Swing In A Tree

Sunday, June 15, 2014

"Father's Day"

Edna and Karl Abrams--1950s

Words don’t come easily on days like today. I miss my father every day, but Father’s Day pushes his absence into the forefront. On days like today, I wish for Dad’s boisterous voice booming through the house as he prepares his first cup of coffee for the day. I long for a whiff of his Old Spice scenting the room. I yearn for another hug and kiss where his morning stubble scratches my cheek. I need one more corny joke that makes me groan and roll my eyes. I want to argue once again about those hot subjects of politics, religion, sex and money!
So on days like today, words don’t flow as easily. My heart feels heavy, the hurt still painful even though this marks the tenth Father’s Day without Dad. Many of you celebrate today with your fathers. I hope you cherish the conversations you share and enjoy the time together. For those of you who mark today without your fathers, may your memories be sweet, kind, and loving.

Karl Abrams-retirement from Galveston County Sheriff's Department 1992

Monday, June 9, 2014

"The Corner of My Eye"

Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpse a laughing ghost

she morphs into my fancies

as she alters my reality

I sigh her name and capture her hand—

but she vanishes into the mist of who I was

so I release her when she smiles

recognizing myself reflected in her twinkling eyes

"Dragon" by David Chapman

Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpse a noble dragon
she sparkles with childhood jewels

as she flies into view

I reach out to touch her, to skip my fingers across her scales

but she slips out of reach

as she beckons me to follow her flight

back to simple pleasures

"Climbing Fae" by David Chapman

Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpse a dancing fairy

she glimmers with tomorrow's blessings

as she throws a kiss my way

I long to turn my head and follow her as I boogie along

but she’ll vanish from sight

so I let her tease me and entrance me all day

listening for her breath and the whisper of her wings

Saturday, June 7, 2014

"On The Outside"

Required attendance

Yet superfluous and unnecessary

once there

out of place

in the drunken alien celebration

every weekend of the year

Standing unnoticed

Sitting ignored

Free to observe

the tribal dance around the fire

Invited out of habit

Mandatory appearances

Yet resented and misunderstood

for Differences

pointless as a fork in a bowl of cereal

Friday, June 6, 2014

"Careless Words"

Careless words cast without thought

bristle under my skin

leave me empty

Careless words sucker punch me

demean my life

belittle my dreams

Careless words stated as fact

insult my views

binding me in heartache

Careless words spoken to wound

choke and repress

make me mourn

Thursday, June 5, 2014

"The Lingering Dream"

"Smoke Lady" http://desperadofromhell.deviantart.com/gallery/?q=smoke+lady#/d21pmk1

traces of a dream

nonsensical, inconsequential,

inescapable

mood tinting

skewing my day

blurring the boundary with reality

chasing an elusive image

whispers of memory

a scent

here and gone