DROPPED OFF AT
THE BOTTOM
OF A SERIOUS
RAMP,
I CLIMBED ALONG
TO THE
WELCOMING CAMP
WHERE A
LOVELY LADY
SELF ASSURED
CHECKED MY
PAPERS
WITH MANY
KIND WORDS,
MOVING ALONG
THE ENDLESS
LINE
ALL THE USUAL
STUFF,
ADDRESS, CHECK
FEMALE: YES,
APPOINTMENT
CLICKED AWAY,
AND INSIDE
THE ROOM
BUZZING
WITH
ZOOM
THEY CHECKED
MY INSURANCE
(ANOTHER
GOOD CLEARANCE)
GUIDING THE
BODY
TOWARD
A DOOR
AT THE END
OF A
SHORT WINDING
BEND,
WHERE INSIDE
SAT A FEW
NICE LADIES
ARMED WITH
NEEDLES
AND GRINS,
WELCOMING
SMILES
AND A NICE
COMFY CHAIR
ALL SO
ORGANIZED
AND READY
TO BEGIN,
I CHOSE
THE RIGHT
ARM
AND SLIPPED
OFF MY
JACKET
LIKE THE PRO
IGNORING
THE RACKET,
NOT REALLY
LOUD
BUT THERE
WAS QUITE
A CROWD
ALL OF US
SITTING
SO STILL,
AND FIVE
SECONDS
LATER
THE DEED
WAS DONE,
WITH A QUERY
ABOUT MY
REACTION
GAINING
UP TRACTION
TO MAKE
MY DEPARTURE,

THEY GUIDED
ME TO THE
FANCY ROOM
A VERSION OF
DIVERSION
FOR THE “SAFETY
TIME”,
FIFTEEN MINUTES
FOR MY CRIME,
AND SITTING AMIDST
THESE OTHER
FOLKS,
EVERYONE DIFFERENT
WITH SMILES
AND STROKES,
I WONDERED
WHAT NEXT
AND SENT OUT
A TEXT
TO USHER MY
DRIVER
TO COME,
AND OFF WE
WENT
TO THE BIG
OLD GATES
OUT TO THE
HIGHWAY
(COULDN’T WAIT)
THINKING OF
HOW, WITH ALL
THAT POWER
THE QUESTIONS
MOST ASKED
WERE ABOUT
MY FLOWERS
SO FRESH
AND NEW,
IN LOVELY
BRIGHT COLORS,
THEY SET
ME ASIDE
FROM MOST
ALL THE OTHERS,
WHILE FIVE
MINUTES
LATER
I STRIPPED OFF
THE MASK
CHANGED
INTO MY WALKING
SHORTS
READY TO BLAST,
WONDERING WHY
I THOUGHT IT
WAS SCARY,
THIS SIMPLE
SWEET POKE
TO SAVE ME
FROM COVID,
AND REACHING
THE CREST
OF THE ROAD
ON MY WALK,
I THOUGHT
TO MYSELF
IN A SECRETIVE
TALK
OF HOW THINGS
WILL CHANGE YOU
AND STILL
REARRANGE YOU,
WAITING FOR
THE END
OF THE WORLD!

©JW WINSLOW 3/1/2021

Screen Shot 2021-01-25 at 2.03.42 PM
AS IF IN A DREAM
THE LOVELY NARCISSUS
APPEARED
BESIDE THE ROAD
A LITTLE MIRACLE
COME TO LIFE
ON A WALK
WHERE I WONDERED
WHAT WAS
TO BECOME
OF ME,
JUST ONE
TINY STALK
WITH THREE BLOOMS
AND A BUD,
A PROMISE OF
THE FUTURE, AWAITING
THE SUN,
IT WAS A SURPRISE
CONSIDERING
THAT THE
MONTH OF
JANUARY
IS RARELY ONE
OF BOUNTIFUL
BLOOMS,
AFTER ALL
IT’S WINTER,
OR SUPPOSED
TO BE,
WE ALL
KNOW
THAT THE
WORLD HAS
BEEN TURNED
UPSIDE DOWN,
AND NOW OUR
COUNTRY
THE SAME,
AND WHAT IS
THE NAME
OF THIS TRADGEDY
I ASKED,
PLUCKING THE
STEM
WHILE THE
SUNSHINE
BEAT DOWN ON
MY SHOULDERS,
I MIGHT HAVE
BEEN BOLDER
IN FORMER
YEARS,
OR PERHAPS
IN TIMES TO
COME,
BUT THAT
PARTICULAR
DAY
A LONELY
GIFT
WAS RECEIVED,
ONE THAT
BROUGHT PURE
JOY
FOR THE WONDERS
OF MOTHER NATURE
ARE THE SEEDS
THAT FEED
MY SOUL,

SO WHILE
THE ODDS ARE
AGAINST ME
THE EYE OF GOD
DECIDED TO
BLESS A POOR
SAD SACK
WITH A SPECIAL
GIFT,
AND GIVE ME
A LIFT,
HOW DEARLY
THAT
SAVED MY
LIFE
ON THE WINDING
ROAD OF
MY DREAMS
ALL SHATTERED
AND BATTERED
LIKE THE HUGE
WAVES THAT
BEAT UPON
THE SHORES,
I TURNED MY
MIND AROUND
AND COUNTED
MY OPPORTUNITIES
INSTEAD OF
IMMUNITIES,
WALKING
THE ROAD
WITH MY
TINY WHITE BLOOMS
I PICTURED
SUCCESS
AMONG
THE SAD TOMBS,
CALLING A
MAN WHO HAS
GUIDED MY
PATH
AND SEES
THE BRIGHT
LIGHT
IN THE
SMART
AFTERMATH…
I SUPPOSE
THE RIGHT
WORDS
FOR THIS
TURNING
AROUND
IS THAT
I WRAPPED
MY HEART
INTO THE
SWEET
SOUNDS
OF THE
SHARP
SAVVY BRAIN,
AND THAT
IS NOW
WHERE
I WILL
ALWAYS
REMAIN.

©JW WINSLOW 2/1/2021


MY JOURNEY TOOK ME
A LONG WAY
TO THE PLACE
WHERE I BELONG
A SONG
OF FREEDOM
NOTABLE
SWEET
THE TIME OF ARRAIGNMENT
THE GOAL OF COMPLETE
AND TENDER
SURRENDER,
GIVEN BY A
LOCAL ANGEL,
SOMEONE CLOSE
AND HONEST,
EGGING ME ON
TO A BRIGHT NEW DAWN,
YOU MUST
STRETCH YOUR LEGS
HE SAID,
DRIVING ALONG THE
DEEP HEAVY
FOREST
TO A PLACE
SO HIDDEN
AWAY FROM
THE FRAY
MEANT TO BE
TIMELY
FOR THE MIND
TO PRAY,
WHAT CAN I SAY
EXCEPT THE
UNEXPECTED
IS ALWAYS
CONNECTED
TO ENLIGHTENMENT,
PAINFUL
SHAMEFUL
AWAKENINGS ARRIVE
TO CLEANSE THE
REFUSE
OUT OF YOUR HEART,
AND TEAR YOU
APART
TO OPEN SPACES,
AS I GAZED
OUT TO SEA
AMONGST THE TREES
THE ENORMOUS
OLD WOOD
SO GRACIOUS
TO SEE,
HOW COULD IT
BE THERE
ALL THESE
FINE YEARS
WAITING TO BRING ME
TO WONDER
AND TEARS,
BUT NOTHING
OF SORROW
DO I SPEAK,
WHILE THE
BEAUTY
OF NATURE
ALIGNS,
SHADING A FUTURE
THAT DOES
NOT REVEAL
DESPITE ALL
THE EFFORTS
AND PLANTIVE
APPEALS,
WE HAVE STRUGGLED
THROUGH FEAR
AND ANGER
AND YEARS,
WATCHING A
WORLD WE ADORED,
ACCEPTED
ABHORED,

A PLACE THAT
WE NEVER
IMAGINED WOULD
CHANGE
TO THE HIGHEST
DEGREE,
AND JUST
REARRANGE,
THE FREEDOM
TO ROAM
HAS DISAPPEARED
SOMETHING
I’VE DREADED
AND ALWAYS
FEARED,
DOORS HAVE
CLOSED
AGAINST
THE WIND
LAWS HAVE
PASSED
AND WON’T
RECIND
UNTIL WILD
FORCES
BEYOND OUR
REACH
END THE TIMES
OF DEATH
AND SORROW,
WHILE WE WAIT
TO LIVE
TOMORROW
THE GHOST TREE
SURVIVES
THROUGH FAME
AND FORTUNE
LIFE AND DEATH
HANGING OVER
A ROCKY CLIFF
CENTURIES
PASS
AS THE FUTURE
DRIFTS
UNTO A PLACE
WHERE LIVES
ARE SAVED,
AND PEOPLE
LEARN
HOW TO
BEHAVE,
FINDING THAT
COMPLETE
SURRENDER
LIVING ON
SO WARM AND
TENDER,
SURVIVING
DARKNESS
FEAR AND
SHAME
NOW WE KNOW
WE CANNOT
BLAME
THE FORCES OF
ETERNITY,
FOR THEY
ARE BRILLIANT
BRIGHT
AND SMART,
FILLING UP
YOUR BROKEN
HEART:
PROMISE ME
THAT YOU
WILL WAIT
FOR GOD’S
NEXT MOVE
MY PUDDENTAIT!

©JW WINSLOW 1/1/2021


HE APPEARED
ONE DAY
OUT OF THE BLUE,
STROLLING ABOUT
WITH LONG
LEAN LEGS
AND A GRIN
IN HIS WISH
TO PURSUE:
AT FIRST,
NO PROBLEM
JUST LIKE
THE REST
WHO GIVE UP
THE TRAIL
QUITE EASILY,
NOBODY REALLY
LIKES TO WALK
FAST,
EXCEPT FOR THIS
GUY
AND YOURS
TRULY,
THEY WANDER
AND QUIVER
HOPING TO
DELIVER
THE GOLDEN
THIGHS AND
BRIGHT CLEAR
EYES,
SO OF COURSE
I IGNORED
THE SNAPS
AND CRACKS
THAT CAME
ABOARD,
SMILING AND
NODDING
DESPITE
THE PRODDING,
BUT I HAD
TO ADMIT
THAT MY SPACE
WAS ALTERED,
THAT BEAUTIFUL
PRIVATE PLACE
SOON FALTERED
I REALLY DON’T WANT
TO CHAT,
MY SACRED WALK
TIME
IS SUBLINE
AND DIVINE,
WHERE I CREATE
THE SCENES
OF THE BOOKS
FROM MY DREAMS,
WHERE I CHERISH
THE SLANT
THAT SILENTLY
PLANTS
ITSELF IN MY BRAIN,

AND SO IT CONTINUED
HIM SMILING
AND YAKKING,
(ME BEING POLITE
CONTEMPLATING
MY FLIGHT)
RETURNING QUITE
FAST TO THE
SAFETY OF HOME,
INSTEAD OF
A PEACHY
AND SWEET
LITTLE ROAM,
MAKING MY
ANGER
POP UP AND FIGHT
IT WASN’T
SO EASY
TO DENY MY PLIGHT,
AND STEP TWO
BECAME
THE ART OF
THE HIDER,
SLIPPING BEHIND
THE BEND,
GOING SO
SLOWLY
TRYING TO SEND
A MESSAGE OF
ANGUISH
AND
TEETH GRINDING
POO,
IT WENT ON
FOR WEEKS
UNTIL IN PURSUIT,
HE CLOSED IN
UP THERE
AT THE TOP
OF THE HILL,
RACING BESIDE
ME
READY TO SPILL
THE NEXT CLEVER
PASS
WHEN I FOUND
MY MISTAKE,
I KNEW I MUST
TELL HIM
TO GIVE ME
A BREAK,
ZOOMING AWAY
FAST AS I COULD,
LEAVING HIM
STANDING THERE
DEEP IN
THE WOODS,
BUT NOW
MOTHER NATURE
HAS STEPPED UP
TO SAVE,
BRANDISHING COLD
WINDS
ON HOW TO
BEHAVE,
I SNEAK OUT
SO EARLY
AND SLIDE
OUT SO LATE
AS TO FINSH
THE ENDING
AND HOW TO
RELATE,
I TRICKED HIM
QUITE WELL
OUT THERE
IN THE WILDS
WHERE THE TREES
AND THE HOUSES
ARE BENDING
IN STYLE,
WHILE
SMILING I GO
AS JUST BEFORE
HOPING FOR HEAVEN
AND A LITTLE BIT
MORE.

©JW WINSLOW 12/1/2020


THEY ARRIVED
BY DELIVERY
LATE IN THE DAY
OR ACTUALLY
EVENING:
THE END
AS THEY SAY,
I FOUND A SHORT
MESSAGE
AND OPENED
THE DOOR,
AND THERE WAS
THE BOX,
A RECENT
DELIVERY
SMILING AT ME
WAITING TO OPEN
SO THAT I
COULD SEE
THE BRIGHT
SHINING SANDALS
THAT CAME
AS A GIFT,
ONE TO MYSELF
A WONDERFUL LIFT,
GLOWING IN SUNSET
SPARKLING THE DAY
I SLID THEM
ON MY TENDER FEET
AND SMILED AWAY,
AND DREAMED OF
MY WALK
THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD,
THE MEDICINE
KEEPING ME
SMILING AND GOOD,
MY OLD REEFS
WERE WORN
AND FALLING APART
THE TIME HAD JUST
COME FOR
A SUPER NEW START,
AND WHAT
BETTER WAY
TO LOOSEN THE
HEART
AWAY FROM SUCH
DEMONS THAT
FOLLOW US ALL
IT’S BECOME THE
NEW SEASON
TO PLAY CRANKY BALL,
EVERYONE’S EDGY
GROWLING
AND MASKED,
ARRIVING WITH
GRUMBLES
AWAITING THEIR
TASKS,
SO EACH DAY
I TRAVEL
ALONE IN THE TREES
WALKING ALONG
WITH A BEND
IN MY KNEES,
STEADILY BREATHING
THAT WILD SALTY
AIR,
IT GIVES ME THE
FEELING
THAT SOMEONE
IS THERE
EDGING ME ON
TO MUCH BETTER
THINGS,
WALKING ALONG
WITH THE BIRDS
ON THE WING,
MY FINE NEW
BRIGHT RAINBOWS
ARE CALLED BY
LORRAINE,
NOT SURE WHO
THAT WAS
OR HOW IT BECAME,
BUT THE PICTURE
I SEE
IN MY SWEET SOUL
MIND
IS A WOMAN WHO
CAME TO MY SHOW,
SHE WORKS AS
A NUDE GAL
A MODEL
FOR PAY,
QUIET AND COOL
MAKING THE DAY
AN AMAZING
SCHOOL,
I THINK OF
THIS LADY
AS I TREK
UP THE HILLS
WEARING MY
LORRAINEBOWS
FIRST TIME
WITH CHILLS,
FOR SOMETIMES
THEY BLISTER
THOSE NEW
AND TIGHT GUYS
WITH A FAT LITTE
BUBBLE
(QUITE A SURPRISE),
BUT THIS TIME
IS NO CRIME,
MY MIND IS ABOVE,
FILLED WITH
THE SCENT
OF THANKFUL
GOOD LOVE,
I KNOW I’M SO
LUCKY
TO JUST BE ALIVE,
WAVING AT
STRANGERS
AS THEY PASS ME BY,
I REMEMBERED
A MESSAGE
READ IN THE NIGHT
FROM THE
CURIOUS MIND
OF THE GOOD
DAHLI LAMA:
HE SAID YOU MUST
DISCERN THE TIMES
OF WHICH
TO WORRY,
AND TOSS OUT
THOSE OTHER
THINGS
IN QUITE A HURRY,
FOR OFTEN
WE CANNOT
MAKE SENSE OF
IT ALL,
SO IT TAKES
A SMART COOKIE
TO ABSORB
THE CALL,
AS I LOOK DOWN
TO SEE
MY LOVELY
GOOD TOES
HAPPY AND
COMFY
IN THOSE
LORRAINEBOWS,
THE LITTLE
THINGS
COUNT,
YOU’D BETTER
BELIEVE,
OPEN YOUR
HEART
AND LET IT RECEIVE
THE GIFTS OF
THE GODS,
THE TINYIEST
DOVES
WHO GROW
LIKE A SAPLING
WATERED
WITH LOVE,
SO TRAVEL
YOUR TRAILS
WITH COURAGE
AND SMILES
SHOP FOR SOME
RAINBOWS
RELEASE ANGRY
TRIALS,
LIVING IN HAPPINES
IS QUITE
A SHOW,
JUST CLOSE
YOUR SWEET
EYES
AND PICTURE
LORRAINEBOWS!

©JW WINSLOW 11/1/2020