Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Too long, My Friend

So good to see your smiling face brighten
When you notice I’ve walked in the room
As I see you, my cares all do lighten
You cheer senses, as flowers in full bloom

Per chance do you, remember a time when
Late in the night, not heeding the darkness
Until early morning, we talked long in
A thing of wonder, friendship is ageless

This time is ours, sit down, we’ll now catch up
To end eve’ning seems like all is awry
Many a time my trust has been backed up
Prolong parting, hating to say goodbye

Your happiness I will always defend
I was sad that it’s been, too long my friend

Ken Goree


I thought it was about time I tried my hand at a sonnet.  It took a bit of concentration and effort.  Did Shakespeare really write entire plays in this form?

The inspiration for this poem, is friendship, obviously.  Lately, I've able to get together with friends that I haven't seen for a while, and I am trying line up lunch dates with a couple of others.  It makes me remember each time, the definition I once heard for true friendship: It doesn't matter the distance and time between meetings. True friends fall back into conversation and warm closeness as if they were continuing a great conversation or bold adventure which they had been involved with, the day before.

I love that feeling.

Well look at that

I'm not sure why yesterday's poem didn't post correctly.  I guess that is my lesson to remember to double check, every time.  I guess the reliability of technology began eroding after the invention of the pencil.

Here it is, now.

Ken

Drawn Back

Spinning
Beyond
The edge of
Deep
Cold
Chasm

Keeping
Grounded
By finger tips
Of
Outstretched
Hand

Drawing
Back
By caring hand
Of
Loving
Family


Ken Goree

Monday, November 28, 2011

Black Wings

Dragon scale
Evening
Ignited by
Sunset fire at
Burning
World’s edge
Crossed
By black
Silhouette
Wings
Tracing paths
To
Dark
Forest
Secrets


Ken Goree

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Cataract


Rapidly 
Approaching,
Speeding,
Rushing
As
The Descent
And
Deluge
Threaten
Spinning
Wind
Screaming
At
The
Fall
Into
The Cataract


Ken Goree

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Dark

Twisting
Black
Silhouetted
Dark branches,
Entwined,
Backset by
Bright
White
Moon

Each
Branch’s
Edge,
In dark
Night,
Furled in
Onyx
Mossy
Complexity

Cold
Breezes and
Mists
Choke all
Senses,
But
Stark
Soul contorting
Sight

Moments,
Count out,
A skin prickles
At awareness of
Approaching
Limb and
Vicious

Slashing
Sinew


Ken Goree

Friday, November 25, 2011

Absolute


There is a god in heaven above
That’s clearly your belief
There’s no room outside your doctrine
No matter how very brief

There is no god in heaven above
“Come on, you all, be logical”
There’s no room outside your doctrine
“It’s all pointlessly theological.”

There are beings in heaven above
You’re sure they visit by night
There’s no room outside your doctrine
To meet an alien, your greatest delight

There are no beings in heaven above
No flashing, lighted spaceships
There’s no room outside your doctrine
Only Earthly fellowships

There are hidden, evil, powers
Malefic in their design
There’s no room outside your doctrine
Stealing freedoms, our lives entwine

There is no great conspiracy
Stalking and stealing your rights
There’s no room outside your doctrine
Stop blaming, exercise your rights

Of one thing I am quite certain
One that’s worthy as an absolute
There’s no room outside my doctrine
To this I’m quite resolute

Of one thing I am quite certain
Through this circumvolute
There’s no room outside my doctrine
We’re wrong when touting an absolute


Ken Goree

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Walled In

Untouched
By heart to
Heart
Though
Unknowing
What stones have
Surrounded
Though
Unveiled
Smallest timid soul’s
Fragment
Though
Sealed
One last block
Placed


Ken Goree

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Rain Song

In time of healing
When aches wrack
Bone and sinew
Fevers rattle
And
Shake flesh

Calm space in which
To mend
Turning, tossing
Seeking comfort
And
Peace

Perceptions blurred edge
Strains to recognize
White noise’s
Origination
And
Purpose

In distracted pause
And pain forgotten
Searching for
Reason
And
Pattern
Feeling cooling wind’s breath
Chilling damp skin
As pattering droplets
Splash
And
Burst

Coalescing thought and sound
Bring forth symphony
Of healing power
Rhythm
And
Melody


Nature’s sweet musical remedy
Singing liquid strength
Giving body and soul sleep
Strength
And
Peace


Ken Goree

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Flash

In  headlights’
Flash
Single indelible moments
Frozen

In  headlights’
Flash
Startled, racing white mouse
Frozen

In  headlights’
Flash
Multi-colored sea of fallen leaves
Frozen

In  headlights’
Flash
Speeding, comet trail raindrops
Frozen

In  headlights’
Flash
Blurred, swirling snowflake arcs
Frozen

In  headlights’
Flash
Shining, bright-disk deer eyes
Frozen

In  headlights’
Flash
White-faced midnight walkers
Frozen

Single moments
Frozen
In  headlights’
Flash


Ken Goree

Monday, November 21, 2011

Innards

There once was a man named Ken
Who had trouble keeping his innards in
He said to the doc
Can you put on a lock
After stuffing them back where they’d been


Ken Goree

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Against Me

When in
Pain
Or feeling bitter
Disappointment
While shivering with
Cold
On discovering
Loss
If I needed to
Cry
It would be
So much better
If
You
Were
Against
Me


Ken Goree

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Preparing

Cold hardened
Raindrops
Rest upon
Frigid frost dusted
Surfaces

Freeze brittled
grasses
Stand up
Saluting
Defenders

Chill frozen
Air
Hangs still
Solemn for oncoming
Winter


Ken Goree

Friday, November 18, 2011

Rain, Rain

Precipitation
Precipitation
Depart this place
Post haste

Recidivate
When sight of you
Won’t inspire our
Great distaste


Ken Goree


Thank you, Ian, for giving me the direction for today's poem (and the possibilities for a future poem about space travel).

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Clarity?

Sitting
Waiting
For what will
Likely be
Nothing
Of
Consequence

You’ve been
There
Snow
Storm
Prom Night

Tomorrow will
Tell
The depth
Strength, and
Accuracy
of
Imagination’s
Clarity


Ken Goree

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Close

Close
My daughter
Knowing you
Are here
Close
Safe
My daughter
Knowing you
Are protected
Safe
Near
My daughter
Knowing you
Are loved
Near


Ken Goree 


Knowing my daughter is close, near and safe is what I need tonight.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Rushing

Rushing grey
Cotton Candy
Clouds
Roiling
Boiling
Rolling
Bursting
Rushing
Toward us
White
Whipped
Edges
Promise
Cold
Chilling
Cutting
Icy teeth
Fearful trees
Throw down
Their
Green
Yellow
Red
Orange
Shields
Admitting defeat
Surrendering
Until
Next year’s
Lengthening
Warm days
Bring back
Their strength
And Splendor


Ken Goree

Monday, November 14, 2011

Ripple

One
Rock
Thrown
Starts the ripple

One
Smile
Shining
Melts waiting hearts

One
Rock
Thrown
Starts the ripple

One
Warm
Touch
Gives awakening hope

One
Rock
Thrown
Starts the ripple

One
Scent
Drifting
Stirs passionate heart

One
Rock
Thrown
Starts the ripple

One
Note
Heard
Excites the ear

One
Rock
Thrown
Starts the ripple

One
Breath
Sighed
Captures the heart


Ken Goree

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Trace


Today was
And still is
The best day
Of my life
The best day
There ever was
I woke,
My Love
To find you
Asleep
The sleep of the …
Of …
The blessed

Spring sunlight
Had crept
Silently in
To show
The steady rise
And fall of
Your heart-filled chest
The flair
Of your nostrils
As the
Sustaining breaths
Whispered in
And out

Shortening
Morning shadows
Lent contrast
To your
Beautiful face
The silvering
Whiskers
And
Shining
Smooth
Head

Not wanting to
Wake you
From a slumber
So deserved
So often absent
Not wanting to
Wake you
From a moment
When your
Pain
Has gone

Not wanting to
Wake you,
As I look upon
My soul mate,
My perfect
Lover,
My prince
As I trace
My finger along
Your ears,
Nose,
Jaw
Each of your
So perfect
Features

Not wanting to
Wake you,
My Love
Needing to
See you
In this precious
Peaceful
Moment
Before you
Wake again
To the pain
And recede
From me
Please, God
Let this
Moment last
A little longer

Today was
And still is
The best day
Of my life
The best day
There ever was
I woke,
My Love,
To find you
Asleep
The sleep of the …
Of …
The blessed
I will love you
Always
Each piece
Of your
Perfection
Will always be traced
Upon
My
Soul


Ken Goree


This poem has been months in the making, though finally written last night.  My friend is a lady whom I have known for several years.  Her love of her husband was, and for a short time longer, is the most pure and beautiful love I have ever seen.  Each day, she would dance into the building with more excited exclamations about how wonderful her husband was.  At first, I thought, “This can’t be possible.  She must be over-compensating for a lacking in her marriage.”  This thought was echoed by others, as well.  We was wrong.  Soon, I began to realize that she was one of those people who had found her soul mate.   I wished I could be like her.  It gave me hope that I would find that perfect one. 

This perfect union must have been too powerful for God to bear.  Her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year.  He has lived well beyond the doctors’ expectations, and has been loved far more deeply than the rest of us could ever imagine.  The last I heard, this wonderful man, husband, lover, has little time left to share this life with his most beloved wife.  It isn’t fair. 

Their love will last eternity, but why couldn’t this stage have lasted a bit longer.

The idea for this poem came at the beginning of this school year.  My friend was talking to another teacher about how wonderful her morning had been.  Her husband was hardly able to sleep anymore, because of the pain from his cancer.  She had woken to find him peacefully sleeping beside her.  With absolute, calm joy in her voice, she described tracing her finger along his features; how it was the best day of her life, because he was so beautiful, and wasn’t in pain.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Autumn’s Music

Winds
Roll and tumble
Mists and
Rains
Like pounding
Surf
Invisible
In the night’s
Darkness
Until Street lights
Illuminate
Whipping
Swirling
Fume

Hood
Pulled and tied
Protecting
From
Frigid Storm’s
Might
Syncopated
Snaps of collar
And
Snaredrum pops of
Raindrops
Produce autumn’s
Sweet cool
Music


Ken Goree

Friday, November 11, 2011

Full Circle

Raindrops pounding down
Flattening sad browning leaves
Back into the earth


Ken Goree


I don't imagine leaves being part of the circle of life any more than we do.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Regretting Right


Day in
And day out
The knife twists
Regretting right
Done

Day in
And day out
Soul cries out
Regretting wrong
Undone

Day in
And day out
Lost, not knowing
Were time
Undone

Day in
And day out
Would any different
I have done
Done


Ken Goree


This is for all those people in the world who took the “high road,” and have been regretting it ever since.  Would you really do different, if you could go back and do it over again?

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Work Time


Whirring of radiator
Whispers and giggles of children in the hall
Droning of teacher’s voice through wall
Tapping of finger tips on keyboards
Rhythmic thudding of footsteps
Creaking of the tipping chairs
Sharp snap of closing binder


Ken Goree






Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Earning Title

In night wanderings
In search of a feeding place
In ferocious black anger

On morning’s sunrise
On edge of the rising spirit
On razor’s line decision

Of enlightened life
Of bright wonderous works, or
Of dark twisted sufferings


Ken Goree

Monday, November 7, 2011

What is the Difference?

What changed,
I ask,
That such
Significant
Alteration
Has come
Upon one
Previously
So Eruptive
So ferocious
Fierce, and
Furious
So tough
Wild, raging
And lashing
Savage
Today
So changed,
Not healed
But,
Tentative and
Mild
The surface
Holds within
Anger boiling
Soul restrains
And begs
For a
Guiding light
Tears hidden
Fearful
To show
What’s buried
Wishing for
Salvation,
Not knowing
The word,
To
Wash away
The
Pain


Ken Goree

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Disconnected Day

This might be melancholy
But probably that’s not it
I’m just running a bit too slowly
Decidedly low on wit

The house a little too quite
Even the dogs are treading soft
Nothing simmering in the kitchen
No enchanting smells from there waft

I’ve cleaned everything that I care to
Admittedly it wasn’t that much
Just barely enough to be noticed
Though clean enough to the touch

Sometimes a day of disconnect
Ain’t such a dog gone shame
If I wake tomorrow unrested
I’ve only myself to blame


Ken Goree

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Sisters’ Day

Faces turned
Toward Heaven
Letting sunlight
Warm deeply
Eyelids and
Chill blushed
Cheeks
Unable to
Restrain
Joyous
Smiles
Laughter and words
Exchanged
Life and stories
Shared
Autumn painted leaves
Wave and
Dance
For Sisters’
Amusement
Restored
Each sweet lady
Returns
Happily renewed
To their
Separate
Lives


Ken Goree

Friday, November 4, 2011

Lost Words


Lost words
Which at one pinpoint
Moment
Were
Sprung of thoughts
Feelings
Sensations
That will never
Repeat their
Patterns
On Earth or
In the Heavens
Mourn their
Loss
Celebrate their
Having lived
Before they are forgotten
Replaced by
Fresher, younger
Words


Ken Goree

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Time Rhyme

What an overwhelming time
To try to sit and write a rhyme
Forced to hurry, it’s a crime
No chance my verse will be sublime
Might need to bury it in lime
Cover it over with muck and slime
Wash my hands of poetic grime
From its grave it may just climb
And search for whom the bell will chime


Ken Goree

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Arrived

I see that
You’ve arrived
This day
To talk about
Your son

I have felt
A raging fear
That you
Have lost your
One

A growing boy
Who's lost
His way
Can’t find a
Guiding sun

He’s been so long
Now searching
On a quest
That isn’t
Done

Who he is
He does not know
From foundation
He has
So spun

Let him
Never think
From you
Guidance there is
None

Stay with him
Father
Or you’ll find
Your company
He will shun

Set him on
A solid path
And as a father
You’ll have
Won


Ken Goree


I want to give thanks for a single father, who showed up to his son’s conference today; after not showing up the three previous times.  My students know that I don’t hold grudges.  Each morning, they arrive, and they are once again untarnished and without sin.  An individual child can prove me wrong throughout the day, but each new morning I see a new blossom ready to show its beauty and value to the world.  Some need more nurturing and fertilizing than the others, but I know that they all have the potential to be a treasure to share.  I give the same honor and respect to parents who are making the effort to help their children grow and thrive.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Lake Vapors

Frigid night
Fuels
Such
Frightening, boiling, vapors
Whisping
From the
Lake’s cauldron
Morning light
Flames the
Steaming
Fogs
Unseen
Witches
Stir fresh water
Into
Potions
Wicked or wonderful
Elixirs brewing to
Strengthen heroes
Weaken tyrants
Cure sickened
Excite Lovers
Curse unworthy
What pay guides
The hands
That
Weave
Morning’s
Spells?


Ken Goree