, they were dressed
in a white robe, diaphanous see- through, like a cloud, i blinked
then they called me by my first name, i thought: who can this be?
the voice was reassuring and put me at ease, they said you walk so fast you need to slow down, i asked why? because they said there is no rush you are already home- i was confused, my mind  began to swim-while up ahead- i saw a commotion with lots of people gathered around milling about  i stood up from where i was sitting, i decided to walk over there -i heard people say- he never saw the car - he must have  been confused, to walk  right in front of it, as i looked over i saw someone lying in the street who looked like me, as if i was sleeping  but  surely that cannot be  as i was standing right here, and the people continued to walk right by me as if  i was not even there, someone else said - such a shame he was not from around here, no one here recognizes him- soon i heard the sirens  and  the crowds started to stir  then break a part a little more in order to let the officers in- they started asking questions
while, taking down notes, then i felt  a soft tap on my shoulder, it
was the stranger asking me  if i was  ready, i began to feel calm, reassured as the surrounding voices  waned, we turned around to  walk back the way i had come, thinking i was lost, turns out i wasn't at all, and with each step i took, I felt myself, grow strong becoming more alive, if that was possible to feel ten or more years younger too

by Michael Perry

WAITING FOR MY BREAK

you in the morning, sleepy still
there in your eyes, i give you a moment
prepare your coffee, black with lots of cream
we don't speak, just sit, the moment
is a moment, already passing us by
so just not yet, i wait, i can always tell
even after all these years, you were
never an early riser i was, the one
who was up before dawn, writing my
greatest hits, waiting for that big break
still, the years have come and gone
it was never meant to be so it turned into
something i did for fun, as i sit at my
writing desk-throwing out ideas, she says
to me, you always make the best cup of coffee

By Michael Perry

DREAMERS

all of my life
i never questioned your intentions
i believed in you, without hesitation
you always beckoned; like a beacon
calling me, to this home, my home, i only know
i was brought here, wanting to be just like you
to yearn for be a part of; be considered a native son
if only you would recognize me as so- with
your eyes on me, i only want to be welcomed for real
and the safe harbor, that only you can provide
with no judgement from you, i would take this journey
work for, fight for, die for, i have made the sacrifice  

by Michael Perry

A CAREGIVERS PRAYER

the lines from my face explain
all the loss each  time  and place, as i
step forward and face it head on, my story
is your story, each in our own way, made of
strength and endurance, beyond the pale, some say
we are brave, still i am scared, we do not ask for much
we just do our part, without complaint least of all, we
will never let you down, so don't let us down our
lives are intertwined, in this moment so close;  as we
all make ready to contemplate what the coming year
will bring, so i pray for a little respite from all that
we've been through, that is not a lot to ask for now, is it?

by Michael Perry

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS 2020

SOMETHINGS NEVER CHANGE

version 1:

you didn't ask me but i
will tell you anyways, i am
not a big fan of holidays
everyone trying to pull off
a good mood for just one day
seeming to fake their way through it
until next morning, with eyes half open
groggy from too much eggnog, rise and shine
as they wake up on the wrong side of the bed

by Michael Perry

SOMETHINGS HAVE CHANGED
version 2:

it seems every year
except maybe this year
as we all gathered once in person
now it will be on zoom, ready
to laugh and spread good cheer
we wish each other our prayers and more
for the coming year, still let us not
forget the hundred's of thousands of
family members who paid the price and won't

by Michael Perry

ONE THING WILL NEVER CHANGE
version 3:

there was a star, oh how it shined
ready to bring together humanity
huddled in the cold, there was
a humble family, Father, Mother
baby son, who sought their refuge
surrounded by farm animals, and
three visitors bearing gifts, coming
from faraway, they came there to pay
their respects to a little baby whose
life story lives, destined to be foretold

by Michael Perry

BEEN THERE (anthem for those feeling love-challenged)

we all tell ourselves
once maybe twice, been there
each time-ready
to take it to the tide, we say
love at first sight, making us two of a kind
out of every bad relationship
we will overcome, love is
like a mystery not defined, our hands to the fire

we say we tried it
as we gaze into a crystal ball
looking for that person, hoping
someone will look back, the point being
we know,  we knew better, still
there will be
no visions of happily ever after

each time it may
feel like a sermon being preached
over and over, we know
the emotion, still
love comes at a cost, hard to hold
out of reach, coming up empty handed

why is it
some of us find it difficult
to overcome the stigma, of being single
when love, comes and goes
playing elusive, with our hearts, still
the battle is hard fought, i understand
been there myself, so persevere
someone is waiting, looking to be found

By Michael Perry

THE LOVERS

as the lover whispers his
love for her, she yields to the
loving intent, between them passes
the desired effect, delivered; received

by Michael Perry

THIS MOMENT IN TIME

next time you
step outside at night, look up
into the infinite sky to see
hundreds of thousands of stars
as they twinkle and burn endlessly
each and every night, a constant reminder
then step out on a night, when all
the stars fail to shine, disappeared, just not the same
what happened to them all
where did they go, that's how, i am
feeling right about now in this moment in time

by Michael Perry

ETERNAL OPTIMIST

wish it true

make it happen

know that i can  

no doubt about it

will i, for sure, just ask me

yes indeed, i'd be happy

make lemonade from lemons

ever more to be call me,  the eternal optimist

by Michael Perry

A SIMPLE MOMENT

to be an observer of a day, a simple moment
it takes time, as i stand still; frozen
on this morning, it's so cold, i can  see
my breath, easily formed, why am i here?
i am drawn to moments, made aware
like a snap shot if you will, of life captured
as it happens, so I am waiting, tucked here
behind a river birch, denude, devoid of
skin-peeled  away by the weather and time
last night i laid out corn cobs and apple cores
in this pursuit, knowing that this morning
would be just right, the light was beginning
to form, a purple delight, with a slice of orange sun
peeking through, as my anticipation was building
i heard a rustling sound in front of me, as three
deer made their cautious approach, a doe, a buck
and a fawn, making their way through the clearing
as they came to the opening of where I placed the food
i watched the three circle around sniffing to be sure if it
was safe, then the buck let the doe and fawn feed first
while the buck kept watch, they stayed aware
until all three ate, then they silently disappeared from view
i kept my distance, no need to approach, my soul was satisfied

by Michael Perry

EYES OPEN-CLOSED

its the middle of the night
my eyes are open, i fight it
hoping sleep will come, at some point
by then, morning peeks through
as the curtains let through light
another day begins, how do i get
through it all, with my eyes closed

by Michael Perry

A CAUTIONARY CHRISTMAS TALE
              
once there was a naughty little  boy
who knew no better, his right from wrong
always naughty instead of nice, not trying
he was unaware that his world would be
turned upside down, thinking last year a fluke
he paid no care ignoring his elders, he laughed
at the old baker man and his wife- who wagged
their finger each time he entered their store
they reiterated-be good or else-and as before
the naughty little boy promptly disregarded them
like every one else-always turning his back
slamming the door paying no heed, ready to ignore
as the clock ticked down- ready for Christmas Eve
the town went to sleep, all quiet, covered in new snow
the naughty little boy slept peacefully without care
having no visions of sugar plums, never to dance in his head
while his mother and father were downstairs
preparing the holiday feast- once done, they retired
to bed too,  then as the light of dawn came up
it was Christmas morning-from house to house
went the jolly old elf , he, himself and his reindeer of eight
arrived on the naughty little boys roof,  The elf paused
ready to check his list, just to be sure thinking to himself
maybe this time, but  there at the top of the list again
was the naughty little boy's name like the year before so
as the jolly elf stood silent shaking his head, ready to
cry- he silently removed a burlap bag from the back of his sleigh
it was filled to the brim with 365 lumps of coal; the sack was for
only the naughtiest of little boys- it was covered with soot- which
he placed under the tree, pinning it with a note, that the man in
the red suit wrote, he left it for the boy, personally; as the sun
rose on this special day, the naughty little boy woke up on
this Christmas morning, he went downstairs- where he  blinked
once, twice, while reading the note Santa left for him, the boy
looked up from the letter no reaction could have been more
timely -with one single tear making it's way down his cheek- he
realized that Santa meant what he said- in part, he wrote
"I know deep down and truly believe in my heart your a good boy
I hate bringing you lumps of coal, so maybe just try a
little harder and next year I will be back with presents, instead
of a sack of coal, so think twice be nice instead of naughty "

Santa Claus

By Michael Perry

A CHRISTMAS LETTER TO A SON VERY FAR AWAY

My Dearest Son,      
  
as I start writing this letter to you, watching the embers in the fireplace adding a special glow, it's that time of year, the snow has finally begun to fall, the days are getting shorter and colder, i am sure you remember, how are you adjusting to the heat over there ?
still and all, this time of year makes me reminisce; when you were small, eager for Christmas, you remember? the anticipation grew and grew each day as we got closer to Christmas, I can still see the twinkle in your eyes on Christmas morning, my dear son I miss you so much,  wish i could make the year go a little faster, i am sure you do too, the towns the same, nothing ever changes, they paved main street and added a couple more stop lights, you'll get used to it i am sure, dad's already had a couple close calls, but you know him, he never blinks, he never thinks, willful, doing it his way
but I can tell he misses you, he doesn't show it, he worries in silence, that's how he copes, trying to be strong for us both, but i see it in his eyes, eager to know about you, every time we get a letter- and your little brother has done his best, to help around the farm, trying to fill your shoes, he misses you too
the neighbors and friends stop by, all of them wishing you love and Godspeed as they keep you in their prayers, we put up the Christmas tree the other day with ornaments, n' lights , not the Christmas star for the top, that was yours to do, so we left it off this year, no one else will add it except you, although your brother did ask
it breaks my heart; your not here, our first Christmas apart, my wish for you is that God will keep you safe and strong until the day we are together, we put a package in the mail, little reminders of home, for you and your friends
hoping it brings you closer to us in some small way until the day you are back , know you are cherished, we are so proud of you,  not a day goes by, your always in our thoughts, write back soon, when you can- I have to get dinner ready, your place at the table will remain here waiting; until you are once again sitting across from us, we hope and pray real soon.

hugs and kisses xoxo

Love Mom

by Michael Perry

HAIKU POEM  (pandemic fatigue still we must carry on- not give up)



darkness to the light
better days will be here soon
wear a mask for love

by Michael Perry

I SHALL NOT WRITE AGAIN

i shall not  write again, i can hear
myself say, is this the end
when the words fail to materialize
on any page, i am angry with myself
sad withdrawn, what  is happening to me
there used to be a day when, i would
literally see words write themselves, and
now nothing, what am i to make of it
i am beginning to feel spooked, i have heard of
times like this, but not expecting it for myself so
as i sit here wondering what is next for me- i hear
in the other room, the clock on the wall tick tock away
and so i smoke on and on endlessly, trying to cope
all of which creates an unhealthy haze surrounding me
beads of sweat gather at my brow, i can see for myself
this is real as i bear witness to a blank lifeless empty page

by Michael Perry