Three Mothers

They are all so different,
so different, age, history,
fate’s pull on their lives
their place in the world
they are so similar, in their fight
their desire, their needs
stitching their lives together
their families together,
holding them tight
while others, others with agendas,
seek to pull, to tug, to tear
them apart
struggling to hold on, to believe
to see the good in the process
to feel the good of the system
the steps they must take, are forced
to follow, the path chosen for them
and their children, to be whole
safe, to be truly safe
ready for lives rich, rich beyond their present
their presents, each a story, a story of ache
of sadness, of need
a need to grow in spirit, to believe
in futures, futures brighter
brighter for them all

September 2, 2006 12:35


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 18,810+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Vine Grows

A vine, deep rich dark green
rising up from the earth
living color against the sooted
coated rust of the bricks,
three story building, caught in shadows
of larger ones
a single string, strand of color
living green
rising up the drainpipe, old
oxidized metal
tints of aqua, or aged copper alloy
stark in contrast, to the vine
growing skyward, out of the dark
living tissue against the grayness
the unnatural state
of the parking lot, the shadows
in the center of the city
living plant, growing
hopeful

September 1, 2006 9:36am



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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Failure

A friend informed me of the google bombing that makes a search for "failure" link to President Bush. Go to Google and see for yourself.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Failure
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/09/googlebombing-failure.html



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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Flying

I was harnessed and tethered
tied to the earth, not truly free
but I soared, for a few moments
minutes of flight, steering
winds in the current
the thermals, like the
broad-winged raptors
of this place, eagle and owl,
birds of prey
Airborne in a cocoon,
chrysalid body,
unable to grasp, clutch
prey or perch,
but I was flying

August 31, 2006 9:50am


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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Regal Raptors

Poised and perched
regal raptors
on display in the open air
fallen fliers,
bandaged and mended
saved to teach us
to show us, their beauty,
their grace, elegance in flight
sleek, shy, cloistered predators
unable to soar
still able to amaze

August 31, 2006 9:44am

Deer Print

A single impression
pressed hard, deep
into the mud, a deer track
surviving the rains,
rains that washed,
stripped away,
other tracks,
the direction of the deer
unknown, with a single print

August 31, 2006 9:34am



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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Field of Ferns

Above the bluff, the scar,
the clear-cut of the power lines,
a forest of pine opens
to the north
Surrounded by conifers,
a field of ferns, rising on sturdy
erect stalks, broad leaves
to drink the shafts of light
falling briefly, through the canopy
the tall mast pines, straight and true
red-brown needles, a carpet between
the ferns, the regal trees, an evenness
of surface, short pile rug
green ferns, red-brown needles,
green-brown trunks, bright green needles
above, reaching to blue sky

August 31, 2006 9:30am
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/08/field-of-ferns_31.html

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 30,580+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Crouched in the blackberry bramble

Surrounded by prickers, thorns
tugging on my coat, my jeans
lowering myself to the dark small fruit
gathering in, berry by sweet tart wet berry
scratches growing, a burgundy stain
on eager fingertips
A family of five, with pails and bowls,
short on patience, gatherers as of old
of a simpler, primal age,
finding food in the wild, untamed,
uncultivated, natural state
crouched in the blackberry bramble
collecting tiny gems, tasty pearls
swatting at mosquitoes that stalked us
watching for the safety, the whereabouts
of younger, fitful pickers, eager for fruit,
not the quest, the search, under leaves,
under branches, the clusters hidden
shrouded from the view, sight of less tenacious
Gather them in, them all in, for the pie
the reward we seek, at the end of the work
the true fruits of our labors.

August 31, 2006 9:22am

Crouched in the blackberry bramble

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/08/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble_31.html

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 31,980+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Spectral Fishermen

A shadowlike pair
fraternal twins
on the western bank
of the Sugar River
one white, one seemingly gray
in the flat light
the edge of night
fog rising
as the bare heat of the day
reaches dewpoint
standing motionless
as we drive homeward
early evening before darkness
real darkness envelopes the land;
but too late for the supremacy,
the sway of Sol
His power a fleeting memory
They were casting lines,
together but alone in their thoughts
separated as they were
spaced to focus on the game
the simple testing
fishing at dusk.

started 8/27/06 8:19, finished 8/31/06 9:05am
8/26/06 – eastbound on NH Rte 11, Kelleyville, NH, going over the bridge over the Sugar River, just before Chandler Mill Road, 7:47pm.


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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Ladybug

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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Noble Raptor

http://www.vinsweb.org/raptor-center/raptors-at-vins.html


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 20,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Flying at the VINS Nature Center

http://www.vinsweb.org/nature-center/index.html


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 18,840+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Field of Ferns

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 18,840+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

definitely a Nocturnal Raptor...

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 20,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Crouched in the blackberry bramble

 
------
Edited February 29, 2024
Crouched in the blackberry bramble – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/02/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble-v3.html
edited August 28, 2019
Crouched in the blackberry bramble – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/08/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble-v3.html
edited August 25, 2014
Crouched in the blackberry bramble – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/08/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble-v2.html
August 31, 2006 9:22am
Crouched in the blackberry bramble
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/08/crouched-in-blackberry-bramble_31.html
&
Edited February 29, 2024
living goblets – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/02/living-goblets-v5.html
edited February 11, 2022
living goblets – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/living-goblets-v4.html
Edited after reading "Blackberries",
by Mary Oliver
&
edited November 28, 2019
living goblets – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-v3.html
edited November 27, 2019
living goblets – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-v2.html
November 27, 2019
living goblets
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-of-juice-of-nectar-no.html
&
edited November 28, 2019
A Cup of Berries – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-cup-of-berries-v4.html
edited August 22, 2019
A Cup of Berries – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-cup-of-berries-v3.html
edited June 21, 2014
A Cup of Berries – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-cup-of-berries-v2.html
August 10, 2008
A Cup of Berries
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/08/cup-of-berries.html
&
edited February 10, 2022
Apricot and Periwinkle – v7
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/apricot-and-periwinkle-v7.html
edited after reading “Little Sister Pond”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited March 21, 2021
Apricot and Periwinkle - v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/03/apricot-and-periwinkle-v6.html
edited May 5, 2018
Apricot and Periwinkle – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/05/apricot-and-periwinkle-v5.html
(editing version 4, adding 1^st stanza)
edited September 28, 2017
Apricot and Periwinkle – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/09/apricot-and-periwinkle-v4.html
edited January 18, 2016
Apricot and Periwinkle – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/apricot-and-periwinkle-v3.html
(merging edits to version 2 and original)
edited June 21, 2014
Apricot and Periwinkle – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/apricot-and-periwinkle-v2.html
Written 8/28/00 at 10:20 at night
Apricot and Periwinkle
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/sunset-seeing-colors.html
Written 8/28/00 at 10:20 at night 
Swain’s Lake, Barrington, NH
&
February 10, 2022
where they bedded for the night
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/where-they-bedded-for-night.html
written after reading “Little Sister Pond”,
by Mary Oliver
&
Edited February 10, 2022
something ancient, sacred - v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v6.html
February 10, 2022
Gathering another branch
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/gathering-another-branch.html
written after reading "A Meeting"
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 8, 2022
Building their nest – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/building-their-nest-v2.html
February 7, 2022
Building their nest
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/building-their-nest.html
&
edited February 10, 2022
something ancient, sacred – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v5.html
edited February 10, 2022
something ancient, sacred – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v4.html
edited February 9, 2022
something ancient, sacred – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v3.html
edited after reading, “Crossing the Swamp”,
by Mary Oliver
&
Edited October 19, 2013
something ancient, sacred – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/something-ancient-sacred-v2.html
July 21, 2013
something ancient, sacred
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/something-ancient-sacred.html
about fishing trip
July 17, 2013
&
edited February 9, 2022
drawn to the source – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/drawn-to-source-v2.html
February 9, 2022
drawn to the source
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/drawn-to-source.html
written after reading, “The Fish” and
“Honey at the Table”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 9, 2022
Wooing the Darkness to Sleep – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/wooing-darkness-to-sleep-v2.html
February 9, 2022
Wooing the Darkness to Sleep
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/wooing-darkness-to-sleep.html
written after reading, “White Night”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 9, 2022
Her Lady Slipper – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/her-lady-slipper-v3.html
edited after reading “May”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 9, 2022
at the edge of the lake – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake-v4.html
edited February 9, 2022
at the edge of the lake – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake-v3.html
edited February 9, 2022
at the edge of the lake – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake-v2.html
edited February 9, 2022
onto the water – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/onto-water-v2.html
February 8, 2022
onto the water
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/onto-water.html
about summer 2000,
written after reading "Blossom"
by Mary Oliver
&
February 8, 2022
at the edge of the lake
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake.html
about summer 2000,
written after reading "Morning on Great Pond"
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 8, 2022
in the woods I wandered – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-woods-i-wandered-v3.html
edited February 8, 2022
in the woods I wandered – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-woods-i-wandered-v2.html
February 8, 2022
in the woods I wandered
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-woods-i-wandered.html
written after reading “Spring”
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 8, 2022
The bramble enticing – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-bramble-enticing-v2.html
February 8, 2022
the bramble enticing
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-bramble-enticing.html
Written after reading "Skunk Cabbage"
by Mary Oliver
&
February 6, 2022
Diatomaceous earth
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/diatomaceous-earth.html
Written after reading "Rain in Ohio",
By Mary Oliver
&
February 6, 2022
The raptors, their carrion
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-raptors-their-carrion.html
Written after reading "Vultures" by Mary Oliver.
&
January 3, 2022
A squadron of geese
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-squadron-of-geese.html
written after reading Clapp’s Brook by Mary Oliver
&
January 3, 2022
The bear cub
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-bear-cub.html
About drive out of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
after 2019 Stars Over Katahdin dark skies event. 
Drafted after reading first part of poem "Clapp's Brook" by Mary Oliver.
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, blackberries, blood, colors, creator, crimson, Faith, Family, fingers, fire, fruit, God, hands, hope, Nature, raspberries, red, ripe, summer, Lori Eldridge,
 
#poetry #blackberries #blood #colors #crimson #Faith #Family #fingers #fire #fruit #God #hands #Nature #raspberries #ripe #summer
 
poetry, August, blackberries, branches, burgundy, colors, creator, Faith, Family, fruit, God, grow, hope, leaves, Nature, Poetry Where You Live, raspberries, sight,
 
#poetry #August #blackberries #creator #Faith #Family #fruit #God #grow #hope #Nature