Vineyard V
The past did reign , tears
left stain, and the wine flows in
aged apology…
© CMM 2015
Castello de Amorosa
Vineyard IV
Diverse rich molten soils
erupt into twisted hope
with grape-bulging vines…
© CMM 2015
Napa Valley
Vineyard III
Behind aged stone walls,
Italian wine flows as veins
breathed from purple grapes…
© CMM 2015
Napa Valley
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
Sunrise (Summer Solstice
Sunrise
Morning on the shores brings you back to the place where
you can realize sunrise
in sequential order of
light, flight and the rush of tides…
Copyright: CMM 2014
Winter’s Solstice
Winter’s gray and silver sky.
Pry upon my watchful eye,
as I see the sun go down
setting shadows on the ground.
Yet I know and then I hope
when darkness comes that I will cope
with the fact that this will be
0nly temporarily.
For after December 21st
the snow will come from winter’s burst.
The sun will once again begin to shine
taking up more of the time
of day to give back to me;
my longing sense of sanity…
Copyrighted: 2010 CMM
Coffee Shop Poetry
Voices came in sizes and inflections
telling their lives in all directions.
Stories of anger, mothers and life,
sexual encounters and academic strife.
Nationalities were all represented,
each as they stood an presented.
Works of art in a smoke filled room,
coffee ordered and quickly consumed.
Listeners listened and interpreted the verse
some as a blessing, some as a curse.
Emotions were heightened as one gesticulation
stood on the edge of suicide or elation.
Others subdued in memories of war,
while others recalled the evenings they scored.
Readers and audience like me were all strange,
as we take words and life and uniquely arrange.
Then step to the mic, they gave up their soul,
from the very young to the seasoned and old.
My hair caught the smell of smoke in the air
while I listened and captured the love and despair.
I turned in the end and stood to see
they all were a fraction of reflection of me.
Copyrighted: CMM 2004
Eagle and Child Inkling 