Saturday, June 02, 2007

Her Colors

Utter incongruity
jarred my drive
to the coffeehouse

My eye pulled
to the cluster of prom dresses,
dapper Dan’s,
bright colored and freshly polished
at the end of the driveway
before the prom,
photos by their parents

But something was amiss, out of place
A crimson prom dress
under the black leather gang jacket
Her colors, under
her prom tresses


June 1, 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, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 25,480+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In the Beginning

At the start, the first
there was nothing
(a concept difficult to comprehend)

Creation in an instance
order found out of chaos
coming together, coalescing
waters, compartmentalizing
the dome, the seas, the firm land

Life sprang forth
living things, of the land,
the sea, the air

Dominion over all
given to us, day by day
in the garden, the cradle
the glorious creation
out of the void



June 1, 2007 21:48
Genesis 1 & 2


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 20,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Cadence

Speaking the words
out loud in the hall
lips, mustache
brushing the skin
of the microphone

Lips curl in the telling
of the story
in the words on the page
finding my voice
sharing the words
You gave me to share



June 1, 2007 21:33


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 20,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Trailer

The trailer
heading north
ten canoes
ready for another adventure.
plates on the van
from out of state
hearing away from city
into the wild
untamed northern wood
a week or more
without schedules, cares
ready for water
tug of muscles
in a common purpose
joining out in creation
clearing daily clutter
making new memories
on unspoiled waters
up in the north woods



June 1, 2007 21:12


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 20,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Treasure Case

Family memories
scraps and treasures
preserved on shelves
behind panes of glass
frozen there on the wall
most without note, provenance
lost with the passing
the matriarch, memory
of the things, their deep meaning
triggers of stories, feelings,
smell, touch, connectedness
the living of our family
framed, saved, treasured
pieces of us



June 1, 2007 20:32



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 31,520+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Creation’s Colors

Indigo is the color of creation
heavens, the formless void
indigo is for the heavens, a color of creation

Blue is the color of creation
water, life giving water
blue is for water, a color of creation

Yellow is the color of creation
sun, life warming light
yellow is for sunlight, a color of creation

Brown is the color of creation
earth, the good rich earth
brown is for the earth, a color of creation

Green is the color of creation
plants, the circle of life
green is for plants, a color of creation

Orange is the color of creation
fire, rail against the dark
orange is for fire, a color of creation

Red is the color of creation
fruits, the bounty of the earth
red is for fruit, a color of creation

Violet is the color of creation
royal hue, the color of the King
violet is for our God, a color of creation

All are the colors of creation
the bow, the dome, the covenant
the rainbow is the color of creation


June 1, 2007 20:10
Genesis 1 & 2
Genesis 9:13-16



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 19,420+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Ledges

Glacial faces
before the calving
the granite ledges, bedrock
framing the highway, interstate
plates and layers, uplifted
imperceptibly crumbling
over time
If only the rocks could speak
of the millennia they have witnessed
above the soil since the glaciers
coursed over their faces


June 1, 2007 19:50

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 19,400+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Doe Eyes

Out of the fog of dusk
she stood motionless
watching in stillness
the rush of human life
hurtling past her
on the shoulder
in the short grass

Her head turned slightly
cautiously leftward, northward
toward my Doppler hum
closing the gap between us

A fleeting joining
her doe eyes,
and my bespectacled ones,
thanking her
for sharing
the apron of her home
the curtilage of the wood
with me that night


June 1, 2007 19:45



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 19,420+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

How Fast the Bloom Fades

How fast the bloom fades
the flower falls to dust
the petal shrivel, detach
drop to the hungry ground
reclaiming the flesh, tissue
essence of the flower
rich color fading
to brown, to shades of gray
no longer the living hues
bright enticing shades
for the willing bees,
flies, other pollinators,
the comely bud,
bloom no more
Falling to the ground
so fast, so soon.


May 30, 2007 16:33


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 19,420+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wires Crossed

Wires crossed
circuits down
no connection
anywhere around
In the dark
unaware
needing help
catch the air
Wires crossed
circuits down
no connection
in the town
Wanting words
answers to our calls
on hold for hours
waiting in the halls
Wires crossed
circuits down
no relief
anywhere
at all


May 29, 2007 16:08
When our cable and phone were down



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 19,420+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Feathered Nest

I smiled that spring morning
thinking of the welcome
the songbird got from his mate
as he took flight once more
bringing home the ball of
hair from the hairbrush,
fine little girl hair
to line his nest
soft, downy fluff
to gild the twigs and leaves,
the grasses and jetsam
of his home
Velvety bedding
for her coming clutch
Their hungry brood



May 29, 2007 19:53


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 19,420+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Not What He Wanted

We thought we would be nice
generous, helpful, gracious hosts
But that wasn’t what he wanted,
not what he had become accustomed to
something different, out of the ordinary
unexpected change in routine
Rejected as uncouth, foul, dirty
How could we be so boorish,
so crass, so base?
Oh, so sorry for the faux pas.
We won’t let it happen again…



May 29, 2007 19:40
On the snub we received
from our picky neighborhood squirrels
when we deigned to shuck the peanuts
we put out on the table for them


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 20,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Squirrel Expletives

I’m so glad
the girls don’t speak squirrel
because he must have been
swearing a blue streak
at the black cat,
hiding in plain sight
under the picnic table,
the table with the yummy peanuts
just waiting for him
his afternoon snack
blocked by the predator in waiting
who had other plans
for his afternoon



May 29, 2007 21:10


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 19,420+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Awash in the Sunset

Warm amber light
bleeding through
translucent skin
of the iris ablaze
alive with the sunset
awash in the radiance



June 2, 2007 17:09


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 19,420+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Usual Suspects


Ramrod straight
in the line up,
the perp walk
in front of the gray wall
the annual parade
display of the usual suspects
rooted there
perennial blooms
up against the wall


June 2, 2007 17:12


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 20,770+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Billy

He said his name was Billy,
he worked in the same spot
in this place
the same spot he said
for eighteen years,
when he dropped out

He was thirty-six then,
so long ago that was
so many years yet to work,
a life caught in his rut

He pulled the hot bread pans
barehanded
Out of the oven, sent then down
down the conveyor belt,
to the cooling tower,
the cutter.

Calloused hands,
impervious to the heat
air/ lungs full of yeast, of flour
of despair, people
the other voices caught
in the routine,
the numbing sameness
of the bread factory



May 29, 2007 12:06am

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 19,400+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Leon

He walked the streets
of the old mill town
long past the heyday of his life
heavy soles on his shoes,
thick shanks, for uneven legs
heavy frock coat hang like a weight
slumped gait, hunched shoulders
Jet black toupee, like an all black skunk
perched over salt and pepper brows
sunken eyes, smell of the bourbon,
the ripple, the smudge of the cigars
snubbed out in his fingers,
Hands that built, that made things
long fallow then, long ago
A ghost, walking among the vacant buildings
the blocks of the ancient metropolis
dormant itself too, hoping for rebirth
He in the sun, furtively, back into shadows
comfortable at night mostly,
wandering his hometown



May 28, 2007 23:58


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 20,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Translucent Yellow


A Georgia O’Keeffe tableau
the inner parts
of the fertile ripe iris
yellow on yellow
ablaze with the sunset’s rays
glowing temptress of the garden
calling bee to touch her
oh yes, Georgia would have found you
a worthy subject



June 2, 2007 17:17


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 19,420+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Royal Iris




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 20,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sheep to Shepherds

They were changed in an instant,
descended upon by the Spirit
as if by tongues of fire
Flames of transformation,
alighting like a dove
bodily on the sheep,
changed utterly,
into shepherds,
feet of the servant,
hands of the king
Voices in the wilderness
throughout the world


May 28, 2007
Acts 2:1-21



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 30,140+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Finding Their Voices

How lucky we are
those who followed,
that they found their voice
that Pentecost ‘morn
Willing to speak, to risk, to share
when the cost was so high
the risk so great, death so close
Finding power from the Spirit,
ready to stand in the storm
to tell the truth, in the holy city of David
to the gathered multitude
to the powers that be
of the risen Christ
and our saving by grace
Enflamed by the Spirit
they rose from their slumber
awakened to their mission
carried on to this day
by those who listen
to its siren call
deep within you
To witness and share
ever more



May 28, 2007 15:07
Acts 2:1-21

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 19,420+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Becoming Bold

It was that one pivotal moment
when it all began
when the Word
moved from heavenly sent
to earthly spread
when the weak became bold
gained their voice, their strength
come out of hiding, speak truth to power,
to all who would listen, whatever the cost
to tell the world the precious story
of the Christ, sacrificial lamb,
and Savior; that urgent truth
we cling too yet, commissioned we too
by that same Savior, emboldened too
by that same Spirit, like tongues of fire
resting on our souls, searing the truth
into us. We too to share
the Good News
to the ends of the earth



---
edited June 3, 2014
Becoming Bold – v3
(editing original again)
edited May 30, 2014
Becoming Bold – v2
May 28, 2007 14:55
Becoming Bold
Acts 2:1-21

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 30,050+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Hearing into Speech

Twin miracles
that morning in Jerusalem
when Pentecost
meant the birth of the church
Speaking in tongues
as the Spirit made then able
But hearing into speech,
informing the mission, the ministry
these two millennium
spreading the message of that morning
every outward, ever more
into the foreign lands, foreign tongues
hearing the singular truth
in your own words
Apostles generation by generation
land by land, language
by language, throughout the earth
from that nexus, big bang
that Pentecost morning



May 28, 2007 14:44
Acts 2:1-21



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 20,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Babel Broken

A reversal of fortunes
of the breach sealed
of the power given,
The cacophony solved
different language gone
replaced by the one Good News
the same and eternal, shared
by the Apostles
that Pentecost ‘morn
filled with the Spirit
not new wine,
new skins bursting
to proclaim the news
Empowered, emboldened,
imbued by the Spirit,
by grace alone,
with authority and power
ready to spread the news
to feed the sheep
in pastures far and near,
wherever they may be


May 28, 2007 14:38
Acts 2:1-21 - Pentecost
Genesis 11:1-9 – The Tower of Babel

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 20,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tongues of Fire!

Imagine the scene,
cloistered in their room
safe from authorities
Jewish and Roman rulers,
powers that would destroy them
No, they were safe for the moment
from these earthly powers

Tongues of Fire, of flame
burst from heaven, resting, penetrating
piercing their souls, their beings
Infusing these timid followers
Sheep became shepherds
quiet fishermen now orators
arguing, proclaiming, fighting
to be heard, to share the Good News
Holy Spirit, burn on, strike our hearts
with your flames, burn bright in us
through us, sharing still the message
the truth of the risen Lord


May 28, 2007 14:20
Acts 2:1-21 – The first Pentecost,
the birth of the Church


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 19,410+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Our Nation’s Best

They stand on guard once more
in harm’s way in hostile lands
answering the nation’s call
on point in the places of death
of conflict, of war,
of sectarian factions
longing to loose the whirlwinds.

Where we would choose never to be
standing in the crosshairs
walking near the mines, the chaos
around the blind corners
trusting in their brothers, their sisters
under arms, their only hope
in returning home

Ready to protect us, our beliefs
with their lives, if they must
Standing in the breach
Heroes of this land
one and all
remembered more
this Memorial Day.



Memorial Day, May 28, 2007
In the period from Memorial Day 2006 to Memorial Day 2007,
982 soldiers and Marines died in Iraq (per AP reports).
At least 3,452 members of the U.S. military have died
since the beginning of the war in Iraq in March 2003 (per AP reports).
At least 325 members of the U.S. military have died in Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion
of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department.


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 19,410+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Millenial

One thousand more
of our best and brightest
our nation’s treasure,
spent in the streets, in the dust
of that ancient land
Tigris and Euphrates,
cradles of civilization
blood running down your courses
to the sea beyond
land of the fighting factions
war lords, tribal feuds
ancient schisms,
we in the middle still
Four years of war
fatigues the nation
unceasing quagmire
no end in sight
Our treasure still in the field
in the desert,
in the whirling sands
twisting in the wind



Memorial Day, May 28, 2007 13:42

In the period from Memorial Day 2006 to Memorial Day 2007,
982 soldiers and Marines died in Iraq (per AP reports).
At least 3,452 members of the U.S. military have died
since the beginning of the war in Iraq in March 2003 (per AP reports).
At least 325 members of the U.S. military have died in Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion
of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department.


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 20,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.