Saturday, October 21, 2006

Hundreds of Stories

In each of the people
in the crowd,
along the procession’s route,
a different story, a story
of where they are from
why they were drawn to this place
why they stood where they did
who they were with,
the clothes they wore
the way they stood,
their posture, demeanor
what they did, as he passed,
saw the reminders, the markers
of a life no longer here
how they stood
in the wind, in the cold
stoic or sad
impassive or in tears
together in the crowd
but some, at least,
apart


October 21, 2006 19:17



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.

Neighbors to Hell

They were clustered together
standing apart
the ones who were there
on the scene not by choice
the ones who lived there
neighbors to hell,
to that unspeakable evil
that flash of rage
that fateful shot
talking about the loss
they feel as neighbors
trapped in place
living with the fresh memory
of what happened
what was lost for them
when he was lost


October 21, 2006 16:57


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.

My Brother

He was there too,
marching by,
just ten feet from my spot
beyond arm’s reach
solemn, marching in his blues
my brother
taking his turn
joined with the ranks
the honor guards, the men
and women in blue
marching honoring him
solidarity in the marching
the brotherhood
the thin blue line


October 21, 2006 16:16
Officer Michael Briggs funeral


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.

Fallen

Standing in the cold
with those who knew you more
those I know who wear the badge
who fight the fight you fought
being there for all of us
in the streets, out in the darker places
the trying places in our land
our city, our neighborhoods

Knowing where you fell, how close to home
how near we all are to chaos
how separate we let ourselves be
when we are still so connected

Seeing you, your flag
the fallen one
echoes of your life

Watching your comrades, your brethren
the thin blue line, stretching down the street
past the station in front of me,
row on row of men and women
on and on they came
to pay respect, tribute, honor

Those who risk all for us
each day, each shift,
each step on the beat,
into the breach
dark places where
we would
not go


October 21, 2006 16:11
Officer Michael Briggs funeral



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 30,430+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Red Maple, White Clouds, Blue Sky





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.

Final Sunflower of the Year








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 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

An Orange Maple



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.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Fall Puddles

Crisp hard brown sturdy oak leaves
glistened in the small crisp pools
after this morning’s rain, late fall puddles
harvest pools of water with rounded edges
not like summer puddles, diffused edges
bleeding into the hot pavement
these were hard edged pools, held by
the will of the water molecules,
cells of living water, sparkling in the
warm refracted, reflected low light
of fall, white light, framing steel grey clouds
shafts of light filtering through the falling canopy
lighting the browns, yellows, reds of the season
before their dance to the earth


October 18, 2006 21:51
of the puddles at 4:15 this afternoon


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 19,000+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Raw Air

Cold, raw air
Wet thick air
enveloped me on the walk to school
wrapped its arms around me
chilled me to the quick
huddled under the raincoat
hurrying homeward
glad for the lights and the crossing guard
quickening my pace
to the warmth inside


October 18, 2006 21:40


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 19,000+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

300 Million Americans as of today, and counting

http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.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 19,000+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Monday, October 16, 2006

The Christ Candle

In that holy place, on that Oh Holy Night
we rose as a family, to the chancel rail
into the chancel, to the Advent wreath
reading the words from the lectern,
lighting the wicks, the candles of faith,
of hope, of love
one by one, sharing that wonderful moment
not as individuals, but as a part of this family of faith
pausing before lighting the Christ Candle
His candle, marking His birth, when God became Man
breathed his first breath, let out his first cry,
so long ago in the stable bed, a little babe in the manger
walking a bit taller on the steps back to our pew,
hands held tight, eyes heavy with tears of joy


October 16, 2006 23:15
Christmas Eve 2004



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 21,190+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christmas Pageants

Small voices, raised to the rafters
singing their hearts out in the familiar story
the tale of the babe and his parents
sharing his birth with donkeys and lamb,
with shepherds and wise men from the east
marveling at the wonder of his birth
in that humble place so long ago
hearing the words of the story again
richer perhaps in the telling with little voices
echoing throughout the sanctuary
a bit noisier perhaps; but a wonderful
place to be


October 16, 2006 23:06


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 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Washing His Blood

In the little room, off the sanctuary,
the space where worship supplies
were kept, a stack of white linen
tablecloths, communion cloths
that once covered His table,
held his holy meal, the body, the blood
stained by the spilt wine, the dark
stain of his blood, washing his blood
pressing the white fabric, folding, putting
it away, in its place once more
washing His blood from the white cloth
but not from our hearts


October 16, 2006 21:58



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 31,480+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Flowers Ablaze

Down the sidewalk
on the way to pick up
the littlest after school
three in the afternoon
in early October
low light comes between
the tenements, pushing
through the late sunflowers
beams and shafts of brilliant yellow
warm light floods the senses
overwhelms ability to see it all; but
captured in the picture
for us all to see once more





 October 15, 2006 15:56 (picture October 8, 2006)























October 15, 2006 15:56
Flowers Ablaze


All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 46,940 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

creator, dew, Faith, faith poetry, Family, flowers, God, hope, light, Nature, New Hampshire, October, Photos, schools, senses, way, yellow, poem, poetry, Shanequa,

#creator #dew #Faith #faithpoetry #Family #flowers #God #hope #light #Nature #NEUMC #NewHampshire #October #Photos #schools #senses #way #yellow #sunflowers #school #poetry #poem #Shanequa

Marigold Monarchs

Fidgety, shy, tremulous
introverted royalty
hide, run, burst to flight
normally, as I approach
with my predatory posture
sudden motion toward them
but not this day,
posing for the camera, star after star
ready for their closeup this day
holding still, primping,
pining for the camera
for their moment in the sun
for stardom


October 15, 2006 15:45




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 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Pinned to the Door

Pinned to the Door

He looks so surprised
amazed that he hangs there
suspended in the vertical plane
a flat brown bear, held in place
motionless by square magnets
high above the livingroom floor
Held in place, a trophy, a reward,
a bit of art by her hand
mounted on the door, mouth agape
pinned to the door.


October 15, 2006 15:40



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 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

First Date … First Kiss

Two years ago,
anticipating the first meeting
of our lips, after our
easy conversation, small talk,
after sitting by each other
on your couch, wanting to
wanting to be next to you
to feel you against me
hold you in my arms, feel
your breath on my skin,
my arm around your back
your lips against mine
Talk of commitment, of
their needs too, of our intentions
even from the first moment
thinking as a couple might
many steps further down that path
but from the start for us
knowing, somehow, it was deeper
more permanent, more certain
that we would commit to each other
even before the first kiss
on our first date


October 15, 2006 15:05


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 19,000+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Red and Bzzz






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 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Stitch in the Sky

Above the tree line
beside the silhouette of the dark church
a contrail of a jet falling toward the horizon
cut a scar through the fall sky before dusk
leaving a trail lit by the refracted, failing light
primrose, to salmon, to dusty rose it darkened
diffused in the dimming, losing definition, form
becoming one with the blue darkening further
fading into darkness, as the day ended
and night fell, in Concord


October 15, 2006 14:30


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 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Southward - 10/14/06

Southward

Their honks and squeaks
called her, caused her
she raised her head skyward
from north to south they passed
over our line of sight
urging each other for the long journey
the quest for warmer environs
leaving us behind, in the cold
getting ready for the coming frost,
the shortening of the days, the cold
that will grip the land all too soon
Still warm today, yesterday, despite
the fall chill in the air, sun yet renewing
before the failing of the light in winter
Revel in the warm sunlight, cut the shrubs,
tend the garden, clear away the fall leaves
prepare the land for the change of seasons
enjoy the day while we can


October 15, 2006 14:09


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 19,000+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Matriarchs

They sit, week on week,
year on year, solitary matriarchs
Hair of silver, grey, white, spun gold
Stoic women, widows, stately clothed
coiffed, regal bearing, sitting erect,
sitting in their assigned seats
in familiar pews, sharing the later years
the platinum years of their collective lives
in the church they helped form, the place
they and their husbands built,
men who fought in Europe, in
the Pacific. Men who won victory
over Adolf and the Emperor
who rebuilt a nation, after Depression
and sacrifice, stalwart Yankees,
examples to us all, week on week
in the sanctuary, in fellowship
with them and our God


October 15, 2006 13:59


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 19,000+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.