Numb

Numbness invades
once again.
Daily chores...
a quiet battle.

Another day of
telling lies.

"So how are you?"
"Fine, thank you,
and how are you?"

Forging smiles...
a thin disguise.

But be at rest,
O weary soul.
For numbness
always passes.

Tomorrow's dawn
promises hope.
Clear of webs
and un-frayed rope.

Flying in V Formation

I am stronger with you all by my side
How easy it will be to arrive.

Catch me now I'm falling out of formation
I feel a dragging sensation.

But we unite our flight in harmony
and reach our goal effortlessly.

Leadership is shared, respect is mutual.
Abilities and talents we combine.

In formation, we cheer our front man on
and thus, maintain speed.

Should I become hurt or ill, I'll never
be left on my own.

I am stronger with you all by my side
How easy it will be to arrive.

If we all collaborate, despite our differences,
How pleasant the flight of years will be.

A Winter Morning

Slowly leaving a peaceful state,
awakening to a deafening silence,
with an odd glow peering through blinds,
chilling air touches skin,
as blankets get tossed aside.
Stepping over to the window,
sun-lover curiously opens the blinds.
Gasp of surprise breaks the silence.
Countless number of brilliant white flakes,
all collected quietly during the night.
Still floating down without a sound.
No wind disturbs their travel.
Each unique in its' own design.
Stacks on the ground in massive quantity.
With no urgency to this Saturday morning,
immersed in deep thoughts of getting started,
goes back to the warmth left under the covers.

The Barber

Can I help you?...
Do you cut hair?
I'll have a ham and cheese on rye.
I'm beyond help.
Is Louis in?
Man points to head.
Absolutely!
I'll take a cut.
Who is the best haircutter?
Is Evan in?
I'll wait for one of the guys.
I'll wait for Kristina.
Is Angela in? ( there is NO Angela! )
Do you cut little boys... I have a baby in the car.
Do you take Master Card or Visa?
Can I get a "senior" cut?
I need my car washed.

And my favorite of all...reeking with genuine sarcasm...
Well ( ah duh! ) I am here for a haircut!

Excuse me, Captain Obvious, but I didn't ask
you if you "want" a haircut ( why else would you be here? )

Ahh, time for some fun...
I motion to this fly to come over and sit in my web.
I then net him with a cape ( tight around his stinking neck! )
and prepare him for dinner. The reason I ask you sir,
if "I" can help you, is because some customers like to
wait for a particular haircutter and I never assume.

Now that he is sitting one peg lower in my chair...
the next polite question.

How do you want your hair cut?...
Shorter ( another Captain Obvious ).
A regular with a tapered back.
A crew cut.
Flattop please.
Number 3 on top, triple zero on sides and back.
A skin fade.
All scissor cut.
Regular.
Machine, but not too close.
Cut my hair exactly the way you cut it last time,
my wife really liked it.
Can you just cut the grays? ( fake laugh...like I never
heard that one before ).
Not short, my wife doesn't like it short ( weenie! ).
Well done.
I'd like them all cut ( oh geeeez ).
Johnny would like a number 2 on the sides and back,
scissors on the top and a whip ( you mean a flip lady! ).
Do you use scissors? ( are you for real? ).
Teenager with long hair over his eyes: shorter.
Barber: ( how short? ) Do you want to see?

On baldness...
The classic: Can you take some off the back
and put it on the top? ( gotta love that one! ).
Not much left up there to cut.
Go easy on those hairs up there. ( Mister! Do you really
think this comb-over makes you look younger? ).
And the prize goes to: The migration has begun.
Barber: What do you mean?
My hair has begun to migrate back!

Fellows...God only created some perfect heads...
on the others, he put hair!

Oh no...here he/she comes again...

Please don't sit in my chair, over and over again and
tell me how I cut your hair the best and boast to me
about all your vacations, only to leave me a dollar and
fifty cent tip and than ask me if it's enough!
Did I insult you?

I thank God for all you loyal customers who show
your appreciation for my skilled haircut and friendly
service with your generosity.
( you give me reason to care ).

I am "next best" to your local neighborhood bartender
and much cheaper than your psychiatrist.
Only difference is...

When you leave the bar, you Think that you look good.
When you leave that barber, you DO look good!

Poem in D Minor

I've seen, I've heard this play before
two restless souls a fire
Invite, excite, to come explore
to see what will inspire

But star-dust soon will leave the eye
I'm sure you will agree
Another beauty passes by
And then I'm history

Recite to me a ballad free
of broken hearts galore
Don't lust for me on bended knee
For I will cry no more

Be not afraid...

to take a moment out
and leave a comment.

Make me smile.

I don't bite!

Honestly.

I swear.

Truly I

do...

swear that is....not bite!

Castle

There are days when
I search through my mind,
like searching through
a dusty attic
for old mem'ries.

Thoughts swirl
'round in my head,
as if caught up in
a violent twister.

I question my very
existence and worth
as I wonder what
could have been,
had I not shelved
my words years ago.

Then as fresh mountain air
on the dawn of a new day
it becomes clear to me.

My suppressed gift
for words was looking
up at me through
soft brown eyes...
my daughter!

Her gift for writing,
a blessing from God,
is like sweet
fragrance of lilies
that intensify my world.

In my search through
more old mem'ries,
I backtrack down
a forgotten path.
One of fine milled paper
and soft lead.
And I wonder why
I ever stopped drawing.

Not long after
my first son was born,
it became clear to me
like streak-free glass,
that my artistic talent
paled in comparison
to his.

His talent is like
a rare rose
that thrives on
a branch of thorns,
waiting to show it's
beauty to the world.

Music reigns in me
and has spilled over
into the birth of
my second son.

His musical essence
fills my senses
like the aromatic scent
of hillside flowers.

Sweet sounds from the
recorder.
Soulful power from
the trumpet.
Ebony and ivory
played with grace.
Hard driving
rock...he finger's
my heart with
guitar strings,
in perfect rhythm
with his brother's
drum beats.

I wonder if my children
know how proud
I am of them.
And that I can see
their father's passion for life
through their eyes, and
that we both cherish
them dearly.

I pray that
they don't allow
their gifts to become
old mem'ries
in a dusty attic.

Moment in Time

kissing
you is like a
frozen moment in time
and I swear my heart skips a beat
while the taste buds on my tongue release sighs
and the moment you pull away
I can't wait till next time
our mouths are
kissing

Windy Febuary Night

Cold seeping inward
Unwanted chilled caresses
Gusty night prowler

Febuary Snow

Crispness beneath feet
Visible warm breath vapor
Animals retreat

November; acting like winter

.

dark clouds in blue sky
leaves ride up high on the wind
cold seeps into bones

.

Blue

You can believe all the stories
and all the facts of why the sky
is blue.

But not until one has looked
into your eyes will they ever
know the truth.

When your precious blue eyes
look out into the world
they color the grayest skies....

blue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christmas Light

If ever I should lose my way
on a snowy covered road.
Never will I tremble in fear,
knowing You carry the load.

When winter's cold seeps into bones,
and flesh calls me to sin--
On bended knee to You I'll pray--
with You I'll always win.

O bright planet, shine down on me
this cold December night.
You're right on time, to show the way,
and chase away my fright.

You look just like a star, one night
that guided years ago.
To promise ever lasting life--
It’s Jesus I love so!

© Vivian, Dec 2008

A November Monday Morning

In the crisp air I step lively to my car,
brushing my hair away from my eye.
I marvel at how Long Island temperatures
can go up and down so drastically in two days.

Surprisingly my muscles aren't screaming at me
after the workout I gave them on Saturday.
According to my son, I was a psycho on Saturday,
raking leaves in the relentless wind and rain.
It was only drizzling and the wind was a help.

I heard you Saturday, despite the wind, flying over head
but could not see you through the thick, heavy rain clouds.
Still, I knew you were up there, creating poetry in the air.
I wanted to join you and I almost did as a gust of wind
shook me from my foot hold on the muddy ground.

I will take you and your poetry with me as I travel to work,
as I breath in the fresh air from the slightly opened car window.
It is a fine day and I have God to thank for that and I have you
to thank, for sharing your good poetry with me....
your poetry with the extra O!

October's Air

September's moon has come and gone
as stars fade in the sky.
But still to you I find I'm drawn
but hide behind this heart so shy.

I sense you in October's air
yet find I'm all alone.
But then the moon will show its' flare
and bring us gladly home.

Evil can cast a mighty sword
and blind one from the truth.
But angels play a louder chord
we heard from in our youth.

October's moon will light the path
and keep us from all harm.
We'll soak our souls in heaven's bath
how easy faith can charm.

© Vivian