feet tracing ruts
softened by the weight of others
the path was worn
polished
not by insight
but by generations
unquestioning the same direction
a weed split the sidewalk
where my foot hesitated
they handed us maps
already marked, folded
creased at the routes
they wanted us to traverse
walls hung with heirlooms
no one claimed
shadows
longer than the rooms
classrooms’ chalkboards of certainty
offices pressed flat with protocol
we learned the art
of veiling the eye behind the eye
we drank from vessels
lips like waiting mouths
etched with forgotten crests
believing the shape of the cup
taught us thirst
air rehearsed its return
like a tethered animal pacing
the same invisible circle
inscribed with grace
shaped like a cage
narrowing the limit
of knowledge
of wisdom
altars made from repetition
shaped our days
to fit the mold
filed down the splinters of doubt
until only smooth compliance remained
tell me—
what is awakening
if not the moment
your hand reaches
for a handle
no one told you was there
and the quiet moment after waking
my heart
uncertain
unshod
hesitates…
Call me spoiled, call me late for a date, call me casual or smirky or crazy
But do not call me sloth-like, sluggish, disengaged, placid or lazy.
Call me from Mexico, Canada, China, France or another fine place.
Call me from Venus, Mars, or a meteorite from outer space.
Just don’t call me from Kansas City, for it is where I live.
I already know every relative of Clyde, Celander and Viv.
Don’t call me from these two area codes - 816 and 913,
They are all Kansas City numbers, and would much annoy me.
Call me happy, joyful, enthusiastic, wild and carefree.
Never call me stupid or to dine on a persnickety tea.
Don’t call me at two or three a.m. that would irritate me.
And never never never call me from area codes 816 and 913.
Have it
At room
Temperature
Before cooking.
No marinade.
Just coarse salt
And pepper.
Hot heavy pan
Medium to high heat.
Flip when seared.
Dark brown.
Lower heat.
Lotsa butter,
Mushrooms,
Chopped shallots,
Drops of
Lee and Perrins.
Squirt of lemon &
Dash of parsley
At the end.
Have a warm plate.
Drop it all from the pan.
Keep plate
On low warm.
Let it sit for 20min.
Tenderloin is delicate.
Twisting and turning words as if I'm unsure,
Because your experiencing your own internal hurt, immediately relating others stories to your own without knowing,
Everything that happened within the story,
Bits n pieces without compassion of any kind,
How can you speak love without that fruit on your vine,
Who will listen or take heed to words without compassion,
If it's not done or said out of love then what happens,
Then they are considered empty words so why would they listen,
To a heart that just gives instructions without ears willing to listen,
And not just hearing a story but listening with your soul,
To help face the part you're struggling with the most.
Love me like you only have 3 hours to live and I'm 5 hours away
Let your heart listen to my dreams, so you can hear me serenade you to our future
Love me like yes, you can have the last cookie, and I'll give you my whole heart not just a piece
Because heaven shared you, so earth is my slice
Let your words affirm me when my wavering thoughts get stuck in the tides at sea
Love me like time can't be taken for granted and watch how much more you can see
Let your hidden words shower me and I'll wash the places you can't reach
Love me like the reaper on a Harley because I need a ride or die
Let’s go beyond their comprehension
p.s. adventure is at the corner where love awaits...
If she does not look pretty you can forget your pay
Leonardo watched the patron keenly that day
She had better not look corpulent, make her look thin.
da Vinci knew now what a pickle he was in.
God is more than ABLE we just have to be willing RECIEVING
IF DREAMS ARE INSTRUCTIONS FROM GOD WHAT ARE NIGHTMARES
Just so ever believing
Amidst our doubts, wants, and cares
~
Heart of the matter is
YOUR HEART MATTERS
Latter rains spills
Humanity yet still never listens just continues to ever-chatter
8/4/23
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2023
It's eight o'clock on a monday morning,
I'm wrestling with a tissue box - it a mystery,
the guys who make these must have macabre humour,
no machine, standing, grinning, funny hat, easy to her.
My wife knows how to open, must be from a former life,
if it's difficult, it must be the Chinese, trouble and strife;
a flat-pack arrives at the door, oh no - not that again,
anyway it's done but wife says: 'shelves not right,' pain.
Upstairs is assembling a bed - from eight o'clock in morning,
until afternoon, when they disassemble - the same, boring;
the shaving foam button is stiff - there should be no fuss,
the wife looks, I press firmly and it then covers both of us.
Don't use the sat-nav if you're taking a trip to heaven, well
because there's an outside chance you may end up in hell.
"Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth"
The title
meant little
to the entitled,
the small print
was ignored
for the glittering
walking jokes
that led
the Earth;
all
pages burnt
for fuel
the axis turned
(LadyLabyrinth / 2022)
The Ticket Punched to Leave New World:
Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth
I don't need to do
anything much
today.
Ate my breakfast
took my pills
and showered.
The bins go out
Tomorrow.
I don't have
A cat.
The TV's pre-set to record;
I watch it anyway,
(A president to come
Or will he go?)
A mass of people swelter
In a too hot sun
Or huddle bleakly in the snow.
The riots will kick off after dark.
It goes along every day the same.
The instructions that we got don't match the kit.
The manual we asked for never came and
Nobody can work out how to make it go.
Is a kiss still a kiss when
In the air and ever care
Where it lands blown by one who
Loathes missing
Blowing kisses more kissings
Contort your brow purse your lips
Come forward plant the kiss so
As not to worry whether
You'll miss, feel the pleasure of
Good measure stay and persist
A kiss of a kiss of cautiousness!
Have patience...... My gracious flow
Into it!
Starlet had to purchase those keen fun, artistic boots
They remind her of so many great things
The times she and grandma were in cahoots
Dancing and jiving with zippy zips and zings
Her grandma’s estate settled in the middle of last week.
She left Starlet five thousand dollars and some lemon tea.
She said don’t spend this on anything boring, common or bleak.
Purchase something jazzy that will remind you of me.
She bought a ’74 Gremlin and painted it with daisies in color.
Rebuking requests from her sister, mother, daddy and brother.
These boots reminded her of grandma and made her laugh.
She also adopted from the zoo a koala and sweet-tempered giraffe.
(sample given as image above)
To write a good Pantoum
one must follow the rules;
this unique form allows
duplicate lines to form-
and emphasis, arouse.
To write a good Pantoum-
four stanzas plus must be.
Second, and the fourth line,
repeat as first and third-
in next stanza's design.
To write a good Pantoum
last stanza's final line
repeats top's number one;
first stanza's third line fits
last stanza's second- done!
To write a good Pantoum
repeating lines is part;
Tho words remain the same-
the meanings often change;
good word choice is the aim.
April 4, 2022
Contest: Form M - Monchielle Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
Theme Chosen: 6. Poetry
you must be in love
if you see the stars are brighter
talk to plants and animals
and they answer
now you dive into the sea
but doesn't know how to swim
travel the world
but it doesn't leave the place
you must be in love
if you suddenly become contemplative
in each stone you see a diamond
in every gesture a meaning
love has a thousand shapes
and who loves
not answerable for their own actions
act exaggerated and go crazy
there is no way to stop the madness
because love is an infection
love is something unreal
but if you are lucky enough to be infected
please never try to heal
I am going to die of something the old woman said.
I won’t care about hugs or kisses after I am dead.
But today when I see my grandchild, I want some fun.
I want hugs and kisses, I want to hold his hand some.
Sure there is a pandemic, and the old people die.
But wouldn’t it be worth it for one hug? She’d sigh.
Her husband was leery, he wanted a couple of more years.
He gave her the six foot instruction, which fed on his fears.
Her husband was cautioning her, to stand back though.
He wanted her to be safe; he was afraid of her determined glow.
Their grandson at six made a beeline toward them.
He was so glad to see his favorite two once again.
He ran past his grandma straight into grandpa’s arms.
Grandpa swept him up and said “I can’t see the harms.”
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