Trying to be a good person…

Trying to be a good person…

selective focus photo of pink flowering tree
Photo by Isaac Pollock on Pexels.com

Not sure if there is such a thing.  I am trying though for what it is worth.  I think deep down (or not really at depth) we all know what we should do but we actually do moment to moment varies.  If everyone moved in a certain way the world would surely be better… but is that the way everyone thinks? or stops to think? or should think ?  Sometimes I look around and think everyone here is dead, more or less true.. so what does it matter?  I guess I am searching for the answers also.  Smarter and wiser people than I have pondered these questions and will… for ages.  Maybe words are my sanctuary or at least a temporary refuge.


“unfamiliar” 4/1/18

I saw a creek I do not know

I have driven this stretch

of the parkway

a thousand fold

a body of water

a basin of life

flows into a forge

becomes a river

and the sea

begins

off mile-marker 131b


dmk Note: Mile markers or more specifically exits on the garden state parkway (GSP) are a very new jersey thing. For us there is a common occurrence “hey, where are you from? what exit?”.  I do not claim to know if other states are like this.  The GSP runs like a spine and in a way is the spine of the state from tip to toe or point to cape (as it were).. it is a part of being from this state as much as being New York’s little brother.


“easterly” 4/1/18

my neighbor’s easter chatter

in their backyard

a letter to another neighbor

washed up on my lawn

from these late spring storms

 

I return the lost parcel to the plastic mailbox

filled with mail already

how odd (for a sunday)

 

I’ve known this place

my whole life

familiar

 

a woman

walking her dog

whom I do not know

 

easter is letting out

as my neighbor’s family disperses

to travel to their homes

“goodbye grandma” a little voice

followed by the heightened whine

of the minivan pulling up the block

 

the sun is almost set now

peeking behind fifteen lynnwood

I guess I had not noticed

the buds on the trees

ready to burst and transform this tract

once and again

from pale green slumber

to lush with leaves

soon we’ll have summer

there is always hope

I tell myself.


“poison” 4/3/18

a toxic house is poisonous to all inhabitants

walls pulsing seething

membrane

throbbing beating

even in the calm still of night

labored – breathing

constant – pounding

never – sleeping

doors closed, air stifles

cripples motion

throats crack

strangles the air

choking choking


4/3/18

are you a wolf?

no

but yet you hunt

are you prey?

no

but yet you are stalked


As is my custom (and my burning desire to spread good tunes) here is some music to enjoy… “Steve Morse – Modoc” … known well in musical circles (one of my favorite guitar players) but outside those circles probably  not so much.

Bourbon…

Bourbon…

two clear high stemmed glasses
Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com

A truly American spirit.  I wanted to lighten the mood a bit today (lovely day in the northeast USA). So here is some amusing musings on Bourbon.  Why?  I recently scoped out a cool documentary about the drink: “Neat: The Story of Bourbon“.  Like a good documentary should you wind up having a good time and learning a thing or two.  So with that in mind here are some booze inspired numbers for your consumption (and mental inebriation). Live life, love life people.


 

6.7.18
Bourbon
makes great friends
but a poor alarm clock

6.8.18
Bourbon
straight and neat
and the while later
crooked crossed feet

6.8.18
Bourbon
screams and kicks
fiery
and down the hatch
time plays
one eye opens
who is this person in my bed?

6.8.18
Bourbon
straight and slick
burns the tongue
for only quick
tap on the shoulder
from you know who
temptation bout reach for more
but one more knock
you’re on the floor


Musical choice? OK… I’m going to be obvious here… “George Thorogood – One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (Live)”

Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated (unless I am in a foul mood… then all bets are off)

Suicide

Suicide

man in black dress shirt with blue denim shirt sitting on black concrete bench near green plants
Photo by Min An on Pexels.com

The universe has a way of sending words into my mind and then to my pen (quite literally I scrawl in journals I have stashed every which where).  The inspiration today is not so inspiring (Anthony Bourdain, a fellow New Jersey traveler).  Sure, we all will buy the farm at some point but somehow the prospect (and specter) of suicide deadens even a beautiful spring day.  Spring should be the time of blossoms not burial.


6.8.2018
suicide
the right to die
on your own time
but what about those
you leave behind

6.8.2018
springtime
for blossoms not burials
but for you my friend
you decided
this is the end
so hope at least
the peace you seek
is yours to grasp
to ever last

6.8.2018
demons in the rear view mirror
much closer
than they appear


Music… Boa “Rain”

Horses…

Horses…

two black horse on field
Photo by Jan Laugesen on Pexels.com

I really did not plan on posting this the day before the Belmont Stakes (really, I swear).  I wonder where inspiration really comes from.  Divine spark ? (as it were).  I have always sort of written poems in these veins… sort of like Ozymandias (one of the first poems I really remember striking me).  This is another work that is word for word (sans punctuation) exactly what I jotted down in an instance (inspiration – Divine Equine?).


 

“once a stallion” 3/28/2018

I was once a glorious Stallion.

thundering through fertile fields,

as carved in stone

from the Roman age

power , engraved

in a glance

my mere stance falls tall

cast of my shadow confidence upon

in the noon sun hour

glistening to behold.


DMK note: R.I.P. to Anthony Bourdain, I suppose we have all contemplated suicide but it still comes as a shock when we see someone who seemingly “has it all” go that way.  Take happiness where you can get it… and hold on to it… as long as you have breath you have hope.

music : My Dying Bride “For My Fallen Angel”

Love is…

Love is…

stone artwork
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

a puzzle, regret, joy, inspiration.  Many things. Today she is something I wish I could forget.


 

 

 

“untitled” 3/28/2018

the depth of sorrow

regret burrowing

cornered mole inside, churns

the helplessness

an infant cries in the void

 

waiting for the fade

but ever sharper

the thought,

a star dims I can no longer reach,

one second on social media

mine to reach

mine to display

to marvel

to joy!

 

to run and ruin in the depths

my life breathes

labored and arid

deprived of your air

 

I imagine my hand

cradled behind your hair

to embrace once more

the warmth

of your breast

holding close and closer closer

in sheer desperation

 

an apparition

cast adrift

on the vast

succumbs to the tide

I can no longer grasp

the prospect of land.


“holding you” 4/2/18

if I might hold you again

like a delicate orchid

pressed upon my skin

 

if I might dare your sweet embrace

like summer heat

held in soft summer sands

 

I fear I may never let you go

I fear I will never have the chance


here is a song that is timeless about a man and his love… John Denver “Annie’s Song” (live)

The lighter side…of

The lighter side…of

ferris wheel and ship
Photo by Ashley Elena on Pexels.com

As I am known to do sometimes I like to play the poetic fool.  Poems and words that are a bit lighter than my usual fare.  All doom and despair would make david a dull dull boy.

 


 

 

4/5/18

driving

a leaf hops across the street

like a jack rabbit

I hear a thump

that was not a leaf


“pond” 5/18/18

duck

duck

swan


5/31/18

the grindhouse

a coffee joint

or a strip club

only one has a drive thru

both can burn your lap


6/1/18

one legged man

with a plan

pep in your step

best foot forward

right or left


6/1/18

the tongue depressor

made me frown


music music, I hear music…  King’s X “Over My Head”

Strange things…

Strange things…

abandoned house lost old
Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com

’tis a strange thing having everything.  All you could ever want in the palm of your hand.  So easy to discern this many moons later.  So easy to mourn this that time should have faded.  The past is alluring, I will give it that. Some mistakes seem not forgiven.


 

“passing through” 3/20/18
a phantom

a ghost

in the intersection

of some metropolis

 

the world swirls around

people move on by

crosswalks alive (in between lights)

in the middle of all the commotion

eyes of somber calm

am I

standing there

waiting for a change

brush in hand

with no paint.

waiting


“new spring” 3/20/2018
leaves still absent

from winter’s harvest

a cold chill still clings even easter sunday

nests in trees

but none for me

for this cardinal has no mate.

a flash of red

backdrop of gray

light is fading

the night is approaching

even in the face of spring


“untitled” 3/20/2018
I think I saw a dog

in the lines of bark in a tree

dusk does trick the eyes,

is that a man or a mailbox

leaning in the distance


“untitled” 3/20/2018
fog strangles the parkway

silhouettes serene barely cast shadows

side by side fireflies glow

gliding by row by row


Music choice of the moment … Dramarama “Anything Anything (live)”… thanks to my Rutgers roommate Neil, hope you are doing well out there

Clinical lycanthropy…

Clinical lycanthropy…

birds wings pigeon feather
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Boy that is a mouthful.  Just doing some odd google-ing and came across the term.  So sometimes I like to pretend I can see through the eyes of animals (sort of like the Beastmaster, love that movie – before GoT made warging cool). I suppose I do not have that disorder more or less I was thinking of anthropomorphization (another $5 dollar word).  Attributing human traits to animals… so all these words to set up a simple little poem…


“pigeons” 3/2018
If I were a pigeon

in a parking lot

would I hear tales

of pigeons in the park

of statues and lakes

manicured landscapes

on which to perch and peck.

would I be jealous

or satisfied?

on which parcel does there reside – contentment ?


“untitled” 3/2018
standing water

standing

water

inward tide

evaporates


DMK notes:  As usual I provide some tunes to read by…usually by bands I deem criminally under rated, just my opinion.  Mindfunk “Goddess”.

The poet’s heart…

The poet’s heart…

white paper
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I would like to believe in the better things.  I would like to always have faith in the human spirit but with expectation is sown the inevitable poison of disappointment.  So I guess I am saying I am a fool because I do hold on to these things… like true love.  My logic tells me one thing but my poet’s heart holds on to dreams.


“awake” 3/2018

may you be the blunt tool

on which I hone

sharpen once again my lust for life

far too long

I have endured

my true self

hidden in this prison, in plain sight for all

curled away, bathed in my shadows becoming my skin

growing rusty, creeky and gray,

your voice has brought me simply back

to the light of day.


“Embers 2” 3/2018

there is a faint pulsing ember

locked deep inside the remnants of my heart

and memory

never more to catch flame

but your vision remains

I know, until my dying days

absent kiss upon solitary lips

my last breath

a faint whisper of your name

and the glow shall fade

into the evernight.


“gliding” 3/2018
staring through the veil

of rain drops on the windshield glass

no consciousness of driving

gliding

traveling along this line through space – time,

unable to reverse

and mend

the mistakes of our parting

on which I dwell

gliding.


“untitled” 3/2018
I am not a mirror

I only have my eyes

for they are just mere filters

to the visions

built up constructs of my mind
I want to be with you

when you are seventy

wrinkled and gray

for I will only see

the most beautiful woman there has ever been

as forever you will be

 

she is afraid of photographs

as to my disbelief

her true image self portrait

hangs upon my wall

as I pace the corridors

but more-

 

dreaming

with eyes closed (deep breath, exhale)

together my love

embracing

together, my love, my eternal love.


Musical accompaniment … King’s X “Honesty”
No whimsical thoughts for today, come back and I am sure I will be in the mood.

One liners, two liners…. maybe three ?

One liners, two liners…. maybe three ?

sea landscape beach landmark
Photo by Zukiman Mohamad on Pexels.com

So, these are just poetry post it notes as it were.  These little snippets might grow up to be a full on poetic experience one day (or not, I am admittedly lax about going back and doing such things). I thought it would be interesting to post these as otherwise they would most likely be relegated to a life of neglect… little scraps of paper folded away in the cracks between my other work.  Maybe these will inspire or promote a tangent of creativity in someone else (you, perhaps?).

 


is love cause or conviction ?


pages on a breeze

and soon the book is empty


taste of the ocean

breath of the rain


tides and time

and the ocean vast


parrots in paris

peacocks in rome


raindrops on a leaf

tears of a thief


I look at the gathering storm clouds

and I know they will pass


even into sunlight

we bring suitcases


if ducks have a dynasty

penguins shall own an empire


family

better than strangers

not as close as friends


as always I love to post links to music, here is a fun upbeat rock tune from a few years back… Protein “Lemonade”