Asking Nothing, Wanting Something

Asking Nothing, Wanting Something

She stood there in the dark,

Blood soaked,

Staring at me,

Blood dripping from her teeth,

Asking nothing,

Wanting something,

Waiting for me to move,

Relaxed pose,

Ready to spring,

Her lips curved in a smile,

Asking nothing,

Wanting something,

I remember her from a dream,

Flying high,

Diving low,

Sinking her talons into my flesh,

Now she waits,

Cold as ice,

As I watch it’s hard to breathe,

Asking nothing,

Wanting something,

Blood trickles down her chin,

Her tongue tastes,

And licks it clean,

I am frozen and cannot move,

My heart racing,

Her tongue keeps tasting,

Asking nothing,

Wanting something,

I suddenly understand and bare my throat,

Her eyes brighten,

Her talons tighten,

I submit to her warm embrace,

Blood draining,

Life waning,

I search her eyes one last time,

She’s asking everything,

Demanding my all,

And I find myself sinking into darkness,

Asking something,

Wanting nothing.

Dangerous Questions

Dangerous Questions

You said you were not satisfied,

With the way you looked,

Your hair was too straight,

Too curly or something like that,

And then you asked me,

“Am I too fat?”

Now I’m an honest man,

And I like to tell it to you straight,

But no way did I want to tempt fate,

 Any answer I could give might be suicide,

There was no place to hide,

But still I tried,                                                                     

“If straight hair would make you happy,

I could go for that,”

“If you wanted to wear a hat,

I could go for that,”

I didn’t give her eye contact,

I tried to sing a song,

I would have tried anything,

To keep from answering wrong,

Her eyes narrowed,

Her voice grew cold,

“Am I too fat?”

I looked out the window,

For somewhere I could go,

“Uh, what was the question, dear?

I really couldn’t hear,”

Tears were dripping from her eyes,

She heaved a great sigh,

“Please tell me why,

The answer you won’t say”,

The answer came to me in a flash,

It didn’t take a day,

“Why, honey, I like you any way,

I think you’re crazy,

For asking a question like that,

I don’t want mortal combat,

I didn’t choose you for your hair,

Though I like it being there,

Nor did I pick you,

For the shape you’re in,

I love you thick or thin,

There’s nothing I can say or do,

To make this any less true,

I love you simply for being you,”

I think my answer

 Was good enough for now,

But tomorrow is another day,

And she’ll question me somehow,

“Do these shoes go with this blouse?”

It’s time for me to leave the house,

“Would you like me better blond?”

I don’t know how to respond,

It’s a woman’s prerogative,

To change her mind,

And tomorrow I’ll look,

At her with dread,

Her hair might be blond, brown or red,

There might be someplace,

That I can find,

Where I can leave,

Dangerous questions behind.

Exclamation Point!

Exclamation Point!

I didn’t ask to be like Job,

Whose life took a backward thrust,

Yet here I am with shredded heart,

Arising from the dust,

I’ve lost at love one more time,

But it will not hold me down,

Like a Phoenix I’ll spring into the world,

With a smile instead of a frown,

I’m alone but not alone,

For I believe in a higher power,

Hope is there to guide my way,

Each and every hour,

My arms are bare and empty,

I have no one to hold,

So I choose to embrace the world,

Before my heart turns cold,

This world sparkles despite my pain,

My senses are acutely aware,

I see the beauty in this world,

And feel God’s presence there,

I smile at the turns I’ve made,

And all the times I’ve slipped,

Love will thrive the rest of my way,

It’s still within my grip,

Every day is a bonus day,

Full of meaningful things to do,

Challenges spring up daily at me,

Head on I’ll tackle them anew,

I don’t want to end my life,

With a period at the end of my game,

As a poet I want much more flair,

An exclamation point should mark my name!

Happy to be Outsmarted

Happily Outsmarted

I beheld her beauty,

But it was her voice,

Her sultry voice,

That left me with no choice,

But to listen and admire,

And when she required,

My attention and rhyme,

I was ready to give all my time,

I could not resist,

She didn’t have to insist,

But in love’s endless pool,

Words are powerful tools,

And with poetry I decided to ply,

Her vulnerable heart,

Oh, I was sly,

(Love enough to satisfy my own greed)

Seeking all she offered, all I need,

I was cunning, yes, indeed,

She opened her arms,

And displayed her charms,

Offering comfort, warmth, love,

Fulfillment of dreams,

She wanted me, it seemed,

A tear drop caught my eye,

I didn’t want her to cry,

My oh my,

How can I,

Take advantage of the moment,

When she is acting like a woman,

Making my heart so tender?

So against my gender,

When all I wanted,

Was to make love to her all night long,

That was so wrong,

But it felt so right, even though,

Now she knew,

That my intentions were more,

Than I said before,

Words don’t say everything,

And yet, her tears were ripping me apart,

Had she no heart?

She was taking advantage of my weaker side,

There was no place to hide,

I had to say the words I knew,

I should not do,

But I said it anyway,

“I love you”,

But once said,

Those words felt good,

And now I understood,

What I really wanted,

Someone more than a friend,

Faithful and loving to the end,

Someone wily,

A woman who could outsmart me,

And Cupid smiled from up above,

His timely dart had brought me love.

One Petal at a Time

One Petal at a Time

I focus on the positive,

It’s there wherever I look,

Whether a forest deep and dark,

Or in the pages of a book,

But often I forget to see,

Beauty just in front of me,

A child’s face with impish grin,

Or a hawk soaring high and free,

It’s time to breathe and relax,

Slowly soak the world all in,

I become one with the world,

Feel the power growing within,

And all the well-worn sayings,

Which are evident and true,

I’ll hear them come alive,

And a calm will ensue,

“Stop, and smell the roses,”

I’ve heard through and through,

“Don’t rush to see the future,

It will come to you,”

So whenever I’m stressed,

Or I’ve been wired all day,

I take time to meditate,

To rest, laugh, and play,

I don’t depend on others,

My peace resides within,

The beautiful world I so desire,

Waits there at my whim,

Nature bares her heart to me,

One petal at a time,

I feel her positive energy,

Replenishing that of mine.

Fairest of All Forever

Fairest of All Forever

When we were young,

You were the fairest of all,

My eyes never tired of you,

So many images easy to recall,

Your smile, your eyes of brown,

The proud way you held your head,

Your tan arms, your breasts so round,

The way you walked with swaying hips,

Your legs never seemed to touch the ground,

I touched your skin with anticipating fingertips,

Unrestrained hair that freely danced in the wind,

All this I remember well, and other things I cannot tell,

We are not so young now, but time has done you well,

You have more to love, and my arms still yearn to hold,

With glasses you are fair, through love still fairest of all,

Your confidence and sass, through stories I’ve been told,

Family and friends all say they admire your gall,

Your eyes of brown, you never lost that smile,

Holding you and kissing your moist, soft lips,

And I’m enchanted again for a long while,

Gravity has shifted everything down,

But my eyes never tire of you,

My senses you drown,

I can’t remember,

Any other time,

But now.

Of Course, I Will

Of Course, I Will

Our love is important, so this I’ll do,

I will spend quality time with you,

I want to sit facing you, so I can try,

To carry on a conversation, eye to eye,

Listening to each word that you say,

Validating the experiences of your day,

I want to talk to you about our goals,

About our future, how it will unfold,

We’re a team; I’m proud of all you do,

Everything you accomplish helps me too,

Construction in my heart is already underway,

I’m building a permanent place for love to stay,

Let’s make a list, mark things I can do,

I want to keep our love fresh and new,

 I’ll help clean the house, cook a meal,

Do some of the things that would reveal,

How you’re my soul mate in every way,

My love is yours to keep, for always,

I want to touch you, caress your face,

 With soft nibbles your contours I’ll trace,

Soothe away the tension along your spine,

With aromatic oils and music, make you mine,

We’ll sit together before a fireplace tonight,

I’ll kiss your soft lips and hug you tight,

I’ll hold you and share your dreams,

Keep you warm and cozy, no extremes,

Talk together like more than best friends,

Count the stars until the night ends,

Tell of gifts for you I want to buy,

A precious diamond to catch your eye,

Two love birds that cuddle and coo,

And a cottage built for me and you,

Time is dragging, I can hardly wait,

Until we’ve marked our wedding date,

My heart pounds wildly as you go,

It screams out loud, “I love you so,”

When my pledge I’m asked to fulfill,

Will you take this bride? “Of course, I will!”

The Pendulum Has Swung

The Pendulum Has Swung

Rainbows are but raindrops scattered,

Creating beauty after love, is all that matters,

So it is with my heart that is shattered,

Light falling in this place, not there,

Splashes across my heart, but not everywhere,

And leaves me knowing that you don’t care,

Moments spent together, cut from my life,

Irregular gashes from love’s cruel knife,

Bitter words that ended in strife,

I’ll keep only sweet words upon my tongue,

Without rescinding your praises I’ve sung,

But love is lost, the pendulum has swung.

The Beast Within

The Beast Within

As a bountiful year draws to an end,

You’ve become much more than a friend,

So I’ll speak to your heart while I may,

And scatter red roses along the way,

It’s time to harvest love that I’ve shown,

Collect on the sweet words that I’ve sown,

Love will reap rewards when given a chance,

And kisses given freely will yield abundance,

During the day you’ve tamed the beast,

But tonight I want a lover’s feast,

Beneath the stars we’ll together lie,

Breathing in unison, thigh to thigh,

And do as lovers do since time began,

Celebrate love as part of nature’s plan.

Willie

Willie

A large cardboard box was his abode,

Willie was a bum according to city code,

Behind a building his home he made,

During long hot days it offered him shade,

A lamp, an ottoman, a seaman’s trunk,

He gathered treasures from people’s junk,

He rode a bicycle as he covered the streets,

With always a smile for people he’d meet,

Willie claimed to be a pioneering man,

Using everything he could from off the land,

He worked on odd jobs whenever he could,

Honest and forthright, you knew where he stood,

Perhaps a broken heart had made him this way,

Or perhaps it was booze, I’ve heard people say,

Willie drew laughs due to the life he led,

But he’d been a doctor; he chose this life instead,

Not willing to permit his life to simply fade,

He appeared in a clean suit for every parade,

With flags on his handle bars and tooting his horn,

He let no one forget that he had been born,

Willie was a fixture for years in his place,

But life was getting harder, you could tell by his face,

Then one day I heard Willie had died,

I think I was the only one who cried,

He had given me his poetry which I still keep,

The content was varied, the images rich and deep,

His poetry haunted me, I could not sleep,

I don’t quite know why his death bothered me,

Except he was one with the world and meant to be,

Someday he’ll be remembered, because you see,

I had his words published, as his legacy.

Before I Beg You

Before I Beg You

Tonight the trees hear me whisper,

For even the wind has ears,

I want to pull you close to me,

And wipe away your tears,

You fill my eyes with your beauty,

Embers have begun to burn,

I don’t want to shirk my duty,

And you have so much to learn,

I vowed to protect your innocence,

And I can’t go back on my vow,

The words I pledged were easy to say,

But I’m standing with furrowed brow,

Your lips are ripe, so cherry ripe,

I’m tempted to taste them now,

But rather than talk about how you look,

I’ll practice my vows anew,

But seeing you is killing me,

Knowing something I’d rather do,

Touching is better than seeing,

I want to touch more of you,

Though fires are raging deep within,

My weakness I must control,

You’re tempting me by being here,

I’m in danger of losing my soul,

Your warmth weakened my resolve to fight,

You have to leave me soon,

The moon is growing big and bright,

To your charms I’m not immune,

I’m torn between loving you,

And doing what I know is right,

Please go before I beg you to love me,

Tonight.

Before I Beg You

Before I Beg You

Tonight the trees hear me whisper,

For even the wind has ears,

I want to pull you close to me,

And wipe away your tears,

You fill my eyes with your beauty,

Embers have begun to burn,

I don’t want to shirk my duty,

And you have so much to learn,

I vowed to protect your innocence,

And I can’t go back on my vow,

The words I pledged were easy to say,

But I’m standing with furrowed brow,

Your lips are ripe, so cherry ripe,

I’m tempted to taste them now,

But rather than talk about how you look,

I’ll practice my vows anew,

But seeing you is killing me,

Knowing something I’d rather do,

Touching is better than seeing,

I want to touch more of you,

Though fires are raging deep within,

My weakness I must control,

You’re tempting me by being here,

I’m in danger of losing my soul,

Your warmth weakened my resolve to fight,

You have to leave me soon,

The moon is growing big and bright,

To your charms I’m not immune,

I’m torn between loving you,

And doing what I know is right,

Please go before I beg you to love me,

Tonight

Embracing who we are…: For the Perfect Poet Award

Embracing who we are…: For the Perfect Poet Award

My Super Bee Truck

(Part three)

The car oft kept hives from rain, mud, and dust,

To protect from chemicals was a definite must,

My car carried several one hot, dry day,

As I traveled a dusty road along my way,

A crop duster was working in a nearby field,

I waited patiently for his flagman to yield,

When I decided I could no longer wait,

I proceeded quickly but I could feel the hate,

A dust cloud rose into the calm sky,

The flagman was concealed as I went by,

Above the road the pilot soared,

And on my car a bulls-eye scored,

He dumped on my car his chemical load,

A clear warning he gave, “Stay off my road!”

“Curse you, Red Baron,” as I raised my fist,

“I’ll take you off of my Christmas list,”

Although the bees were safe, my pride was not,

And over time the incident forgot,

But occasionally when my anger rose,

This is how my imagination goes,

A bee would tap my shoulder and say,

“We don’t want any problems today,

Keep it cool or you will be out of luck,

We won’t ride again in your red bee truck,

We want you to keep things peaceful and calm,

We sure don’t need another chemical bomb,”

Although I thought they were being a little absurd,

I promised to be good and kept my word.

my Super Bee Truck

My Super Bee Truck (Part 2)

During the queen rearing season,

I looked for ways, and other reasons,

To use my small bee truck,

On a windy afternoon it was my luck,

To discover I could graft the baby bees,

Into queen cups while out of the breeze,

And quickly I could fill a complete frame,

Place it into a hive and later proclaim,

“I think they’re ready. These cells are ripe,

Can’t you hear the queens pipe?”

And from there to the mini hives,

Where virgin queens could survive and thrive,

The car carried sugar syrup to the hungry bees,

I could get to a bee yard with relative ease,

This arrangement worked very well,

And soon I had beautiful queens to sell,

My car was transport, and a place to work,

Peaceful and quiet when the bees went berserk.

In the spring when there were swarms,

The car was excellent in all it performed,

On the boat racks I had tied a ladder,

I could grab it quickly before the bees got madder,

Into an empty hive I would shake the cluster,

And wait, and wait, with all the patience I could muster,

Until the last bees entered their new home,

Content to begin building honey comb.

My Super Bee Truck

My Super Bee Truck (Part one)

My truck was red, a six-cylinder station wagon,

I affectionately called it the Red Dragon,

A family car, well worn and abused,

For it carried bee hives and was used,

To make trips during the pollination season,

The car was different for another reason,

Small yellow splotches decorated the car,

(A trained eye could spot them from afar),

That were dropped by bees during cleansing flights,

Inside the car, left over from previous nights,

Mud and leaves were on the floor,

Tools of the trade, and bee clothes that I wore,

More than a family car, it was a bee truck too,

It accomplished the tasks I needed it to do,

Oft it slipped beneath flowering almond trees,

Where I would unload the hives of bees,

On soft ground where I was loath to go,

Like a busy squirrel I hurried to and fro,

Putting octets of hives in strategic places,

Until the orchard was surrounded by the bees’ embrace,

I could sigh with relief when my job was done,

But for the bees, their work had just begun,

In their hives they hummed aloud,

And prepared their dance for the sun.