Lonesome

When there’s no one there I’m so alone.
No one to see, no one to phone.
All are busy or don’t want to talk
With old folks who mumble and can no longer walk.

I sit by the window watching children at play
And doze on the sofa at the end of the day.

Now I miss interaction with you active souls
Who are striving to reach their “dreamed about” goals.
I would be happy with a middle-aged chum,
But even these folks are busy with fun.

So, if I have no one, why must I stay?
I would not mind if I could just fade away.

The Loser

I’m a loser, yes, a loser!
Not a boozer, but surely am a loser!
Take me to the ballgame; I root for the other team.
In the middle of the opera, when the tenor sings, I scream.

The carnival won’t do at all.
I get sick on a pony ride.
When the clown laughs at the circus,
I’ve a tendency to hide.

At all the high school dances,
I’m the flower on the wall.
And during laps around the gym,
I’m the one to fall.

When betting at the horse race,
The handsomest is my choice.
I yell for him to hurry up,
But he doesn’t hear my voice.

If there’s a time for choosing sides,
I wait to hear my name.
Everyone is called aside,
But I’m not in the game.

They all seem so much smarter
And faster by far than me.
But a loser sometimes wins at last
By being “competition” free.

Odd Man Out

In a large group there is always an “odd man out,” as the saying goes. The one who marches to a “different drummer.” The one who cries when everyone else is laughing or smiles when everyone else is sad.

This one sees gremlins in the branches of willow trees and elves in the meadow grass. Dreams are more real to him than reality and he glorifies his fantasies.

The dreamer is mocked and scorned for the amusement of the “proper and prim” who refuse to see the beauty and fun of life.

But those with the free spirit to enjoy living without apologizing will find happiness forever.

Changing Seasons

April laughs with daffodils;
Dogwoods bloom in May.
June sings out the roses;
Summer’s on its way.

Fish are darting in the creek;
Frogs bask on a log.
The lazy days are long and sweet
They calm the frisky dog.

Soon enough the air will cool;
The breeze will bring the chill.
The leaves will fall and wither there,
Upon a frosty hill.

So daily here while time is ripe;
These days pass much too soon.
For winter then will settle in
Beneath a frigid moon.

Then I’ll snuggle by the fire
And wrap myself in dreams,
Remembering those summer days
When I dabbled in the streams.

I’ll hibernate till spring returns
And brings back warming sun.
Then I shall cast my coat aside
And join some summer fun.

Rainbow

My life had hit a landslide,
A sad, unhappy spot
Where nothing seemed to satisfy.
Everything turned to rot.

But I have found a rainbow,
My little pot of gold;
Good friends have offered handshakes
When my heart had been so cold.

Their smiles have warmed my frigid face.
My eyes are shining too.
My friends are teaching me to laugh
And sing along to you.

My life has turned a corner
And carries a lighter load.
So I’ll hang on to that rainbow.
It smooths my bumpy road.

Pat’s surprise!

This weekend I got a chance to go to Pat’s house to finally show her the blog.  Imagine an 89-year old, who has never been on the internet, looking at this blog.  She was so surprised!  “Look at how nice it looks — and the pictures are wonderful!”

So I was showing her how people view each poem and click “like” or make a comment.  “How do they know to come?  Who are these people?”  I told her some people even “follow” the blog — so they’re looking for more posts.  “Amazing.”  So, as you can imagine, this took some time to show her around the blog.  We clicked on the icons for folks who “liked” or commented — and she was amazed at all the different types of people reading the blog.  I showed her how I post it to facebook, and that opened up another long discussion!

She is just thrilled.  I am still working my way through her old poems — but I encouraged her to get on the stick and write some new ones.  Already she has written a new one.

Many, many thanks to those of you that are following the blog, liking, and commenting.  You are making Pat’s day! (month!)

More poems on the way …

 

– Pat’s friend, Theresa

No Tears

I have no tears for departed friends.
The tears are shed for me,
That I could not follow them
And join them to be free.

I envy friends who wait above
In sweet tranquility,
But I shall meet them once again
When the angels catch up with me.

My Mind is Blank

My mind is blank; my soul is sank.
I’m tired to the core.
I only blink at the kitchen sink
And slam the cupboard door.

My dust cloth droops in shameful loops.
There’s a pounding in my head.
I cannot think; I’m on the brink.
I’m going back to bed!

My Garden Grows

My garden grows in spite of me.
The flowers know me well.
I fertilized and watered them
But, still, their petals fell.

If I ignored and passed them by,
They punished me with frowns.
They turned their heads away from me.
I heard their groaning sounds.

I swear I saw them shift their roots
So more big weeds could sprout,
Knowing I would have to stoop
And irritate my gout.

I just can’t please them though I try,
But I don’t have the time to spare.
They must survive all on their own
Without my special care.

So, if they want to harrass me,
I will not spoil their show.
I still enjoy their lovely blooms
As long as they will grow!

Yesterday I Was Alone

Yesterday, I was alone
And no one saw me cry.
I hid my fears and dried my tears
In case you happened by.

No one came to fan the flame
So embers would not die.
I waited at the open gate;
My hopes were running high.

I shall not care if you are late
Just so you come along.
Have you forgotten that I exist?
Perhaps my thinking’s wrong.

If friendship’s dead, I wish you’d said
That you no longer care.
Then I could face the human race
With a new friendship to share.