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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781490765341 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Author Solutions Inc |
| Publication date: | 10/28/2015 |
| Pages: | 234 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.53(d) |
Read an Excerpt
An Eclectic Collage
Poetry
By Tom Hodges
Trafford Publishing
Copyright © 2015 Tom HodgesAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4907-6534-1
CHAPTER 1
The Actor
Actors walk
on stage
into your life
providing
a healing
escape ---
one who makes
stone statues
breathe
with a tenacious
hold
on reality
after playing
many
parts
he can
no longer play
himself ---
a collection
of false
faces ---
lifted many times
becomes
a mask.
Adventurer
Part of you craves the unknown,
yearning for the open road,
an exploit that drives you there,
searching for freedom's thrill.
A long way without a map
to a place unexplored,
just to walk upon the edge
for the love of adventure.
Alive
I reached
for her thoughts
among quiet stones
using silence
to wrestle
her doubts --
fever –
a sheer tantrum
of desire
my words
walked
inside her ears ---
a dance
involving
tricky pirouettes
as strong
and untouchable
as thunder ---
we surprised
each other
with reflections
gazing inside ourselves
to feel life
wishing
to bottle
passion forever.
Annual Parade
Little girls carry baskets
tiptoeing through fields of wildflowers.
The springtime of youth blends with color and play
as they giggle in laughter.
Baby Blue Eyes, Pussy Toes, and Sundews
Life comes alive;
teenagers on the cusp explore, feeling immortal.
An awkward age when breasts bud
and puberty unfolds into flower.
Crazy Weed, Chatterbox Orchids, and Wild Oats
The beauty of womanhood presages
fecundity, desire, and a settled place in nature.
Femininity is in full bloom,
pregnant with the next generation.
Passion Flowers, Stork's Bill, and Eve's Necklace
Maturity and grace
hold forth, vibrant and wise.
Voluptuous forms spread their knowledge
and grow strong in changing winds.
Sunflowers, Calla Lilies, and Amaryllis
Visible stalks skeletal and pale,
display crystal flakes upon their heads.
Bonnets and hats bow in prayer
as dried petals kiss the ground.
Gray Golden Asters, Silver Puffs, and Widow's Tears.
Apple of My Eye
You are a beauty, my baby in pink;
the apple of my eye. Give me a wink.
I'm a teenager; shake a break.
I'm not a baby, for goodness sake.
Dance on your tippy-toes, twirl around.
Papa's little girl in a white nightgown.
Papa, this is Johnny, and I love him so.
Isn't he cute in his Mossimo?
I love you, Alex, and Mama does, too.
The leader of the band is waltzing with you.
Look at his Reeboks; aren't they cool?
We're going downtown to shoot some pool.
Your green eyes sparkle; you're my delight,
swaying in the spotlight with you tonight.
Papa, I'm in full bloom.
Chill out, man. Give me some room.
Stand on my shoes and glide across the floor.
Your smile and laughter; it's you I adore.
Please let me go, Papa. Set me free.
I love you, too, don't you see?
Arrogance
We live in a Golden Age
that goes on and on; a veil impossible to penetrate.
It's a time of no shame;
when the past is gone, it's gone forever.
Terror crashing on the shore.
For every problem there is a solution.
Our nation is a work of art.
Why blend in when you can stand out?
Should we maintain a distance from our origins?
Hard times may rob the skin of its glow.
The thrill of trespassing ... let us not
forget from where we came.
An Autumn Symphony
One never forgets
the magnificent show
of hot-air balloons
heartened, perhaps,
by the awe
of those who watch
in wonder.
Higher and higher they go
reaching skyward
in your dreams
a subtle
heathered mix
limited by imagination.
The ghost
of autumn
capturing beautiful
shadows
a spectacle
so electrifying
it holds you
in its grip ...
poignant
geometric mosaics
suspended in light
just when it feels
like summer
might never end.
AWAKE
I lie awake at night thinking of you.
Jasmine fills the air,
a sweet perfume.
Angels hover and sing our song.
Lovers holding hands
while strolling down the lane.
Fireflies shine the way to happiness
We kissed and embraced – promised forever.
Awesome
A ceramic pot
is the home of radiant beauty,
delicate, and pleasing to the eye.
Sparkling and glistening,
bathed in dew,
a geranium cluster too proud to cry.
An explosion of
bright red flowers
bursting toward the sky.
The Beauty of a Jewel
Her face
was a cameo
of alluring beauty.
A pleasure
that took me
by surprise.
She was
a patrician
with youthful bloom
A sculpture carved
in a lustrous
façade –
Silence
enhanced
her presence –
an untouchable
image
of herself.
Beyond the Sensible
An idea solidifies in the creative mind.
An inspiration to think:
To dare indulge in bold fantasies
That give rein to imagination ... a vision,
A mental image, a state in which one
Builds castles in the air.
Touch undiscovered realms ---
For it is there that empires are built.
Journey beyond the conscious
And probe a deeper level of your soul.
Be a director; be a star ... feel free
Of inhibitions and fear of judgment.
Venture outside the human domain
And perceive the inconceivable.
Dream thoughts are original thoughts
That produce great works of literature,
Music, art --- walk upon the envelope
And brainstorm the impossible.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
I saw a bird with a broken wing
Searching for food in a parking lot
Other birds could not grasp her difference
They flew over cars and shopping carts
Racing to get morsels for themselves
Meantime she ran in a frantic search
Looking for just one piece of pop corn
Her feet were bloody-red from exhaustion
And yet, hunger was the driving force
Behind the search of panicked survival
Her friends began to peck her feathers –
Very tired, she sought protection from fear
Against a pole of radiant light
I drove away, caring about her fate
Next day I returned and parked near the pole
She was stone dead with barely a feather
Nearby was a lovely black grackle
Who had deposited food all around her
With his huge body he spread his feathers
Over her as if to keep the body warm
Suddenly he leaped into the cool air
And flew to the top of the light pole
Stretching his wings, he let out a cry
That could be heard throughout the city mall
His heart was broken; it was easy to see
He circled the pole for the last time
And flew southwest toward an endless sky.
Black Lights and Blue Circles
Worry is a test
of certainty
like wildfire
burning inside out,
a hole
going all the way to hell;
the house is burned,
but land remains.
Meaning is changed
through perception.
Drop time
and live in the moment;
all sand falls
to the bottom of an hourglass.
Follow the clouds
they never stay; nothing does.
Botticelli's Delight
A fever
of confusion
sought to repel
her beauty
closing in
like flowers
from which the sun
has withdrawn
her face
was like a saint
under glass ...
no art
is so private
it does not
seek applause
innocence
was drenched
in her nakedness
and beauty
was a gift
she would abuse ---
petals
were soaked
in helpless nectar
as she dipped
the tops
of her breasts
into the light.
The Box
Inside this BOX are many dreams
Put there by visions of grandeur and schemes
You are a beauty, Natasha Faun
A challenge to your father – the eternal bond
Your eyes sparkle with misty blue
Diamonds and sapphires will give you a clue
Black hair and roses of brilliant red
Onyx and rubies cover your head
Angels with halos walk within view
Emeralds and pearls look pretty on you
Keep your jewels in the box, a quiet, secret space
Use them to accent the beauty of your grace.
Bryce Canyon
Dawn cast
a Martian
glow
a useless
arid
expanse
a landscape
against
settlement
broken
by wind
and water
the earth
reveals
the sensuous ---
nature's
grandest work
in progress.
Burn the Candle
Lips met
in a passionless
kiss
hoping
that happiness
was contagious ...
crazy actors
playing
a crazy game ---
engulfed
in a perfumed
embrace ---
the air
was sweet
with wild fragrance
as the candle
burned
from both ends.
Burning Scarlet
Facing reality with eyes open,
a sense of failure and shame persisted.
My gut, a knot impossible to untie.
Adrenaline flooded my body with liquid flames.
Demoralized by a rush of confused emotions,
fear won out as her eyes bared into my soul.
She made no notice of me; to her, I was invisible.
The young are more resilient and can stand
more insult. My hold on life is no more firm
than a blown thistle seed.
I am not cut out for this kind of drama.
Buzzards are Circling
Not for sentimental reasons,
but for its monetary gain
to obtain a bountiful gift,
or wealth craved through solicitous efforts
and devious entitlement.
Envious, voracious, devouring,
deserving, and competing,
Rivals jockeying into position
to make sure they receive that old clock,
the painting or a set of dishes.
Antiques are of wondrous value
and wanton avarice divides siblings.
Jealousy, mistrust, envy and greed
tear families apart.
The breathing stops ...
Caged
A caged environment
separates my family
from the indigenous norm.
We are imprisoned behind fenced enclosures
gazing upon an endless
parade of mankind.
Day after day
people come, viewing,
judging and comparing us
with humanity. Pausing. Leaving.
Man cannot stand
too much reality.
An opposable thumb,
bipedal,
an anthropoid.
We do not have to talk
to express our anger
and disgust behind these walls.
Yes, I view you
as you view me
in front of these prison bars.
We are capable of love,
and we want freedom
to return to our habitat.
Each day my disgust
grows stronger. Hatred
builds within my soul
as I think about my children
and their only future –
the zoo.
What? You placed me here
to be safe?
From myself?
I'm the endangered species!
Rage builds and I lose control.
I am consumed with revenge.
I reach behind
and fill my hand
with feces,
And throw it at
the self-righteous hominids
in front of my cage.
Ha! They ran. They screamed!
They cursed
as excrement splattered
through the wire.
and I felt good
watching them run.
Suddenly, they stopped
and looked back. The discharge was
in their hair, their mouths and ears.
They stood,
stunned,
but they knew.
Moral stupidity is terrifying,
for there is slaughter
against my kind.
Violence is my only
recourse when
the other side will not listen.
Caprice
The north wind sings to the trees
while geese fly in a perfect vee.
A breeze whispers through the leaves,
and the temperature drops to freeze.
Coyotes howl in the boundless distance.
Prairie dogs run for their den.
A snowstorm barrels in by chance,
stranding both animals and men.
Crystals fall out of the clouds
covering the ground in white.
Silence wraps its frosty shroud;
all tucked in for the night.
Life comes alive at the break of dawn
when morning touches day.
Tracks appear as if they were drawn
on a canvas of light and gray.
A magnificent scene of snowfall,
with drifts so pure and clean.
Nature erased this space;
man is small and unseen.
Chasing Shadows
You had the sky
all to yourself
bathing in the light of morning
attuned to the warmth
of the sun.
People love success; to most
it means happiness
The fire of passion
and the spark of genius
An illness of the spirit
more than the flesh
They feel that wonder
will never cease
from which there is no escape
Forgotten memories
old songs – old faces
A certain Spartan simplicity
a vision burned in the brain
with faces creased
by toil and want.
The Circle
Life unfolds
on center stage,
three acts we have to give.
The curtain goes up,
the drama begins
presenting a trilogy in revue.
Motherhood, fatherhood,
to be conceived,
a seed, a blossom, a masterpiece.
Unveiling babies
on a maiden voyage,
thrust into the world to walk, to explore.
The young
will ripen as adults,
creating a hormonal balance.
Couples unite
and fall in love;
a beauty for all seasons.
Autumn comes,
leaves turn brown,
the sun sinks beyond the shadow.
Mortality bows
on closing night,
passing laurels to a new beginning.
Climax
The need
to indulge
in passion
and
to celebrate
its delights.
Words
are spoken
like a melody
keeping
pace
with her pulse.
The
rhythm
is my bond
while feeling
a sense
of vertigo.
My body turns
to smoldering
ash
dissolving
like a burned-out
flame.
Close to Infidelity
He had the energy of a young man,
and he admired her beauty.
Who, but a monster of ego,
would take hold of the night?
One never gets free of himself. Impulsive
attempts to live in the moment, to go
higher, faster, and further,
riding emotion's wave.
A lightning bolt flashed,
exposing his guilt. He
screamed loudly in silence,
for he saw her reflection.
Clouds
White clouds racing in front of a breeze,
rolling, tumbling, forming a bear, a
state, a rocket flying in space with
a ballet dancer en pointe,
vapor trails, streaming above the
horizon, cascading as a waterfall,
dispersing gulls diving into a blue
sea of scattered cumulus, congregating,
converging, becoming volatile as they
billow upward, exploding like
an atomic bomb, bursting mushroom on
top of mushrooms and slowly dissipating
to the west, a calming,
into an atmospheric haze, reforming
as a clown riding a bicycle
juggles snowballs and misses when
they break up; drifting apart to
become galloping horses on ski slopes
of avalanches that separate and
vanish into blue.
Cold Front
Viewing clouds from my window pane
dark skies moved in to stay.
The pitter-patter of continuous rain
will end this gloomy day.
Rain is pouring; I can hear the sound,
a constant drone that drips and falls.
Drops strike the roof, gutter, and ground,
lulling me to sleep behind these walls.
Wind chimes intone with the breeze;
a blue norther acts out its sting.
When will it stop, this dreadful freeze?
Is this the price we pay for spring?
Collecting Thoughts
Modesty is a charm well worth preserving.
The glories of youth; a beautiful thing
to be free;
giving in to feelings.
It's like a cleansing flame to be aroused,
ignoring the sensation.
That vein of intimacy,
knowing her secret desire.
Fire flares, touched by
oxygen.
You can't go back.
Time moves in one direction.
The greater the love,
the greater the love taken.
Colorado Spring
Crocuses bloom through the snow,
and bluebirds are returning.
Wild iris covers the valley below,
where bear and cubs are foraging.
Daffodils take a definite chance
by showing their colors early.
A yellow haze glows with arrogance,
when the wind blows severely.
Geese fly north in formation;
a blizzard collides with the ground.
Tulips dance with anticipation
of a Chinook––southern bound.
Aspen bud in quivering grey,
mallards land on an icy pond.
Crab apples bloom in full array,
for bees know it's time and respond.
Magpies build their nests,
and the passion vine is climbing.
Lark bunting mate under duress,
doubtful that spring is coming.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from An Eclectic Collage by Tom Hodges. Copyright © 2015 Tom Hodges. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
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