checking for a pulse...

yesterday
you were sad.
Is that
still true
today?

Sometimes
once in a while
now and then
off and on.

What do you call it...

 

"And when nobody wakes you up in the morning,

and when nobody waits for you at night, 

and when you can do whatever you want.

What do you call it, Freedom or loneliness?" 

Charles Bukowski

 

 

What does it take?...

Not hated. Not even disliked.
Just not loved enough
to spend a lifetime
every day forever.
Not expecting more because
it simply isn't there.
Caress whatever is had
then put it back
on the shelf for later.
Dust it off once in a while,
smile,
and tuck it in for the night.

 

It's too friggin' hot to think...

And, now, we're getting air quality warnings because
Canada is on fire and the smoke is on its way to Ohio
and Michigan. Like soon. Today. And, it's extra crappy
smoke that we are supposed to avoid by staying inside.
That's great for those who have a/c. We do not.

I want summer to go away.

Saying good-bye can take a long time...

close your eyes,
think of me.

when does 
the missing
go away? 

Albert Camus-who you live with...

 

Reveal...

what poems do
is tell about 
you.
the you
who writes.
the you
who reads.
like it or not
we see
who you are.
like it
or not.

Haiku for you...

summer swelter is 
heavy on the leaves, almost
as if raindrops fell.                

sweet peonies fill
my eyes with beautiful pink 
feathers of petals.

the sun is shining
somewhere every day. Be glad
when it blesses you.

Love letters...

Your name is Love.
my Love,
don't die before me.
that's selfish, I know.
but I don't want to miss you
before I go.

********************

I can feel you breathe
from far away.
It's all I need
to know you are
with me. 

 

Afternoon on a Hill...

I will be the gladdest thing
   Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
   And not pick one.

I will look at cliffs and clouds
   With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
    And the grass rise.

And when lights begin to show
    Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
    And then start down! 

Edna St. Vincent Millay 

 

 

 

found at https://tail-feathers.tumblr.com/

Where did the time go?...

 

I know a guy...

 

Miserably, terribly, suffocatingly hot...

 

Are you crying 
or sweating
silly human?
Get up and
open my tuna.

Your future needs you...

 

Some
anonymous
somebodies
may have
already said
"it" better than
the rest of us
who've been
trying to be
the next
brilliant
someone to
amaze us all.

Advice from Jack London...

 https://thehammockpapers.blogspot.com/2026/06/keep.html

Via the generous mind of Rob F.  

Selective understanding...

pick and choose
easy, hard
here, gone
today, yesterday
loud, quiet
solo, with
mine, yours
give, take
growing, old
build, destroy
disrupt, contribute
satisfied, not
begin, end
tomorrow

Just because...

 

Be your
own kind
of
beautiful.

Make a liar outta me...

I say
you don't love
me.
I say
it doesn't matter. 
not
now or ever.

 

 

Gesundheit...

may you continue
getting older
wiser
happier.
content
in yourself
who you know
where you are
why you are.

 

wise words...

"Don't let your struggle become your identity."   Unknown

 
 

rumble and flash...

 

thunder growls
in between blinding sheets
of lightning.
they tussle with
each other to see
which one will
get the last word
this time.
Rumble me timbers,
matey!

It seems...

time goes faster
every year.
Is it trying
to catch up
to make up
for lost time?
Wouldn't it be
better
to have time stand still?
Take a breather.
Look around.
Gather itself
to ponder the moment.
Who's in charge
of the current process?
Let's set up a committee.
Can we take a vote?

 

Since you said "Please"...

 

 

*do you know what I like about you?*

**I can't imagine.**

*Everything.*  

From Urge to Create (on my sidebar)...

 

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch 1853-1890), Cypresses, 1889, Oil on canvas - “It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.” Vincent Van Gogh

K.I.S.S. ...

write
the way you speak.
makes sense
don't you think?
writers
want readers
to understand
not have to guess
what's
being said.
speak clearly
the first time
then there's
no need to repeat. explain. define. stammer.
or wonder.

Keep it simple, sweetheart.

ripe old age...

there are times
when remembering
the few fine yesterdays
makes me smile
because they were. 

gimme a reason...

 

 

A little levity, please...

 

 

New American Digest is kind enough to post some of my "stuff"
sometimes. Today DT picked one of my own favorites. Go see.

 

Let me look...

sit still now
so I can
memorize
your beautiful
handsome face.
then I can
see you
even when
you're not here.
for a moment,
It'll feel like
you never left.

Good-bye May...

 Very soon June.

She would've
liked today.
Sunshine
Baseball
I miss her every day
but even more
on days like this.
Hope she's with us
somehow
and knows.

Oh, yeah?

.
.
.                     
if                   >>>me.
it                  ^     maybe.
were             ^
simple          ^
everyone      ^ 
would           ^
do                 ^              
it                   ^
better           ^  
than              ^
you                ^
or                   ^
maybe>>>>>  ^                                            

 

You may be the world...

 

don't stop
loving
yourself.
that
has to be
first.

If only...

                you don't
                have to be loved
                to know how love feels.
however, I imagine
                that would
                make it even nicer
                sweeter softer
                warmer better
                real.
however, I wouldn't
                know.  
               

 

The Hammock Papers gets wordy...

 Steal time...

Rob should be in charge of teaching everyone everywhere. 

Talking to myself...

Why does life have to be so sucky sometimes?

It isn't.
It's your imagination.
Stop whining.

Oh.
Okay.
I feel better.
Thanks.

(Stupider and stupider.)  

Enough about me...

 

Hoity-Toity...

I could not be
more a lady
if I fucking tried.

and so it was...

you look like
the one I used to love.
the one who used to love me.
I miss it
the way it was.

 

I stole a piece of art...

Well, actually, I grabbed it from the Hammock Papers.
One of my favorite blogs...linked on the sidebar to the right.
Rob Firchau is a very cool 5th grade teacher. You should
visit his blog several times a day like I do.

That's after I visit New American Digest, also on the right.
DT runs the place and always keeps it interesting with a
variety of topics. Sometimes, he even posts things I write. 

Go visit. Be amused. Be impressed.

 

Step by step...

Put your hands on her cheeks - gently.
Do not pull her toward you.
Lean to her - slowly.
Hover your mouth just a hair's breadth
over her lips. Look in her eyes.
Kiss her lips - lightly, briefly.
Pull back - gently.
Open your mouth - slightly.
Lick her lips one side to the other - lightly.
Slowly move one hand down to her waist.
Bring her body closer until you meld together.
Tease her lips with your thumb then
move that hand to the back of her head.
Now it's time for a full kiss that lingers.
A bit of tongue to tongue. Linger more.

When you get it right - come see me.

 

Chuckle...

I'm ready for some humor
in my life.
Let's be funny
once in a while.
You can laugh at me.
That'll make me smile.
I often think
I'm clever.
'tisn't always the case.

 

Nothing...

Did you ever
want everything
to go away
except yourself?
Me, too.
Being in the
middle of nothing,
waiting for
something
to rescue you.
From what?
From nothing.

1, 2, 3...

there's a 
rhythm
in the words
waiting
to be found
and
read aloud.

 

I think I overdid the ears just a tad...

 

it was fun
when I did it.

Happy May 1st! 

Positive people...

 

Blink...

Did you ever
look in the
mirror
and wish
you hadn't?
that's a regret
that won't
go away.
Deliver us
from ugly
(hangovers).

Questions...

Do you pray?
Why? and to what?
Do you get answers?
Did someone teach you
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned...?
it's been a long time
since my last confession.
Do you feel better after Amen?

I thought about joining a convent
until I read "The Nun's Story".
That's when I started asking questions.
I was 10. 

 

Kaizen...

 

Nip 'n tuck...

it's like
stealing something
that can't be held
in the hand.
only in memory
in the heart.

Whyizzit?...

Do you care
what I do,
how I do it,
why I do?
Or, is it only
what you see,
what your brain
reads and
translates. interprets.
Read it again
tomorrow
or next week.
Is it different,
did it change
from the first time?
Why?
Why not?
What happened
to you
in between?

  

they're saying it will rain today...

 

the flowers
will be glad.
leaves will get
un-dusty.

Well, let's see...

if I had a brain
where would it be?
does not appear
to be here with me.

Which time (is this)?...

I don't think
there's any way
to know for sure.
It's mostly
how strong you
choose to believe
that there was
a time before
this time
and we were there.

John Wayne said...

 "Life is tough. It's tougher
  if you're stupid."

 

tic, tic, tic...

Almost
doesn't count
Close
but not quite
Still
out of reach
Time
doesn't wait
Blink
and it's gone

 

 

Hands...

 

Easter bunny...

 

Gift cards are wonderful things...

As much as I love this bag, I would not have
spent $24.95 on myself. But, my sister Ann
gave me a gift card for christmas. So, I did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Oakley. 

Maybe...

Have you noticed
it's all trial
and error
this life.
Take a guess
hope for the best
'cause there are
no guarantees
no promises.
but a lot of
wish I would've.
good luck
with all that.
better luck
next time.

mm mmm...

the appetizer
was quite delish.

I want to be
your dessert. 

 

William Morris...

 

First class or coach...

How long
does it take
to get to heaven?

do you wait
for a bus with
a layover in Purgatory? 

Unashamedly stolen from The Hammock Papers...

Flannery O'Connor,
self portrait 1953
                                      












"Accepting oneself does not
preclude an attempt to
become better."                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

So you say...

You're weird.

                      You're not the first person to notice.

Fond memory of Florida...

 

dolphin sculpture
Paul Baliker, 
Ormond Library,
2011

Happy bear...

 

Dead and Dying...

saved a flower from the funeral. 
It's dry and crumbling now.
nothing lasts always.
Forever is a dream.