Saturday, March 13, 2004

Process of writing - A Bit of Green

Today's postings are of two versions of a new poem, A Bit of Green, before and after editing. Each can stand on their own, and appeal to different parts of what I was seeing/feeling in looking for the shoot and in trying to capture it in words.



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 27,550+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Bit of Green (revised)

Hangover of pearl white snow
Gray ice losing power
Brown dirt, clear leaves, rotting
Wet dark chocolate, rich humus

Eyes seek, hope, are drawn
A bit of green, amidst the end,
detritus of winter…
New shoot, sprout
Triumphant, persistent

Burst the seal,
Strove for air, light
Warmth of the morning/ cool of night
Spring, reasserting itself
Waking from slumber…



March 12, 2004 9:34
Revision 3/12/04 13:30 to 13:55


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Bit of Green

Dull white snow
Gray ice, losing power
Brown dirt, wet from melting
Clear leaves, rotting
A bit of green
Amidst the end
Of winter

A shoot
Triumphant, persistent
Strove for air, light
Warmth of the morning
Cool of night
Spring
Reasserting itself
Waking from slumber


March 12, 2004 9:34


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Friday, March 12, 2004

Too Young

Too Young
Too soon
To lose a child
To mourn
For the innocent.

Cancer,
ugly stain
Claims another
Life
Another family
Another community.
To grieve
To be lost
Without understanding.
Because
There is
No reason

To lose a child
Too young
And too soon.



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Muddled

There is a disquiet in my soul
Unable to focus
To think about one thing
At a time
Unable to make progress
Or reach closure
On anything
Touching and releasing
Every document
Email message
And folder
Scanning my mail
Looking at notes
Lost in
My day to day
World.



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Thursday, March 11, 2004

Fully Present

Morrie was right,
Julie knows –
Be fully present.
Intense, feeling
Raw, honest
Eye contact
Listening, hearing
Open and vulnerable
Sharing and risk taking
See things clearly
Speak out
Frank and demanding



==============
edited January 22, 2016
Fully Present – v2
posted March 11, 2004
written January 1, 2004 – 22:00 – 22:20
See page 135 of tuesdays with Morrie
Fully Present
&
November 11, 2010
a holy silence
November 11, 2010
in the silence of listening
November 11, 2010
In the healing of listening
November 11, 2010
In real presence
Church Council
opening devotional
on 1 John 4
and book, “Kitchen Table Wisdom”
and the author’s story of experiencing Carl Roger’s use
of unconditional positive regard
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 9, 2010
& see
See page 135 of tuesdays with Morrie
by Mitch Albom

All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Purchase

Purchase -
Impulse,
Affirmation.

Of future life,
With an office
Needing Art.




1/9/04 – 15:17 – About buying a print from Aaron Brown’s exhibition at Pierce Law. It is a step taken with the idea of placing it in my law office, once I pass the bar; an affirmation of my belief I will pass the bar and become an attorney.



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Demons

Thoughts and memories
Baggage carried for way too long
How to shed pain and confusion
When so much time has gone
Down the hourglass
With no words, no airing
Of the hurt, of the guilt, of the
Need to release the demons
From my soul

New man, unwilling to carry
The trunks and bags and cartloads
Of issues unaddressed
Blurting them out onto paper
Reading them aloud
Sharing them honestly
Not for hurt but to unburden
A soul in chains


=====
edited January 11, 2016
Black Ice – v4
(editing version 3)
edited September 1, 2012
Black Ice – v3
Edited August 31, 2012
“Black Ice – v2”
December 12, 2007
“Black Ice”
------ 
edited December 29, 2015
Demons – v2
edited December 29, 2015
Did You Hear Her Cry – v2
edited December 29, 2015
The Crash – v2
posted February 14, 2004
(the 13th anniversary of my father’s fatal accident)
written June 18, 2001 10:54pm
The Crash
about my father's death
February 14, 1991
and my car accident
the day I applied to law school
edited December 18, 2015
The Submariner – v2
&
edited December 17, 2015
Meticulous – v2
&
edited December 18, 2015
Adam Asked – v2
==========
edited October 22, 2015
Did you brace for impact – v2
edicted October 22, 2015
Mile Marker 19 – v8
(editing original)
edited October 5, 2015
Like the Venus Fly Trap – v9
(editing version 5)
&
edited October 3, 2015
Why on this day – v3
(editing original)
edited October 19, 2014
Why on this day – v2
July 1, 2014
Why on this day
“My Prayers Weekend!”
“Next Day Stretch”
draft a note to God
about a day when you struggled
with a big question
for June 29, 2014
read June 30, 2014
&
edited June 27, 2014
A vivid memory – v2
June 27, 2014
A vivid memory
Matthew 28:20 (NRSV)
Romans 8:31-39
Upper Room Daily Devotional
“In Dark Times”
by Don Greeley
about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
for June 26, 2014
read June 27, 2014
Upper Room Daily Devotional
for March and April 2014
&
edited August 15, 2015
Here it comes – v3
(editing version 2)
edited January 12, 2014
Here it comes – v2
January 12, 2014
Here it comes
January 12, 2014
I am not ready
(conversation by Dean McKenney about his
bad car accident 40 years ago)
January 12, 2014
an accounting to God
January 12, 2014
Honor their walk
Romans 14:10-12
Romans 14:1-12
Romans 14
Men’s Bible Study
led by Steve Curtis
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 12, 2014
&
edited August 4, 2015
Like the Venus Fly Trap – v8
(editing version 5)
edited May 9, 2015
Ten Years – v2
April 23, 2004
Ten Years
see also
-------
edited January 11, 2014
Mile Marker 19 – v7
(editing version 6)
Edited November 9, 2013
Mile Marker 19 – v6
(editing version 3)
-------
edited March 21, 2015
Like the Venus Fly Trap – v7
(editing version 5)
edited December 3, 2014
Like the Venus Fly Trap – v6
(editing version 3)
Edited November 9, 2013
“Like the Venus Fly Trap – v5”
Edited October 24, 2013
“Like the Venus Fly Trap – v4”
Edited October 11, 2013
“Like the Venus Fly Trap – v3”
Edited December 26, 2012
“Like the Venus Fly Trap – v2”
December 20, 2012
“Like the Venus Fly Trap”
edited February 11, 2014
“hiding in the ice – v9”
edited January 4, 2014
“hiding in the ice – v8”
(editing version 5)
Edited September 28, 2013
“hiding in the ice – v7”
 (editing version 3)
Edited September 28, 2013
“hiding in the ice – v6”
(editing version 2)
Edited September 25, 2013
“hiding in the ice – v5”
Edited August 2, 2013
“hiding in the ice – v4”
Edited December 26, 2012
“hiding in the ice – v3”
Edited December 21, 2012
“hiding in the ice – v2”
December 21, 2012
“hiding in the ice”
Edited December 26, 2012
“Animated / Evil – v2”
December 20, 2012
“Animated / Evil”
Edited December 26, 2012
“A latent danger – v3”
December 20, 2012
“A latent danger – v2”
“A latent danger”
Edited December 26, 2012
“Smiling in the freezing – v2”
December 20, 2012
“Smiling in the freezing”
Edited December 26, 2012
“A frozen trap – v2
December 20, 2012
“A frozen trap”
Edited December 26, 2012
“was the road innocent – v2”
December 21, 2012
“was the road innocent”
Edited December 26, 2012
“Did the ice know – v2”
December 20, 2012
“Did the ice know”
series of new poems
also about my father’s death,
after reviewing poem by Jacob Montgomery,
“Icy Lanes”,
(see more of his poems at:
and exchanging emails with him about that poem
and my father’s death
2/14/1991
&
Edited August 22, 2013
“eyes not shut – v2”
August 22, 2013
“eyes not shut”
a poem in conjured after reading poem
TATTOOS AND ATTITUDE”
by Chip Bergeron
&
Edited September 20, 2012
new poem, “Did you brace for impact”
&
Edited September 20, 2012
“Mile Marker 19 – v5”
&
Edited September 12, 2012
“Mile Marker 19 – v4”
editing version 2 below
&
Edited September 12, 2012
“Mile Marker 19 – v3”
editing the original again
inspired by reading it at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
September 10, 2012
&
edited June 6, 2012 (adding an additional last stanza)
“Mile Marker 19 – v2”
&
October 2, 2011
Did You Hear Her Cry
after rereading earlier poem,
“Mile Marker 19”
&
Edited April 23, 2013
“No Life in Your Eyes – v2”
February 11, 2011
“No Life in Your Eyes”
remembering the 20th anniversary
of my father’s death, February 14, 1991
written at the House of Purpose coffeehouse
Hillsboro, NH
February 11, 2011
&
new poem February 11, 2014
Where you are scattered
posted March 22, 2004
written 2/26/2001
Adam Asked
posted March 18, 2004
written March 6, 2001
Meticulous
posted March 17, 2004
written 3/2/2001 and 3/5/2001
The Submariner
posted February 18, 2004
edited April 25, 2015
Home Again – v2
edited April 23, 2015
Your final resting place – v2
edited April 25, 2015
Ashes – v2
March 2, 2001
“Ashes”
posted February 18, 2004
March 2, 2001
“Home Again”
&
posted March 10, 2004
written April 3, 2001 8:47am
Demons
&
posted February 8, 2004
original version written 5/20/2000
“Mile Marker 19”
posted to my blog on February 8, 2004,
as the 15th poem put on the site -
about my father’s fatal car accident
near Mile Marker 19
on the Spaulding Turnpike
Rochester, NH
February 14, 1991 at 7:02pm
Valentine’s Day


All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,660+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Fall is Coming

Still nights
On the calm water.
Late summer
on the lake.

Crisp nights
Fog in the morning
A chill in the air.

Rocks exposed,
An empty boat launch,
Full-grown ducklings.

Leaves of crimson and gold
Join the yellow
Lily pads.
Fall is coming.



------------------
edited January 22, 2016
Fall is Coming – v2
posted March 10, 2004
written September 2, 2000 10:57pm
edited September 4, 2000 9:40am
Fall is Coming


All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,760+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, March 09, 2004

100 Poems posted so far

With the last two, I have posted 100 poems so far. If you land on the site, let me know what you think.

Ray Foss


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Paused

Did you see it, feel it
did you stop and notice
soak it in, taste it?

I paused,
scanned
The horizon,
the foreground
all around me

in wonder, awe
grateful, I paused
stopped my rushing

the sunrise, break of day
frozen and melting
shadow and weak February sun
on new snow

Canary and dusty/powder blue
sculpted on the substantial clouds
(not summer gossamer)
and fused with the
gray below, the edge of land
waking this Wednesday

if you paused
long enough
to drink it in


======
edited January 22, 2016
Paused – v2
posted March 7, 2004
written February 4, 2004 15:06
Paused

All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,760+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.


Monday, March 08, 2004

Dad’s Face

I saw Dad’s Face
In your face
Last weekend
In your yard

I at the ready
To lend a hand
To be his helper again
Through you, my brother
To be close to
Him and you
Working together

Seeing me
In your son
Brings it full circle
The boy I was
And the man I am
Smiles at the symmetry
God’s Design
Played out in us
Visible if we will just see



---------------
edited January 22, 2016
Dad’s Face – v2
Revised 3/8/04 for posting to web
Dad’s Face
about time a year earlier doing yard work
at my brother’s home

All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,760+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, March 07, 2004

Study

Study, argue, think
Lawyers share common bonds with Artists
How novel, how strange
These seven boxes of time and space
Meted out by name, code, and key

Four hours at a time
to help us focus
fine tune, persuade, and grow
Sanctuary from the outside world
in the lower level
cut off from light
and noise, save for our peers

Struggling they too
to learn the law
A new language, around ancient
principles and traditions
Secrets found within
the four walls of the law

==============
edited January 22, 2016
Study – v2
posted March 7, 2004
May 4, 2002, 18:35
about the study rooms in the Pierce Law library
updated 5/9/02
Study
&
edited January 22, 2016
Mark Time – v2
posted March 7, 2004
written August 28, 2003
Mark Time
&
edited January 21, 2016
No Time – v2
posted March 5, 2004
written 1st draft 11/7/02 9:14am
edits 11/8/02 16:47
edits 11/11/02 18:10
No Time
about last semester of law school
&
January 14, 2015
no time - 2
Worship Theme: New Year
Ecclesiastes 3:1-12 NIV
Revelation 21:1-6 NIV
Epiphany of the Lord Sunday
sermon “A Year in Review
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Prayer of Thanksgiving
we thank you Lord – v7
by Raymond A. Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Epiphany of the Lord Sunday
December 28, 2014
&
edited January 20, 2016
Holding onto my Dicta – v2
posted February 26, 2004
November 11, 2002 8:35pm
Holding onto my Dicta
&
edited January 20, 2016
Actors – v2
posted February 28, 2004
written 9/18/01 23:00 to 23:15
Actors
&
edited January 20, 2016
Kontraxtz – v2
posted February 29, 2004
written September 22, 2001 19:18 to 19:40
Kontraxtz
&
edited January 20, 2016
Into the Stream of Commerce – v2
posted March 3, 2004
written 11/14/2002 8:35am
Into the Stream of Commerce
&
edited January 14, 2016
My Memo 1 Sucks – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/my-memo-1-sucks-v2.html
posted February 27, 2004
written 9/18/01 23:25 to 23:40
My Memo 1 Sucks
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/my-memo-1-sucks.html
(About the first memo in Legal Skills, 1st semester of law school)
&
edited January 13, 2016
Hands Raised – v4
(editing version 3 and original)
edited October 3, 2015
Hands Raised – v3
(editing version 2)
edited June 25, 2014
Hands Raised – v2
posted March 1, 2004
written September 3, 200118:45
Hands Raised
first week at Franklin Pierce Law Center,
now UNH School of Law
&
edited January 8, 2016
Swimming in Molasses – v2
posted February 25, 2004
written September 10, 2001 19:13
Swimming in Molasses
(Thinking about the readings for the Contracts class
of 9/10/01 and the discussions in Torts
last week on wooden use of aged precedents)
&
edited January 8, 2016
Yellow Bands – v2
posted February 26, 2004
written October 20, 2001 22:47
(about highlighting text for class discussions)
&
edited January 8, 2016
Law School – v2
posted February 23, 2004
written 9/3/01 19:25
Law School
edited January 8, 2016
&
Done – v2
posted February 23, 2004
January 28, 2004 22:43.
Written on completion of the Education Law Institute paper,
after 2 extensions. Forty-six pages, 12,000 words, and 335 footnotes.
Done
&
edited January 7, 2016
Citations – v2
posted February 16, 2004
written 9/3/01 18:15
Citations
about first few weeks of Law School
Legal Writing class
&
edited December 31, 2015
Building Blocks – v2
posted February 16, 2004
written 9/3/01 12:30
Building Blocks
&
edited December 30, 2015
First Day – 1L – v2
posted February 16, 2004
8/22/01 22:50
First Day – 1L

All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,760+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Marking Time

3L year, want to be done
Over, resolved,
Bar & job won.

Just completed,
My last first class
of
My last first semester
of
My last year
of
Three years
of
Law school.

I'm marking units
of
Time.


--------------
edited January 22, 2016
Mark Time – v2
posted March 7, 2004
written August 28, 2003
Mark Time
&
edited January 21, 2016
No Time – v2
posted March 5, 2004
written 1st draft 11/7/02 9:14am
edits 11/8/02 16:47
edits 11/11/02 18:10
No Time
about last semester of law school
&
January 14, 2015
no time - 2
Worship Theme: New Year
Ecclesiastes 3:1-12 NIV
Revelation 21:1-6 NIV
Epiphany of the Lord Sunday
sermon “A Year in Review
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Prayer of Thanksgiving
we thank you Lord – v7
by Raymond A. Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Epiphany of the Lord Sunday
December 28, 2014
&
edited January 20, 2016
Holding onto my Dicta – v2
posted February 26, 2004
November 11, 2002 8:35pm
Holding onto my Dicta
&
edited January 20, 2016
Actors – v2
posted February 28, 2004
written 9/18/01 23:00 to 23:15
Actors
&
edited January 20, 2016
Kontraxtz – v2
posted February 29, 2004
written September 22, 2001 19:18 to 19:40
Kontraxtz
&
edited January 20, 2016
Into the Stream of Commerce – v2
posted March 3, 2004
written 11/14/2002 8:35am
Into the Stream of Commerce
&
edited January 14, 2016
My Memo 1 Sucks – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/my-memo-1-sucks-v2.html
posted February 27, 2004
written 9/18/01 23:25 to 23:40
My Memo 1 Sucks
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/my-memo-1-sucks.html
(About the first memo in Legal Skills, 1st semester of law school)
&
edited January 13, 2016
Hands Raised – v4
(editing version 3 and original)
edited October 3, 2015
Hands Raised – v3
(editing version 2)
edited June 25, 2014
Hands Raised – v2
posted March 1, 2004
written September 3, 200118:45
Hands Raised
first week at Franklin Pierce Law Center,
now UNH School of Law
&
edited January 8, 2016
Swimming in Molasses – v2
posted February 25, 2004
written September 10, 2001 19:13
Swimming in Molasses
(Thinking about the readings for the Contracts class
of 9/10/01 and the discussions in Torts
last week on wooden use of aged precedents)
&
edited January 8, 2016
Yellow Bands – v2
posted February 26, 2004
written October 20, 2001 22:47
(about highlighting text for class discussions)
&
edited January 8, 2016
Law School – v2
posted February 23, 2004
written 9/3/01 19:25
Law School
edited January 8, 2016
&
Done – v2
posted February 23, 2004
January 28, 2004 22:43.
Written on completion of the Education Law Institute paper,
after 2 extensions. Forty-six pages, 12,000 words, and 335 footnotes.
Done
&
edited January 7, 2016
Citations – v2
posted February 16, 2004
written 9/3/01 18:15
Citations
about first few weeks of Law School
Legal Writing class
&
edited December 31, 2015
Building Blocks – v2
posted February 16, 2004
written 9/3/01 12:30
Building Blocks
&
edited December 30, 2015
First Day – 1L – v2
posted February 16, 2004
8/22/01 22:50
First Day – 1L

All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,760+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.