Saturday, February 21, 2004

Personal Poetry

A proper noun –
Personal Poetry –
Quick encapsulation,
State of hesitance.

Slices of me
Flesh and nerve
Risk of rejection
Laid open, raw
Vulnerable
With each utterance
Each sharing,
Each telling

Perfect prose
Escapes me.
But they are me
Each one and each word;
Now, as I write
Untested and
Exposed to
Animus
Ridicule
Misunderstanding


----------------
edited January 7, 2016
Personal Poetry – v2
posted February 21, 2004
February 3, 2004 16:45
Personal Poetry


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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,560+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Thursday, February 19, 2004

Last Breath

At your right,
I sat
with you, near you
feeling your presence, your pain

Labored breath fell to
Slow, uneven gasps
barely audible

Abrupt silence

Instinctively
I moved.

At your left –
Touch you, your face
Comforting you
at your end.

Your chest heaved
Fitfully
Under me, my touch

Draw to you.
My cheek
Against yours
Sharing

Your last breath


================
edited October 8, 2017
under the sheet – v3
(editing original)
edited October 8, 2017
under the sheet – v2
November 8, 2011
under the sheet
the dying of Jack Grant, 2003
“The Wish”, by Donald Hall
with line “Let Me Go”
Poet’s Corner
monthly poetry readings
Suncook Senior Center
November 7, 2011
&
edited January 19, 2016
Memories – v3
(editing original – version 2 is not about this poem)
posted August 26, 2004
written September 26, 2003 22:45
Memories
&
edited January 19, 2016
Love Everlasting – v2
posted March 3, 2004
written September 26, 2003 22:41
Love Everlasting
&
edited January 7, 2016
Last Breath – v2
posted February 19, 2004
written 9/26/03 22:00
Last Breath
edits 9/27/03 12:45
edits 10/1/03 15:26,
after reading it at Jack Grant’s memorial service,
adding pauses

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, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 45,110 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Concord NH, Faith, God, Family, hope, Nature, UMC, New Hampshire, poetry, touch, Wesley United Methodist Church, death, husband, wife, dying, breathing, widow, hospitality, presence, Spirit,

#Faith #God #Family #hope #Nature #UMC #NH #poetry #touch #husband #wife #dying #breathing #widow #hospitality #presence #Spirit

=====================================================================================

Faith, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, Methodist, calling, witness, God’s purpose, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, disciple, poetry, writing poetry, sacrifice, cross, cup, offering, death, Donald Hall,

#God #Christ #Spirit #faith #love #calling #servant #grace #poetry #sacrifice #cross #journey #writing #clay #death #DonaldHall

An Awakening

I have been born anew.
Like Venus from the shell
I awoke full and whole.
Ready to face the world as I am.

Facets of my soul
Long dormant have found voice.
You have released me from my slumber.
With you I am made whole.
Through you I am free.

Steps on the path
Now before me.
Confident I am making
The right choices.
Knowing you are with me,
Loving, caring, trusting.

Brave new world
Here I am.
A soul found.


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 18,700+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Ashes

Your ashes
In my hand
As we released
Your remains
To the mountain,
The air,
And the snow.
Invoking the names
Of your children
As we,
Mom and I,
Lovingly
Let you go.


=====
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.

Home Again

Home again
To this place that held
Your heart for twenty years.

Sugarloaf,
The mountain you loved
Now the eternal home
For the remains of your human body
Free to blow with the wind and snow
In the wild
Above the ground
In the woods

Do you hear the wind howl,
The breath of God.
His presence in
The purity of this place
You loved
And shared with us all.
We love you Dad.
Rest well.



=====
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.