She Sings My Body Electric

~~ for lovers everywhere ~~ she sang my body electric whenthat frosty January daybefore she slowly walked awayshe gave her phone number to meand to a date she did agree! two teenagers, we rode the bus -so many things we did discuss! I surely hoped in two weeks’ timeshe'd be my first real Valentine she …

Ode to God

You're everything beautiful, all that is goodcaring in ways that are well understoodmade of an essence that’s truly sublimefrequently causing my love bells to chime You’re the mellow serenity of Mother Naturemagic diversity of global culturemelodic birds that sing during flightsmarvellous bees whose sweet honey delights You’re the soul-stirring passion that thrives in fine artslimitless …

Gardener’s Pledge

whether basking ineasy-time golden sunor shivering intough-time driving rain,every day I'll faithfully nurturethe garden that is your soul plantingan assortment ofsurprises and discoveriesthat makes life an adventure fertilizingwith a blend ofattention and kindnessthat forever deepens our bond wateringthose feisty flowersthat blossom in your heart growingmoments of joythat stand strongagainst the winds of change may my …

May Love

to you may new love ever flowfrom people you already knowand make you smile while stoking joythat beams your inner girl or boy what piques your curiosity?inspires your creativity?whatever schtick might be your boatmay bold love always make it float in quiet moments of self-talkor when you’re on a nature walkif dancing solo is your …

Ode to Old Metal Trash Cans

how noble you are,vintage metal trash cans!you're like dented steel soldiers,quietly stationed along ourasphalt, dirt, and grass back laneswhile you patiently guardour driveways and homes you stand in readilyas road hockey goalposts -whacked by sticks and ballsthrashed by stones and pucksbashed by bikes and trikes you loan your lids willinglyas battered shields for noisy rascals …

Heart-hearth, Soul-sun

open the heavy, creaking door of your heart-hearth to me and I'll gently and patiently blow on its flickering, struggling flame until it becomes your soul-sun: bright, hot, hungry, strong we'll stoke your heart-hearth with your regrets and fears - all that holds you back from your dreams - and we'll reduce everything to ashes …

Please, Don’t Row Away

I'm struggling to keep my head abovea heaving, roiling sea of emotionswhipped up by a storm ofimpending loss and massive changewhile fear and regret, sharp-toothed,slowly circle upwards from the murk then you appearin the darkness, calling my namerowing a little white boat made of love but you mustn't throw me a line, forthat sugary rope …

Hi Ladies!

How SHOCKED I was at the breakfast table when I casually pulled out my phone, hopped onto LinkedIn for some networking and news, and saw that when fast asleep, I’d somehow managed to post this literary gem (as seen above): "Viî job by Nic jinxI bb video lvl kzozl VCC g GHz VCC c. Hi …

You Know that I Am With You

~ for Bingo ~ on a hard plastic chair I waitedin that silent, white-walled little roomfinally the door opened andhe brought you back to me -leg partly shaved, catheter attached -and placed you in my loving armsthough deaf and blindyou wagged your tailfor the very last time'cuz you knew that I was with you then …

Church Blessing

~ for K.C. ~ what was it that madethis Sunday so fine?my hour-and-then-some inthe House of Divine? the inspiring sermon byReverend Dr. Simon?the heartwarming sounds ofour talented choir? the yellow-gold raysinfusing stained glass,the soul-stirring kissof God's heavenly fire? no, it was none of these things! when a bright meadowlark(with whom I'd just texted)shared a greeting …

The Ultimate Sweetener

the ultimate sweetener, I am -but you won’t find meripening in sugarcane fields,living in lush ripe fruit,dripping in honeyed beehives, orcrystallizing in research labs -because I, the sweetestsubstance in the Universe,exist someplace else altogether… I take many forms:unconditional love, gentle toucheskind remarks, consistent effortpaying attention, chivalrous actsthoughtful gifts, and little things I am the kindness …

Foolish Vigilante

Photo: Ray Reyes (Unsplash) ~ a battle of testosterone ~ as if mockingmy chaotic lifewhile I ran and holleredand waved my armsthe bus eluded me,scolding me with its breeze frustrated, I looked aroundI spied a tiny rocketflying out the window of an idling SUV,launched by abig red-faced manwho oozed entitlementand reeked of callous disregardas he …

Milk and Silence

~ for Bingo ~ what do you see, dear little Bingothrough eyes full of milk?once dark and shinynow white and hazyeyes that into spaceeyes that obscure your souleyes that search the carpet in vainfor undropped biscuits? what do you hear withears full of silence?once perky and alertnow useless and deafears that function no moreears that …

Master of Touch and Flow

Photo: Dad and Jim (his pet crow) at the water pump, early 1940s ~ for Richard Bedford Bennett ~ a Depression-era prairie child, you touched castles made of sand and grew up humbly on the land playing with quirky homemade toys when big-sky sunsets and sunrises pierced the distant flat horizons and phantom prairie winds …

FC Adverbus

we are FC Adverbusof the Grammar League,seasoned athletes ofthe muddy soccer fieldthe chaotic consciousnessbetween your goalpost-earswithin your writer's mind they say we're inferior toReal Adjectivus, Metaphoris United,FC Similium, Rhetoricaand all those other arrogantGrammar League squads - butwe're actually pretty damn goodat helping you to score oft-mocked and malignedby League ownersHemingway, Zinsser,Elmore and King(who once snorted …

Useless as Teats on a Bull!

ah, Springtime!sunshine, birds chirpingcrisp morning air, peace kissed Jane... later babe!happy day ahead!time for commute #1206 fired up Roddy'57 Chevy convertible!pulled out of the garagegathered speedlivin' large! yeah! uhh...what's that sound under the hood? sped up, louderslowed down, quieterstrange, eeriea thousand dollar sound back homeMike the mobile mechanicshrugged his shouldersfor ninety-five bucks phone rang.  Barry.“Where …

The Watery Path Not Taken

~~ Chasing the Rainbow ~~ (inspired by Jan LaFountain Melnik) two curves converged upon the distant shorewhere skinny pond engaged with bright rainbow...I knew a pot of gold would lie in store!to slosh through water, nothing pleased me more...but would the magic last? I didn’t know I wished that I could run that liquid trailbut …

It’s Your Day, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!With Love and Gratitude! well Dad, he calls you Marillynbut I just call you Momand to your now-grown grandchildrenit's Nana you've becomeback when I was a naughty boyI'd drive you 'round the bendyou'd spank me with that wooden spoonbut love me to the endtoday and every other dayI hope you'll feel admiredI …

Blue Skies and Sunshine

~ for Diane Hudson ~ They gave you blue skies Sunshine Opportunity and love Unlimited Now God's giving them blue skies Sunshine Togetherness and peace Eternal Love to your Dad Love to your Mom Peace be with their friends With your family And with you - Paul Raworth Bennett Image credit: Tim Hill (Pixabay)

Did Michael Just Call My Name?

here we go again eleven of us stuck in tiny black boxes built by servers and routers, from electrons, silicon and glass the usual yawnfest every damned morning at nine and I'm stuck in Box Three Jim just sits there smiling Dwight keeps interrupting while childish Michael our hapless boss has gathered us here to …

At the Beach

~ inspired by Jan Melnik ~ surfsong soothes my ears salty sweetness fills my nostrils whimsical breezes play upon my skin vivid pastels seduce my eyes, while your forge of creation mellows, sinks, and sleeps beneath the Earth Oh Mother Divine Gaia omnipotent, your sublime choreography whisks me away - if only briefly - from …