You will find here a mixture of old
and newer poems, mostly a mixture of
free verse and prose, with a smattering
of other things thrown in.
The Old Man (© 1996)
One day I saw a man, old and wizened and bent;
wrinkled head trembling,
tired feet shuffling,
everywhere he went.
He slowly raised his hand in greeting
as he went upon his way,
and remarked to me with a shaky smile
on the beauty of the day.
Once he was surrounded by little ones
wanting a piggy-back ride.
Once he'd held a squalling babe
with his loving wife at his side.
Now his children have all grown
leaving nothing but bitter tears;
the wife he'd adored with all his soul
gone these fifteen years.
Each morning he makes his breakfast
and eats it all alone,
and sadly wonders to himself
if his kids will ever come home.
He dons his hat, picks up his cane,
and goes out for a walk;
and if he's lucky, he'll find a kind stranger
with whom to have a talk.
Memories (© August,1977)
The heart reaches out
To the world
And grasps a rainbow
That lasts for but a while.
These dazzling moments
Of sunshine
Stay within the soul
And clouds
Cannot cover them.
Utopia (© Dec.,1996)
Take me to that place
Where no one ever cries.
Where no one suffers pain
And no one ever dies.
Take me to that world
Where all the days are sweet;
Where no stones are hurled
And no thorns will cut our feet.
Take me to that land
Where no mouth screams in horror ;
Where no one needs a hand
And all our trials are over.
Take me to that place
Where no one ever cries ;
Where no one suffers pain
And no one ever dies.
A Woman's Prayer (© Feb.,1997)
What I hope for
Is that you take me as I am,
As a person, as a woman
Whose heart is in her hand.
What I long for
Is that you know me well,
Know the secrets
That I will never tell.
What I wish for
Is that you will be true
To my love, that's given
With so much trust, to you.
What I pray for
Is that you will love me
For all those things I'm not
And all those things I will be.
Daisies In A Jar (© Feb.,1997)
I watched them rambling hand in hand,
Stick figures, across the grassy land;
Little blonde heads bobbing up and down
Amid the daisies growing all around.
Later, their heads upon their pillows,
I saw a spray of pussywillows
And in the middle like a star,
A daisy there, in the jam jar.
Memories like these in my heart I will hold
When little blonde heads have left the fold.
When they've moved to places far away,
Daisies in jam jars will always stay.
Warm Memories (© May.,1977)
I remember days I spent with you
In fields of flowing grass and fragrant flowers.
The sun shone on us both and warmed our love.
I remember nights I spent with you
And felt the softness of your soul.
The moon shone through the window of our hearts.
Priorities (© January 13, 1998)
Lonliness is difficult to endure.
It eats at you in ways you can't ignore.
Try to fill the hours with other things
But nothing can replace the joy love brings.
Was a time when you were all he wanted,
Before his heart became so small and stunted.
Now business takes up all his time.
Hey, is providing for his family a crime ?
Can money hold you in it's arms ?
Do "things" give any kisses warm ?
And when time is gone and life is through
Is love what you will bring with you ?
The Hill (© July 7, 1998)
Two men stood at the bottom of a hill,
Deciding whether to climb it.
"Not sure if I can.", said the one named Bill.
Joe said, "Come on, just try it."
They argued about it a long, long time;
In fact for many a day.
They argued until the cows came home,
And now the cows are in the way.
The Smile (© March,1985)
I smile at you, at friends and foe,
At strangers who past me stride,
But there is one thing you don't know ;
I'm crying on the inside.
You think I'm strong, I should be proud
Of the broncos I break and ride,
But my happy life is like a shroud
And I'm crying on the inside.
This Is Love (© Oct.,1977)
A soft caress,
A burning kiss,
A warm sweet breath,
An unshed tear,
This is love.
A quick embrace,
A wishful sigh,
A tender need,
A moonlit dream.
This is love.
My Weakness (© Sept.20,1997)
The silence is deafening, relentlessly droning
But I am comforted by the heavy grayness of the clouds.
They are my cocoon, wrapping me in peace.
The rain, the quencher of my thirsty soul,
Drowning me in awareness of life.
I would be content to be a tree here
Beside this quiet stream, roots planted
In the history of times untold.
I would be strong, undaunted
By the relentless winds of change
But I am only human and strength eludes me,
Keeps me bent upon a never-ending quest.
The rain is harsh now, chills my very marrow.
I feel a need to glean some warmth from you.
As you draw me nearer your heat ignites me.
I can not be a tree today for I am too weak to resist.
My strength will have to come from you.
The silence is broken now by the sound of your breathing.
Friends ? (© Oct.,1977)
Who can say who are your friends
And whom are not ?
Do those that call themselves your friends,
Really come through
When you put them on the spot ?
Time (© Nov.,1977)
Time....
A stick of dynamite.
The wick burns shorter and shorter,
Closer to the end.
The explosion will be short,
But the smoke will linger.
Impressions Of Evil (© Oct.31,1978)
Smoke spiraling to the ceiling
From candles in the center of the room.
The witches dancing, all in black,
Awaiting the arrival of the son.
Their senses numbed, thier feet are light,
Their movement slow and rythmical.
Bodies weary, their minds chant in unison.
A form appears in mists of swirling green.
The dancing ceases.
The candles flicker, then go out.
A scream pierces the darkness, then is gone.
Dying Love (© May 29, 1998)
Once I'd look into your eyes
To see love shining there.
Now I am afraid to look
And see that you don't care.
I hold your hand or kiss your brow,
So you say I am posessive.
Why is it you don't want me now ?
Why do you think my love excessive ?
I climb into our bed beside you
And you turn your back on me.
No matter what I try to do,
Your eyes say "set me free".
I pray that this is just a phase
That you are going through.
I hope and pray for better days,
When again, you'll love me too.
Starry Night (© Nov.,1978)
Another time, another place ;
Dancing starlight on your face.
With silver moon on silver trees,
We walked in snow drifts to our knees.
Crystal diamonds on the snow,
I felt the love between us grow.
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Copyright © 1977 to 2004 by Charmaine V.
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