<The Blue Coach
A MAGICAL MIRACLE
JUST OCCURRED,
LEADING A PATH
TO THE WRITTEN
WORD:
AS THE ARTIST
INSPIRED
IS WOUND UP
AND WIRED
THE HOLDING PLACE
CONTINUES
THE RACE:
WHERE DO I
KEEP MY MONEY,
THAT LOVELY
STUFF
THAT REMINDS ME
OF HONEY,
LOOKING AT THE
WELLWORN
OLDER BORN
BLACK DYNAMITE,
GIVEN BY
A RICH MAN
FOR KEEPING THINGS
BRIGHT,
THE DAY FINALLY
CAME
WHEN NOTHING
ELSE FIT:
THE WALLET WAS
STUFFED
WITH OUTWISE
REMIT:
I COULDN’T FIND
THIS…
I COULDN’T FIND
THAT,
WITH SHINY BLACK
LEATHER ALL
WILDLY WORN OUT,
IT WAS TIME FOR A
NEW BAG,
BOTH LIMBER
AND FREE TAG,
WITH PLENTY
OF ROOM
FOR THE OWNER
TO BLOOM
ANNOUNCING HER
APPROVAL,
AND SO BEGAN
REMOVAL
OF CREDIT CARDS
AND BUSINESS BARDS
COVERING MANY
UNBEATABLE
YARDS
LIMP AND OLD
OR IN THE
FOLD,
WHO COULD MAKE
ANY SENSE OF THAT…
I TOOK THE LEAP
AND CLEANED
IT OUT,
THE SHINY LEATHER
HAD COME ABOUT,
AND SOON THERE
WAS THE TREASURE:
A BUNCH OF COOL STUFF
TO MEASURE,
NOW THE
QUESTION BECAME
A SWEET THRILL
FOR THE BRAIN,
SEARCHING
THE ROARING WILD
MENTAL TRAIN
FOR A NEW PLACE
TO CARRY MY
SECRETS,
MY CASH
THE STASH
AND SOME
MANY ODDS
AND ENDS,
I MUST PRETEND
TO HAVE A
LANDING SPOT
WHILE SUDDENLY
THE HOT BRAIN
LOCATED A LIGHT
BURNING BRIGHT
AND THE BLUE COACH
APPEARED,
WILDLY WEIRD
AFTER YEARS OF
WAITING
TO HOLD MY
FORTUNE
SUDDENLY IT WAS
THERE,
HIDING BESIDE
AN OLD ANTIQUE
CHAIR,
WRAPPED IN SOME
FLORAL
AND LOVELY PAPER:
A GIFT FROM THE
SANTAS
OF FAR AWAY
JUST WAITING
FOR A BOOTY CHANCE
TO SHOW IT’S STUFF
IN A BRIGHT BLUE
DANCE,
I CRAWLED
UNDERNEATH
THE ANCIENT
CHEST
AND THERE
WASTHE BLUE COACH,
AWAYS THE BEST:
LOTS OF POCKETS
AND A MONEY PLACE
ZIPPED UP IN ORDER
TO MAKE SOME SPACE,
HOW VERY EASTERN
AND SAVVY,
LOVELY AND USEFUL,
PERFECT IN TIME
FOR MY DARKEST
ADVANCES,
I STUFFED IT
WITH PAPERS
AND CARDS
AND ROMANCES,
LEAVING ONE
LAST SHADE OF
THE WEST:
THE SURF STORE
STICKER
WHICH MADE IT
MUCH SLICKER,
AND REALLY MINE…
AH, HOW DIVINE,
BUT EACH TIME
I OPEN IT
THE FACES SHINE
THROUGH
SMILING IN
ACTION
ABOUT MY
LEATHER BLUE!
©JW WINSLOW 11/1/2022
BORIS
IT WAS HIS SMILE
THAT FIRST CAUGHT MY EYE,
SITTING CASUALLY IN
HIS FAVORITE CHAIR
INTERVIEWING A BRIGHT
WHITE-SUITED WOMAN
FOR A JOB,
THEY NEEDED
SOMEONE WHO WOULD
SELL THAT MOB:
THREE FINE DESIGNERS,
SHY/STRONG HEADLINERS,
MEN WHO DID NOT
WANT TO BLOW
THEIR OWN HORNS,
BUT REQUIRED
SOME ACTION
AND STRONG WILLED
TRACTION,
HE GAVE ME
HIS CARD AT THE END
A LONG-VERSED
NAME WITH
A MIDDLE VLADIMIRE,
IT WAS MY NICKNAME
FOR HIM
INCITING SOME CHEER,
AND IN THAT JOB
FOR MANY YEARS
I SOLD THEIR WARES
AND CLIMBED THE
STAIRS
EACH DAY,
WATCHING THE
DESIGNS TAKE HOLD
MANY QUITE BOLD,
WHILE HE CHARMED
OUR CLIENTS
AND LAUGHED A LOT
WATCHING THE
BUILDINGS TAKE
SIZE AND SPOT,
HE LOVED TO SNEAK
OFF
ON WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON
TO THE SMALL
SAIL BOAT
AND THE ROARING
LAGOON,
IT WAS HIS QUIET
TIME,
A PLACE SO SUBLIME
ALL ALONE
WITH THE SPLASHING
WAVES,
AND MEMORIES OF
STRUCTURES
HE LOVED TO SAVE,
WE TRAVELED TOGETHER
TO SELL THE WARES
VISITING CLIENTS
BEYOND COMPARE,
CHARMING THE FOLKS
WITH VISUAL STROKES,
AND SMILES
THAT CAUGHT
THE CLEVER EYE…
I KNEW HIS SECRET
OF PLAYING THE TRUMPET
AND THE LOVE OF
MUSIC AS WELL,
BUT THE MOST
CLEVER MOMENT
WAS A CASUAL THING,
WHEN HE SCRIBBLED
A FIGURE OF THE
DANCING MAN
WHO BECAME OUR
LOGO
FOR THE WORKS
WE SPREAD,
TAPPING AWAY
NIGHT AND DAY,
IT WAS PART OF
THE CHORUS
THE SIGHT OF BORIS
THAT BLENDED HIS
LOVES,
DESIGNING
RECLINING,
FAMILY FIRST
AND AWARD
WINNING COLORS
OF MONTEREY’S THIRST,
WHILE THE SUBTLE
CHUCKLES
RENOWED HIS WAY
OF TELLING THE WORLD
HE WAS READY TO PLAY,
AND NOW, TODAY
BORIS IS GONE,
A HEAVENLY ANGEL
WHERE HE BELONGS
UP THERE
DESIGNING
A HOUSE FOR
THE GODS,
WITH LOTS OF
PURE LIGHT,
HE WILL ALWAYS
EXIST FOR ME
EACH DAY AND NIGHT,
SAIL ON SAILOR
TO THE BRILLIANT END
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE
SO LOVED AND ADMIRED
BY THE WORLD
AND ME!
©JW WINSLOW 10/1/2022
CAR WEEK WILL MAKE YOU
WEEP,
PERHAPS FOR GOOD
OR BAD,
OFTEN TIMES
THE WORST OF CRIMES
ARE HIDDEN
IN THE DEEP:
FOR CHAOS BEGINS
WHEN THE WEEKEND
ARRIVES
ACTUALLY
EARLIER
BECAUSE
EVERYONE DRIVES:
THE SHOW OFFS
THE OWNERS
THE SPECTATORS
THE LONERS,
ALL ARRIVING AS
PREDICTED,
WHILE SOME ARE
CONVICTED
BEFORE ITS TIME
TO GO HOME,
THEY COME FROM
ABOVE
AND BELOW MONTEREY,
AND TRUTHFULLY
IT’S SO HARD
TO SAY
WHICH ONES
ARE THE BEST
AT THE VIEWING
QUEST,
SO IT’S UP TO YOU
IF YOU PURSUE
THE PENINSULA
SOMETIMES
CALLED HEAVEN,
AND ONCE WAS
THE CAPITAL
OF THE STATE
OF CALI,
FULL OF SUCH
MEMORIES
WILD AND TOUGH –
THE EARLIER FOLKS
WERE KIND
OF ROUGH,
BUT NOW THE CROWDS
CARE LITTLE FOR
SHROUDS OF
A MYSTERY WILD HORSE,
IT’S ALL ABOUT
CARS
THE AMAZING STARS,
AGELESS AND STAGELESS
ALL OVER THE PLACE
ANYWHERE YOU GO
THEY ARE HAVING
A RACE
PUSHING ASIDE
TO PEEK AND ABIDE,
BUYERS AND FANS
COVER THE LAND,
AND WHAT DO YOU
SAY
OF THE PEOPLE
WHO PLAY
AND WORK FOR
A LIVING,
ALWAYS FORGIVING
THE ENDLESS
GOOGLES
WITH NECKS
LIKE NOODLES,
ACHING TO TOUCH
AND SIGH, AND SUCH
BUT THE REAL
NEIGHBORHOODS
STAY STILL
AS THEY SHOULD,
WEARING EAR PLUGS
FROM THOSE LOUD
OLD THUGS,
THE GROANING
AND SCREAMING
RACING OF CARS
PACKED ON THE STREETS
BENEATH THE STARS,
SITTING QUIETLY
UNDER A TREE
WATCHING MAZARATTI’S
SCREAMING THE ROAD
WAY TOO FAST
FOR THE OVERLOAD,
AND FINALLY
WATCHING
THE SUNDAY EVENT
WHERE MILLIONS ARE
SPENT,
LADIES ALL DRESSED
IN FANCY
FINERY,
GENTS OF IMMENSE
AND POETIC WINERIES,
WANDERING
WAITING
FOR THE WINNERS
AWARD,
THEY SPLIT UP
THE MIDDLE
OF A FAMOUS BIG
SWORD:
CHAMPAGNE AND TOASTS
SMILING WITH BOASTS,
WHILE THE FOLKS
ON THE COAST
WAVE GOODBYE
TO THE SKY!
©JW WINSLOW 9/1/2022
Yes, there is a difference
Between the person
who creates
and the one
who permeates,
hard to say
which is
harder,
They each have
a larder
of dreams and
schemes
ready for the page
At any stage
or time
or place,
and the one
who was chosen
to write my story
of boundless glory
is a hard core
Pro
always in the know,
visiting first to
get the ideas,
delving into
secrets of the
often-shy author,
taking notes
and getting the
quotes perfect,
something rare
in that business,
you must agree
when it comes
down to just
you and me,
she slides into
place with a
simple tablet,
cleverly writing
notes
as I speak,
given later
to a casual
tweak,
while smiling
at every move
you make
in case there’s
a clue
to the real
inside take and
upfront view,
while adding
conversation,
for after all
she is her own
call,
a rocking
good artist
with many years
of hard work
and a few tears:
grinding away
day after day
but never asleep,
for she knows
how to keep
the soul alert
with the secrets
uncovered,
the snags
and the lovers…
intermixed
with a personal
story of her own,
a casual trip
into her own zone
while this meeting
of minds,
each one
noticing changes,
more polished
and smooth,
and in the right
groove
to display every
aspect
of the golden plum
until it is done,
and her time
to run
to the next
wild-ass story,
(centered in glory)
but she
leaves with
a smile
just meant
to beguile…
it was such
a good time,
just awaiting
the gift
of a newspaper lift,
two friends
forever,
and a cleaver
endeavor!
©JW WINSLOW 8/1/2022
I WATCHED
FROM THE
WINDOW
AS THEY
CLIMBED
UP THE DRIVE,
ANXIOUS
TO SEE
WHAT PATERNITY
THRIVED,
THE TRUE
REAL PARENT
OF MY ABODE,
(ONE THAT
HAD GROWN
TO BE A MAN
IN THESE VERY
ROOMS,
AND VISITING
NOW
AS A MEDICAL
ZOOM
FROM A NORTHERN
STATE)
WHAT A WAIT
IT HAD BEEN,
WONDERING
DURING
THESE PAST
FEW YEARS
HOW HE LOOKED
AND SPOKE,
A DOCTOR
BY TRADE
WHICH SURELY
MADE
THE SMILE
AT THE FRONT
DOOR
INTO VERY MUCH
A LOVELY SCORE
REACHING OUT
BETWEEN US,
HE SHOWED ME
WHERE HIS
CHILDHOOD
PIANO SAT,
NEXT TO THE
GLASS DOORS,
AND HOW
ABOUT THAT,
WHILE HE
DESCRIBED
HIS FAVORITE
DOG,
LONGING TO
ENTER
AND SIT AT HIS FEET,
MORE COMPLETE
AND WAGGING
HIS TAIL,
WHILE NOW
MY MUSIC
MACHINE
LIVES ON
THAT SPOT,
SURROUNDED
BY A LOVELY
OLD PLANT,
(ODDLY ENOUGH
A TREASURE
FROM MY MOTHER)
IT WAS A DAY
OF MEMORY
ON BOTH SIDES,
AND HIS WIFE
INSPECTED MY
ART WITH
A SMILE
WHILE
WE TRAVELED
THE ROOMS,
WITH SUNSHINE
BEAMING
THROUGH THE
WINDOWS FROM
FLOOR TO CEILING,
AND THEN HE
ENTERED THE
OLD PINK BATHROOM
WHERE ALL
HIS FAMILY
SHARED THOSE
FACILITIES,
WHAT A STRANGE
ZOOM
ON THEIR CAPABILITIES,
AND FINALLY
WE JOURNIED
OUTSIDE
TO GAZE
AT THE HUGE
GREEN TREES
IN THE BRIGHT
SUNNY HAZE,
ALL GROWN UP
FOR MANY YEARS,
RESOUNDING
THE TEARS OF
SMART LITTLE BOYS
AND FAMILY PLOYS,
WHILE I DREW
BACK TO
HIS WHISPERING
WIFE
WHILE A BROKEN
FENCE WAS
DISCUSSED
AND SETTLED,
I HAD TO SMILE
AS THEY DEPARTED
ON THE
DARK SIDE
OF THE FENCE
AND MEASURED
THE LENGTH
OF MY KOOKY ART WALL,
SO BIG AND TALL,
AND I EXPLAINED
THE LAST BIG SNARE,
THE MESS OF
A NEIGHBOR,
SO DIFFICULT
TO BEAR,
SO I HAVE
ADDED A LONG
LINE OF CARE:
MEMORIAL
BLANKETS
TO COVER THE LAIR,
(MESSY CANS
AND DIRTY WOOD)
COVERED UP
FOR NOW AND GOOD,
THE END OF A TOUR
THAT LEFT ME
SMILING
ABOUT THIS
BEGUILING
AND WONDERFUL
LIFE…
HOW DID I
REALLY ARRIVE
AND THRIVE
IN THIS
PALACE OF LOVE
WITH THE BEAUTIFUL
DOVES,
JUST LUCKY,
I GUESS…
IN MY ONWARD QUEST.
©JW WINSLOW 7/1/2022
IT IS THAT TIME
OF THE YEAR,
WHERE A SLICE
OF HEAVEN
ARRIVES AROUND
MID-AFTERNOON,
AND I SWOON
ONTO THE TINY
SPACE
(MY FAVORITE PLACE)
SURROUNDED BY
MANY VERSIONS
OF GREEN OFFERINGS
PROVIDED BY
MOTHER NATURE
AND LOVED BY
ME,
FOR AS YOU SEE
THIS QUIET
SUMMARY OF
DREAMS
SEEMS TO CALL
OUT,
NUDGING THE
COOL GLASS OF
WATER,
READING MATERIAL
AND A FAVORITE
VERY OLD TOWEL
FROM THE DARK
AGES OF
CRYSTAL COVE,
SURVIVING AND
FOLDED NEATLY
ALL DURING THE
DEATHLY COLD
OF MONTEREY
WINDS,
WE BOTH WAIT
FOR A CHANCE
TO CHILL
WITH LEGS AND
SUNSHINE
THE CHOICE
IS MINE,
JUST A CASUAL
GLANCE
TO SEE
IF BY CHANCE
THE UPPER
NEIGHBOR
IS PEERING
OUT THE WINDOW,
AT THE SECRETIVE
VISIT OF MS. WINSLOW…
AFTER ALL,
WHAT ROMANTIC
SERIES OF DREAMS
ARE TOTALLY
PRIVATE,
WHILE PEEPING
TOM’S
ARE ONLY
INVISIBLE
TO THE NEWBIES
OF SUNBATHING
JUST BEFORE
YOU RELEASE
A SCATHING
SMILE
AND THEY
BACK AWAY
FOR ANOTHER DAY,
FOR THIS TIME
OF THE YEAR
IS NOT
WITHOUT FEAR
IT’S THE HALF
WAY
TO EXPOSE THE
PLAYS
OF ROMANTIC
NOODLING,
STRICTLY MENTAL
ALWAYS GENTLE,
THE POSING WITH
A NEWSPAPER
IS ONLY A TREAT
A WAY TO DEFEAT
THE PRIVATE WARMTH
OF THE LONG
BROWN LIMBS
THAT CRAVE THOSE
SUNNY WHIMS
AND A WANDERING
MIND
SWIMMING ALONG
CLOSING THE
EYES
FOR A SNAPPY
SURPRISE,
FOR SURELY
THE SOUL WILL
SPEAK
AS THE BREEZE
BLOWS,
SENDING VISIONS
OF FANCY CLOTHES,
DATES TO COME
AND JOBS TO RUN,
ALL IN THE QUEUE
OF THE FINE ART
IN LIFE,
SNEAKING THROUGH
THE DARKEST
HOURS
TO THE BRIGHTEST
MOMENTS OF
MORNING FLOWERS,
I DREAM OF THINGS
NEVER BEFORE SEEN,
OR MAYBE OLD
BOYFRIENDS
ARE PART OF THAT SCHEME,
WITH EYES
CLOSED
AND MIND POSED,
I RELEASE THE
SAD…
THE BAD
THE PAST,
KNOWING THEY
WILL NEVER
LAST,
FOR TOMORROW’S
SUN
WILL COME
AGAIN,
AND IT WILL
BRING
THE TIME
TO WIN!
©JW WINSLOW 5/1/2022
IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT CATCH UP
WITH YOU
HIDDEN AWAY
FROM THE ORDINARY
SWAY
OF LIFE’S METABOLIC
CHANGE,
WHILE DIVING DEEP
IN THE OCEAN
OF CASH
THE STASH
THAT REMAINS
CAN CAUSE
TEARS FOR YOU,
WONDERING
WHERE
AND WHEN
THE NEXT BILL
IS DUE,
SENT WITH SUCH
GRACE
TO A VERY
SPECIAL PLACE
ACROSS THE STREET
WHERE THE MAILBOX
LIVES,
(WE MUST FORGIVE
THE LOCATION
WE SHARE
WITH THE NEIGHBORS,
WHERE SOMEBODY
SAVORS
AND CARES)
WHILE INSIDE
REQUESTS FOR
CASH
LINGER
BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS
AND A GRITTING
OF TEETH,
KNOWING THAT
OPENING
BRINGS NO RELIEF,
IT SEEMS TO GO
BY SO FAST,
BUT CARMA REIGNS
AND ZAPS
THE PRESSURE
BEFORE YOU CAN
OPEN A BILL,
NOW ITS HEADING
UP THE HILL
AGAIN AND AGAIN,
NO WONDER THOSE
FOLKS WHO DALEY
WITH THEIR DOGS
HESTIATE TO RETURN
TO THE MAILBOX BURN,
YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL
WHO IS SUFFERING:
JUST OPEN YOUR EYES
AND WATCH THEM
CRY…
THAT CATCH UP
WITH YOU
HIDDEN AWAY
FROM THE ORDINARY
SWAY
OF LIFE’S METABOLIC
CHANGE,
WHILE DIVING DEEP
IN THE OCEAN
OF CASH
THE STASH
THAT REMAINS
CAN CAUSE
TEARS FOR YOU,
WONDERING
WHERE
AND WHEN
THE NEXT BILL
IS DUE,
SENT WITH SUCH
GRACE
TO A VERY
SPECIAL PLACE
ACROSS THE STREET
WHERE THE MAILBOX
LIVES,
(WE MUST FORGIVE
THE LOCATION
WE SHARE
WITH THE NEIGHBORS,
WHERE SOMEBODY
SAVORS
AND CARES)
WHILE INSIDE
REQUESTS FOR
CASH
LINGER
BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS
AND A GRITTING
OF TEETH,
KNOWING THAT
OPENING
BRINGS NO RELIEF,
IT SEEMS TO GO
BY SO FAST,
BUT CARMA REIGNS
AND ZAPS
THE PRESSURE
BEFORE YOU CAN
OPEN A BILL,
NOW ITS HEADING
UP THE HILL
AGAIN AND AGAIN,
NO WONDER THOSE
FOLKS WHO DALEY
WITH THEIR DOGS
HESTIATE TO RETURN
TO THE MAILBOX BURN,
YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL
WHO IS SUFFERING:
JUST OPEN YOUR EYES
AND WATCH THEM
CRY…
WORSE THAN
EVER,
NOW THERE ARE
MACHINES
POSING AS HUMAN
BEINGS
THAT ENDLESSLY
REMIND US
OF OUR DEBTS
(AND CREDITS),
ALTHOUGH
I BELIEVE
THOSE ORIGINATORS
REALLY KNOW
THE TRUE MEANING
OF THE KARMA LABEL,
IT ZAPS BACK IN TIME
UNDER THE TABLE
SHOVING A PILE
OF WILTED ENVELOPES
AND OLD STAMPS,
READY TO TRAVEL
AGAIN,
WONDERING WHEN
THINGS WILL
CALM DOWN,
WHILE LAUGHING ALL
THE WAY TO THE BANK,
(A DESOLATE TANK
FULL OF SMILING
TELLERS
AND CUTE
OLDER FELLERS)
SAVED FOR THOSE
OF US
WHO PREFER TO
WAIT
(UNTIL THE
LAST DAY
IN ORDER TO PAY)
SO NOW YOU
KNOW
JUST HOW IT GOES,
AND RECOGNIZE
THE MASSIVE
SIGH
RELEASED DURING
OUR CONVERSATION,
IT’S NOT A VACATION
THESE DAYS,
SCRAMBLING
RAMBLING
SHAMBLING
TO THE CHECK BOOK
BLUES,
IT’S SOMETHING
TO USE
FOR THOSE
FADED SWEET
MEMORIES
WHEN WE ARE
OLD AND POOR,
HARDLY RECALLNG
THE CREAKY
BACK DOOR.
©JW WINSLOW 5/1/2022
SHADY
HAZY
RAINY DAY,
GRAY SKIES
AND BLUE EYES
STREAKING
ACROSS THE
PATHS
OF LIFE,
WE HAVE
A WAR,
AND WONDER
WHAT FOR…
ISN’T THE
PANDEMIC
ENOUGH
AND ROUGH,
NOT SURE
WHO PROGRAMS
SUCH INSIDIOUS
TIMES
WHERE SMILES
AND TEARS
COME OUT IN
THE RHYMES,
WE SEEK TO
FIND FREEDOM
AWAY FROM
THE PAST
BREATHING IN
DEEPLY
HOPING TO CAST
A LIGHT FULL
OF JUSTICE
A LIFE FULL OF EASE
A PERFECT FULL DAY
WHERE FANTASIES
PLAY
BUT SOMETHING
HAS COME
INTO THE SOUL
HARD TO IDENTIFY
WORSE YET
TO DIGNIFY
WHAT MAN HAS
BECOME
AT THE BEAT
OF THE DRUM,
LEAVING
A GOOD MIND
IN TERROR AND
DOUBT,
I HAVE TO SAY
THIS WAS
NOT THE RIGHT
WAY
FOR THE MILLIONS
OF LIVES
THAT HANG
IN THE DIVE,
AND HERE WE
ARE STRUGGLING
TO JUST STAY
ALIVE:
IT SEEMS UNFAIR
AFTER CRUMMY
PRETENSE
WHERE WE REALLY
WERE SCARED
AT THE BODY
EVENTS,
HAZY
RAINY DAY,
GRAY SKIES
AND BLUE EYES
STREAKING
ACROSS THE
PATHS
OF LIFE,
WE HAVE
A WAR,
AND WONDER
WHAT FOR…
ISN’T THE
PANDEMIC
ENOUGH
AND ROUGH,
NOT SURE
WHO PROGRAMS
SUCH INSIDIOUS
TIMES
WHERE SMILES
AND TEARS
COME OUT IN
THE RHYMES,
WE SEEK TO
FIND FREEDOM
AWAY FROM
THE PAST
BREATHING IN
DEEPLY
HOPING TO CAST
A LIGHT FULL
OF JUSTICE
A LIFE FULL OF EASE
A PERFECT FULL DAY
WHERE FANTASIES
PLAY
BUT SOMETHING
HAS COME
INTO THE SOUL
HARD TO IDENTIFY
WORSE YET
TO DIGNIFY
WHAT MAN HAS
BECOME
AT THE BEAT
OF THE DRUM,
LEAVING
A GOOD MIND
IN TERROR AND
DOUBT,
I HAVE TO SAY
THIS WAS
NOT THE RIGHT
WAY
FOR THE MILLIONS
OF LIVES
THAT HANG
IN THE DIVE,
AND HERE WE
ARE STRUGGLING
TO JUST STAY
ALIVE:
IT SEEMS UNFAIR
AFTER CRUMMY
PRETENSE
WHERE WE REALLY
WERE SCARED
AT THE BODY
EVENTS,
SHOTS IN THE ARM
SMILES FULL OF
CHARM
COVERED UNDER
A MASK
OF DREAMS,
I WALK IN HIS
JACKET
BIG AND SO WARM
REMEMBERING
TIMES
WHEN THINGS
WERE NOT TORN,
THE SMILES AND
GIGGLES
THE KISSES AND
SEX
THE HOLDING
OF HANDS
FULL OF LOVE
AND REFLEX,
I SMILE AT THE
CARS
ZOOMING ON BY,
FULL OF SOME
MUSIC
AND DOGS
ON THE FLY…
HOW FAR
HAS THIS TAKEN US,
INTO THE MYSTIC
AWAY FROM OUR
LIVES
NOW A DARKISH
STATISTIC,
AND THINK OF POPPA
WHO HELD MY HAND
ACROSS THE
BIG ROCKS
AND DEEP WARM SAND,
I TRUSTED IN HIM
WHEN HE SAID WITH
A GRIN,
“DON’T WORRY, PUTZ…
EVERYTHING’S FINE
SKIES ARE SO BLUE
AND PIES ARE DIVINE”,
YET I CANNOT BE
SAD
IT WOULD MAKE
THINGS SO BAD,
THAT’S NOT MY
STYLE OR MAGIC,
AND SINCE
I REFUSE
TO WAIL AND ACCUSE
THE WORLD FOR
SOME STABS IN THE BACK,
IT WILL NEVER ATTACK
OR WIPE US AWAY
WE WILL SOAR AND
WILL DREAM IN
THE BEST HUMAN WAY,
BECAUSE WE
WERE BORN
TO FLOURISH THE EARTH
WITH POETS AND LOVERS
AND FUNNY MASK COVERS,
WE WILL STAND
AND FIGHT
THROUGH THE
DARKEST OF NIGHTS,
ONLY TO SEE
THE SUN RISE AGAIN…
AND THEN
WE WILL WIN!
©JW WINSLOW 4/1/2022
THEY SAY IT BEGAN
ADVERSE TO THE PLAN
WHEN I ARRIVED
JUST IN TIME
IN A PLAN SO SUBLIME,
MY MOTHER WAS
COVERED
IN RED PUFFY BUMPS
ALL OF A SUDDEN
THEY QUARANTINED
THESE ITCHY OLD LUMPS
BARELY BEFORE
THE GRAND ARRIVAL
OF A BIG SLEEPY GIRL
WHO WAS BENT
ON SURVIVAL,
AND SO IT WENT
I WAS QUICKLY SENT
AWAY FROM MY MOM
TO THE FAMILY HOUSE
WHERE EXPERIENCED
LADIES CRADLED ME,
FED AND CHANGED
AND SANG FOR FREE,
MY AUNTIE AND GRANNY
TAKING CHARGE
OF THE FIRST REAL KID
TO ARRIVE ON A BARGE
OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER,
WHILE MY POOR LITTLE
MOTHER
WAS TEARFUL AND FEARFUL
FOREVER AFTER,
SHE MISSED THE TIME
OF THE CRADLED TOUCH,
THE ONE WHERE A CHILD
LEARNS ABOUT SUCH
WONDERFUL THINGS
LIKE NIPPLES AND RINGS,
NO BREASTFEEDING
ALLOWED
IN THIS FAMOUS CROWD:
I OFTEN WONDER
ABOUT THIS BLUNDER
AND SURMISE
WITH SURPRISE
THAT PERHAPS IT WAS
MEANT TO BE,
ESPECIALLY NOW
THAT I KNOW JUST HOW
MY PATH BEGAN
THAT DAY,
THE YEARS BETWEEN
MY BIRTH
AND DREAM
WERE ALWAYS MEANT
TO SURPRISE,
FOR I FIND THE HOPE
AND FLYING SCOPE
OF MISSIONS
OFTEN UNHEARD,
I CARRY THE
TALENT
FOR VISION
AND WORD
UNDOUBTEDLY
ISSUED BY FAMILY
FOLKS,
ADVERSE TO THE PLAN
WHEN I ARRIVED
JUST IN TIME
IN A PLAN SO SUBLIME,
MY MOTHER WAS
COVERED
IN RED PUFFY BUMPS
ALL OF A SUDDEN
THEY QUARANTINED
THESE ITCHY OLD LUMPS
BARELY BEFORE
THE GRAND ARRIVAL
OF A BIG SLEEPY GIRL
WHO WAS BENT
ON SURVIVAL,
AND SO IT WENT
I WAS QUICKLY SENT
AWAY FROM MY MOM
TO THE FAMILY HOUSE
WHERE EXPERIENCED
LADIES CRADLED ME,
FED AND CHANGED
AND SANG FOR FREE,
MY AUNTIE AND GRANNY
TAKING CHARGE
OF THE FIRST REAL KID
TO ARRIVE ON A BARGE
OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER,
WHILE MY POOR LITTLE
MOTHER
WAS TEARFUL AND FEARFUL
FOREVER AFTER,
SHE MISSED THE TIME
OF THE CRADLED TOUCH,
THE ONE WHERE A CHILD
LEARNS ABOUT SUCH
WONDERFUL THINGS
LIKE NIPPLES AND RINGS,
NO BREASTFEEDING
ALLOWED
IN THIS FAMOUS CROWD:
I OFTEN WONDER
ABOUT THIS BLUNDER
AND SURMISE
WITH SURPRISE
THAT PERHAPS IT WAS
MEANT TO BE,
ESPECIALLY NOW
THAT I KNOW JUST HOW
MY PATH BEGAN
THAT DAY,
THE YEARS BETWEEN
MY BIRTH
AND DREAM
WERE ALWAYS MEANT
TO SURPRISE,
FOR I FIND THE HOPE
AND FLYING SCOPE
OF MISSIONS
OFTEN UNHEARD,
I CARRY THE
TALENT
FOR VISION
AND WORD
UNDOUBTEDLY
ISSUED BY FAMILY
FOLKS,
THOSE WHO
SUSPEND
THE DIFFERENT
STROKES,
THE REBELS
AND CRAZIES
THE WRITERS
AND CHEFS,
THE WIZARDS WHO
DESIGN
AND THOSE WHO
INCLINE
TO BURY THEIR
LIVES WITH WISHES,
THEY SWIM LIKE
FISHES
AROUND AND
AROUND,
AND NEVER ARRIVE
BY THE LIGHT
OR THE SOUND,
BUT I AWAYS HID
THE SECRETLY
KID, WATCHING
AND WAITING
TO SPEAK AND
BE SEEN,
WHILE OTHERS
WOULD ASK
TO EXPLAIN
MY DREAM,
I SANG
AND I WROTE
AS THE CHILD
OF HOPE,
THAT SOMEONE
WOULD LISTEN
AND NOTICE
MY SKILLS,
IT HAS GIVEN
ME CHILLS
UP TO NOW,
BUT THE GIFT
OF MY FAMILY
WAS THIS:
A SENSE OF
THE PLAN
THAT JUMPED
IN AND RAN,
EXERTING MY
DREAM TO THE
WORDLY MACHINE,
LIKE IT OR NOT
ASSURING MY SHOT
AT THE BIG MILKY WAY
ON A JUDGEMENT DAY,
NOW THAT TIME
HAS COME
AND I DEPART
TO INTRODUCE
A PIECE OF MY ART
TO A WRANGLERS
CROWD
SPEAKING OUT LOUD,
I FIND MY WAY
TO THE
JUDGEMENT DAY…
WHAT MORE
CAN I SAY
BUT TAKE THEM
ALONG
HOPING THEY
JOIN IN A
VERY SWEET SONG!
©JW WINSLOW 3/1/2022