I Learned: Poems from an Unorthodox Sentimentalist

by David Lightsey

Overview

This book is entitled I Learned because as a child, I struggled with English and school in general. From the time that first pencil was placed in my hand, Id draw or Id tap out a rhythm on my desk. My love of art and music were immediate; words came later. As an adult, I found I could put an abstract spin on life, finding a story in a drop of water or joy in a tear. Using words, I could make the complicated simple or the simple complicated, eventually having fun with the same language that had almost defined me as mentally challenged. Perhaps my words can help you with your special child or inspire someone you know.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781504916592
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	07/25/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	486 KB

About the Author

David Lightsey was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he attended public school. He was a below average student who managed to survive within the confines of an inner city barrier of racism and intimidation. To endure the daily distress of school, David picked up a pencil and started to draw. Art has always been a gift he enjoys. He received The Best Artist in the Twelfth Grade award from Thomas Edison High School in 1966. David was drafted in the United States Army in 1968 to serve in the Vietnam War. He returned from the war to marry Dorothy, the young lady he had met prior to going overseas. He and Dorothy established a loving home and found great joy in raising their two children, Davida and Dewitt. David worked in the aircraft industry for thirty-four years before retiring. His passion is art, music, and poetry. He continues to live in Philadelphia with his lovely wife.

Read an Excerpt

I Learned

Poems from an Unorthodox Sentimentalist

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By David Lightsey

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2015 David Lightsey
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5049-1658-5

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CHAPTER 1

If I Could Be A Corner

If I could be a corner
just a corner in your maze
It would satisfy
the wonderful urge I crave
Then if I could be a corridor
complete and oh so square
it could possibly somehow
lead somewhere


Your Kiss

Your kiss is like fire
It warms me when I'm cold
Your eyes are a shelter
They protect me from the storm
Your way is like life itself
It awakens me every day
And this my love
Your kiss, my love
Is more than you can say
(Dedicated to the loner)


Looks Like It

I didn't do it
Gun in hand
I couldn't do it
Over him I stand
You must believe me
One witness, I demand
Please believe me
I'm an innocent man
Looks like it?


Theory and Fact

Is it true that relativity the theory, is a fact?
And is it true that opposites truly attract?
Then why fair friend can't we agree or relate
In some small way
Would not this be the dawning of a brand new day


I Ponder

I often sit and ponder
over the problems we face today
So much turmoil and trouble
When will it go away?
Looking back at yesterday
it didn't seem so bad
I would gladly give up what we have now
for what we once had
Just making a mortal statement
That's really all I can do
But knowing the true answer
is not up to me or you


Life Is a Challenge

Born to fight, day and night
It is something we must do
For life has many obstacles
in place for me and you
Life is a challenge
Every moment worth fighting for
Turmoil and trouble
Greets me at my door
With out dismay
I will forge through each day
With a smile upon my face
From the cradle to the grave
until I find my place


Your Dream

A dream is very special
life's food one might say
feeding admiration
forever and a day
Locked inside my dream
I hide from pain and poverty
This is me, can't you see
The dream is your destiny
So do they die or pass away
Never in your dream, I say


A Pauper

If I should die a pauper
then a pauper I will be
For in my world of peasants
is where I live you see
The label of my status
is not really me
The spirit defines the person
that is truly me


In the Ring

In the ring he loves to fight
Hooking and jabbing with all his might
He shuffles left, then he shuffles right
His hands like pure dynamite
Some say he's wrong, some say he's right
But, in the ring he proves he's tight
(Dedicated to Muhammad Ali)


Many Tears

There are many tears in life that will fall
With no exception for one or for all
Some bring sorrow, some bring pain
No two tears are the same
When your heart is broken and you are in despair
Someone will reach out to show they care
Late at night when all is still
May you find tears of joy on your window sill


A Few Words

A few words, is all I can say
Expressing what I feel today
Looking toward the future I'll pray
Tomorrow is like today
Though being stuck is often sad
Some are left depressed and mad
I stand opposite of the rest
For I have you, my very best


Concern

Concern is for something
more than just yourself
Concern is for something
more than wealth
Concern is for the love
of someone else


Up There

Up there where the air is rare
The people play the game
Looking down at the ground
Cursing you and me
Having fun while on the run
From me
Reality there is no escape
For time awaits
Patient and inevitable
Because what go's up must come down
For the rightful owner is the ground
(Dedicated to Wendell)


Freedom

Freedom is something you never understand
For it is just a mere word made up by man
The butterfly who is said to be free
Is really not different from you and me
So stop looking and searching far and wide
Pursuing something only found inside
Waiting courageously


Sweet Words

In my words I write
For things I understand
Being very careful
Because I'm merely a man
With pen in hand
I make my case stand for good and honesty
Something my mother always taught me
Like nature to the world she is to me
As the water to the fish and sun to the tree
I nurture with words of love and hope
That some lonely soul may see
Because of my mother's sweet words given to me


A blind man

A blind man can see
If he can understand
For seeing is simple to comprehend
Most of us use our eyes to see
Try closing them and talk to me
That can tell you an awful lot
For instance what is cold or hot
If you have eyes that will not see
Open up and listen to me
Some have eyes with sight to see
But can't understand you or me
How vast is the ocean, how deep is the sea
Even with eyes, I can not see


Tell Someone

Someone is trying to say something
I wonder who might care
Someone is trying to say something
I wonder who will hear
So if you understand me
And you truly know the way
Then tell someone who might have missed
The words I have to say


I learned

I learned from the teacher who never really taught
Who sat at the desk while other children fought
I learned from the clock hanging high upon the wall
I gathered bits of knowledge from the class room across the hall
While looking out the window I watched a tree grow tall
I even learned the seasons when the leaves began to fall
At three o'clock the bell would ring to set us on our way
I never stopped to ask myself, "What did I learn today?"
Running from the classroom into the crowded hall
Pushing and shoving trying not to fall
Down the street, still on my feet, I scurried on my way
Just to hear my father's voice, "What did you learn today?"


The Dog

The dog is very special
Unique in his own way
Have you ever met one
Who's bark was taken away
Life is very complex
Giving and taking each day
So why try to alter life
It's not a game to play
Without the bark
I can not be the man I'm supposed to be


From Bib to Vest

Old man, Old man wise as can be
Your wisdom forever haunting me
I trade my bib for your vest
Your wisdom is gold I must confess
My toys they seem to disappear
As I watch you nod in your easy chair
Some so busy or don't really care
Just to see an old man slumped in a chair
I'll take all the knowledge from the bib and vest
To tell the world that you shared your best


The Key, The Spell

We only talk once in a while
At the conclusion we both gain a smile
Running and ducking every day
It's the same old game we both love to play
We don't have to talk or mumble a word
Through time and space we can always be heard
No one has yet broken the spell
For we have the time and time can tell
Though many have come to take you away
Chatting and babbling with nothing to say
I never have to worry from day to day
Because I have the spell
And you like it that way!


Death

Death is a stalker at work night and day
Death is a stalker seeking life in many ways
The young and old, weak or bold, so blind to life you see
It will seek you out with out a doubt, for blind to life it be
Yet life is like a train moving down a winding track
Being very careful in sharp turns to hold back
Death is so ruthless it can hit you standing still
For death is a stalker striking out at will
I often sit and wonder while watching children play
Could death be some kind of game in which we have no say?
If so then we all know it's not who wins the game
It's how you play that brings you back to life yet another day


Love Passes

One rainy day
Love pasted away
Like the Summer turns to Fall
One cool day
I miss my love
That kiss of love
The rain has washed away


Marriage is Love

Marriage is love between a woman and man
And forever shall they walk hand in hand
To death do you part is the role they take
And every morning with love they awake
To care for each other in every way
Will help love grow day after day
So with small words I try to say
Love and marriage is the only way


Who Knows?

The world knows not the power of my love
Nor the depth of my feelings for the things I care
I have passed through the door of no return
Only to return
I have walked on the clouds of isolation
Just to find my way back to you
I look into my mirror
To see a stranger there
He seems so far away, he seems to be so near
Forgive the lonely stranger
To forgive is divine
It opens up the road to love
Real love you surely will find
But then again, who knows?


Goodbye Cool Breeze From the Storm

How can you stop in mid-air
Don't you have feelings
Don't you care
Reason is something I don't want to know
I'll just say it's time to go
In you head you really know
why I left; I just had to go
I have pride like the wind I ride
Keeping my feelings deep inside
Vast like the ocean, but without a tide
For there is no pattern to my turbulent ride
I left a storm to be by your side
But once again I'll have to slide
the wind that was strong is now a breeze
Picking up speed for my trip to leave


A Rose and A Weed

A rose and a weed grew in the yard
Only a fence could keep them apart
Now nature would never allow this to be
And time will consume that fence you see
So, until that time all I can say
Is get closer to the fence, it's the only way
As sure as there is a night there will be a day
When nature comes and shows us the way


Nothing Lasts Forever

Nothing last forever
That would be too long
See time is of the essence
So keep it going strong
My door is seldom open
Won't you come inside
For nothing last for ever
As my words begin to die
Nothing last forever
We all do some things wrong
Please don't fight the feeling
Let us keep it going strong


Your Smile

Your smile was like the sun to me
Your eyes revealed a friend to be
With little space between the two
There was very little we could do
So let fate be the dealer today
Together winners in the game we play
Looking forward to the next bright day
That we might have kind things to say


Looking Glass

Looking glass high on the wall
Matters not how short or how tall
Only true feelings reflecting from me
As only the looking glass truly can see
A blind man said humbly
Loving eyes can see no wrong
He sang sentimental words
In a simple love song
Don't be fooled by the reflection you might see
For loving eyes are blind to me
A mother might say
Stay away from that glass
You know that reflections can't possibly last
Speaking of your future as though it was her past
So take a good look every once in a while
You may be able to see your looking glass smile


Good Things

Good thing come and good things go
This is something friends should know
Reason is something we don't understand
Except there is more reasons than grains of sand
Evaluate life if you dare
For good things come from the ones who care


Obligations

When your obligations to your world are done
May life stamp your job complete and well done
As time is life's enemy, we should all know
Use it wisely for it sure will go
Fast into the future on a one way trip
Faster than the heat from the tea you once sipped
My battle with time is one endless day
For tomorrow never comes as time has it's way
When you sit in that chair and your hair becomes grey
May I be blessed to share in that day
Bearing that gift once thrown astray
True love never dies nor fades away


A Special Rose

A special rose grew on a vine
To be admired, from time to time
Something special is very rare
To be admired by those who care
The special rose is hard to find
For there are too few on a rose vine
A man can live for a very long time
And a special rose he may never find
I found a rose sometime ago
It was in the winter and about to snow
I never took it from the vine
This is how I claim it to be mine
For he who takes it from the vine
Envious rage he will find
But chances are you'll never see
A special rose for jealousy
(Dedicated to my wife, Dorothy)


A Tumble Weed

A tumble weed is dying
Oh, who will comfort me
A tumble weed is dying
As the wind blows to the sea
I need inspiration
To make another day
I need understanding
To help me on my way
Although days are numbered
That shall not hamper me
For I am on a mission
Can you relate to me?
I need the feel that gentle breeze
To move me through my life
It has that touch, that warm sweet touch
Like a mother or wife
The wind is softly blowing
Can you feel it's loving touch
The breeze is so alluring
I love the wind so much
I carry many secrets like the wind
Much knowledge gusts from me
I gather precious love seeds
To spread as far as I can see


In My Heart

In my heart
a cemetery resides
with fond memories
of those who have died
Remembering
all the days I cried
And all the love
I keep inside
It is a gift of God
I shall not hide
With faith and hope on my side
I'll pass it on,
it will be my choice
With the hope
someone will hear my voice


Our Friends

What happened to our friends
who passed away
leaving their love
to lead the way
Keep the faith day by day
Teach the children
how to pray
with hope
they won't go astray


You Are A Woman

You are just a woman
That is all you can be
I'm just a man
That is all I'll ever be
Take nothing from the kettle
Take nothing from the pot
A kettle is still a kettle
A pot is still a pot


Seen and Heard Too Much

Your youth have seen
and heard too much
You my friend
are way out of touch
If you can't see
the forest for the trees
You're living in the jungle;
people please!
There might be
a narrow road out
But most can't find it
for serious doubt
Who is our leader
if I may ask
You know, we've always
had one in the past
Is ignorance an epidemic
How long will it last?
A rhetorical question
I just had to ask
I'm just an old man
who has seen enough
to stay away
from the ignorant stuff

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from I Learned by David Lightsey. Copyright © 2015 David Lightsey. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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