The Teak Forest (Poetry)

[Cheeky Kid]

[TK7j]

What if

[TK7j]

[TK7j]

:::This is the star spangled banner, pure poetry:::

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814



Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[TK7j]

On the eve of such a day,
all that went away,
in the fleeting moment,
that stared across the eyes,
where contention was relivied,
and all was unheard,
away

[TK7j]

Those who were poor live richess for8ever Colin

[TK7j]

To Each His or Her Own:

[Paul A]

I am the only being whose doom
No tongue would ask no eye would mourn
I never caused a thought of gloom
A smile of joy since I was born

In secret pleasure--secret tears
This changeful life has slipped away
As friendless after eighteen years
As lone as on my natal day

There have been times I cannot hide
There have been times when this was drear
When my sad soul forgot its pride
And longed for one to love me here

But those were in the early glow
Of feelings since subdued by care
And they have died so long ago
I hardly now believe they were

First melted off the hope of youth
Then Fancy's rainbow fast withdrew
And then experience told me truth
In mortal bosoms never grew

'Twas grief enough to think mankind
All hollow servile insincere
But worse to trust to my own mind
And find the same corruption there


Emily Bronte

[~ Susan ~]

Wish


Just your hot heart,
nothing more.

My Paradise, a field,
no nightingales,
no strings,
a river, discrete,
and a little fountain.

Without the spurs,
of the wind, in the branches,
without the star,
that wants to be leaf.

An enormous light
that will be
the glow
of the Other,
in a field of broken gazes.

A still calm
where our kisses,
sonorous circles
of echoes,
will open, far-off.

And your hot heart,
nothing more.


Federico García Lorca
translated by Anthony Kline

[~ Susan ~]

A Walk

My eyes already touch the sunny hill.
Going far ahead of the road I have begun.
So we are grasped by what we cannot grasp;
it has inner light, even from a distance-

and charges us, even if we do not reach it,
into something else, which, hardly sensing it,
we already are; a gesture waves us on
answering our own wave...
but what we feel is the wind in our faces.

Rainer Maria Rilke

[~ Susan ~]

In My Dreams

In my dreams
When I'm sleeping

I am free to love you
The way you were meant to be loved

My heart leading you through the darkness
Showing you how love should be

A love with no hesitation
Unashamed, undenied

Our skin would tell our stories
They would flow freely without words

The weight of your body on mine
Teaching me lessons never before learned

Cling to me here
Don't let me go

Let me give you all I have
Before the cruel light of day


~Author Unknown

[~ Susan ~]

Merry Christmas overhead!!

[~ Susan ~]

The Mirror

The good you find in others, is in you too.
The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.
After all, to recognize something you must know it.
The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.
The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.

To change your world, you must change yourself.
To blame and complain will only make matters worse.
Whatever you care about, is your responsibility.

What you see in others, shows you yourself.
See the best in others,and you will be your best.
Give to others, and you give to yourself.
Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.
Love, and you will be loved.
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.
Teach, and you will learn.

Show your best face to the mirror, and you'll be happy
with the face looking back at you.

~Author Unknown

[~ Susan ~]

yw

[overhead]

Thank you for the visit, Susan...

[~ Susan ~]

I Sit and Think

I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been;

Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.

I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall never see.

For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green.

I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago,
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know.

But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.

~JRR Tolkien

[overhead]

This board is like a quiet sanctuary
Quite, peaceful and serene
No noise, rancor, ego or lies
A place to be Peaceful and Reflective...

At the end don't we all become nothing
Then why this hate, ego, self-righteousness
Why can't we all be parters in creating
A peaceful, healthy, harmonious world...

Whatever happened to the old spirit of
One for all and all for one
Why is it now, me, me and me
And what a miserable way to be...

If we are not nice to Mother Nature
How can she find the time to nuture
As she has to heal all the wounds
Caused by greed and careless abuse...

If the scaring and destruction of Mother Nature
Continues to go on in the name of progress
What may remain will be just wasteland
Which is not fair to our descendants...

Let's do out part, and unpoison the rivers,
The skies, the soil, and the air we breath
Let's join together as one unit, humanity
And let our deeds help our descendants...

***RESPECT MOTHER NATURE***

[overhead]

That’s how it is...

There will be good and bad days
And it depends on the messages which your mind conveys
It is your choice to be happy or sad
So choose to be calm and serene, not depressed and mad.

Joy and happiness come from inside
What you end up is yours to decide
If you make up your mind to be happy and upbeat
You will not have to be concerned about defeat.

When you are calm, your mind has clarity,
With which you can achieve happiness and serenity
Thus limit or keep out your life’s adversity
Which will lead to spiritual prosperity.

So, still your mind
As there are so many adventures to find
To make your remaining living years meaningful
And when your time comes, you can leave feeling wonderful

[overhead]

The morning is nice and cool
Beckoning the change of season
Mother Nature's blessing to us all
With the brilliant colors of fall...

[overhead]

Absolutely, now we have to bring some creative people over and we should have fun board...Think about jazzing up the iBox a bit...let me see what I can find

[~ Susan ~]

Hey look at you...new moderator already! Good Show!

[overhead]

Spring Fever

As I look through my front window
I can see many a shadow
Because finally the sun is shining bright
What a warm and wonderful sight

I see the snow flakes falling
And also hear the birds calling
To say don't worry spring is coming
And before you know the plants will be blooming

Gone are the cold and dark days
Coming soon are the bright and warm sun's rays
Rejuvenating all the living beings
How wonderful are nature's doings?

I feel the spring fever
And happily the spring is very near
Once again Mother Nature blesses us
With a season that is full of new life, hope and bliss

March 2007

[overhead]

Flag at half mast

Flag at half mast
Another brave one has fallen
Result of the raging war
In a far away land

It’s becoming a familiar sight
With no real end in the fight
How many more have to die?
Before it all ends?

Mission is no more clear
But lives are full of uncertainty and fear
Who’s next, a dad, mom, brother or sister
Before things get better

Flag at half mast again
Nothing more to gain
Only sadness and pain
Pray these losses will not be in vain

Dedicated to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice...

September 2007

[overhead]

Well Susan:

I am here as Mod. and let's get the party started by inviting some poets to visit us.....

over

[overhead]

Hi Susan:

Actually two thoughts crossed my mind, one I found a great place to post my works, they will be also on Poet's Corner Board, which appears to be more active than Teak, and yes I will PM Matt and asked to be an Asst. at least in case Chipped decided to come back...

Have a great day...

[~ Susan ~]

Hi overhead...Did you take a wrong turn in Albuquerque to end up on this board? lol. No one drops in here anymore but me every once in a blue moon. Nice to see you here though! So knock yourself out and post away. And if you wanted you could even PM Matt and ask to take over the moderatership as chipped is not around anymore.

Nice poem BTW!

[overhead]

Hello all, I am new to this board and I am excited about finding a place, where i can post some of my original work; critique of my work would be taken in the same spirit as it is given and would be very much appreciated...

And here is my first:

A good man, he was...

It started to rain,
As if to wash away their pain,
For the loss of their loved one,
Who finished his journey, and now he is gone.

He is with the Angels,
No more earthly tangles,
Gone are the pain and suffering,
Now receiving the Heaven’s offering.

There he laid, as in sleep,
And I see and hear the family weep
I reflect on my own demise one day
As I cry for my friend this day

His body is finally committed to fire
One day I hope to see you where
There exists only eternity
And a place of absolute serenity

I will remember your joyful smile
Your willingness to go the extra mile
May your gentle soul rest in peace
As I say So long, with this piece

Dedicated to the memory of a dear, departed friend--1939-2007
Sept. 2007

[~ Susan ~]

If You Forget Me

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists:
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

-- Pablo Neruda

[~ Susan ~]

Lost in the forest


Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig
and lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips:
maybe it was the voice of the rain crying,
a cracked bell, or a torn heart.

Something from far off it seemed
deep and secret to me, hidden by the earth,
a shout muffled by huge autumns,
by the moist half-open darkness of the leaves.

Wakening from the dreaming forest there, the hazel-sprig
sang under my tongue, its drifting fragrance
climbed up through my conscious mind

as if suddenly the roots I had left behind
cried out to me, the land I had lost with my childhood---
and I stopped, wounded by the wandering scent.

Pablo Neruda

[~ Susan ~]

Tower Of Light

O tower of light, sad beauty
that magnified necklaces and statues in the sea,
calcareous eye, insignia of the vast waters, cry
of the mourning petrel, tooth of the sea, wife
of the Oceanian wind, O separate rose
from the long stem of the trampled bush
that the depths, converted into archipelago,
O natural star, green diadem,
alone in your lonesome dynasty,
still unattainable, elusive, desolate
like one drop, like one grape, like the sea.

Pablo Neruda

[~ Susan ~]

Take a breath...
Taste the wind...
And the beauty of life will sprinkle on the bottom of your tongue...
Your heart will now feel every beat...
And your blood will savour each and every flow...
We all have the positivity hidden deep within,
That towers above negativity, above hate, above all things...
So for now...just take that breath, make that smile,
And spread
Your
Wings

[~ Susan ~]

A Morning Pace


Seems so easy

But there's a way

With careful footing!

Upon the path I must stay


Patience mine

Hard but am trying

O, I'm testing my steps

Hearing noises, no denying



So many sounds!

Slowing down - no haste

I'm watching my footing closely

Exercise, yes, need to focus my pace


Trying to relax

Back in the woods to jog

Rather love my secret time here

Especially shrouded in my mystical fog



~ Aauthor Unknown

[~ Susan ~]

The New Year
Author Unknown

The New Year lies before you
Like a spotless tract of snow
Be careful how you tread on it
For every mark will show.

[~ Susan ~]

Thank you Viking :)

[LeViking]

Nice poem.

[~ Susan ~]

The House by the Side of the Road


There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content ~
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellow-less firmament.
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran ~
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by ~
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban ~
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears,
Both parts of an infinite plan ~
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road ~
It's here the race of men go by,
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish ~ so am I;
Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

~Sam Walter Foss

[~ Susan ~]

A Noiseless Patient Spider

~Walt Whitman (1819–1892)~

A NOISELESS, patient spider,
I mark’d, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;
Mark’d how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,
It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;
Ever unreeling them—ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,—seeking the spheres, to connect them;
Till the bridge you will need, be form’d—till the ductile anchor hold;
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.

[chipped2003]

Thanks susan;) eom

[~ Susan ~]

Very nice, thanks for sharing chipped.

[chipped2003]

Stone Cold Lover

My heart grows hard
Each failed attempt
Turns a small piece of it
Into stone
Muddy waters
Solidify my thoughts
Time to concentrate
On stacking paper again
Because its too hard
To chase skirts and the green
I am jeolous
Of her non-compassionate methods
Scientific analyzer
Of words within phrases
Letters within words
You are destined
To stay unhappy and hate yourself
I would rather not
Be a part of that destiny
Pull the plug
And drain the water
From the mud
Only rock remains

[~ Susan ~]

A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.
Robert Frost
US poet (1874 - 1963)

[~ Susan ~]

Chip, it's been awhile since you posted a poem. Really enjoy reading your stuff hope to see something soon :)

[~ Susan ~]

First Fig

MY CANDLE burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends--
It gives a lovely light!


by Edna St.Vincent Millay
[1922]

[chipped2003]

The Wanderer

Wandering
They found her
Lost and Afraid
Her clothes were in tatters
Her hair was unmade
She's thought to be 13
And has wavy blonde hair
Does anyone know her
Does anyone care
On Bald Head Island
This little girl was found
Speaking no English
Just walking the grounds
Where is the family
From whence she did come
Won't they speak up
And bring her back home
How did this happen
Is she born of this earth
Angel incarnate
Or virgin born birth
Someone must know her
And where she belongs
Please speak up post haste
To help right this wrong

[babycakes]

Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream
It is not dying, it is not dying
Lay down all thought, surrender to the void
It is shining, it is shining
Then you may see the meaning of within
It is speaking, it is speaking

That love is all and love is everyone
It is knowing, it is knowing
When ignorance and haste may mourn the dead
It is believing, it is believing
But listen to the colour of your dreams
It is not living, it is not living
Or play the game, existence to the end
Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning, of the beginning
[etc]

[babycakes]

Winter rain, now tell me why
Summers fade and roses die
The answer came, the wind and rain

Golden hills now veiled in gray
Summer leaves have blown away
Now what remains, the wind and rain

And like a desert spring my lover comes and spreads her wings
(Knowing)
Like a song that's born to soar the sky
(Flowing)
Till the waters all are dry
(Growing)
The loving in her eyes

Circle songs and sands of time
And seasons will end in tumbled rhyme
And little change, the wind and rain

And like a desert spring my lover comes and spreads her wings
(Knowing)
Like a song that's born to soar the sky
(Flowing)
Till the rivers all are dry
(Growing)
The loving in her eyes

Winter gray and falling rain
We'll see summer come again
Darkness fall and seasons change
(Gonna happen every time)
Same old friends the wind and rain
(We'll see summer by and by)
Winter gray and falling rain
(Summers fade and roses die)
We'll see summer come again
(Like a song that's born to soar the sky

[babycakes]

Crazy Fingers

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia

Your rain falls like crazy fingers
Peals of fragile thunder
Keeping time
Recall the days that still are to come
Some sing blue

Hang your heart on laughing willow
Stray down to the water
Deep sea of love
Beneath the sweet calm face of the sea
Swift undertow

Life may be sweeter for this, I don't know
See how it feels in the end
May Lady Lullaby sing plainly for you
Soft, strong, sweet and true

Cloud hands reaching from a rainbow
Tapping at the window
Touch your hair
So swift and bright, strange figures of light (note 1)
Float in air

Who can stop what must arrive now?
Something new is waiting
To be born
Dark as the night you're still by my side
Shining side (note 2)

Gone are the days we stopped to decide
Where we should go, we just ride
Gone are the broken eyes we saw through in dreams
Gone, both dream and lie

Life may be sweeter for this, I don't know
Feels like it might be alright
While Lady Lullaby sings plainly for you (note 3)
Love still rings true

Midnight on a carousel ride
Reaching for the gold ring
Down inside
Never could reach it, just slips away
But I try (note 4)

[babycakes]

LAWN BOY
Throughout the night
when there's no direct light
and a thin veil of clouds
keeps the stars out of sight

I can smell the colors
outside on my lawn
the moist green organic
that my feet tread upon

and the black oleander
surrounded by blues
I'm soon overwhelmed
by olfactory hues

[babycakes]

FLUFFHEAD
Fluffhead was a man
With a horrible disease
Could not find no cure
Won't you help him if you please?

Fluff came to my door / Fluff came to New York (two parts)
Askin' me for change
His eyes were clear and pure
But his mind was so deranged

Fluff went to a banker
Askin' for some bills
The banker said, "I ain't got that
But I sure got some powerful pills."

[babycakes]

Take time to give thanks
Make time to be given
I’m going to stop and think twice
About the way that I'm living

Did I say a kind word
Am I proud of my actions
You know a job well done
Gives me satisfaction

Can I earn your trust
Your love and affection
Just one step at a time
In the right direction

Going to aim for the sky
Keep my feet on the ground
Raise my voice to the heavens
Make a joyful sound

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Naaaaaaa....
Make a joyful sound

Can I sing for my supper
And play for my rent
I know it sounds funny
But it's how my time's spent

Greet everyday with full purpose
With passion and pride
I’m going to follow my heart
And have nothing to hide

A moment of insight
I know why I'm here
You know when the time just stops
See it all real clear

I’ve got to set an example
Make some mischief and fun
Do unto others and
Play a fat bass run

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Naaaaaaa....
Make a joyful sound I got to work hard everyday
And give it my best
Grab hold of fear and negativity
And lay them to rest

I know my time here's important
Can I do the right thing?
Practice patience and forgiveness
Feel the joy that they bring

Can I lay down tonight
Without feeling regret?
I know the love that I give
Becomes the love that I get

Well do you hear what I'm saying
Making sense to you?
Well if you feel it in your heart
Then you might want to sing too

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Naaaaaaa....
Make a joyful sound

I don't want to sound preachy
Make you feel all wrong
Just want to write some kind lyrics
Sing a feel good song

It's kind of hard to explain
It is just a feeling I get
From making music making love
Getting both feet wet

Well every piece to the puzzle
Snapped tight to the groove
I Close my eyes breathe deeply and
Let my feet move

You know I feel a little better
Now for speaking my mind
Good vibes in circulation and
See who they find

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Naaaaaaa....
Make a joyful sound