Two feet to the left – v2

I watch him walking, his gate,
where he chooses to walk,
Purposeful, repeated each day,
down the roadway, the way,
that leads to my workplace.
 
Not walking on the sidewalk,
in his crocs, in the grass,
Touching the softer earth,
two feet to the left, or there about,
just a little off the sidewalk instead.
 
I see him walking, traversing,
across the blacktop so soon
The same path, toward work,
long days, late nights, repeating,
stopping for some smokes along the way.
 
Two feet to the left,
touching nature instead
Softer steps for a moment at least,
not walking on the sidewalk,
somehow better each day.
 
---------------
Edited December 20, 2023
Two feet to the left – v2
 
December 18, 2023
Two feet to the left
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/12/two-feet-to-left.html
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com )  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com  Poetry Where You Live.
 
 
Poetry, observation, walking, grass, sidewalk, blacktop, feet, nature,
 
#poetry #observation #walking #grass #sidewalk #blacktop #feet #nature

Nightfall – v7

The sun drops below the shoreline, the forest beyond;
Summer sky aglow, mirrored skin of the water
Ablaze in oranges, yellows, and shades of black.
 
Nightfall comes to the quiet, still, lake.
 
With effort I pull and push my canoe away from shore,
Longing for home, longing for warmth.
 
Waves swelled and fell, the canoe pitched and bobbed.
The paddle blade births luminous eddies by my side.
 
Great blue heron, regal, majestic,
Perches on a skeleton of an ancient pine,
Silhouetted before an Oriole sky.
 
Crossing the silken waters, no roadway, no map,
Colored lights on a deck, Elvis on the stereo.
 
Easy laughter rises from an invisible porch,
Dark houses, silent waters, failing light, all in shadows.
 
A beaver before me, swimming out in the lit waters.
He slaps his tail and dives, shallow near shore.
We cross again, again, repeating this dance.
 
A light flickers in my window, dimly through the screens,
The open porch calls me, my cabin in the lake, guides me home.
 
Night all around me, the world is still.
 
=================

Edited February 7, 2023

Nightfall – v7

 

edited March 21, 2021

Nightfall - v6

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/03/nightfall-v6.html

edited September 28, 2017

Nightfall – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/09/nightfall-v5.html

Edited July 18, 2013

“Nightfall – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/nightfall-v4.html

Edited July 15, 2013

“Nightfall – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/nightfall-v3.html

Edited July 15, 2013

“Nightfall – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/nightfall-v2.html

July 20, 2000

“Nightfall”

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

Written Thursday 7/20/00 at 9:50. It is about my two hour canoe ride

on Swains Lake from 7:15 to 9:20pm.

Barrington, NH

edited December 28, 2015

Alone in the Rain – revised – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/alone-in-rain-revised-v2.html

posted February 13, 2004

written August 13, 2000 1:53am

Alone in the Rain – revised

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/alone-in-rain.html 

Written 6/18/2000

Alone in the Rain

same day as “Dew in the Morning”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/dew-in-morning-first-try.html

and

“Ten Feet Overhead”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/one-morning-on-swains-lake.html

 

 

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, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 53k+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

 

Canoe, dew, dove, Faith, feet, home, hope, leaves, loons, Nature, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, rain, rock, sun, water, Writing Poetry,

 

#poem #Canoe #ConcordNH #dew #dove #Faith #feet #home #hope #leaves #loons #Nature #poetry #rain #rock #sun #water #WritingPoetry

Ten Feet Overhead – v13 #GreatBlueHeron

Up ahead, to my right around the point;
Burst of squawks / beating of heavy wings
Erupted, filling the still air.
 
Head and then its long endless body
Rose right over the spine of my canoe
Heron blocking my vision, my view...
 
No more than ten feet above my transfixed eyes.
The Great Blue Heron flew toward me
Thwump, thwump …
 
In my spirit, my prayer, my attentiveness,
I heard the wings pushing, breaking
early-morning-stillness around me.
 
The bird cupped its sails
And hovered but for a moment,
Or a lifetime, it seemed.
 
Each feather of its wings were visible -
Shades of rust, cream, slate,
Light blue eye shadow.
 
I watched, motionless, silently;
The bird flew off, majestically, royalty,
Alone, across my lake.
 
=============  

edited February 20, 2022

Ten Feet Overhead – v13

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/ten-feet-overhead-v13.html

edited February 20, 2022

Ten Feet Overhead – v12

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/ten-feet-overhead-v12.html

edited September 28, 2017

ten feet overhead – v11

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/09/ten-feet-overhead-v11.html

(editing version 2)

edited October 29, 2015

ten feet overhead – v10

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-v10.html

(editing original)

edited August 21, 2015

Ten Feet Overhead – v9

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/08/ten-feet-overhead-v9.html

(editing version 6)

edited December 9, 2014

Ten Feet Overhead – v8

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/12/ten-feet-overhead-v8.html

(editing version 6)

edited April 3, 2014

Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead – v7

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/04/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-v7.html

(editing version posted 5/3/2004)

Edited September 20, 2012

Ten Feet Overhead – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/ten-feet-overhead-v6.html

editing the 4^th version (the one with Marie Harris input)

&

Edited September 20, 2012

Ten Feet Overhead – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-v5.html

(editing the 3^rd version)

inspired by reading it at Poets’ Corner

monthly poetry reading,

at the Suncook Senior Center

September 10, 2012

&

Saved as separate file and reposted

September 20, 2012

published version – 2/7/2004

Ten Feet Overhead – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/one-morning-on-swains-lake.html

Written June 18, 2001, edits June 21 and June 22, 2001, based on input from NH Poet Laureate, Marie Harris.

&

The evolution of the poem - Ten Feet Overhead

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/evolution-of-poem-ten-feet-overhead.html

The three drafts below represent the evolution of a poem, "Ten Feet Overhead", based on a morning on Swains Lake in Barrington, NH in 2001, reading down from 1st draft to a second version, finally to the published version, posted here on 2/7/04. 

&

Ten Feet Overhead – v3

June 21, 2001

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/ten-feet-overhead-final-version.html

Ten Feet Overhead – v2

June 22, 2001

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-second.html

Ten Feet Overhead – v1

June 18, 2001

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-first.html

summer of 2000

Swain’s Lake

Barrington, NH

 

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

 

poetry, blue, body, Canoe, creator, eyes, Faith, feather, feet, God, hope, life, light, Nature, heron, water, wings,

 

#poetry #body #canoe #creator #eyes #heron #feather #feet #God #hope #life #light #Nature #water #wings

Ten Feet Overhead – v12 #heron #GreatBlueHeron

Up ahead, to my right around the point;
Burst of squawks and beating of heavy wings
Erupted, filling the still air.
 
The head and then its long endless body
Rose right over the spine of my canoe
The heron blocking my vision, my view.
 
No more than ten feet above my transfixed eyes.
The Great Blue Heron flew toward me
Thwump, thwump …
 
In my spirit, my prayer,
I heard the wings pushing, breaking
early-morning-stillness around me.
 
The bird cupped its wings
And hovered for a moment,
Or a lifetime.
 
Each feather was visible -
Rust, cream, slate,
Light blue eye shadow.
 
I watched, transfixed, silently;
The bird flew off, majestic,
Alone, across my lake.
 
=============

edited February 20, 2022

Ten Feet Overhead – v12

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/ten-feet-overhead-v12.html

edited September 28, 2017

ten feet overhead – v11

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/09/ten-feet-overhead-v11.html

(editing version 2)

edited October 29, 2015

ten feet overhead – v10

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-v10.html

(editing original)

edited August 21, 2015

Ten Feet Overhead – v9

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/08/ten-feet-overhead-v9.html

(editing version 6)

edited December 9, 2014

Ten Feet Overhead – v8

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/12/ten-feet-overhead-v8.html

(editing version 6)

edited April 3, 2014

Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead – v7

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/04/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-v7.html

(editing version posted 5/3/2004)

Edited September 20, 2012

Ten Feet Overhead – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/ten-feet-overhead-v6.html

editing the 4^th version (the one with Marie Harris input)

&

Edited September 20, 2012

Ten Feet Overhead – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-v5.html

(editing the 3^rd version)

inspired by reading it at Poets’ Corner

monthly poetry reading,

at the Suncook Senior Center

September 10, 2012

&

Saved as separate file and reposted

September 20, 2012

published version – 2/7/2004

Ten Feet Overhead – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/one-morning-on-swains-lake.html

Written June 18, 2001, edits June 21 and June 22, 2001, based on input from NH Poet Laureate, Marie Harris.

&

The evolution of the poem - Ten Feet Overhead

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/evolution-of-poem-ten-feet-overhead.html

The three drafts below represent the evolution of a poem, "Ten Feet Overhead", based on a morning on Swains Lake in Barrington, NH in 2001, reading down from 1st draft to a second version, finally to the published version, posted here on 2/7/04. 

&

Ten Feet Overhead – v3

June 21, 2001

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/ten-feet-overhead-final-version.html

Ten Feet Overhead – v2

June 22, 2001

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-second.html

Ten Feet Overhead – v1

June 18, 2001

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-first.html

summer of 2000

Swain’s Lake

Barrington, NH

 

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

 

poetry, blue, body, Canoe, creator, eyes, Faith, feather, feet, flowers, God, hope, king, life, light, Nature, heron, Poetry Where You Live, Swains Lake, water, wings,

 

#poetry #blue #body #Canoe #creator #eyes #heron #feather #feet #flowers #God #hope #life #light #Nature #water #wings # #poem

their #skeletons discarded – v3

Round the evergreen trees,
along the roadway
amber casings, transparent,
their skeletons discarded
shining in the afternoon sun.
 
Their soundings, silence
late Fall, almost Winter
where the cicadas’ voices
sang in the canopy,
the heat prodding them on
 
Already frozen, statuesque
the empty shells still clinging
blending in with the color
of the amber pitch, the bark,
almost hiding in plain sight
 
Above the dust of the needles
the pupae burst open,
their shells pointing
to their true homes
high in the treetops
 
‐----------

edited December 2, 2021

their skeletons discarded – v3

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/12/their-skeletons-discarded-v3.html

edited December 2, 2021

Cicada Shells

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/12/cicada-shells.html

edited February 22, 2020

their skeletons discarded - v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/02/round-giant-spruce-trees-at-back-of.html

February 12, 2010

Their Skeletons Discarded

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/02/their-skeletons-discarded.html

probably about 1972

57 Squawfield Road,

Westfield, MA

&

edited December 29, 2015

Cicada Feet – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/cicada-feet-v3.html

(merging edits to version 1 and version 2)

posted July 19, 2004

written 9/19/03 14:00, edits 9/19/03 18:40 – 19:50

Cicada Feet – v1

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/07/cicada-feet.html

An earlier version than the one posted on February 15.

Posted February 15, 2004

Further edits 9/22/03, on 3^rd stanza

Cicada Feet – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/cicada-feet.html

Edits a combination of mine and input from Roberta Woods,

particularly addition of second line about pupal stage

and line about body like a cigar butt

&

July 26, 2006 19:51

Cicada Shell

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/07/cicada-shell.html

&

edited December 28, 2015

Looking Closer – v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/looking-closer-v2.html

posted February 14, 2004

written 6/18/2001 11:49am

Looking Closer

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/looking-closer.html

 

 

body, cicada, Concord NH, dust, earth, eyes, Faith, feet, hands, hope, life, Nature, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, Writing Poetry,

 

#poetry #body #cicada #dust #earth #eyes #feet #hands #hope #life #Nature #Writing #Poetry #pupa

 

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

 

#Cicada Shells

Down near the dirt

above the base of the pines

clutched close, holding

the gnarled, wrinkled elephant skin

a terracotta army, a squadron

cicada chrysalides

empty shells, many,

still clinging to the trees

after the birthing, metamorphosis

clear, amber, ripped open

by the living adults, climbing,

high up in the canopy where they sang

to live out their short lives

up in the sun

 

‐----------

edited December 2, 2021

Cicada Shells

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/12/cicada-shells.html

edited February 22, 2020

their skeletons discarded - v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/02/round-giant-spruce-trees-at-back-of.html

February 12, 2010

Their Skeletons Discarded

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/02/their-skeletons-discarded.html

probably about 1972

57 Squawfield Road,

Westfield, MA

&

edited December 29, 2015

Cicada Feet – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/cicada-feet-v3.html

(merging edits to version 1 and version 2)

posted July 19, 2004

written 9/19/03 14:00, edits 9/19/03 18:40 – 19:50

Cicada Feet – v1

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/07/cicada-feet.html

An earlier version than the one posted on February 15.

Posted February 15, 2004

Further edits 9/22/03, on 3^rd stanza

Cicada Feet – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/cicada-feet.html

Edits a combination of mine and input from Roberta Woods,

particularly addition of second line about pupal stage

and line about body like a cigar butt

&

July 26, 2006 19:51

Cicada Shell

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/07/cicada-shell.html

&

edited December 28, 2015

Looking Closer – v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/looking-closer-v2.html

posted February 14, 2004

written 6/18/2001 11:49am

Looking Closer

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/looking-closer.html

 

 

poetry, body, cicada, Concord NH, dust, earth, eyes, Faith, feet, hands, hope, life, Nature, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, summer, touch, Writing Poetry,

 

#poetry #body #cicada #dust #earth #eyes #feet #hands #hope #life #Nature #summer #touch #Writing #Poetry #pupa

 

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

 

#Nightfall - v6

Nightfall – v6

The sun drops below the shoreline

below the forest beyond;

Summer sky aglow.

Still skin of the water

Ablaze in orange, yellow, and black.

Nightfall on the quiet, still, lake.

With effort I pull and push

The canoe away from shore.

Longing for warmth.

Waves swelled and fell.

The canoe pitched and bobbed.

The paddle blade leaves

Luminous eddies by my side.

Great blue heron

Regal, majestic,

Perched on a skeleton

Of the ancient pine,

Silhouetted before

An Oriole sky.

Crossing the silken waters

Not roadway, no map,

Colored lights on a deck,

Elvis on the stereo,

Easy laughter from an invisible porch.

Dark houses, silent waters,

Failing light, all in shadows.

A beaver before me.

Out in the lit waters.

He slaps his tail and dives

Shallow near shore.

We cross again, again,

Repeating this dance.

A light from my window,

Dimly through the screens,

The open porch, calling,

My cabin in the lake,

Guides me home.

Night all around me

The world is still.

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

edited March 21, 2021

Nightfall - v6

edited September 28, 2017

Nightfall – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/09/nightfall-v5.html

Edited July 18, 2013

“Nightfall – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/nightfall-v4.html

Edited July 15, 2013

“Nightfall – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/nightfall-v3.html

Edited July 15, 2013

“Nightfall – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/nightfall-v2.html

July 20, 2000

“Nightfall”

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

Written Thursday 7/20/00 at 9:50. It is about my two hour canoe ride

on Swains Lake from 7:15 to 9:20pm.

Barrington, NH

edited December 28, 2015

Alone in the Rain – revised – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/alone-in-rain-revised-v2.html

posted February 13, 2004

written August 13, 2000 1:53am

Alone in the Rain – revised

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/alone-in-rain.html

Written 6/18/2000

Alone in the Rain

same day as “Dew in the Morning”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/dew-in-morning-first-try.html

and

“Ten Feet Overhead”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/one-morning-on-swains-lake.html

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, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 53k+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Canoe, dew, dove, Faith, feet, home, hope, leaves, loons, Nature, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, rain, rock, sun, water, Writing Poetry, yellow, National Poetry Day, World Poetry Day,

#poem #Canoe #ConcordNH #dew #dove #Faith #feet #home #hope #leaves #loons #Nature #poetry #rain #rock #sun #water #WritingPoetry #yellow #NationalPoetryDay #WorldPoetryDay

Pool or Chess – v4

I could almost see it

standing outside of myself

He prowled the room

Around the table

So intent, focused,

In the moment

Body bent, contorted

To make this shot

and the next, already planned

from angle and motion,

just enough to sink it -

Be ready

A miscue, a learned pause,

to reflect, to think

lick the new butt from the pack

light the spark, feel the heat

Laugh for effect

Through affable eyes

Work the table

Ball on ball

Smoke and music

Lean into the glass

Slide down the throat

Sly smile

Laugh at the banter

A Game, not so important

but for him, a challenge. a test

of will, control where he can

Easy on his feet

and in a crowd

Working the room

as he does, as he is

everyman and friend

comfortable confidante

Eight ball in corner pocket

… Sweet

----------------

edited March 21, 2019

Pool or Chess – v4

(editing original

edited July 23, 2015

Pool or Chess – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/pool-or-chess-v3.html

(editing version 2)

edited February 1, 2014

Pool or Chess – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/pool-or-chess-v2.html

March 26, 2004

Pool or Chess

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/03/pool-or-chess.html

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 49,220 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

body, Concord NH, control, creator, eyes, feet, friends, God, in the crowd, king, light, New Hampshire, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, smoke, work,

#body #ConcordNH #control #creator #eyes #feet #friends #inthecrowd #king #light #NewHampshire #poetry #smoke #work #MiljanKunijevich #bar #beer #game #challenge #quest #secrets #intrigue #precision #cigarette