A certain air of peace
Washed over them
For a moment at least
They had had their
Day in court,
A chance to say their piece
To make their arguments,
To say what they would,
Even knowing the flaws,
The admissions on cross-examination
They were happy, settled
Because they were heard.
September 7, 2007 21:35
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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Going to School
Painful steps, unfathomable, perhaps
To walk through those doors
Into a familiar foreign place
A necessary evil, or is it
Struggling for year on year
Treading water, grade equivalency
All about the action of the child,
Not the failing of the system,
Institutional efforts, living within
Inside the bubble, the walls,
The familiar walls, the corridors
We all walk through
So foreign, so hostile,
So oppressive to them;
Different, not by their choice.
September 7, 2007 20:45
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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
To walk through those doors
Into a familiar foreign place
A necessary evil, or is it
Struggling for year on year
Treading water, grade equivalency
All about the action of the child,
Not the failing of the system,
Institutional efforts, living within
Inside the bubble, the walls,
The familiar walls, the corridors
We all walk through
So foreign, so hostile,
So oppressive to them;
Different, not by their choice.
September 7, 2007 20:45
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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Out the Back Window
Looking out, over the sink of dishes
Out onto the alley, the stories
Walking by my view
Wondering who the people are,
The man in the worn jeans walking purposely
The car with the booming bass, the boy on the bike
The neighbor walking the pit bull,
Straining on the leash.
Different cultures reflected,
A microcosm, melting pot
Just beyond the cars, in the alley
Out the back window.
September 7, 2007 22:13
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.
Out onto the alley, the stories
Walking by my view
Wondering who the people are,
The man in the worn jeans walking purposely
The car with the booming bass, the boy on the bike
The neighbor walking the pit bull,
Straining on the leash.
Different cultures reflected,
A microcosm, melting pot
Just beyond the cars, in the alley
Out the back window.
September 7, 2007 22:13
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.
Spoken Word
The words on the pages,
The assigned words
For the day, often, all too often,
Speak to you, to me,
Answer to pray, speak to, lift weights
From heavy loads
We each carry.
Comfort in the realization,
In the awareness
That the words before us
Add assurance, balm, salve to wounds
Hope and promise for the day
September 7, 2007 22:01
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.
The assigned words
For the day, often, all too often,
Speak to you, to me,
Answer to pray, speak to, lift weights
From heavy loads
We each carry.
Comfort in the realization,
In the awareness
That the words before us
Add assurance, balm, salve to wounds
Hope and promise for the day
September 7, 2007 22:01
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.
Hills of Heather
A long way from home,
My own home,
Back in the Highlands,
Once walked by my kin
Before they came to this place.
Returning, heading out
From the cities,
Out into the Highlands
Hills, shades of rust,
Of plumb, of heather
In full flower. Heather, that
Set Burns’ pen to writing,
Like the thistle, a part of me,
Echoing in my sight,
My history
September 7, 2007 22:27
My own home,
Back in the Highlands,
Once walked by my kin
Before they came to this place.
Returning, heading out
From the cities,
Out into the Highlands
Hills, shades of rust,
Of plumb, of heather
In full flower. Heather, that
Set Burns’ pen to writing,
Like the thistle, a part of me,
Echoing in my sight,
My history
September 7, 2007 22:27
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.
A Field of Blue
As far as the eye could see
A subtle blue hue
Overwhelming the brown,
And the dark green
Fields and fields
Of wild blueberries
Ripe, ready for the harvest
For the hands, the backs, the sweat
Of the migrant pickers
An ultimate example of piecework
A denim blue before the light blue
Of the August sky
September 7, 2007 22:23
Our mission trip, August 5 to 11, 2007
from Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH and from First United Methodist Church,
Hudson, MA to Jacksonville and Machias, ME
to the Down East Maine Mission,
Jacksonville United Methodist Campground,
East Machias, ME
A subtle blue hue
Overwhelming the brown,
And the dark green
Fields and fields
Of wild blueberries
Ripe, ready for the harvest
For the hands, the backs, the sweat
Of the migrant pickers
An ultimate example of piecework
A denim blue before the light blue
Of the August sky
September 7, 2007 22:23
Our mission trip, August 5 to 11, 2007
from Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH and from First United Methodist Church,
Hudson, MA to Jacksonville and Machias, ME
to the Down East Maine Mission,
Jacksonville United Methodist Campground,
East Machias, ME
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Salamanders in the Bark
Mulch, beside the house
By the foundation, under the wet,
Decaying broad oak leaves
Renewing the soil, as they do
In the wood beyond the yard
There among the brown chips,,
The flaky leaves, becoming dust,
The dirt with the courses of worms,
Wet, orange salamanders
Hiding amid the humus, the bark
A marvel largely undiscovered,
But for the raking
Of the leaves from the civilized place
Carved out of the woods.
September 7, 2007 22:35
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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
By the foundation, under the wet,
Decaying broad oak leaves
Renewing the soil, as they do
In the wood beyond the yard
There among the brown chips,,
The flaky leaves, becoming dust,
The dirt with the courses of worms,
Wet, orange salamanders
Hiding amid the humus, the bark
A marvel largely undiscovered,
But for the raking
Of the leaves from the civilized place
Carved out of the woods.
September 7, 2007 22:35
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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Ex Parte
Sitting, far from still
In the hall, waiting,
Waiting for word
From the court
Would my emergency relief
Be granted today, while I wait
While the client waits
With me, to hear.
Small talk, deep talk,
Of the case, of life
Of fiat, of fees,
Of the parking meter,
The need for another cigarette,
Something to do, to fill
The beating of the clock.
Would our facts be enough
To change the orders,
To protect them?
Waiting, not knowing,
Even assented, because
It is the Master’s,
The Judge’s call. Ex parte.
September 7, 2007 20:36
In the hall, waiting,
Waiting for word
From the court
Would my emergency relief
Be granted today, while I wait
While the client waits
With me, to hear.
Small talk, deep talk,
Of the case, of life
Of fiat, of fees,
Of the parking meter,
The need for another cigarette,
Something to do, to fill
The beating of the clock.
Would our facts be enough
To change the orders,
To protect them?
Waiting, not knowing,
Even assented, because
It is the Master’s,
The Judge’s call. Ex parte.
September 7, 2007 20:36
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 21,410+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
An Earthenware Jar
The potter shapes the clay
each one a precious creature
unique and set apart
known from before
forming from within the earth
up from the living ground
fired by life, the quickening
of each breath
colored by experience,
perhaps chipped by sin,
patched cracks by your
loving, saving grace
Broken vessel at the end
releasing the spirit
held within
the earthenware jar
September 7, 2007 21:28
Jeremiah 18:1-11, Psalm 139
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.
each one a precious creature
unique and set apart
known from before
forming from within the earth
up from the living ground
fired by life, the quickening
of each breath
colored by experience,
perhaps chipped by sin,
patched cracks by your
loving, saving grace
Broken vessel at the end
releasing the spirit
held within
the earthenware jar
September 7, 2007 21:28
Jeremiah 18:1-11, Psalm 139
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.
A Ten to One Heart Attack
A long day
at least in the office
A quick search for the box score
a happy revelation
the good guys were leading
by ten to one in the fifth
Oh, what a great chance
to root, root for the home team
to unwind to the sounds
of bats and banter.
But the game went on and on
because ten to one
became ten to nine
and ended thirteen to ten
four long, stressful innings later.
Nice job guys,
you took my mind off
the pile of court cases,
back up on the desk.
September 7, 2007 21:20
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.
at least in the office
A quick search for the box score
a happy revelation
the good guys were leading
by ten to one in the fifth
Oh, what a great chance
to root, root for the home team
to unwind to the sounds
of bats and banter.
But the game went on and on
because ten to one
became ten to nine
and ended thirteen to ten
four long, stressful innings later.
Nice job guys,
you took my mind off
the pile of court cases,
back up on the desk.
September 7, 2007 21:20
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.
Ignoring Precedent
My blood boiled,
my eyes rolled
at the position they took
the wall they created
to entry, to rights
Claiming their argument
in spite of, ignoring,
denying precedent
Oh that doesn’t apply,
this is so different,
they are individuals after all…
But in their piety,
their overstated certainty,
a child is barred from
rights stated, in repeated
repeated decisions, in many courts,
all stating they are wrong,
or so I will argue
before the next tribunal.
Next stop, stare decisis.
September 7, 2007 21:14
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 eyes rolled
at the position they took
the wall they created
to entry, to rights
Claiming their argument
in spite of, ignoring,
denying precedent
Oh that doesn’t apply,
this is so different,
they are individuals after all…
But in their piety,
their overstated certainty,
a child is barred from
rights stated, in repeated
repeated decisions, in many courts,
all stating they are wrong,
or so I will argue
before the next tribunal.
Next stop, stare decisis.
September 7, 2007 21:14
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.
Site visited by all states
As of today, Poetry Where You Live has been visited by someone from every state of the United States (and the District of Columbia) and by people from 92 other countries.
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
To Everything
The seasons of life,
The moments, parsed out in time
Time for everything,
everything under heaven
metered out by the creator,
given as free will, for us to choose,
within the bounds of the creation,
a time for this and for that,
shared and alone,
we walk this path
so we can reach
our destination,
return to our heavenly home
from whence all began
September 5, 2007 13:09
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11
http://www.biblesociety.ca/free_scriptures/escriptures/ecclesiastes3/ecclesiastes3.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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
The moments, parsed out in time
Time for everything,
everything under heaven
metered out by the creator,
given as free will, for us to choose,
within the bounds of the creation,
a time for this and for that,
shared and alone,
we walk this path
so we can reach
our destination,
return to our heavenly home
from whence all began
September 5, 2007 13:09
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11
http://www.biblesociety.ca/free_scriptures/escriptures/ecclesiastes3/ecclesiastes3.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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Devotionals
Daily time spent with you in the word
Effective way to center me for my day
Vehicle for communing with the Creator
Opening myself for the wisdom in the words
Taking time out to reflect on my purpose, your will
Individual messages in the pages of the book
One with my sister, my wife, sharing words for us
New day, here I am, use me
Answers to prayers in the story, in the thoughts to live by
Love in the scripture, your love oh my Lord
Send me your spirit so I may do my part
September 3, 2007 20:42
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Effective way to center me for my day
Vehicle for communing with the Creator
Opening myself for the wisdom in the words
Taking time out to reflect on my purpose, your will
Individual messages in the pages of the book
One with my sister, my wife, sharing words for us
New day, here I am, use me
Answers to prayers in the story, in the thoughts to live by
Love in the scripture, your love oh my Lord
Send me your spirit so I may do my part
September 3, 2007 20:42
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
In the Potter’s Hands
I am clay in the potter’s hands
Mold me, shape me, make me
What you will of me
Use me for your purposes
Imbue me with the skills, the spirit
To serve where you would have me serve
Performing the services you would intend
Wherever you would send me
However you would will me
To send me forth
From this space, this place
Into the world
As your servant, your son
Your child, in your image,
The image of your son,
Our brother, our example,
Our savior, like us clay
Held in the potter’s hands
September 3, 2007 15:05
Jeremiah 18:1-11
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Mold me, shape me, make me
What you will of me
Use me for your purposes
Imbue me with the skills, the spirit
To serve where you would have me serve
Performing the services you would intend
Wherever you would send me
However you would will me
To send me forth
From this space, this place
Into the world
As your servant, your son
Your child, in your image,
The image of your son,
Our brother, our example,
Our savior, like us clay
Held in the potter’s hands
September 3, 2007 15:05
Jeremiah 18:1-11
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
A Converted Zealot
What better advocate
can serve a mission,
a calling, a purpose
than a converted zealot
a true believer
one on the other side
the opposing argument
A changed soul, by blinding light
by a plea from a deity
on the dusty road to Damascus
Epiphany in an instant
purity of words, synthesized
boiled down for the retelling
Repentant, forgiven
and send on his mission
September 3, 2007 8:17am
1 Timothy 1:12-17
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
can serve a mission,
a calling, a purpose
than a converted zealot
a true believer
one on the other side
the opposing argument
A changed soul, by blinding light
by a plea from a deity
on the dusty road to Damascus
Epiphany in an instant
purity of words, synthesized
boiled down for the retelling
Repentant, forgiven
and send on his mission
September 3, 2007 8:17am
1 Timothy 1:12-17
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
On the Potter’s Hands
Molded, shaped, reshaped
in the potter’s hands,
imperfections worked out,
pulled from the clay,
balance, symmetry,
made useful by his hands,
by the yielding of the clay
to the potter’s touch
transforming a lump
of inert clay
to something wonderful,
useful to the potter’s purposes
A bit of clay still
on the potter’s hands
September 3, 2007 8:10am
Jeremiah 18:1-11
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
in the potter’s hands,
imperfections worked out,
pulled from the clay,
balance, symmetry,
made useful by his hands,
by the yielding of the clay
to the potter’s touch
transforming a lump
of inert clay
to something wonderful,
useful to the potter’s purposes
A bit of clay still
on the potter’s hands
September 3, 2007 8:10am
Jeremiah 18:1-11
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 19,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
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