Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 28

Last Dance Tonight

Rituals feast on the edgeof a dance floor.

         The tilt of an eyebrow,

         The curl of a smile

May oft be perceived asguiltless flirtation

Or bold invitation,sensual style

As the beat and therhythm both

Heighten the game

Fueling the flame whilepassions burn deep,

And joy steals the venue

Creating a genuine safepanacea of memories to keep.

 

Yet joys are but vaporouswhispers of air,

Pretenders who dare maskreality’s bite,

Purveyors of flight to aworld unafraid,

Rescuing maidens likegalloping knights.

 

So, cling to your partneras heaven recedes

In the music that pilotsto limitless flight,

To linger the moment thatlives in those eyes

And captures the prize of

         The last dance tonight.

 

Just Because You are You

Splendor bides tocelebrate

The magic that is onlyyou, and

Wonder wanderscommonplace

When cradled, nestled byyour side.

 

Moonlight pales asconstellations

Ride your wave of endlesssky, and

Ocean overflows herbounty,

Tranquil in your eveningtide.

 

Not because the worldstops spinning.

Not because time takes apause.

Not that logic dictatesthat

What once was false issomehow true.

 

Words can never be a prophet

To predict your story’send.

You fulfill your destiny

… Just because you areyou.

 

These Hands

These hands once held thepromise of youth,

The gesture of truth

    In a troubled world.

Hopeful and skyward theycarried the weight,

Tempted by fate

    As the brash tempest swirled.

 

Never a challenge toolarge or too small,

You processed them all

     With your delicate touch.

Even when tempted toyield to the strain

You never complained

     That the load was too much.

 

Now I observe in theharsh light of day,

The forces at play

     As time takes her toll.

Freckles of age, thethinning of skin

As furrows begin

     To take permanent hold.

 

Hints of mortality creepthrough my soul,

Darker than coal

     Yet bright as the sun.

Teetering closer toHeaven’s clear day,

These hands cleared theway.

     The battle… won.

 

If You Don’t Know the Words, Just Hum

Just three notes was

All it took to

Put this song inside myhead.

Now it’s like

A barber pole of

Alternating white and red

Turning, churning,

Never ending,

Echoing in lost refrain,

Patterned chaos,

Just enough to

Drive a simple mindinsane.

 

Time was I knew all thewords,

But that was oh, so longago,

As memory plays empty

Like a violin without itsbow.

 

No pity for the lonesomemime

Who slowly beats a silentdrum.

In truth, if you don’tknow the words,

My gentle friend…

     Just hum.

 

A New Life

Ten little fingers,

Ten tiny toes,

Sweet sighs, soft cries

And cute button nose.

A smile ear to ear

Shining bright as a rose.

A new life

Sent from Heaven above.

 

Clean slate of innocence

Ready to learn.

No sad regrets,

No bridges to burn.

A book of blank pages

To fill as they turn.

A new life

That fits like a glove.

 

Laughing or crying

You fill hearts withglee.

Plans for your future

Could flood every sea

As your village surroundsyou

So passionately.

A new life…

The essence of love.

 

Enter Singing

Quiet little lotusblossom

Nestling in silentwaters,

Would you disallow theworld

The wonder of yourrainbow smile?

The softened sigh of yoursweet voice,

The Heaven fragrance thatyou breathe,

The pleasure of yourcompany

If only for a littlewhile.

 

Tapping softly at mydoor,

Your angel voice awelcome song.

Come share with us thelilting joy

Of all that life is meantto be.

Just one chorus, then onemore,

Sweet manna to a gratefulthrong,

The Merlin magic youemploy

To set a wistful spiritfree.

 

Bright lights fill to everycorner

Casting shadows wide and long,

And happiness surroundsyou when

You enter singing love’ssweet song.

 

Nostalgia

Sweet whipped creammemories, Ghosts from the past

Sleep soft on myshoulder, a whisper away,

Come calling, revisitingsimpler moments of

Moon Pies and Mary Janesback in the day.

 

Skate keys and Bobbiesocks,

Pigtails and poodleskirts,

Pin curls and Bobbiepins,

Raggedy Ann.

Bosco and Mickey Mouse,

Jukebox and saddle shoes,

Flying with Pater Panthrough Neverland.

 

Baseball cards slappingon bicycle spokes,

Eight tracks and Betamax,bad knock-knock jokes.

Viewmasters, Lincolnlogs, erector sets,

Lone Ranger’s sidekick…As good as it gets.

 

Old wringer washers androtary phones,

Listening on party lines,waiting your turn.

Lost on the day that themusic fell silent.

Peace symbols, love beadsand incense to burn.

 

Dark drive-in movies and blackhigh-top sneakers,

Jiffy pop, rabbit ears,spats and D As.

Pick-up-sticks,Polaroids, tears for Old Yeller,

Time capsule mem’riestucked safely away.

 

Opening Night

Places! Places!

Dim the lights!

Tempo. Timing.

Make it right.

Attack the stage.

Forget the fright.

Finally it’s

Opening night.

 

Grueling weeks of

Late night trends,

Burning candles

At both ends.

Do it over

And again

Until we get it all

Just right.

 

Love the crowd.

Forget the crowd.

Stand up proud

And shout out loud.

Overture,

Curtain, lights.

Bring the house down

Opening night.

 

Awake at a Wake

(AConversation)

 

“He was…”

         “Iknow.”

“I’ll miss him.”

           “Me, too.”

“Remember…?”

         “So well.”

“Such kindness…”

         “It’s true.”

“And laughter…”

         “That too.”

“He so loved to laugh…”

         “To sing.”

                  “And dance.”

“To toss back a few.”

 

“Up for a challenge…”

         “Taking a chance.”

“One of the bravest Iever knew.”

“He’d want us tocelebrate.”

         “Raise up a glass.”

“Have one for him.”

         “At least one.”

                  “Maybe two.”

 

“He looks really good inthat suit.”

         “Yes. It’s new.”

 

Simple Pleasures

Full moon enters mybedroom

This morning.

I watch it descend to the

Western horizon,

Inching its way over

High-arching rooftops,

Winging through feathersof

Billowy clouds.

 

I see it winking,

Watching and wondering,

Guarding the night

As it silently sailsthrough

The harbors of heaven

Casting pale shadows,

Keeping a promise to

Always return.

 

Night bird announces

A new day is dawning,

And sunrise growsmiracles

Fresh in her garden.

The world is alive

With peaceful endeavor

And life’s simplepleasures

Abide everywhere.