Outside And Inside

Outside And Inside
21 October 2012

The air lost its charm
And acquired a chill,
But my heart is warm
And full of goodwill.
As I smoothed the sheet,
It still retained
Some of your body heat.
The memory contained
In my heart of the embracing,
Holding you within my sweep
And full-bodied interlacing
Before falling asleep.
Yes, the weather outside
Is cloudy, raw and gray,
But my heart's song inside
Is bonny, blithe and gay.

Nighttime Pastime

Nighttime Pastime
15 October 2012

tiredness' spawn
say, "Good night"
then with a yawn
turn out the light
time for sleepyhead
to spot and tilt
toward the bed
crawl under the quilt
beat retreat
tumble deep
under the sheet
and fall to sleep

Retool The School

They're going to replace the elementary school I attended. I went to the website, reviewed the plans and here's my reaction:


Retool The School
10 Oct 2012

The new blueprints for elementary instruction
Look like cost-cutting cookie-cutter construction.
I'm not impressed, it makes me want to wail.
It looks like the hybrid of church and jail.
There are uglier buildings of some manner
Built by the Soviet Union's central planner.
I'm wondering, "Did the architect goof,
Or is that a train trestle on the roof?"
There's masonry veneer, that's in style now
And ought to last for a while, anyhow.
I remember as a child climbing on a rack
In the gym for a better view of the track
Going east to Colorado roadways.
The school in Monument Valley displays
The local scenery and cultural fame.
Why can't Monticello's do the same?
Would it spoil plans and be unsound
To make the upper windows round?
How about if the windows were set
With a stained-glass alphabet?
I'm sure the plan is sensible
And it's design is defensible,
But could it be an inspiration
To some future generation?
Instead of having to go there and pretend,
What if students were excited to attend?
Hopefully the interior decorations
Will stimulate aspirations.
Isn't it the committee's duty
Not to mistake novelty for beauty?
This probably is closing the barn door
After the horse has escaped,
The contract has been awarded and more
It's too late for plans to be reshaped.

This Person's Life Lessons

This Person's Life Lessons
6 October 2012

The rules of life stipulate:
Dress up, show up, participate.
Always give it your best shot.
Be a player, not just vegetate.
You never know how long you've got.
Discover and follow you passion,
Wether it's in or out of fashion.
Do the very best you can.
Be above the barbs, stings
And insults of humanity's clan
That living in society brings,
Like assaults on your values.
Usually it's the little things
That make you sing the blues
And tug at your heartstrings.
Whatever life offers, you can refuse,
Refuse to take the easy way out.
You always have a chance to choose
A life that's worthwhile throughout.
Life always gives you chances
To be bigger than circumstances.

Where Moonbeams Fall

Where Moonbeams Fall
original by Jo Wall
21 Sept 2012

In the soft muted colors of the night,
The ethereal fairy dances in the moonlight,
Scattering glittering stardust in her play.
Serenity and inner joy are reflected
In the lightness of her fairy ballet
And her scintillating radiance is projected
As she dances communing, interconnected,
Perfected with the universe intersected.

Party Hearty

A friend asked me to write a generic birthday poem.

Party Hearty
27 Sept 2012

We heard of something divine
Thru a friend's grapevine,
And wanted to drop you a line
To let you know this is genuine.
It's time for a celebration,
To kick up your heals.
Yeah, it's a declaration
Of how good it feels.
Bring on the birthday cheer
Of drink, candles and cake.
It happens only once a year
So make the memory a keepsake.

Vacation Typification

Vacation Typification
24 Sept 2012

The MP3 music's bopping.
Step on the gas and keep hopping.
Crossing the mountain we aren't stopping
Even tho our ears are popping.
Although it seems to give you pains
To simply switch highway lanes,
We're playing leapfrog by lane swapping.
Past the summit the elevation starts dropping.
Coasting down from the pass
Improves milage and saves gas.
We have to turn and swerve
To make the next curve.
We're going fast, for goodness' sakes,
Before we wreck, hit the brakes!

Yesterday's Heroes

Yesterday's Heroes
14 Sept 2012

Men of World War Two,
Called the Greatest Generation,
Did what they had to do
Earning eternal veneration.
After coming home, they bought bungalows
With master bedrooms, picture windows,
Sliding glass doors and backyard patios.
Everyone started watching TV shows.
Those fighting GI Joes
Are yesterday's heroes.

Fighting in the jungles of Viet Nam
Was schizophrenic and unpredictable,
At times there was confusion and bedlam.
Many media stories were contradictable.
The men came home to stereos,
Women wearing pantyhose,
Muscle cars, paisley clothes
And eating sloppy joes.
Alas, today's John Does
Are yesterday's heroes.

Cool Dip Pool Tip

Cool Dip Pool Tip
9 Sept 2012

All this dancing's making me sweat
The caller's moving us so fast
My clothes are getting all wet.
I don't think my stamina'll last.
I know, let's go and get cool
By square dancing in the pool.

This caller's the fastest talker in town,
Staying in here, we'll only get hotter.
I think I know of a place to cool down,
Let's go dance and splash in the water.
That's a way for us to get cool,
By square dancing in the pool.

Vacation Conversation

This was inspired by my niece's blog: http://kristamaesmith.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/an-ode-to-the-travel-bug/


Vacation Conversation
3 Sept 2012

Come away with me, my dear.
Let's plan to get out of here.
The window's view is a nice touch,
But it doesn't change that much.
Let's go on a traveling vacation
Where the scenery has variation.
We'll give our routine the slip,
Shake things up by taking a trip.
Perhaps we'll risk the dangers
Of having to trust strangers.
You never know what we'll find.
Really, tho most people are kind.
They're going their busy way
Unmindful of our visiting foray.
If we don't make it too abrupt
They won't mind a pattern interrupt.
If introductions aren't too awkward
Their hospitality might be a reward.
There's a big wide world to see.
It'll be an adventure for you and me.
Come away with me, my dear.
Let's plan to get out of here.