some poems from me
grinner
If the tears that fall are happy,
by all means, let them wash.
When love or laughter is spread or shown,
let us stop and watch.
The biggest picture is the hardest to see
as we live within the frame.
Try to step away from the canvas
for a different perspective each day.
Some things will seem much more grand.
Some will now seem small.
Things that once seemed to dominate,
you may not see at all.
Look from every angle
and if you should spot a frown,
feel free to take down this life's painting
and hang it upside down.
grin '00
Emulation
The cozy coup and tricycle have both gone many miles.
Their pilots are a Star and a Moon
wearing angelic smiles.
Kisses are blown before they depart
to start their busy day.
I sit acknowledging what can be learned
watching my children play.
"Off to work!" my moony says,
"Peace and Love." Says Tera Star.
They hug and kiss at least three times
before he gets in his car.
To the sidewalk's end and back again,
he's welcomed with open arms.
"Man, I'm tired". "Well come on in
and eat while supper's warm".
grin '00
Life's To-Do List
(in 111 words or less)
Walk among the knowing ones
Travel vast and far
Touch the satin sheets of love
Move mountains, counting stars
Wake to smiles and sleep to songs
Put laughter in your heart
Keep warm on the coldest night
Knowing endings are a start
Forgive the ones who've wronged you
Stand when push comes to shove
Hug someone you don't even know
Cry with someone you love
Sing with strangers, laugh with friends
Skip rocks on each stream you see
Sail un-chartered waters
And dive into the sea
Hear the words of the young and old
Preferably in the same day
Ask directions, should you get lost
Then show someone else the way
grin '02
A Dove's Words
I went about my duties of the day but I did them feeling watched.
At the end of the day I looked around and saw a bird perched on a rock.
This bird had been watching me and learning throughout the day.
He allowed me to learn something from him before he flew away.
"I've watched from afar for some time now and still don't understand your
kind.
My buddies watch the things you do too and often ask me why.
I can't answer. I don't know myself. Maybe you could shed some light.
Why are you people so bad to each other and everything else in sight?
I understand survival of the fittest. I can appreciate making ends meet.
But you people are now killing for fun. It's no longer just for the meat.
You raise your young with good intentions but teach more with the things you
do.
All the bad things you've done in your life, most likely your child will do
too."
I'm not a critic or a counselor. I'm a symbol of Peace that's cursed.
I'd love to share more but I must go for today is September the first.*"
The dove flew away with a lesson sinking in long before he landed.
The greatest gifts given in life are the easiest to take for granted.
grin '96
· September 1st begins dove season every year.
Dawn
The air is cold and still. IN the distance, I can hear a bird. The sun is
just east. I lay on my back, hands folded behind my head. My feet play with
each other as I breathe last night's last breath. My back is a bit cool
because the grass is a bit damp. It was a pretty night and it looks like a
pretty day. I wonder, as I lay here, what today will bring. What will
happen? What will I do? How many times will I laugh? Will I achieve goals?
Will I disappoint myself? I hope I can teach someone something and I hope I
learn something. I hope everyone makes it to work and school safely. I
nobody wants to hurt anybody. I hope my mother has a good day. The 6a.m.
news is full of information but I find the rising sun, itself sheds more.
Some mornings it's very cold outside. Some mornings it's wet. Some mornings
the wind blows so hard it blows the neighbor's trash across the street. But
today. today the air is warm and still. The highest clouds are orange and
the treetops sway back and forth as if listening to a sing-along. I see the
neighborhood cat pounce on fallen leaves. I vaguely still see the moon. The
paperboy was whistling. Windows light up one by one. I see silhouettes
rustling about. They just have to make that appointment. Slow down, all you
window dancers and smell what keeps you fueled. Go lay outside like when you
were ten and a friend was spending the night. Our stage is set daily with
the mood that we call dawn. If ever you need refreshing please.
go lay on your lawn.
grin '95
Floating
I rode down a river
In a heavy downpour
I didn't have a sail
And I didn't have an oar
I floated to find
Where life would carry me
It turned me every which way
Then cast me into the sea
By night, I watched the stars
And made pictures with clouds by day
Nourished by sheer anxiety
Propelled by waves of fate
Having no destination
Keeps me not in a hurry
Just soaking in the beauty
Of a most uncertain journey
grin '98
Empty Chair
There sat an old man in a withered rocking chair
In faded over-alls and silver wind-blown hair.
I heard with age comes wisdom. From afar, I could tell he was nice
So I walked over, stuck out my hand and asked him for advice.
He said there's no secret to life, no mystery to unfold
But if you never chase a rainbow, you'll never get the gold.
I thought about what he said as I smiled and walked away
And an inner glow of happiness was with me the rest of the day.
Later that day, as I strolled along something caught my eye-
A beautiful spectrum of color stretching across the sky.
I ran to where it ended and stood there with a stare.
The same place the old man sat was now an empty chair.
grin '98
Route 2 Box 99N
When I was a still a boy, I had a special friend.
His name was Mr. Jackson at Route 2 Box 99N.
I'd go on my bigwheel to go get eggs from him.
Sometimes he'd give me candy and the next day, I'd go again.
Back and forth, day by day, I looked forward to being sent
So I could see my old partner at Route 2 Box 99N.
I'm a string believer of angels here on earth
Be it to protect or coax, or just to ease the hurt.
Look back on your life at people you've met and think of still today
Old neighbors, school teachers or a passer-by one day.
These are all you angels sent to protect their friends
I met a gray-haired angel . at Route 2 Box 99N.
grin '91
I've talked with Angels
When driving one night, an angel once showed
He didn't have wings and wore no halo
Rather, he pushed a basket and tried to sell my flowers
I gave the man a ride and we sat and talked for hours
He smelt of perspiration mixed with 80 proof
He spat out a rolled down window as sleet pelted on the roof
His cataract eyes showed a soul full of love as he quoted scriptures from
psalms
He left with me a very warm heart and a truckload of flowers for mom
grin '98
Tree Talks
The fog is so dense, it's like rain standing still
It's so quite, it's loud from the treetops dripping
The ground is soft and cold. The mud has a blanket of leaves
I had forgotten one can actually smell leaves
I run my hand across the trunk of the tree and remember how soft it is when
it's wet
I carve my initials with only my thumbnail
I look up at the oak standing like a God, reaching proud in every direction
Tiny droplets fall in slow motion toward me then bend away at the last
moment
The trees tower above, holding on to one another
Every tiny move I make is amplified
Long before me and after me this tree stands
I listen.
grin '97
Soakin' in Heaven
The land was broad as my wondering mind
The wind was heard, not seen
My arms reached out to nothing
And I felt them touch everything
The world and I spoke and the world and I heard
Exchanging known secrets without saying a word
As questions paused, answers surfaced
Weaving my soul with the wind
One way shadows in a constant loop
Are on their way to mend
I stretch to heaven and feel it's warmth
I hold by breath and breathe
Warm tears turn cold and dry away
As cold breath turns to breeze
grin '96
Make 'em Proud
Standing at the batter's box with white knuckles and closed eyes,
Praying not to disappoint the coach and hoping to please the guys.
The crowd is hushed. The pitch is thrown. He holds his breath and swings
But he hits nothing but air this time and hears the umpire scream
"Strike one!", the ump exclaims. The catcher says "easy out!"
He looks for assurance from his dad who's standing by the dugout.
He taps the plate with the tip of his bat. He spits 'cause they do in the
pros.
Once again, the whole world stops as the second pitch is thrown.
"A swing and a miss!" comes from the press box and is heard all over the
crowd.
With a lump in his throat, he prays once again, "Please let me make 'em
proud."
He hears the advice coming from his dad
the same stuff he's heard for years.
He smiles and nods and tries not to look scared as he fights to hold back
the tears.
He grits his teeth as the pitcher winds up and again he hears the hushed
crowd
But you see it doesn't matter if he hits the ball or not. He's already made
'em proud.
grin '96
The Wisest Man
I sat and spoke with the wisest man.
He shared insight, opinion and charm.
He sees and teaches from a different perspective
as he knows no hatred or harm.
He loves unconditionally, soaks in everything,
His curiosity is contagious.
His views on life are simple and true.
To most, they seem outrageous.
He told me today, the secret to life
Is only to smile and live.
He then pointed out the writings are true:
To receive, we first must give.
He'll spread joy and love in his gentle way
And he'll grow up way too soon.
Thank for the teachings, son.
Good night, Tanner Moon.
grin '99
Now
Just to be here now, just to stare at the trees,
I've read and dreamt of moments like these.
A whole-heart appreciation for life and present time.
Sounds of whispering winds and smells on honeysuckle vine.
Only described as victory, this beauty I recognize.
'Till now I've only remembered it and now stand hypnotized.
Soak in the now instead of missing the past.
It's the secret to serenity, as now will never last.
grin '98
- a Sunday morning on my back deck in Goodlettsville, TN.
The Treecave
A gravel road at midnight
The trees create a cave.
My footsteps sound like marching.
The trees, like breaths and waves.
I run in fast slow-motion
Into nothing else but black.
I could close my eyes to see the same
And never do I look back.
If only I can make it home
Where there, I know I'm safe.
I white-knuckle run for all I'm worth
And tell myself I'm brave.
At last, the treecave comes to an end.
It's now just an old dirt road.
I catch my breath and paw as I walk.
A pleasant evening walk home.
grin '98
-thinking back to growing up in Denison, TX
Family Song
I heard a voice, soft and sweet
Singing from afar.
I followed the voice and to my surprise,
Found my Tera Star.
She sang of gifts and happiness.
I listened, swelling with pride.
"Giving makes you happy", she sang
as I reached to hold her tight.
Moony hummed along
In a perfect backup key.
There we sat singing of giving,
My Tera, my Tanner and me.
Nan was in the tub
So I went to tell her the news.
There she laid, having her bath
Humming the exact same tune.
grin '99
-This was pre-Taylor or of course, he'd be in that mix. Rainbow Fish
deserves credit for the lyrics.
untitled
He wrote a poem, sittin' against a tree without a thought in his head.
He wanted to write of great intellect but it came from the heart instead.
Wisdom, experience and philosophy seemed not as important for a while.
While holding up a tree with a pencil in his hand, he slowly started to
smile.
He wrote of puppies and spring and shadows from trees, love, laughter and
song,
Pretty girls, buddies, baseball games and rain that doesn't last long,
The ice cream man on a hot summer day, birds that will eat out of your hand.
He wrote os strolls in the sunset on a golden beach and building castles in
it's sand,
A good long hug, lady bugs and the first time he climbed a tree.
Without a thought in his head, these thoughts came to me.
grin '97
My favorite things
Hearing kids laugh as they play outside,
the 'will she kiss me' feeling at the end of a date,
getting to ride the new roller coaster
without even having to wait,
the open invitation to eat my desert first,
putting socks on just out of the dryer,
hearing rain fall the first thing in the morning,
holding Nancy in front of a fire,
the ability to make an infant laugh,
cheeseburgers three times a week,
a mint condition '33 coupe,
margaritas on a white-sanded beach,
going to work in a t-shirt and shorts,
the day off wearing nothing at all,
Little Rascal reruns on Saturday morning,
watching Dad coach baseball,
getting backrubs for thirty minutes or more,
rubbing a puppy dog's head,
thinking I gotta get up early tomorrow
and getting to sleep in instead,
the finer things in life like instant coffee
and central heat and air,
those little PEZ candies at the check out line,
corny dogs at the state fair,
driving cross-country with the window down,
songs like "Leader of the Band",
Taylor's kisses for no reason at all,
and holding Granny's hand,
Tanner's smiles, Tera's winks,
a fixed up VW Bus,
films that make me both laugh and cry,
being woken with a hug,
the thought of many more years
makes my heart dance and sing.
Because of these, I can't wait for tomorrow,
for these are my favorite things.