Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 250

A Blade of Grass

What is in a blade of grass?
That simple, slender wisp of green.
What nature's secret makes it grow?
What miracle unknown, unseen?
From tiny seed too small to hold,
Or born a distance by the wind,
Nurtured by the sun and rain
'Til anchored in the earth again.
Sprouting, growing, taking root.
Reaching out to kiss the sky.
Ever changing with the seasons;
Desperate not to die.
What is in a blade of grass?
Life.
Life.

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...

Haiku 19

Alone at midnight,
Scent of heather hovering.
Worlds afar draw nigh. 

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...

Downtown

Who planted these trees that have grown so tall?
I stand amongst them feeling small.
Giant trees of steel and concrete
That make the sequoia and redwood petite.
Massive cathedrals to live and to work.
Menacing forests where night creatures lurk.
Ground-level paths where the sun never shines.
Back streets and alleyways. Havens for crime.
Yet, something about it keeps drawing them back.
Saints and do-gooders brave the attack.
From beggar to princess, from priest to clown,
All breeds and all creeds can be found
Downtown.

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...

Haiku 18

Dream-filled hydrangea,
Snow-soft as cotton candy.
Sorrows disavow. 

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...

Truth in Advertising

Talk about oxymoron!
This one takes the cake.
When it comes to truth in advertising
There can be no mistake.
The two words shouldn't even be
In the same vocabulary.
'Caveat emptor', buyer beware;
Listen, but always be wary.
Competitors never tell the truth
Regardless of who takes the stand.
"I'm better!"  "He stinks!"
"Don't buy his product.
Buy ours. We think we're grand."
Each one accuses
The other of falsehood,
So, who knows which product to buy?
The only sure thing about advertising
Is that someone will surely tell a lie.

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...

Haiku 17

Honeysuckle breathes
Manna from a field afar. 
Clouds forestall her gift. 

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...

Waiting for the Train

Stone and steel, track and rail,
Aged by sun and rain.
All the world parading by,
Waiting for the train.
Bleak and stark, the station waits
In sore need of repair,
Rusting, peeling,
Iron and concrete,
Captioned in despair.
Still the travelers storm its' gates
In passive mute attack;
Destinations never heard of
Somewhere down the track.
Every flavor, every fashion,
Oregon to Maine.
There's no telling what you'll see while
Waiting for the train.

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...

Haiku 16

Rains refresh my realm,
Fostering the breath of life.
Terra’s  cathedral. 

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...

Smiling

If you've ever tried to smile
When you were mad,
Then you should know,
It isn't possible to do them both.
A smile's a carefree, unassuming,
Happy crescent moon,
Immune to hatred,
Knowing none of loath.

When you smile your happy muscles
Reach deep down inside your brain,
Turning all aggression upside down.
It's true! A smile can cause your
Cloudy sky to clear of rain,
And wipe away a mournful sad-faced frown.

So, next time, when your ire is stirred
And your craw is filled with bile,
Try putting on a happy face.
Forget yourself... And smile.

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...

Haiku 15

Splendid thorny rose,
Peacock proud with pomp and flash.
Beauty cannot hold. 

Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Amazon Author's Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dennis-S-Martin...