Rain Continues to Pour

Today (June 2012), Florida is being battered by a tropical storm named Debby. The wildfires in Colorado, Utah and other Rocky Mountain states need a storm like Debby a hell-uv-a lot more than the Florida swampland this year.

I’m in Central Florida, and we are being drowned. Not as bad as some, true, but worse than others. So, as I sit watching the trees bend to near-breaking in the gusts, and the rain pelt my windows with near-shatter impact, I envision the weekend. That’s when the weather folks say the storm should be subsiding.

We’ll see.

I had special fun with this because I’ve written it with a convoluted cadence, meter be damned! I wanted to drive everyone else as crazy as I feel!

4          Weather charts warn

4          this awful storm

9          will be beating us for a while.

5          But if we hold fast

5          the system should pass,

9          then the sun on us it will smile!

6          Rain continues to pour,

6          tries to come through the door.

9          Our pool can hold no more water.

7          So when the sun it breaks through,

7          I will expect to see you

9          as the temps grow hotter and hotter.

6          In the sun we will play.

6          We’ll enjoy the whole day,

9          with PBR to Dom Pérignon.

5          Then the sun will set,

5          with swimsuits still wet.

9          I understand, you have to move on.

4          But I’ll stay here,

4          with my cold beer,

9          to celebrate this storm being gone!

She’s Gone

I'm republishing this today as a dedication to my Mom on Mother’s Day. If your Mom is still alive, give her a big hug for those of us who have lost ours.

I was speaking with a friend and she mentioned something about her mother. It made me catch my breath. This poem has been formulating since.

She’s Gone

A random sight
a flash of pain
stops me cold
reminds me
she’s gone

A child reaches
grasps it’s mother’s hand
Both laugh, something between them
The sting of loss
Pierces my heart

Breath stolen
for a moment
I fight the tears
always hidden
Why now?

A mask, my brave expression
I have children of my own
never again my mother’s embrace
I had it once
some never did

It’s hard to walk
harder to breathe
swallowing hard
try to smile at them
‘Don’t cry’

Mother died, long ago
decades passed
Longer spaces between random waves
that returns me
to my mothers side

Knees find strength
I carry on
her final words
“You will be fine”
She’s gone

Keeping Time

Keeping Time

The scene is Grandpa and grown-up grandchild sitting on Grandpa's porch. They're playing a sing-song rhyming game they've played for more than twenty-five years. One starts, sings the stanza, and the other has to rhyme it.

Until Grandma comes out and breaks it up.

Grandpa and me

Playing a game

Keeping time, just keepin time

Don't much matter

It's all the same

Keeping time, just keepin time

You sing to me

Just one more line

Keeping time, just keepin time

The perfect rhyme’s

four beats in time

Keeping time, just keepin time

Played with singing

my life-long now

Keeping time, just keepin time

Your all grow’t up

so take a bow

Keeping time, just keepin time

Valley is low

Mountain is high

Keeping time, just keepin time

The tea is sweet

So is the pie

Keeping time, just keepin time

Grandmas calling

Gotta go soon

Keeping time, just keepin time

Grandpa chuckles

sings one more tune

Keeping time, just keepin time

We gotta stop

or hell’s to pay

Keeping time, just keepin time

Ain’t no worry

she’ll want to stay

Keeping time, just keepin time

You two stop now

and git in here

Keeping time, just keepin time

Dinners ready

and so’s the beer

Keeping time, just keepin time

Gramps stands and says,

"We better git . . .

Keeping time, just keepin time

Or we won’t hear

the end of it!"

Keeping time, just makin’ rhyme

A Child

“I'm scared,” his voice whispered.
“There's no need to be.”

“Will I know when?” he choked.
“We'll just wait and see.”

“It seems very dark here.”
“I know, take my hand.”

“Will you stay here with me?”
“Son, right to the end.”

Monitors sounds turned off,
the room was silent.

Our son, through sickness,
had been compliant.

Through all of the testing,
we’d fought for two years.

Now, his mom stood by him,
just fighting her tears.

Her voice having fled her,
not backing away,

from our son’s final breath,
but nothing to say.

His little hand convulsed,
as he gasped for air.

A tear rolled from his eye
and into his hair.

“It seems to be darker.”
“I'm sorry, my dear.”

“The pain doesn't hurt now.”
“That’s so good to hear!”

“I see a little light,
I think I should go.

But I'm so scared daddy,
I want you to know.

I love you and Mom both,
with all of my heart.”

“We love you too, baby.
We can’t change that part.”

His little hand went limp,
with a final sigh.

His labored breathing stopped.
I said my goodbye.

She fell upon his bed,
crying in her grief.

She held his still body.
But found no relief.

My wife cried out her pain,
“Our son is dead!”

I sat down, held them both
Words could not be said

His life was why we lived.
His joy knew no end.

His laughter known by all,
he sang songs with friends.

I pulled her off his bed.
She fought to hold on.

“Please, darling, let him go.
His last breath has drawn.”

“We’re supposed to go first!”
She screamed through her tears.

“He should have lived longer!
He had only eight years!”

One more child taken,
one more child gone.

His life did enrich us.
We’ll still hear his song.