Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 178

Trains

Clackity clack... Clackity clack...

Beats the rhythm of the track.

Trekking deep into the night,

Straight on through to morning light.

Whether freight or passenger,

The message is the same to her.

"Just keep rolling, moving on.

Dawn to dust... Dusk 'til dawn."

The fate of nations on her back.

Clackity clack... Clackity clack.

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin

Inventions

There are many things that separate

Mankind from lower creatures;

The way we walk... The way we talk...

The way we flaunt our features.

But of all the many differences,

In spite of all intentions,

The things that makes mankind unique

Are his marvelous inventions.

 

This penchant man has to create

Has led him to believe

That he must rule; must dominate.

Behind him he must leave

Some miracle; a legacy

To those left to survive;

To make things better, easier;

A joy to be alive.

 

So, here's to all inventors

And the frustrations they vent

As they strive to improve our lot in life.

Long may they invent.

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin

Growing Older

No one likes to do it.

Some will fight in bitter rage.

Most deny its' onset.

But none escape the wrath of age.

 

A pathway that leads forward;

No backward trails to trek.

He moves in one direction,

Demanding our respect.

 

No dawdling, no lingering

Or laughing in his face.

No stopping by the wayside.

He demands a steady pace.

 

He brings on many changes

In us as well as others.

He makes our souls seek common goals.

In time, he makes us brothers.

 

And if we take it gracefully,

Embrace him to the end,

We can make him our companion.

He can become our friend.

 

No one likes to do it.

But all must acquiesce.

The creature, age,

The teacher, age,

We all must pass his test.

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin

Bubbles

Pretty bubbles in the air;

Floating, falling. Do you care

Where you came from?

Where you go?

Do you really want to know?

 

How I wonder what you see;

What it's like to be so free.

Riding swiftly on the wind,

Making all the world your friend.

 

Pretty bubbles in the air,

Do you wonder?

Do you care?

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin

Welcome To Life

Greetings come with open arms.

A sheltering sign of welcome

Is placed above the door.

Offering comfort, free from harm,

The innkeeper doesn't notice

If you are rich or poor.

 

Every amenity for every guest;

The sheets and towels in every room

Have all been freshly changed.

The host puts forth his best.

The whole routine has been rehearsed.

The dialogue is prearranged.

 

Who is to serve and who is served;

There is little doubt for either

Which role they are meant to play.

But still each guest is quite unnerved

When it's check out time

And they learn who is to pay.

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin

The Computer Age

Whatever happened to manual labor?

It's now all computerized.

A labor-saving device is developed for

Everything money buys.

 

Don't get me wrong.

It's not a complaint.

It's not that it fills me with rage.

I'm merely concerned that

We've all become lazy in this,

The computer age.

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin

Midnight

The earth is stilled,

And all lie peacefully in their beds

Except for the night owl who stalks its prey,

And those too afraid to forage by day,

Or souls gone so far that they've lost their way.

It's midnight.

 

The sky is darkened;

Daylight departed hours before.

Only the stars to fill the sky

As the twinkle of moonlight catches the eye.

The earth seems to moan with a heavy sigh

At midnight.

 

We are reborn...

Rekindling the body with wondrous rest...

Reflecting on folly with family and friends...

Putting the wounds of the day on the mend...

Peace... Meditation... A new day begins

At midnight.

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin

Suddenly

Teeth flashing,  jaws gnashing,

Ripping flesh by width and length

The beast bursts out upon its' prey

With leopard speed and lion strength.

 

Leaving no time for anger to rise;

No time to react; no time to defend;

No time for tears to well up in the eyes;

No time to cry out for the aid of a friend.

 

Life starts so slowly...

Peacefully...

But it all can be over...

Suddenly.

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin

Impatience

Don't take life too seriously...

There's no need to moan and complain.

No one from the dawn of time

Has been able to explain

What it really truly is about,

Though millions vainly try.

But life will not apologize

Or give an alibi.

 

Slow down and take a moment

To reflect... To contemplate.

There's nothing so important...

Let it simmer...

Let it wait.

Patience is a friend to all;

A process primed to heal,

But when impatience blocks the way

It becomes a wall of steel.

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin

Temptation

From childhood on we are tempted;

Be it candy, sex or money,

Be it lurid lust,

A lust for wealth

Or the taste of milk and honey.

 

Temptation waits at every corner

Spinning webs from post to portal;

Dangling treats before our waiting eyes;

Knowing we are merely mortal.

 

Waiting, watching, patiently biding

It's time; it holds out its treasures.

Quietly hawking and dangling its prize

Filled with dozens of life's little pleasures.

 

The wise know his tricks.

They've seen him before.

They pass by without hesitation.

Still business is brisk as the unwary pause

And yield to the lure of temptation.

   Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin