POEM: "Afternoon"

I wrote this on one of the first days of summer of 2007, but the early morning shadows and the brisk air reminded me of autumn. The trail I was walking was cooled from a shower just before day break and the sounds of foraging birds filled the air, accented with the rustling of drying brush.

Just that week a comment from a friend said that autumn was her favorite time of the year, (I concurred) and this poem came to be. It may seem odd to write a poem about the fall on the first day of summer, but whatcha gonna do?

This is the first draft, and was certainly subject to review and several edits. But I never touched it after it was originally posted.

AFTERNOON
It is the afternoon
of the year.

Autumn spreads before me
long-legged shadows,
the air filtered
with the sweet
detritus of summer.

It is the season
of memory-filled sighs,
fire-hued trees,
a nuzzling of the soul
before long
days of night
and
the cold embrace
of leafless limbs
against
colorless skies.

It is the time
of seeking
warm
hands
loose
scarves
and promising
smiles.

It is the afternoon,
the welcome
restful,
well earned afternoon
of the year.

Terry L. Tyson
June 2007

POEM: Tapestry

I get a fair amount of requests for copies of this every time I recite it during my classes. Posting it here instead of having to write it out or pass it out, etc.

There is an exchange of ideas that occurs during any shared creative endeavor and when it really works it is almost magical.


TAPESTRY

I sense in the dark distance
the tapestry of a woven thought.

Unraveling each strand apart
the weave of a foreign synapse wrought.

To discover…
to uncover…

to finally feel
to completely reveal
inspiration that was not mine.

Along threads of blue, cold light
my mind now in wondrous flight,
seeking another

whose eyes see
as I see

and believing in what
cannot be.

As the tableau takes shape,
it is an embrace with no escape,

as our minds, soul and memory
forever entwine.

POEM: Journey

Sometimes we can't be with the person we love. Happenstance, circumstance, distance and time can get in the way. This was written on the road, days before reuniting with the one who makes my heart beat.

Good news, it is being published in a nice, but small circulation, art magazine. I felt honored and was pleased that they liked it.

Journey

Destination desired,
direction unknown
stumbling,
but not falling.

Unwavering, I carry on
hope filled, determined
to reach
the font
of my dreams.

Lady with
the laughing eyes
smiles across
the parallel path
we walk, together
but separate.

She too journeys,
seeking solace,
peace
comfort and
love.

Destination dreamed,
and seen
in flashes of
what could be
what should be
and what always has been.

Hands meet
when paths meet
and
lips touch
when hands touch.

I wait to walk
at her side.
I wait
to share
the visions
of horizons unknown.

Ages seem to
pass between times
when voices are heard
non-electronic.

But the first glance,
the first smile,
and the welcomed warm embrace
make the days
melt away
as if they existed
only in memory.


Destination savored,
tasted in captured
moments,
together as
the world fades
away from reality.


Time will tell
and the telling
has been this time
apart, as we continue
still walking together
towards a place
made for two.

Silence brings
doubt
but hearts fill
hope springs
and truth sings
with the first hello
and the final laugh.

Constant in heart
and head,
she walks and speaks to
me, invisible and unheard
but to my eyes, ears and soul.

Soon we shall
discover
our own path
making
our own way
to the place
that is only
our own.

Destination certain,
map hidden,
revealed with
each new morning
and drawn with
each new dream.

POEM: "Last Thoughts Before Sleep"

Latent contemplation scribed
as Sol
ended his westward trek.

Imaginings held throughout
the day,
finally collected
and placed on journal page

and sent...

days and nights
before being released.

Slumber arrives
and I dream of
your ruminations
as my missive,

mailed at sunset

reveals

my last thoughts before sleep.

POEM: Long Bridge City

My "beat" poem-homage to the city, written when I lived there a few years ago. First in a long line of bad poems to be posted here.

Long Bridge City

City of long bridges
invisible but for glowing
Incandescent
Fluorescent
Mercury vapors.

Are you diamonds spread across
a black velvet jewelers cloth?
(Bridge lights a string of pearls)

Or a con man's sick carnival -
one dollar for a peek at the freaks?
(Bridge lights a roller coaster track)

Downtown; click-click-click
Pump-heeled business woman
walks by
hair tight as her skin
I fall in love with you as you

Click-click-click
Eyes straight and determined
long legs and nails painted
naked.

Click-click-click
A moving pile of rags
pokes garbage with her
nail-ended can stick.

Smelling worse than the trash,
squat legs, painted with soot
I fall in love with her too…
"Are you my son?"

North Beach Carnival
the street musician's got a web site.
Stickman's missing a tooth,
but he's hyper-linked, man.

The horse-hyped vegan yells at me,
"Vegetables only - beef is murder!"
No control, he nods and I add
a tomato to my burger.

Ginsberg's dead yet his words
breathe into my soul.
But City Lights' flawed hero,
liked little boys.

Clickety, clang-clang
Desire's streetcar takes me
to Souvenir's Wharf.
Hucksters
Whores
Sour dough.

Sea smell intoxicates
food smell invigorates
I eat an ocean insect.

The Grotto serves me
shaken but not stirred
extra salad and a wink.

Prisoner's Isle for Big Al
C Block and twenty days in the hole.
It was real here, man...
"What, no electric chair?"

slam-Slam-SLAM
They heard the New Year's Eve Party
from across the sea.
No long bridge for them, man.
"What, no gas chamber?"

Double-breasted Banty Rooster
Smilin' Mayor Willie.
We love him, cousin.

Followin' the proud tradition,
crows every morning
from Tower Coit,
"I got all the keys to this machine!"

Snap-crackle-pop
The gum smacking Castro Queen
gots a adam's apple
bigger than a grapefruit.

Shaved pits and eybrows.
Knocks me down, she sings
Gospel songs by the B-52's.
Seize and sees my woman,
Bemoans, "What a waste, sweetheart,"
Me or her? It don't matter.

Bzzz-(wipe), bzzzzzzzzz-(wipe)
Satan Tat-2's
Half-priced today
5 bux a letter,
(the first one's free)

Pierce it, poke it, make it
red, yellow and blue
Just don't fake it
with a rub-on tat-2

De Youngin's
Gallery's falling down, falling down
This is my chapel
Hockney's my saint.

Hopper, Whistler,Van Gogh
(cover your mouth when you cough)
Shhhh, we're in church.
"Roller Blade OUTSIDE, fool."

Homeless cherub,
Don't hate The Haight
time's standing still
and the summer of love
lasts until Christmas.

Take a deeep breath
and you'll want to
eat a pizza for breakfast.
"Got any Ding-Dongs left, man?"

City of Long Bridges,
Everyone leaves their heart for you.
Can't afford to live here,
couldn't afford to not to.

You're a virgin Homecoming Princess
who puts out.
You're a rare verse of poetry
written on a paper bag.

A lifetime of experience
worked into a hazy weekend.
Bitter cold summer
warmed by an Irish Coffee.

The city's got a
heartbeat, beat, beat.
Thump-thump felt
through the sidewalk.

Ain't gonna flat line
even after Richter's gone,
“rumble-roll-rumble.”

Long bridges hum
under tires and the
city twinkles
a good night kiss.

Focus

A good friend suggested that I sequester the things I write from the things I make. With that in mind, I'll start moving a few things from "Modern ARTifacts" over to "Words". I'll make the move over the next few weeks and do my best to add to both blogs.

At first, I'll take some of my old, lousy poetry and place it in its new box. After that, maybe some of the stories and if dare, write some new stuff too. I think I'll use this for the personal entries that strain to be essay-like.

Okay?

Thanks to the three of you who read this now and again.

T2