Calloused – v4

Calloused, weathered

pumiced by the sand

the winds off the Atlantic;

The boards of the cabins

leaning against the wind off the ocean

Sanded and buffeted

boards bent to the touch

to the call of the sea

The seams and veins

the grain exposed to nature;

Calloused skin, of the houses,

on the windward side

===========

edited January 16, 2016

Calloused – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/calloused-v4.html

(editing version 3)

edited November 1, 2015

Calloused – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/calloused-v3.html

(editing original)

edited October 26, 2015

Calloused – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/calloused-v2.html

2/9/2010

Calloused

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/02/calloused.html

on Nantucket, MA

and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA

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 40,680+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Calloused – v3

The boards of the cabins

leaning against the wind off the ocean

Sanded and buffeted

boards bent to the touch

The seams and veins

the grain exposed to nature

Calloused skin, of the houses,

on the windward side

===========

edited January 16, 2016

Calloused – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/calloused-v4.html

(editing version 3)

edited November 1, 2015

Calloused – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/calloused-v3.html

(editing original)

edited October 26, 2015

Calloused – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/calloused-v2.html

2/9/2010

Calloused

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/02/calloused.html

on Nantucket, MA

and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA

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 40,680+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Calloused – v2

The boards of the cabins, leaning

against the wind off the ocean,

Sanded and buffeted

weathered gray;

Boards bent to the touch

Their seams and veins

the ancient grain exposed to nature;

Calloused skin, bleached,

on the windward side

===========

edited January 16, 2016

Calloused – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/calloused-v4.html

(editing version 3)

edited November 1, 2015

Calloused – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/calloused-v3.html

(editing original)

edited October 26, 2015

Calloused – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/calloused-v2.html

2/9/2010

Calloused

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/02/calloused.html

on Nantucket, MA

and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA

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 40,680+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

peace under the stones – v4

under their names

the dates of their lives

the markers in the ground

the memory of them

is there peace under the stones

when they laid their bodies down

when their struggles of life are over

for all of them now

====

edited September 9, 2015

peace under the stones – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/09/peace-under-stones-v4.html

(editing first version)

October 8, 2012

Is there peace under the stones

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-there-peace-under-stones.html

October 8, 2012

peace under the stones – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/10/peace-under-stones-v3.html

October 8, 2012

peace under the stones – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/10/peace-under-stones-v2.html

October 8, 2012

peace under the stones

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/10/peace-under-stones.html

&

edited April 25, 2015

Home Again – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/home-again-v2.html

edited April 25, 2015

Ashes – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/ashes-v2.html

edited April 25, 2015

Home Again – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/home-again-v2.html

edited April 23, 2015

Your final resting place – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/your-final-resting-place-v2.html

Edited October 2, 2012

“Your final resting place”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/10/your-final-resting-place.html

inspired by readings at Poets’ Corner

monthly poetry reading,

at the Suncook Senior Center

October 1, 2012

& earlier poem

May 31, 2008

“Where Your Ashes Lay”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/05/where-you-ashes-lay.html

&

new poem February 11, 2014

Where you are scattered

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/where-you-are-scattered.html

March 2, 2001

“Ashes”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/ashes.html  

March 2, 2001

“Home Again”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/home-again.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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 39,190+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Urban Ornaments – v2

Sneakers on wires,

trash in trees

urban ornaments

overhead

garland of a different sort

drawing eyes upward

away from the litter,

the flotsam and jetsam

of the city landscape

behind the buildings

in the alleys

by the dumpsters

forgotten exteriors

behind the facades

of renewal

a patina of gentrification

open for all to see

The unmet needs

the hidden

truth, reality

with homeless,

those who look

for aluminum cans

behind the veneer

between the empty buildings

on the ground

in the city, below

the urban ornaments

edited April 5, 2014

urban ornaments – v2

March 11, 2007 23:06

urban ornaments

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/03/urban-ornaments.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 28,820+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Is there peace under the stones

we casually wish peace
we say rest in peace
when someone dies
we speak of passing away
of going to the other side
of ascending to heaven
our hope inside

is there peace under the stones
the words we say a prayer
yet if we believe
they are not there
they have ascended on eagle’s wings
sitting in mansions in the sky


====
October 8, 2012
inspired by readings at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
October 1, 2012


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 20,400+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

peace under the stones – v3

under their names
the dates of their lives
the markers in the ground
is there peace under the stones
when they laid their bodies down
is there peace, or something else,
is there life remaining
when the bodies are laid down
in the giving ground
under their markers


====
October 8, 2012
inspired by readings at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
October 1, 2012


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 20,400+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

peace under the stones – v2

under their names
the dates of their lives
the markers in the ground
is there peace under the stones
when they laid their bodies down
is there peace, or oblivion,
is there life remaining
when the bodies are laid down
in the cold wet ground
under the slate or marble


====
October 8, 2012
inspired by readings at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
October 1, 2012


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 20,400+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

peace under the stones

under their names
the dates of their lives
the markers in the ground
is there peace under the stones
when they laid their bodies down


====
October 8, 2012
inspired by readings at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
October 1, 2012


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 20,400+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Words Obscured

the names, their history
the words obscured
fungus, age, weather
in the church yard
ancient text hidden
of lives that were lived
forgotten, enduring
the stones all there is



June 14, 2012
gravestones in Portsmouth, NH
Candia, NH
and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 18,720+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Calloused

The boards of the cabins
against the wind off the ocean
sanded and buffeted
boards bent to the touch
The seams and veins
the grain exposed to nature
calloused skin
on the windward side

===========

edited January 16, 2016

Calloused – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/calloused-v4.html

(editing version 3)

edited November 1, 2015

Calloused – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/calloused-v3.html

(editing original)

edited October 26, 2015

Calloused – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/calloused-v2.html

2/9/2010

Calloused

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/02/calloused.html

on Nantucket, MA

and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA

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 40,680+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Bleached Gray

The cottages barren
stripped of pretense
no pain, no stain
protecting them from the sun
the wind, the waves
the salt air bleaching
the rough hewn boards
bleached to gray

Out in the elements
the waves and the wind storms
out in the bay
away from the shore
the dune, the sand changing
wiped clean of the my presence
the footfalls evaporating
in the shifting sands


2/9/2010
on Nantucket, MA
and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA


Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.

The Cold Stones

The cold stones
warmed by the sun
the lichen and moss
calling me to touch
the masks of death
the weeping willows,
the words of the faithful
written into the stones

Entering the grounds
hallowed by the centuries
the lives of so many
cataloged, laid down
the markers of the people
long dead and buried
but calling to us
to walk righteously


2/9/2010
gravestones in Portsmouth, NH
and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA


Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.

The Face of Death

The mask, the image
the face of death before me
etched into the stone
preserved for a time
the name of the faithful
buried beneath them
row after row
of the dead below ground


2/9/2010
gravestones in Portsmouth, NH
and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA


Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.

Urban Ornaments

Sneakers on wires,
trash in trees
urban ornaments
overhead
drawing eyes upward
away from the litter,
the flotsam and jetsam
of the city landscape
behind the buildings
in the alleys
by the dumpsters
forgotten exteriors
behind the facades
of renewal
open for all to see
The unmet needs
the hidden reality
with homeless,
those who look
for aluminum cans
behind the veneer
in the city, below
the urban ornaments


March 11, 2007 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, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 28,820+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.