Sunday, November 28, 2010

On the Plane to Arizona

I went to visit some friends over Thanksgiving, and, as is typical, being above the clouds sparked creativity (as well as napping).

Brown and blue and white
The land extends,
The crumpled earth
Outspread below
Just like a comfy sweater.
And in the distance,
Mountains
Dressed in chalk-dust clouds
Call out
In rumbling, heart-waking
Tones.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Brother

This poem is for my brother, in case you couldn't tell. It's funny; I can still remember lifting him up so that he could turn on the light in the hallway, back when neither of us was tall enough to reach on our own. I remember the times that I did wrong by him, and the times that he did wrong by me. But through it all we stuck together, and anytime there's trouble or hardship, I know that he's there, a shoulder to stand by or cry on. So this poem's for you, my brother. Of all my brothers, by blood or friendship, you are the highest and first. Just wanted you to know.


Terrible, wonderful, beautiful,
Strong.
He’s half of my heart;
Someone I want to protect,
To fight alongside, and to
Hold. 

I lean on him;
He brightens the
Darkness by
Wisdom and wit.
Bent down with my
Cares and regrets,
Without hesitation he
Helps me to carry
Them all.

It’s then that I realize
That holding him,
He holds me
Too.

We are not just
Two.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Perpetual Motion

For this poem there wasn't so much of the typical process of trying to write, then realizing that I wasn't saying what I meant, and trying again. Basically, this one went from observation to page in a few minutes. That doesn't happen often, but when it does it's a "unique" experience, for lack of a better word. It's like you were supposed to write what you wrote. You don't feel so much like you're writing a poem. It's more like you're just talking, just breathing, just...being. It feels natural, is what I'm trying to say. But enough of this intro. Here's the poem.


The breeze ran on
Perpetually
Behind the bright red car,
And as he passed, the
Fresh-mown grass and
New-fallen leaves
Leapt up and
Shouted out
“Hurrah!”
Then dropped again
To whisper among
Themselves.
For was he not a fool
Who chased forever
One who fled
Perpetually
From his embrace?