I can tell by the colored ribbons
wrapping the the dawn’s rise
that the angle of the sun
has shifted its gift of light,
along the path Winter runs
to the path where Spring abides.
Ice is breaking apart on the river
and in hearts confined
by viral fears
and foes
who refuse to wear masks
and silently shout
“let the weak die”
as their cold hearts
steal too many lives.
Hope in Spring who opens wide
new angles for the sun
to light brighter paths
and easier days
pushing away
such silent thoughts.
Filed under POETRY
The skinny skunk slid
across the icy road
and skated
beneath a parked car.
The opossum curtailed
its icy walk and sailed
across the frozen pond,
as I looked on.
The bald eagle now nests
at the crest
of trees along the Scioto,
eyes searching for a break
in the ice, and river mice
slipping by below.
The earth yet lies frozen
no scent of soil thawed.
No breath of heated life
that I can tell by smell.
But, below the melting snow
new-green growth
of daisies glow
a greeting and a promise
that Spring is on her way.
It is a beautiful day.
Filed under POETRY
Past the gate
beyond red lines
above the fray
drones prey
on those within
borders
which no longer matter
nor protect.
Armies march
across cyber space
crowded by failing
satellites and diplomats
eager to avoid collision.
War begins before
anyone sees
its trajectory.
While media muses
cyber missile cruise
among the threads
of the internet connection
breaching protection
of what each nation
needs to survive.
War? Stop war?
silencing guns is no longer
enough
to stop the destruction.
What alliances are strong
enough
to deflect the greed
of autocrats and bullies
bent on profit at all costs,
minding only their loss
of power and profits
at the expense of lives lost?
Filed under POETRY
He was a young boy
Inflamed by stories
Of courage and bold mysteries.
His touch was too tender
To doubt his hold on peace.
His hold was so stout,
His reach so long
There could be no doubt
His honor held strong.
But to war he went
With others of similar grace;
Taking his place
among other young men,
Warriors all.
Each one eager to send
The message
That on one another
They could depend.
Wounded they returned
Minds twisted
by fierce heat of battle;
Bodies bent and broken by
Force blasts of explosions;
Emotions hardened
by cold orders and alerts.
Tough battles lost and won
Creating new stories untold
Except in nightmares shivering
Hot and cold.
Young men grown old.
Sons to us all.
Whom we sent to war
To stand and fall.
Forgive us, young men.
If you can.
Filed under POETRY
Never say
a moment in the sun
is worth more
than a moment in the shade.
Never say
that morning born in clouds
is worth less
than morning born in light.
Never say
day is more precious
than night.
Cycles move us forward.
Keep us un-stuck.
Lead us beyond all borders
into futures of possibility
where our nobility
becomes grounded
that we may take flight.
Filed under POETRY
Call the sun names.
Carry buckets of coal.
Bring shovels to bury the dead.
Careful, now, how you tread
on the burnt offerings
of now fallow fields
and forests turned desserts.
Take to the sea.
In sheltered ports linger
to avoid the worst storms.
Set sail in steaming waters
which no longer cool
temperatures nor tempers,
and boil over onto shores
of discontent.
Remember thou are dust
and to dust thou shall return.
We are over-heated earth.
We are worsening storms,
more violent,
making everlasting wars
within ourselves
and our false borders.
We are both victimizer and victim
of global warming.
We cannot escape
ourselves.
We are dust
and to dust
we shall return.
Jewels like crystals shine
Across the frozen face of snow.
We say avoir, not good-bye.
For all we know
Light never dies
But quietly moves it’s glow
to other sights and sites
where Jewel now delights
In her new life.
And, yet, we mourn
Our grey-grief days
where Jewel once shown
in lives of our own.
Filed under POETRY
The Party has fallen beyond the pale of course
Cheering on legitimate political discourse
Beating defenders with steel pipes
Bashing skulls of Capitol police
Stabbing their chests with flag pole spears
Screaming curses and threats
Of violence and death
Defecating on walls and monuments
Building scaffolds to hang vice-presidents
Seeking majority leaders to rape and kill
Stealing podiums and laptops
And making Giuliani war in the streets
Expecting their president to join the fray
But he watched and waited
Gleeful and pleased
That his party sees insurrection
As legitimate political discourse
Of fascists and autocrats
Bullies and cheats
Day after day for months
The strength of such
Political discourse
Which of course is not discourse at all
grows stronger
The longer we wait
To stop it.
Filed under POETRY
A SNOWMAN AWAITS
Each morning I rise from dark night
and to the window I go,
after turning on lights,
opening blinds to the sights.
Each day I note lamps bright
in neighbors’ windows
where others are alight,
getting ready for life.
Six inches of Snow
and Wind on-a-blow
leaves windows in darkness.
No movement. No glow.
Sleeping in is a grace
on snowed-in days such as this.
Yet, I arise early lest I waste
a moment, the snow to embrace.
A snowman waits now
to be rolled up tight,
as am I in boots and bundles
of fleece and down.
Too cold, you say
to go outdoors and play?
If the birds can do so
why cannot I?
Let us go.
Let us play.
let us bask in the cold.
You want to. I know.
Filed under POETRY
annarino writes 