Equipment

EQUIPMENT

Figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You've all that the greatest of men have had,

Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes

And a brain to use if you would be wise.

With this equipment they all began,

So start for the top and say, "I can."

Look them over, the wise and great

They take their food from a common plate,

And similar knives and forks they use,

With similar laces they tie their shoes.

The world considers them brave and smart,

But you've all they had when they made their start.

You can triumph and come to skill,

You can be great if you only will.

You're well equipped for what fight you choose,

You have legs and arms and a brain to use,

And the man who has risen great deeds to do

Began his life with no more than you.

You are the handicap you must face,

You are the one who must choose your place,

You must say where you want to go,

How much you will study the truth to know.

God has equipped you for life, but He

Lets you decide what you want to be.

Courage must come from the soul within,

The man must furnish the will to win.

So figure it out for yourself, my lad.

You were born with all that the great have had,

With your equipment they all began,

Get hold of yourself and say: "I can."

--Edgar A. Guest

Poem

Thoughts swirl
gliding across
azure skies
Above
creamy terrain
possibilities
wide open
do not incarcerate
or condemn their destiny
intangible buds
given time
and nurture
will ripen
mature
blossom
and bear fruit.

~A.P. 51509

A Spring Poem 'we made'

(Click on image to enlarge)

Spring

Did you observe Earth Hour? We tried to the best we could by turning off all electronics and enjoying a late dinner by candlelight.

Spring has sprung in Golden Gate Park.

We even found these newly

planted French Tulips.

A Spring Poem For George

Thoughts scatter like seeds tossed

from today's concerns

to hopeful future plans

swirling in the breeze

landing in soil

nurtured by sun and water

a slow dance to Clair De Lune

and suddenly

blossoms appear like opportunities

where you never expected.

~A.P. 3/09

Haiku

When a door closes

It makes room for something new

Possibilities

a.p. 2/20/09

Haiku

Can't hide in bare trees

Notice everything and heal

The aches in your soul

a.p. 2/18/09

Poem Sketch

Still blue water sits
in a small pond
Branches above sparkle
with morning dew.
Thoughts of you
circle in my mind
while droplets fall into the pond
and fashion their quiet circles.
A.P. 8/28/08

poem sketch

It might as well be midnight
except sitting upright
not lying in bed.
My mind persists
tossing ideas
plans
worries
fantasies
around in my head.
Even composing poems
that fade
if not given the
courtesy of being
written down.

A.P. 8/08

Poem Sketch

Poet / pour / courage / page

Poet,
Pour out your words
Of courage
Of beauty
Of truth
Of pain
Of life
As you live it
Touching delicate petals
Inhaling honeysuckle-scented air
Covering your ears from siren screams
Chewing on celery with a dollop of creamy peanut butter
Watching a bee fly drunk on nectar
Onto the page.

a.p. 7/22/08

Thinking on the blog and a poem

The Blogher conference is this weekend. I'm a little nervous and unprepared...
In my writing course I have a How-To article assignment this week...
In my Art History course we visit Netherlands and Austria this week...
Sweet peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots galore at farmer's market today...
I've been watching and enjoying episodes of the The Mary Tyler Moore Show! (Back in the 70's I was too young to understand it.) The cast are all great, but I really enjoy Rhoda's humor. Valerie Harper even has a website.
Today I remember the birthday of a childhood friend, Robbie Asbell, who died far too young.

I wrote a new poem sketch:
I wonder about my eastern European ancestors
Imagining them
Artisans
Farmers or gardeners
Rabbis or scholars
I will visit their land
And see what their world was like
Shapes of the clouds
Colors of stones
Expressions on faces
Wondering
if I can identify with
or resemble
anyone here
in this part of the world.

Poem Sketch

Loaf / Soul / Remember/ Seeds

I inhale the fresh goodness of a loaf just baked
and remember a morning in Paris
In a 17th century basement dining room with a
display of croissants, pastries, jams , cheese
hardboiled eggs with brown shells,
steaming coffee and cold orange juice
My soul treasures many moments
Shared with my Love, near and far
Seeds that blossom into memories
in my heart
As the years pass.

Poem Sketch

A poem sketch is an exercise using a word group and creating a poem with those words. (from the book Writing Poetry from the Inside Out by Sanford Lyne, which is very good!)

Here is my latest:

word list: Words - straw - spin - gold

Pen and paper is my loom
where words
spin from mind to hand
held with tension to weave
my words of straw into
shimmering gold.

A.P. 6/2/08

Poem Sketch

Underneath

The sky salutes today with
a clear blue horizon
Underneath
Silver and copper coins fall from a pocket and
clink as they hit the sidewalk
the boy scatters about rounding up
his loose change
Underneath
Leaves of bottle green drift
as the breeze shakes them loose
of thick branches
I slow down to pick up a leaf and rub
its granular skin between my fingers
Underneath
the small mass of flesh beating
underneath our skin
where love dwells or
indifference festers
what we nourish will
display what truly lies
in our hearts

A.P. 5/29/08

Haiku's

Haiku composed Monday during commute home:

Sky is overcast

One car train packed like sardines

At least I got on

*

Haiku composed during Tuesday morning:

Spring cannot be found

Bundled up in winter coat

Dreaming of sunshine

Haiku - Note to Self

Possibilities

Write daily life in new ways

Wherever you are

a.p. 2007

Poem

A Prayer in Spring

~Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

The which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends He will,

But which it only needs that we fulfill.