Smitten

I'm gazing at you from afar,
I saw you last week in a bar.
Your hair gleamed in the golden light,
while dancing to music that night.

You don't even know who I am.
Probably wouldn't give a damn.
I looked at you and was smitten,
shaking like a timid kitten.

Did you see me, you glanced my way,
or were you looking at the bay?
I take two steps toward you and stop,
few ladies want to date a cop.

I face danger with confidence,
but meeting you makes me feel tense.
Lovely lady, you make me feel weak,
and I can’t afford to be meek.

Senior Moments

Why do wrong words pop out of my mouth?
It tends to send my self esteem south.
The brain is aging, becoming weak.
Dementia… what lies ahead looks bleak.

I pause to think why I'm in this place,
losing my thoughts is what I must face.
The answer's at the tip of my tongue,
I stop, concentrate, but for how long?

There is relief when I remember,
senior moments have lots of members.
What can I do to strengthen my mind?
There must be a way out of this bind.

Do something different every week,
is the medical advice I seek,
and eat healthy foods, get enough sleep,
add brain food to the top of the heap.

If I can recall what I should do,
I'll be so healthy, as good as new.
What am I supposed to do each day?
Where am I going, is this the way?

Artistic Side

I'm searching for my artistic side,
but it's buried deep and wants to hide.
Amateur world is where I belong,
is being a beginner so wrong?

I have to accept I'm not Mozart,
but his music can be in my heart.
Magnificent paintings are Monet's
but his style, techniques can guide my way.

I'll never be a professional,
leave ego in the confessional.
Pure enjoyment is the attraction
when my talent is a small fraction.

My work takes me to another place,
freed from life's demands and rapid pace.
Totally caught up in the moment,
the thought of stopping causes torment.

Life's Lessons

Life's daily lessons are easy,
once I open my eyes to see.
There's a reason why I am here,
a purpose as my time draws near.

I need to accept differences,
stop all negative references.
My heart needs to radiate love,
transcend pettiness, rise above.

Forgiveness is on the top list,
to emerge through an angry mist.
Then there's the call for compassion,
a new way, make it the fashion.

Balance work, family and friends,
soul mends, a winner at the end.
Throw out materialism,
return to spiritualism.

Well, life's lessons aren't so easy,
as I open my eyes to see.
I have to improve my outlook,
follow what's written in God's book.

Why do I shy away from roads,
built to handle heavy loads?
I opt for the off beaten tracks,
carrying loads that break my back.

My life's path can be direct, smooth,
or painful like pulling a tooth.
It's up to me to make the choice,
select well, so I can rejoice.

Now life's lessons can be easy,
once I open my eyes to see.
I grow, become a better me,
evolving to what I must be.

Pioneers

Pioneers throughout time,
heard a different rhyme,
not following the crowds,
they held their heads high, proud.

Born with inventiveness,
born with creativeness,
they didn’t fit the mold,
their ideas were new, bold.

Picasso broke the rules,
was scoffed and called a fool,
he didn’t study art,
he painted from the heart.

Howard Hughes, engineer,
tested planes, tasted fear,
aviation’s wonder,
woke the world with thunder.

Dr. Blalock’s vision,
enabled decisions,
daring, brave, radical,
medical miracles.

Pioneers in our time,
hear a different rhyme,
strong-willed because they’re sure,
they create new futures.

Spirit of Halloween

Jack-o-lanterns with crooked smiles,
line the streets mile after mile,
orange and black balloons hang from trees,
casting dark shadows in the breeze.

Vampires and bats congregate,
this is a night to celebrate,
glowing red eyes burn in the night,
the devils are ready to fight.

Steam rolls up from the witches' brew,
while mixing concoctions for you,
whitish streaks flash across the sky,
stillness is broken by ghosts' sighs.

An eerie feeling fills the air,
coupled with chilling screams so rare,
vampires, bats and witches fly,
as devils raise pitchforks and cry.

One step, two, your heart skips a beat,
time to flee but where are your feet?
You're rooted in place like a tree,
unable to escape, be free.

You beg, cry for someone to come,
terror fills your veins, your brain's numb,
head swirling, you're ready to faint…
Happy Halloween, the stars paint.

I Was Tagged

On the edge has asked me to address the following:
Please describe to us how you paint with words, a picture so clearly.

On the edge, your question has led me to discover that I have been searching for that answer for years. It is reflected in my work, so I will share it with you. I don't think it's the answer that you're looking for, but I also don't think I can provide that kind of answer because I don't know.

Brief Encounter

I met you in nineteen ninety one,
at a doctor's office with my son,
out of the blue you spoke to me,
those comments have never let me be.

"You have poetry inside of you,
and surrounding you is a white hue."
I stared at you in disbelief,
a stranger reading a tea leaf.

I don't recall saying a word,
acting like I had not heard,
to this day I don't know your name,
maybe we'll meet so I can explain.

The impact of that brief encounter,
I relive often as I saunter,
through life’s shadows and sunny spots,
to date I think of your words a lot.

How can you unravel what’s inside,
when it is buried deep and hides,
you saw a decade ahead of time,
predicting my interest in rhymes.


Reason

Infection was flowing through my veins,
fever was raging ever so high,
numb from the illness, I felt no pain,
there’s a reason why I didn’t die.

My strength was slowly ebbing away,
strangely, I wasn’t afraid of the end,
I’m too young, I attempted to say,
"the crisis is behind, you will mend".

I heard the doctor’s voice in a haze,
weakly I opened my eyes to see,
I was struggling to leave the maze,
where my sluggish mind had taken me.

I did indeed recover in time,
I knew there was something I should do,
yet it was important not to pine,
for I was to begin life anew.

I'm patiently waiting for a clue,
while remaining open to my fate,
pondering what I'm supposed to do,
waiting for that significant date.

I have a suspicion what it is,
then I doubt if it really could be,
yet my mind keeps whirling in a whiz,
my destiny is in poetry.


Words

I don’t want to work,
I just want to write,
isn’t that all right?
Too many words lurk
in darkness waiting,
wanting to appear
so people can hear,
before abating.

The words want to share
their meanings to all,
standing proud and tall,
showing that they care.
The message is clear.
the feelings are warm,
protecting from harm,
imposing no fear.

Paper is my friend,
keeping forever,
never to sever,
words that will not end.
And ink is the link
that captures all words
needed to be heard,
valuable as mink.

Fields of Words

My mind is never a blank screen,
even in my fanciest dream,
I plea, I cry for some relief,
it’s not written on my tealeaf.

While my husband snuggles in bed,
word’s creep and crawl into my head,
never giving a moment’s rest,
seeking nourishment from the breast.

Once on paper they thrive and grow,
spreading their seedlings as they sow,
many fields for words are ready,
acquiescing I feel heady.

Sleepless nights seem to be my fate,
words and I have numerous dates,
holding pen and paper in hand,
as they acquire and plow land.


The current global situation is tense and complicated, so my poetry is simple. I think modern readers are not in a frame of mind to attempt to unravel deep and complicated messages.

Writing poetry is a hobby which keeps a smile on my face.

Serena

Halloween

In the spirit of a child,
imagination runs wild,
feeling free to jump and run,
a special day to have fun.

A holiday of mischief,
a skull on a handkerchief,
remind us of Halloween,
where pirates and queens are seen.

Crying, laughing and joking,
follow innocent poking,
playing a trick here and there,
stirs up the pot everywhere.

Let's celebrate playfulness,
and embrace all impishness,
push serious ways aside,
behind masks, we all can hide.

Put laughter back in our hearts,
step forward and be a part,
of a time to live out dreams,
in the world of doubts and screams.

Candle lit pumpkins on trails,
ghosts whispering spooky tales,
send shivers up and down spines,
evil's lurking at each sign.

Fright seeps in from head to toe,
in the darkness all are foes,
a whirl of wind, what was that,
beyond belief, vampire bats.

Hearts thumping, legs wobbling,
dead silence turns to sobbing,
who stole the moon and the stars,
the sky is as black as tar.

Abruptly a light comes on,
and all frights and fears are gone,
Happy Halloween to all,
yell witches as their brooms fall.

Email Message

I opened my email box,
sat motionless as a fox,
disbelieving the message,
which was meant to encourage.

It is a virus I mused,
looking completely confused,
slightly touching the delete,
the motion was incomplete.

Deciding to take the risk,
click, it opened in a whisk,
once again I gaped in shock,
panting like I ran a block.

Tiny tears slid down my cheek,
still through blurred vision I peeked,
a valentine’s card from you,
my deepest wish had come true.

Lyrics - I've Given In To Love

Broken trust and shadows of doubt,
lead me down the heartbreak route,
why did you break my heart, I shout,
but the words fall idly about.

I'm wrapped in a blanket of pain,
as tears pound my cheeks like rain,
slowly the door to my heart locks,
and is shoved behind a concrete block.

I've given up on love…
I've given up on love…

Then you appear in my life,
and melt away my fear,
I feel safe in your embrace,
each kiss makes my heart race.

One moment I'm floating,
the next I'm crashing,
memories descend on me like an ugly mist,
reminding me of the last goodbye kiss.

And that I've given up on love…
I've given up on love…

I gaze into your eyes,
wishing to see inside,
is love now on my side,
or is what I hear all lies.

My head swirls as you whisper in my ear,
suddenly your voice is all I can hear,
how can I give up on love when you are near,
I can't give up on love when you are near.

I've given in to love again…
I've given in to love.

Bad News

A telephone call delivered bad news,
automatically I reached for the booze,
a friend’s husband was killed in a plane crash,
I was off to console her in a dash.

Five somber faces were looking for Dad,
not understanding, they were getting mad,
the little ones sensed that something was wrong,
the night was going to be painfully long.

Tears flowing freely, I hugged my dear friend,
a grief-stricken look acknowledged the end,
one day a wife, the next day a widow,
shocked, hysterical, she almost let go.

I felt helpless during this tragedy,
is it enough to offer sympathy?
Then I remembered that there is prayer,
providing strength layer upon layer.

My friend and I faced the night together,
strength and courage kept grief on a tether,
the blackness of night faded into dawn,
the morning dew sparkled on the front lawn.

The comforting sun’s rays brought her new hope,
she became confident that she could cope,
in her heart her husband would have his place,
cherished memories she would soon embrace.

Colors

Before I drift off to sleep
vibrant colors dance and leap
changing shapes and racing off
disappearing in a puff
to reappear instantly
teasing me blatantly
rose melts into pink than blue
not leaving the slightest clue
of what marvels lie ahead
while colors dance in my head.