Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 41

Meanderings

Would you make a saggingwillow

Weep from lack of sunlight?

Tear-stained earth her pillowas

She cowers in dismay.

 

Rivers ramble rakishly

Between her hills andhighlands,

Stumbling and bumbling

She knows no other way.

 

Flying high above the fray

Through multilayeredbillowings,

With eagle eye that seeks tospy

On details rarely seen.

 

And willow hugs the riverbank

To watch the ever-constantflow.

Peaceful her meanderings

Among the meadows green.

 

Will you give your gift oflife?

Service those who patientwait.

Quench the thirst of all inneed

Before it is forever late.

 

Word Prattle

Its only words,

         But beware of their strength.

Words to make mountains

         Come tumbling down.

Loud confrontations,

         Bold conversation

Where blanket cessation

         Of reason abounds.

 

Droning in monotone,

         Boring the furniture.

 Singing in baritone,

         Thrills for the soul.

Spreading the news so

         Exciting, inviting.

Broadcasting views to

         The suffering folds.

 

Beaches awash in

         The white sands of history

Seeking to separate

         Sane from absurd.

Time prattles on

         Without judgment, unruffled.

Destinies turn

         On a single word.

 

Zeal

Thefiercest spirit that I’ve ever known

Stoodfive foot four,

Weigheda buck twenty-five

Butfilled with such gusto

Thateveryone round him

Wasthrilled with the prospect

Ofbeing alive.

 

Everychance an eager adventure,

Everyerrand a passionate test,

Everytask approached with intensity

Fueledby the fervor of

Unabashedzest.

 

Wouldthat I could find

Thisspirit and zeal

Thatmagnifies intensity.

Lifewould be more of

Acarnival thrill for

Thegypsy who dawdles

Anddwells within me.

 

Wisdom

I’vebeen waiting such a

Long,long time for

Thewisdom they promised

Wouldcome with age.

Allthat sage intuition of

Gray-beardedelders has

Somehowescaped or

Refusedto engage.

 

“You’llunderstand someday,

Mayhapwhen you’re older.”

Itfelt like a covenant

Backin the day.

Andthough I keep biding,

Awaitingepiphany,

Reasonabsconds like

Ascared castaway.

 

Buttime is a traveler,

Patientand shrewd

Andexperience is a

Tutorof worth, 

Andmaybe if I can

Justlive long enough

I’llknow what I wish

Ihad known from birth.

 

Understanding

Somany leaves on this cabbage head

Isimply cannot comprehend.

Itry to peel them one by one

Toget down to the core.

Butonly find the crux to be

Abitter disappointment

Thatvexes every rationale

Andleaves me want for more.

 

Itry to be compassionate,

Showempathy in kind,

Bepatient and forgiving and

Tokeep an open mind.

Butthe art of understanding

Isa mammoth bugaboo,

Andthe cagey fox of acumen

Isscarce to share a clue.

 

So,I will strive for tolerance

Andgrant an open hand

Andhope that when the facts are in

Iwill finally understand.

 

Trustworthiness

Lord,help me find

Thatsweet spot in my mind

Whereveracity musters and never retreats,

Whereprinciples stand under

Steadfastdemand and

Honestyknows no defeat.

 

Youmay be sure

Myintentions are pure,

Mydevotion unfailing,

Staunchand secure.

Doggedintegrity

Risesto rush me a

Streamof fidelity born to endure.

 

Whateverendeavor you pursue

Iwill never lie to you.

Iam the soul on which you can depend.

Genuinethrough and through,

Bestin your retinue

Iam forever your trustworthy friend.

 

Trust

Hardto find someone to trust

Ina world where trust is a foreign saint.

Wouldthat I could have presumption of proof

Withclear confidence and certitude.

Buttime and experience

Preacha hard sermon

Andlogic steps sideways to lodge its complaint.

Thenalternate facts only add to confusion

Andbristle the brisket of new attitudes.

 

Thejourney moves forward,

Decisionswax weightily,

Mockingconviction,

Inneed of a friend.

Butwho holds the promise of

Strengthand reliance?

Whocan I turn to and

Trustin the end?

 

Temptme and fill me with oceans of hope

Untilfaith wears the mantle of grit, 

SoI may seek counsel with steadfast assurance

Andnever look back in regret.

 

Tranquility

Oh,sweet contentment, bide within

Tostill the storms that purloin peace.

Nestlesoft in quietude

Holdinghearts in hushed repose.

 

Staidin stillness,

Bathedin midnight,

Lostin unabashed release,

Pleasurepure and senses sure

Aspetals soft upon the rose.

 

Calmbreath breezes overhead to

Warmthe placid glacial flow

Frommindful plains of conscious study

Andunbounded reverie.

 

Playfulin its pose and posture,

Loungingin the afterglow

Withrespect for restful pleasure

Wingingmetaphorically.

 

Fondto know when said and done

Themind knows what the heart can see

Whenharmony immerses all

Inoceans of tranquility.

 

Toughness

Areyou tough?

Areyou rough?

Areyou really strong enough?

Orare you so much frill and fluff?

Anamby-pamby powder puff.

 

Ifyou really know your stuff

Youcould even run a bluff.

Justtoss a comment off-the-cuff or

Mumblelike a grumble gruff.

 

Butif you run off in a huff

Yougive up claim to your rebuff

Andcould wind up flat on your duff

Whenyou find out

You’renot so tough.

 

Toughguys don’t stand up and fight for

Itis no matter of might.

 

Toughnesstarries deep within

Insilence,

Likea trusted friend.

 

Tolerance

Youthis not a fruitful season for

Open-mindedtolerance.

Theliberal creed of leniency

Isnot an inbred social trait.

 

It’smore of an acquired nature

Summonedthrough experience,

Althoughit seems some never grasp

Theaptitude to watch and wait.

 

Stumblingthrough my tender years

Ifelt the angst of restiveness,

Engagedin animosity with

Bickeringand baleful brawl.

 

Andthough I made it to adulthood

Withall my teeth, I must confess to

Tryingmuch too hard to

Runmy raucous race ere I could crawl.

 

Andstill I find it difficult to

Turndeaf ear

Orsuffer fools,

I’vemade a point to find the wrench of

Toleranceamong my tools.