The Waiting Game

The Silence of Summer

IT HAS BEEN
LIKE A SIN
TO STAY IN
ONE PLACE
WITH A SMILE
ON MY FACE,
WAITING FOR THE
POSTMAN,
YUP, I HAVE A KEY
ADVENTURE
TO RESOURCE
AND DEVELOP,
SPENDING
HOURS SINCE
AWAKENING
SMILING WHILE
TAKING
SOME GREAT GULPS
OF AIR,
AND FINDING MY
SHARE
OF MEMORIES
ALL STUFFED
INTO HALF-FULL
PILES
ALONG THE AISLES
OF MY WORKSPACE…
YUP, WHAT A PLACE
GROWING SUCH AN
IMMENSE SECTION
OF MY AFFECTION,
CREATING DYANNA’S
STORY,
IMITATING HER FABULOUS
GLORY…
AND YOU KNOW ABOUT
THAT,
READING THIS NOW
AND WEARING MY
HAT,
I HAVE COME
AROUND TO THE
CURIOUS POET,
DESPITE THE TIMING
AND SOME TERRIBLE
THINGS,
I HAD FORGOTTEN
HOW BAD THE
SONG SINGS
WHEN EVERYTHING
GOES DOWNHILL…
ARE YOU WITH ME
STILL…

OR HAVE WE ALL
DISCOVERED
UNCOVERED
DRASTIC FLAWS
ABOUT OUR SOULS
THAT ARE SECRETLY
BURIED

ON THE SANDY SHOWLS
WHERE THE OCEAN
CRASHES
AGAINST THE WIND,
AND WE NEGATE ALL
THOSE TERRIBLE SINS,
I CAN WRITE OF
THIS NOW,
FOR I HAVE COME
CLEAN,
WAITING FOR THE
POSTMAN
TO ARRIVE WITH
MY DREAM,
HE KNOWS ME
FOR SURE,
AND ALWAYS HAS, BEING
A FRIEND
AND A GUY WHO
LOVES JAZZ,
HE MUST BE SNEAKING
A PEEK
AT THE FESTIVAL
SEATS,
WATCHING THE VISITORS
WINDING DOWN,
THE SUN IS FADING
AND THEY WILL SOON
SLEEP
ON A ROWDY OLD
BED
IN A CHEAP RENTED
SHED,
BUT THE SOUNDS
OF THOSE GUYS
WHOSE LOVE IN
DISGUISE
SHINES SO BRIGHT
WAY INTO
THE NIGHT
WILL NUDGE ME
GOOD,
AND SO IT SHOULD,
THE DAY HAS
COME
TO BEAT THE DRUM,
FOR I WILL RISE
BEFORE
YOUR
EYES!

The Silence of Summer

OFTEN KNOWN
AS THE FINE
WIND BLOWN
AND
SNAZZY
JAZZY
OPTIONS,
SUMMER OFTEN
SLIDES
AND RIDES
INTO A LULL
OF DARK
AND DULL
IMAGINARY
STORIES,
SOME ARE TRUE
AND SOME
ARE BLUE,
WHILE WE DANCE
THE DREAM
AWAITING /
DEBATING
HOW AND
WHY
TO SAY GOODBYE
TO OLDER
TERMS
AND SUMMER
BURNS,
NOW IS THE
MOMENT
TO DANCE
AND GRIND
THE SLIPPERY
FLOOR
OF SCHEMES,
YES, THE ONES
THAT NOTIFY
MANY DARKER DREAMS,
TOSSING AND
TURNING
ON WARM
QUIET NIGHTS
LISTENING TO
NEIGHBORS
HAVING THEIR
FIGHTS,
CLOSING THE
EYES TO
A BIG SURPRISE,
WHEN THE SUN
BLASTS THROUGH
TO AWAKEN YOU,
IT SEEMS UNREAL
BUT STILL
A THRILL,
FOR THIS IS
THE PROMISED
EVENT
COMING TRUE
A WARM WEATHER
TRIP
WITH THE
HAPPY CREW,
DIPPING TOES
IN THE SPARKLING
WATER,
HOLDING UP
YOUR TINY
DAUGHTER
OVER THE WAVES,
WHILE THE
OCEAN BEHAVES
AND KISSES
YOUR FEET

BELOW THE
HEAT,
HOLDING
HANDS
AND
POPSICLES
AVOIDING
UGLY
OBSTACLES,
THE SCENT OF
WARM SWEAT
IS APPARENT,
NOT SO AWFUL
OR TRANSIENT…
BUT MORE OF
A SIGN
THAT THE DREAMY
TIME
OF THE YEAR
IS FINALLY HERE,
ARRIVING AND
THRIVING
WITH SODA
AND BEER,
CRISPY CHIPS
AND YUMMY
DIPS,
LAID OUT
ON TOWELS
ABOVE THE SAND,
WATCHING
OUT
FOR THE
WALKERS
AND…
FINGERS SLIPPING
INTO THE CRIPS
SECRETLY STEALING
YOUR
FAVORITE
LIPS,
SITTING THERE
WAITING,
ANNOINTING
BERATING,
WE ALL HAVE
A PLOT
A LONG AGO
LOT
OF STORIES
AND GLORIES
OF WAVES
AND DREAMS,
SLIDING OUT
OFTEN,
AND IN BETWEEN
SMILING
BEGUILING
THE MEMORIES
OF CRYSTAL COVE
AND EMERALD BAY,
NOW THOSE WERE
THE TIMES
OF THE
VERY
BEST PLAY
STARRING A SCENE
FROM A BRIGHT
SUMMER DAY!

Heading into Winslowland

The journey

From one side

To another,

Making a blast

For my curious

Brother,

In a life full

Of curves

And marvelous swerves

one that most

Everyone enjoys,

Especially

The BOYS,

If you mention

a secret…

and yet again

They power on

To roll the gin,

And why are

We all

So different…

Every day

In every way,

Instead of

Complying

We seem to be

Lying,

Keeping the

Real secrets

To ourselves,

This is known

As the private

Elf:

Hiding a sweetie

All by herself,

Where you

Pretend

There is no

End,

And never

Mention

The intentions

That are

Carefully planned,

So where do

We stand,

After all these

Years,

The sunshine

And tears,

The BBQ pit

And the dry

Cool wit,

I wonder when

There is no

Smile,

What is up

So stay

Awhile,

As I gently

Nuzzle

The

Secret

Puzzle:

FATHER’S DAY

IS HERE TODAY!

Nothing Really Matters

A New Life

MADONNA ROCKS

HELPING THE

ARTIST

TO PAINT LIKE

A DEMON,

THE UNEPECTED

BREAK

AFTER A DAY

OF HEAVY

TYPING

AND OVER HYPING

THE SCREENPLAY

TODAY,

SOON THE

TIME WILL

BE UP

AND I MUST

MEET MY

EXPECTATIONS,

SITUATIONS

BEHOLD

AND

PHONE CALLS

ARE COLD,

BUT THE BRAIN

JUICE

IS ROARING

THROUGH

FABULOUS MUSIC

WHO

WOULD

IMAGINE

SUCH A

THROWBACK,

THE SWEET ATTACK

OF CREATIVITY,

A GIFT

OF LOVE

FROM MY EARLY

BEGINNINGS,

THERE IS

SUCH A WINNING

PLACE IN

THE HEART

WHEN YOU START

OFF LINE

AND LAND IN

THE MIDDLE OF

A POEM,

OR A PAINTING

THAT’S BEEN

SITTING

AND WAITING

FOR DAYS,

WHICH WILL

AMAZE

AFTER TONITE,

I’M GAME

FOR THE FIGHT:

AND HERE’S

THE TRUE

STORY,

THE RAINING

GLORY OF

GRAY CLOUDS

AND WET PATIOS,

COLD FEET

RETREAT BACK

INSIDE,

NO PLACE TO

HIDE

BUT ON THIS

WHITE SHEET

OF PAPER,

THE PRIDE

OF EXPRESSION

IS THE WORK

OF THIS SESSION,

I AM THRILLED

TO BE BACK

IN THE GROOVE

READY TO MOVE

AHEAD,

INSTEAD OF

THE PAST

WE MUST ZOOM

ACROSS

TO BLAST

OUT FROM

UNDER THE

THUNDER,

AND ONTO THE

PLAINS,

NEEDLESS TO

SAY,

IT’S BECAUSE

OF THE RAINS,

WE ARE ALL

WASHED CLEAN…

BABY BEAN!

C:JW WINSLOW 5/15/23

A New Life

It comes along

As a quiet

Sweet song…

high on the list

Of times to exist

All of a sudden

Things will change

Life rearranges

With a different way

The chosen games

Skip on the same

And play it strategic

While we await

a script of

the future

blooming aloud

making me proud

to run the race

and soon misplace

all sorrow…

gaming to borrow

a chance

to romance

the life of

a dream,

all I’ve wanted

arriving undaunted

sure of a role

the theme of my goal

presenting the soul

so good

(you should…)

Remember this now,

And then

You’ll know how

To SAVAGE

THE WOW!

JW Winslow 5/1/2023

The Silence

THERE COMES A TIME

WHEN A QUIET RIOT

HAS GONE BY

AND THE SILENCE

DEFENDS ITSELF,

DOWN FROM A SHELF

OF THE PAST

WE REIGNITE

THE PRESENT

AT LAST…

AFTER DAYS

OF GRINDING

ROARS

OF THE BIG

MACHINE

BEHIND THE DOORS,

THE LIGHTS RETURN,

THE CLOCKS IN TURN

TELL THE RIGHT TIME

MOVING FORWARD

IN FULL RHYME,

AND LIFE COMES

BACK

LIKE IT ALWAYS WAS

NEVER GONE

JUST HIDING,

PROVIDING A SENCE

OF GOODNESS,

WILL ANYTHING

BE THE SAME,

DO I HAVE

THE SAME NAME…

AND OUTSIDE

WITH A QUIET RIDE,

THERE ARE THE CARS

AWAITING THE STARS

THAT WILL COME

TONITE,

DESPITE THE FRIGHT

THAT LINGERS,

BETWEEN MY FINGERS

IS A SMILE,

A PLACE TO EMBRACE

THE BEAUTY OF NOW,

WHEN THE JUICE IS ON

IT’S A SWEET GOOD SONG

SOMETHING ALWAYS

TAKEN FOR GRANTED,

AND NOW REPLANTED

BY A GROUP OF TRUCKS

MANY MEN

SO ENCHANTED

FIXING THE POLES

WE TOOK FOR SLANTED,

THERE IS A SILENT

SIGH OF RELIEF

AND A LOVING FACE

OF GRATITUDE,

I WONDER HOW

I MISSED IT,

STEPPING OUTSIDE

TO THE GARDEN

FINDING IT QUIET

NO SIGNS OF THE RIOT,

WE ARE BACK

INTO SPRING,

A MOST

FABULOUS

THING!

JW WINSLOW 3/18/23

The Cottage

LONG AGO
I SPENT MY TIME
IN A CARMEL
COTTAGE
TINY PLACE
AND PUT A SMILE
UPON MY FACE
WHEN PAINTING
OR WRITING…
ALWAYS INVITING,
ENTERTAINING
SECRET MEN
THOSE WHO
CHEATED
NOW AND THEN,
THE PLACE
WAS BURIED
IN THE WOODS,
HIDING BEHIND
AS I KNEW IT WOULD,
WITH A LARGE
AND HIGH GREEN HEDGE
KEEPING MY
PRIVATE TIME
OUT ON THE LEDGE,
I WORKED MYSELF
ON CANNERY ROW
A FAMOUS PLACE
THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW
WHILE A GROUP
OF ARCHITECTS
BECAME CIRCUMSPECT,
TEACHING ME
THE PROS AND CONS
OF MONTEREY,
THE QUIET PATHS
AND JOINTS TO PLAY…
I DROVE AROUND
EMBRACED BY SOUNDS
MANY OF THEM
QUITE FAMOUS
NOW,
AND SO TODAY
WE WENT TO
PLAY
AND SHAKE THE
CAMERA
AROUND THE
BOUNDS,

AND COME TO
SEE
A ROTTEN SIGHT
A PLACE EMBRACED
WITH JUNK
AND BRIGHT
CRUSHED WOOD
WALLS
INTO THE NIGHT,
MY HEART
BROKE OPEN
TO SEE THIS PLACE
ONE THAT I
ALWAYS
HAVE DREAMED
AND EMBRACED,
SOMEONE HAS
TAKEN
THE MAGIC AWAY
AND LEFT NASTY
NOTES
IN THE GLASS
DOORWAY…
AS I TURNED
AND REMEMBERED
THOSE SWEET WARM
SEPTEMBERS
A TEAR FELL
FROM MY EYES…
DESCRIBING HOW
THIS AWFUL SURPRISE
HAS BANISHED MY
DREAMS
OF HOW THINGS
WOULD SEEM
IF WE TURNED BACK
THE CLOCK…
WATCHING THE
ARTIST GIRL
INSIDE,
PAINTING HER
DREAMS
AROUND THE BLOCK!

Blue Velvet Boots

LONG AGO
AND FAR AWAY
CAME DELIGHT
RIGHT INTO PLAY:
THE PHOTO
SHOWS THESE
BEAUTIFUL
BOOTS
ALMOST KNEE
HIGH
FAB TO
THE SKY,
PRESSING AGAINST
MY BEST
FASHION ROOTS,
WITH LONG
TRAVEL STRINGS
AND STRONG
HOLY RINGS,
I ROSE UP
TO SHOUT
FORGETTING ABOUT
THE TIMES BEFORE
WHEN I WORE
THESE GUYS
TO SOME GALAS,
(ARRIVING LATE
IS ALWAYS GREAT
AND CLOSER
TO THE DOOR)
WALKING SWEETLY
TO IMPLORE
THE HOTTEST GUYS
WITH SOME SURPRISE
AND SMILES TO
BEAT THE BAND,
THOSE OF YOU
WHO THINK LIKE ME
WILL SURELY
UNDERSTAND:
IT’S WHAT YOU
WEAR
THAT SHOWS
YOU CARE
ENOUGH TO
SMILE SO BRIGHT,
IT TAKES SOME
TIME
TO MEET THE RHYME
WEARING THE
MOST
FROM COAST TO COAST,

AND SO
MY FRIENDS
AND CONFIDENTS
WANTED TO
TOUCH
AND LAUGH SO MUCH
AT THE DANCING
BOOTS
AND FASHION ROOTS,
WITH LONG TANNED
LEGS
AS A SUBSITUTE,
IT TAKES SOME
MERRY
SWEETHEART FAIRY
ACTIONS TO CONFIRM
THE FUN YOU
GET
FROM OPPOSITES
WHILE DANCING
ON THE FLOOR,
AND YOU CAN BET
THESE SWEET
HOT BABIES
HELD THEIR OWN,
NEVER HURTING
MAKING GROANS,
FOR ONLY THE
MASTERS
OF THE SHOE
ARE REALLY AWARE
OF ME
AND YOU,
WHEN DESIGNING
THE EVENING
FOR DANCING
AND LEADING,
FINDING SUCH
LOVE
IN THE BLUE
VELVET DOVE,
AND FLYING
ACROSS THE
ROOM
WHEN ITS TIME
TO GO
REALLY KNOWING
THAT LOTS
OF SMILES
AND ROMANCE
ARE SHOWING
WHEN THOSE BLUE
VELVET BABIES
COME HOME
WITH ME,
IT’S ALWAYS
A FABULOUS MYSTERY…
A BOUNTYFUL PART
OF MY HISTORY!

Peter’s Gate

WE ENTER
PETER’S GATE
BY WAY OF THANKS
OF TWO HUGE
WOODEN PLANKS
NAILED TOGETHER
MANY MOONS AGO,
WITH STRONG PRIVATE
ARMS AND A SMILE
(OR SO)…
AND BUILT
TO ESCHEW
UNWANTED
VISITORS
IT SEEMS,
QUIETLY
LYING
IN BEAUTIFUL
DREAMS
ON A
LOVELY OLD
ROAD
AND HOUSES
POSTED
ON LANQUID
LOTS
WITH GREENERY
AMISDT
THE SCENERY
AND ROSES
IN POTS,
THE PURPOSE
OF VISITING
BECOMES
VERY CLEAR
DURING A SEASON
OF BEAUTY
AND CHEER:
THESE ABODES
HAVE SETTLED
INTO THEIR PLACE
QUITE LONG
AGO
AND HARD
TO ERASE
ANY KIND OF
NEW STUFF,
PREFERING
THE OLDEN
LOOK,
LIKE ONE FOR
A DICKENS BOOK,
AND SOON
I STAND
BY A LOVELY
HEDGE
WITH A SMILE
FOR THE CAMERA
AND A CERTAIN
PLEDGE
BECAUSE IT’S
NEAR CHRISTMAS
AND WE ARE
AMAZED
AT THE BALMY
SOFT BREEZES
ON A SUNNY
PAGE,
HOPPING INTO
THE BIG WHITE
VAN
IT DRIVES US
ALL OVER
BECAUSE IT CAN,
WITH SIGNS
ON THE SIDE
INFERRING THE
PRIDE
OF TWO
HAPPY GUESTS
ON A BIG
CAMERA QUEST:
THE FANS LOVE
TO SEE
WHO IS SMILING
WITH GLEE,
IT’S PART OF
THE ART
OF A NOTED
BOOKWRITER,
THE CHOICES
OF OTHERS

IGNIGHTED/
DELIGHTED
WONDERING
WHEN
THE ADVENTURE
CONTINUES
BETWEEN
THE PAGES
AND BIG SUR
CENTURES
FEATURE
SCOUNDRELS
AND RAGES,
OR IS IT REAL
THIS CRAZY
TALE
A WOMAN’S
ADVENTURE
BEYOND
THE PALE,
WHILE LITTLE
RED FOOTSTEPS
APPROACH
A PILE
OF OLDER
DÉCOR
WITH A
SUBTLE SMILE,
“OH BOY”
SAYS SHE
“WHAT A MYSTERY
AND JUST
WHAT WE NEED
TO SNAZZ UP
OUR CHRISTMAS
SOME RED AND GREEN…
SHINY BRIGHT
AND CLEAN
READY TO TRAVEL
UNWRAVLING
THE SCENE”,
SHE POSES
HE SHOOTS,
SHE SMILES
HE LAUGHS
IT’S ALWAYS
MORE FUN
IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS
AND SURELY
YOU KNOW
THIS KIND OF THING
IS ALWAYS
SOME JOY
AND MEANT
FOR A KING,
SLOWLY
MEANDERING
UP THE HILL
WAITING A BIT
FOR THE SEASONAL
THRILL
IN A PLACE
WHERE WE NOTE
NOT A FACE
OR A VOTE,
THEY ALL MUST
BE GONE
TO SING
SANTA’S SONG
WITH THE FOLKS
IN REMOTE,
WHILE WE
MAKE OUR WAY
HAPPILY LAUGHING
ON THIS SHINY PLAY,
ONE THAT REMINDS
US
OF EARLIER DAYS,
WHEN WE
WERE YOUNG
AND THE ORNAMENTS
HUNG,
PEEKING AT GIFTS
WAITING IN
AWE
FOR THE PROMISED
DELIVERY
OF SMILES
AND DELIGHT,
COMING UP SOON
ON THE SWEET
CHRISTMAS NIGHT!

Angel for Hire

SHE WILL HELP
ME ALONG
THE SHADIEST WAY
CALMLY UNITING
THE NIGHT
AND THE DAY,
THE WORLD IS
SO DENSE
AND FULL OF
PRETENSE
WITH SCARY STRANGE
TYPES
FULL OF ANGER
AND HYPES,
EVERYONE KNOWS
WHERE YOU COME
AND YOU GO,
ALONG WITH
YOUR AGE
IN A LONG
LETTERED PAGE,
IT MAKES ME
WONDER
IF A SLIGHT SILLY
BLUNDER
IS DANGEROUS
ENOUGH
TO MAKE THINGS
SO TOUGH,
FOR EACH OF
US IS COVERED
BY SECURITY:
DISCOVERED
WHEN WRITING
A CHECK
OR A PHONE CALL
RESPECT,
HOW DO THEY
KNOW
EVERY MOVE
AND SOFT BLOW,
FOR EVERYONE
SHARES
BUT NOBODY
CARES:
THE HUMAN
EXISTENCE
IS PART OF THE
SENTENCE
OF DAILY LIFE
NO SECRETS
ALLOWED
WE ARE PART
OF THE CROWD
DANGLING BY A
HAIR
SO MIND YOU
BEWARE:
WHEN DIGGING
INTO
THE DIVES OF
WHAT’S DUE
A DISCOVERY
OF WORLDS
UNKNOWN
WILL BE THERE,

WAYS TO MOVE
MONEY
AND FLOWERS
AND HONEY,
WAITING A MOMENT
FOR JUST THE
RIGHT TIME
TO POUNCE AND
REVEAL
THE PROFITS
OF RYHME,
THE LADY YOU
CALL
TO REVEAL A
BALANCE
KNOWS EVERYTHING
YOU’VE DONE,
MORNING TO NIGHT
QUIETLY HUNG,
IT’S OBVIOUS THEY
SEE
MORE THAN
WE DO
WITH SPARKY
BRIGHT MINDS
AND HOT
DANCING SHOES,
ALWAYS ARRANGING
THE BLACKS
AND THE BLUES:
CAN YOU SEND
IT WITH ZELLE
OR MAYBE A CHECK
WILL YOU MAKE
A MISTAKE
OR DANCE
TO THE WRECK
OF PRIVACY
AND MODESTY,
PRETENDING
TO GET IT
ALONG WITH
THE CREDIT…
WHILE TIMELY
CONFUSED
ON WHAT
HAS BEEN USED,
AND HOW MUCH
MUCH MORE
WILL EVEN
THE SCORE,
THE SECRET
OF CODES
YOUR BANK
AND ABODE,
LOCKED UP
ALONE,
RIGHT UNDER
YOUR THRONE,
SO GIFTS OF
PRIVACY
ARE GONE
TO THE BONE,
AND BUYER BEWARE
NOBODY CARES
EXCEPT YOU AND ME
WILL WE EVER
BE FREE?