Old Canvas
There was a time,
when the canvas was plain.
Clean brushes we picked up to
dip into the colors of youth,
Choices of hope
to build masterpieces
for tomorrows.
Now we try to patch the
old paint, and sit in front
of a canvas cluttered…
© CMM 2014
Table of Love
I think it was chocolate mahogany
large rounded carved ornate legs
coming down under the broad leaf table.
Grandma made the green gingham tablecloth spread across
over a protective plastic lining beneath.
Seven places for the family in the evening meal,
three generations of grandparents, parent, children,
head of the table Granddaddy sat quiet, not saying much.
At the other head, was Grandma; she would talk about the day.
Who did what when, and “lord, it is hot today.”
Mother sat in the middle of my little sister and me.
She often didn’t say much, when she did, it was measured.
My older sister sat across from me with her light brown hair,
blue eyes that never smiled.
Next to her, my brother, with his dark hair and light eyes,
glancing often to the criticism that came his way.
There was a lot of pain at the table at Grandma’s house.
The pain was from the very person who was not present.
It was a gift of my father before he left …
The sun would set in the evening over the table of love.
But it didn’t take away the darkness that no one spoke about.
© copyrighted: 2002 CMM
Gray Barn
There are barns that reek with cruelty,
with white washboards of dirty gray decay.
They stand barren against the bleakly sky
broken and worn from another day.
The wind now blows through them,
making sounds when the boards vibrate.
The barn keeps rhythms of the past,
whether good or whether it forsaken.
The winter’s expressions slide down the eaves,
of snow and ice and barren ground.
Now alone with all the memories,
making cracking gray barn sounds.
Love According to Shakespeare
Happy Valentine’s Day
Shakespeare in his bloomers svelte
wrote of love and how he felt.
Yet he seemed to be confused
even in his witty muse.
He loved a lady fair with scarlet,
yet he often referred her harlot.
He loved a young male of letters wrote,
but begged him times a sorrowful note.
His mind of genius and of words,
repeated times are often heard.
In plays and sonnets and in verse,
thespians memories do rehearse.
So goes his thoughts of madness,
the soulful writer’s joy and sadness.
A Valentine’s Day of day’s remembrance
seek out your own Shakespearean semblance.
Copyrighted: 2007 CMM
Photo Copyrighted: 2003 CMM
(Dedicated to my son, and his Shakespearean Studies)
Old Lang Syne
The crystal clings with toast of things remembered from the year.
The wine pours red and we nod our head to loved ones we hold dear.
A kiss held softly an embrace held tightly all to say I love you.
That moment of kindness of auld lang syne with feelings of old and new
Brace the old man who now lifts his staff among the stars of time
As we pray to the mystery of luck and fortune let’s sing to old lang syne.
We will remember and not forget and hold all unforgotten with years.
We will laugh among us, and cry for the lost ones all remembered in tears…
© CMM 2014
2014 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,100 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 18 trips to carry that many people.
He Came
As the chickadee finds its nest,
among the prickly leaf…
The labored Mother sighs
as birthing finds relief…
Then nature joins a chorus,
among the star they sing…
Humanity realized His birth
of the Resurrection King…
He came among the world
in quiet winter’s rest…
Chickadee without notice
continues to make his nest…
Copyrighted: CMM 2003
CHRISTMAS TEA
Brown aroma filters through
the porcelain pot wrapped in
a holiday Christmas print
Tea covey placed around,
Tied at the top with a green ribbon.
Pouring into the cup the sound
of generations past of many pourings,
expressed within generations,
a knowing of shared time.
The warmth of the spiced tea
brings smiles caused by conversations,
of simpler relationships in an eloquent
fluent exchange of Christmas gentility
Christmas 2013 © CMM
Eagle and Child Inkling 