Trees as Weeds

“Color Study 5” by Carol Nelson

 

some eyes would see trees as weeds
bothersome rather than beautiful
lost to an indifferent lexicon
these the disconnected
disaffected souls drifting
through life feeling
little to nothing of why they are here
how their place in the scheme
corresponds to a purpose
deliberate not predetermined
no story of destiny
rather a tale of design
willful choice to engage with the vibrant
invigorant features of nature
to join the esthetic community
drawn into compact with all living things
shared of that quickening spark
what man loves or demeans in himself
he will love or demean
in his fellow creations
such is the power possessed in each heart
absolute in its truth
that will render this world
filled with trees or with weeds

 

 

From my books Ephemera and Legacies (vol. 2)

Corpus

 

“Identity Crisis” by Tom Fedro

 

 

not the self image
nor the face worn in public
but the you God knows

 

 

(originally posted December 2013)

Shatterproof

Image From pinterest.com

(Originally posted here February 2014)
 

water and blood turn to glass in your hand
yet your brittle heart tends to endure
in its loneliness trapped as it is in a matrix
of bitter ice formed before time from congenital
tears shed while still in a cold callous womb
that resented you even before you were named

what you need most of all is to sit by the fire
thaw your mind in the presence of someone
with free flowing veins and a genuine passion
that sooner or later will teach you that you
too deserve to be loved but some caution
once loved you’ll no longer be shatterproof

Uncompetition

“Don’t Hide Your Light Under a Bushel” by Ned Cartredge

(Originally posted here June 2013)

 

 

irrational fears

obtain inane policy

duncing champions

inhibiting excellence

with corruption of prizes

Why

“Pure Beginnings” by Kit Hevron Mahoney

nothing small
should distract
from the living

stealing what
should be the joy
from each moment

from tasting
rewards of large
wholesome experience

hesitate not to
accept whom we are
in our circumstance

pale are beginnings
long since become
inconsequential

what matters is
how we move forward
inventing our ends

too precious is
time to be wasted
on wondering why

the small question
whose answer is
always irrelevant

Toy Story

Doll by Michelle Allen

a raggedy doll
out of place among barbies
a raggedy life

Fame

“Pebbles” by MV Ellison

plain pebble that never stands out

content to be left in the background

unnoticed imperfect yet pleased

to accept the warm love of the sun

unwilling to waste useless energy

trying to shine when a dull gray

humility serves to support the

conviction to stand in place

shoulder to shoulder among

fellow stones holding ground against

weathering wind and the walkabouts

escorting ruinous passage of time

a noble existence of steadfastness

more to the purpose of igneous life

than to haughtily sit celebration as

prizes in pockets of rockhounds

en route to a fated display on soft beds

of sateen in antique glazed vitrines

fame is fickle and fleeting a thing to be

chased by those lacking of confidence

scrabbling for worth in untrustworthy

whims of a changeable external world

*********************************

“Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.” – Horace Greeley

Black Friday

Photographer Unknown
From pinterest.com

a day suitably named
reflecting the minds
who would stand
all-night lines
to make purchase
of doubly discounted
cheapened esteem

Trees as Weeds

“Ugly Trees 2”
Painting by Diane Kosco
From paintingsilove.com

some eyes would see trees as weeds
bothersome rather than beautiful
lost to an indifferent lexicon
these the disconnected
disaffected souls drifting
through life feeling
little to nothing of why they are here
how their place in the scheme
corresponds to a purpose
deliberate not predetermined
no story of destiny
rather a tale of design
willful choice to engage with the vibrant
invigorant features of nature
to join the esthetic community
drawn into compact with all living things
shared of that quickening spark
what man loves or demeans in himself
he will love or demean
in his fellow creations
such is the power possessed in each heart
absolute in its truth
that will render this world
filled with trees or with weeds

Prescription

Self Hatred II
Drawing by xiaoD
From theocddiaries.com

evil animates them
gives them dangerous purpose
homed in on soft targets
parochial parasites
cutting can’t kill them
for demons don’t bleed
they lack vital organs
so bullets are useless
because they don’t breathe
you can’t smother or choke them
they can’t eat or drink
so no poison will work

they insinuate stealthily
into despair guilt or
private held shame
self-loathing sustains them
the only inoculant
shield of immunity
or once afflicted
the sure disinfectant
the full cleansing purgative
flows from belief
in the reasons
you’re worthy of love