Paraíso Pete


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

Lorrainebows


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

New Studio/Old Story

QUIET AND ALONE
IT SITS
WITH A COOL
WHITE
BACKGROUND,
SHADED
FROM THE
LIGHTS
(WHICH COME
LATER)
AS WE ENTER
THE ROOM
INSTEAD
OF THE ZOOM
WHICH
OCCUPIES
MANY WHO
OUTREACH
THESE DAYS,
WE PREFER
THE LIGHT
PRAISE
OF A CALM
AND QUIET SET,
SO YOU
NEVER FORGET
THAT WE
THINK OF YOU,
(THE AUDIENCE)
WITH A FOND
RECALL
OF ALL
THE TIMES
WE HAVE MET
IN THE LINES
OF MEDIA
DEFINED
BY OUTREACH
ELECTRONICS,
SITTING AT
THE READY
IN THE DIM
STUDIO,
WHILE THE
ART WILL
ARRIVE
ALONG WITH
MY CHAIRS,
COMING IN
PAIRS
SO THAT
MY GUEST
WILL BE
HAPPY
AND ABLE
SIT NEAR
THE TABLE
AND ART PIECE
OF PALM FROND,
THE BOTTLES
THAT GLOW
AND THE BOOKS
THAT YOU KNOW,
LITTLE BY
LITTLE,
THE ASSEMBLAGE
OCCURS,
WHILE
CURIOSITY
STIRS
BEHIND THE
MASK
OF MY
ARRIVING
GUEST,
AND ALL
THE REST
WORKS OUT,

WE CHECK
AND SHOUT
THE LIGHTS
AND LENSES,
THE PRIMP
A BIT
(THAT’S ONLY
ME)
I HAVE TO SEE
THAT MY
BLOOMS
ARE STRAIGHT
AND FRAGRANT
AND LOVELY,
SHINING BRIGHT
IN THE BLAZING
LIGHTS,
THEY CARRY
A SWEET
AND LOVING
REMINDER
OF ALL THOSE
YEARS,
SO FAR
BEHIND
THAT BROUGHT
ME HERE
FROM THERE,
TO FIND MY
HAPPY FEARS
AND MY DIRECTOR
CLOSING OFF
THE DOORS
TO OUR ADVENTURE,
THE GUEST SITS
STRAIGHT
AND MUST THEN
WAIT
FOR MY OPENING
FORAY,
PROJECTING
A WARM
AND WELCOME
STORY
WHICH
FEATURES
JUST THE
COOLEST TALES,
THEY ALWAYS
TELL WHAT
WILL PREVAIL
TO BE THE HISTORY
OF THEIR LIFE,
MINUS THE
DARK
AND SECRET
STRIFE,
WHILE
INBETWEEN
WE LAUGH
AND SCHEME
TO TELL THE
STORIES
AND GOOD
REMARKS,
WHILE THE
CLOCK TICKS
ON
AND MEASURES
OUR STOP,
COMING TOO
QUICKLY
IT HAPPENS
SO SOON,
THEY ALWAYS
REMARK
AFTER SHOWING
THEIR BLOOM,
AND I GET TO SMILE
BASK IN
THE STYLE
OF EACH
DIFFERENT
VOICE,
THEY CARRY
THE CHOICE
OF FREEDOM…
SPEAKING
CLEARLY
FOREMOST
DEARLY,
WHILE THEIR
STORY CLOSES
AMONG
THE ROSES…
I SMILE AND
SAY GOODBYE,
RETURNING
SOON
TO WATCH
THEM FLY!

©JW WINSLOW 10/1/2020

The Gift

THE GIFT IS
A DREAM
SENT FROM
THE HEART,
A MESSAGE
BECOMING
AN INTREGAL
PART
OF LOVE’S
SWEET POSSESSION
A WONDROUS
CONFESSION
THAT FLIES
FROM THE
DARK TO
THE LIGHT,
IT BEGINS
WHEN YOU
KNOW
OF THE
SWEET WAY
TO GO,
BY GIVING
YOURSELF
TO THE WORLD,
UNCONSCIOUS
AT TIMES
WHILE BECOMING
REALITY
IS THE WONDERFUL
PART OF THE
STORY,
IT POPS IN YOUR
HEAD
A PICTURE
OF GIVING,
AND GROWS
AS IT GOES
FROM A DREAM
TO A SCHEME,
A WAY TO
GIVE SOMETHING
THAT WILL
SEND A GOOD
MESSAGE,
AND LAND
IN THE HANDS
OF YOUR CHOICE,
OFTEN BY
GIVING
A SURE WAY
OF LIVING
AND MAKING
GOOD NEWS
OF YOUR
VOICE,
AND SO NOW
I ASK
FOR YOUR
SPECIAL
ATTENTION,
A GIFT FOR
MY DREAM,
ONE MORE
SPECIAL
MENTION,
I HAVE COME
TO THE PART
WHERE IT
GROWS IN
MY HEART
AND GIVES
ME THE COURAGE
TO SHARE,

I REACH OUT
TO YOU
FOR A
SWEET HAPPY
VIEW
OF
THE INSIDERS
CUE,
A PATH
THAT WILL
HELP MAKE
THAT DREAM
COME TRUE,
I ASK YOU
TO SHARE
AND CONSIDER
AND CARE
WITH THAT
SECRET
KIND SECTION
THAT SHOWS
YOUR AFFECTION,
AND MAYBE
THE MEMORY
OF A GOOD
LAUGH OR TWO,
OR A HUG
COME BETWEEN US
WHEN THINGS
ARE SO BLUE,
SO PLEASE
CLOSE YOUR
EYES,
AND SEND
A SURPRISE
THAT CAN
BE ANY SIZE,
AND I WILL
SURMISE
THE WONDERS
OF FRIENDSHIP
AND FAMILY
AND LOVE,
WHILE I BUILD
ON MY DREAM
TO A PLACE
FAR ABOVE,
WHERE WE ALL
SIT TOGETHER
AND SHARE
MY LOVE SONG
THE STORIES
I’VE WRITTEN
JUST WHERE
WE BELONG,
I WAIT FOR
YOUR MESSAGE
AND PART OF
YOUR DREAM,
FOR NOW
AND TOGETHER
WE SHARE
THE DANCE
WE ROLL UP
OUR SLEEVES
AND TAKE
A CHANCE,
I SEND YOU
MY LOVE
AND THANKS
FROM THE HEART,
BUT SOMEHOW
I KNOW
YOU SEE
THAT BIG
PART
OF THE POET
AND ARTIST
WHO WEARS ALL
THE FLOWERS
AND LIVES IN
THE BOWERS
OF DREAMS!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS, SUPPORT
AND LOVE, MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

©JW WINSLOW 9/1/2020

Holland

IT BEGAN IN THE ERA
OF REEL TO REEL
WHEN ROCKIN GOOD MUSIC
WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL,
AND PERFECTLY PLACED
ON THE WIDE OPEN
PORCH
WAS A SETUP FOR SOUND
THAT WAS PERFECTLY
BOUND
BETWEEN THOSE
TWO ENDS,
BEGINNING AT NOON
AND PLAYING AGAIN
THE MUSIC AT FIRST
WAS JAZZBO
DIVERSE,
COOL SLEEK SAXES
BLOWING IN TACT
WITH THE RHYTHM
OF MUSIC
SEXY AND SMOOTHE,
SLIDING ALONG
AND INTO THE GROOVE,
BUT THEN ONE DAY
THERE CAME
TO PLAY
A DIFFERENT KIND
OF TUNES
THE HARMONIES
AND SWEET GUITARS
THE STORIES
OF THE MOON,
THE GENIUS OF A
ROCK STAR KING
AND HIS BROTHERS
BEGAN TO SING
AND MY LIFE
CHANGED
FOREVER:
BUT THE HOTTEST
PART WAS
THE CHANGE IN
MY HEART
AS THE BEACHBOYS
REACHED WITHIN
THEY TOUCHED ME
WHERE I FELT MY SOUL
COME ALIVE AND SPIN,
IT WASN’T LIKE THE
FIRST SWEET STUFF
THE SURFER TUNES
AND ALL THAT FLUFF,
BUT A TALE OF
TRAVELS
BEGAN TO UNRAVEL
IN WILSON HARMONY,
WITH A STRONG
GREAT BEGINNING
PULSING AND
WINNING
THE NEWEST
PATH OF
THE DAY,

THEY SANG
ABOUT FEAR
AND TRAVELS
AND TEARS,
AND LANDING
SOMEWHERE
IN HOLLAND,
FINDING THEMSELVES
DEEPLY INVOLVED
IN A PROBLEM THAT
JUST HAD
TO BE SOLVED,
AND I SOON BEGAN
TO LISTEN
AND GLISTEN
IN THE WARM SUN,
TINY BIKINI
AND BAIN DE SOILE,
THE MOST PROPER
OUTFIT
TO HASTEN THE DAY,
WHILE THE MUSIC
UNFOLDED
WITH TALES
OF SAILS,
AND MYSTERIOUS
CREATURES
BECOMING SO
REAL,
THE LANDING
OF VISITORS
OVER THE SEA
IN GREAT CALIFORNIA
JUST LIKE
YOU AND ME,
AND SOON
THEY TOLD
A STORY
OF GLORY
ABOUT THE
BIG SUR,
AND THE
STRONG CONQUORER,
THE BEACHES
AND CAVES
THE FABULOUS
WAVES,
THE PEOPLE
WHO CAME
TO THE SHORE,
WITH A TENDER
SOFT ENDING
NEVER PRETENDING
TO HIDE ALL THE
LOVE
FOR A PLACE
THEY HAD
DREAMED OF
THAT BECKONED
ABOVE,
THE SHORES
OF A PLACE
THAT WOULD BECOME
MY BIG DREAM,
WRITING MY BOOKS
IN A GLORIOUS
SCHEME,
NEVER IMAGINING
ON THAT FIRST
SUNNY DAY
WHAT MY LIFE
WOULD BECOME
SAILING AWAY,
AND NOW I KNOW
IT WAS ALL MEANT
TO BE,
A SOFTLY BORN
MESSAGE
THAT WOULD SET
ME FREE:
“A REASON TO LIVE…
A REASON TO CONTINUE
A REASON TO GO ON”:
A BEAUTIFUL SONG
THAT NOW WILL BELONG
DEEP IN MY HEART,
GUIDING ME HOME,
NEVER TO PART…
SAIL ON, SAILOR!

©JW WINSLOW 8/1/2020

Dance of the Nightgowns

HE ASKED FOR
A PEEK
AND THEN
HE LAUGHED,
THINKING I
WAS A CREEPY
CROOK
WHO LIED ABOUT
MY STASH,
FOR HE HAS
NEVER SEEN ME
PRANCING
IN A GOWN
(ONE FOR SLEEP
THAT YOU MUST
KEEP
FOR SPECIAL
OCCASIONS
AND PRIVATE
INVASIONS),
SO I SMILED
AND PROCEEDED
TO PULL FROM
THE CLOSET
A HANGER OF
DREAMS
FROM A
SPECIAL
DEPOSIT,
COLLECTED FOR
YEARS
FROM VARIOUS
SOURCES,
PEOPLE WHO
SUSPECT
MY SECRET
RECOURSES,
SO THOSE
BIG BLUE EYES
WERE FULL OF
SURPRISE
AT THE FLAGRANT
SUBMISSION
ALL IN
POSITION,
LAID OUT
BY COLOR
AND FLOWING
SWEET TYPES,
LONG ONES
AND SHORTER,
BUT ALL
QUITE LOVELY,

REMINDERS
OF INSTANCES
SOOO
LOVEY-DOVEY,
FIRST THERE
WAS FUSCIA,
HOT AND SATIN
FOLLOWED BY
A RAINBOW SHORTIE,
AND A FLOWIING
PALE AQUA,
THEN A
BLACK LACE
BODICE ABOVE
PALE PINK
AND THE FINAL
CUTE LINK
LAYERED IN GREEN
MEANT FOR A
STUNNING
HOT MOVIE STAR
QUEEN,
SO WHILE HE
STARED
AND LAUGHED
AT ME
I DARED HIM
TO JUST PUT
ONE ON,
ONLY FOR FUN
COMING ALONG,
AND TO MY
SURPRISE
HE DONNED
THE FROCK
THAT FLOWED
TO ANKLES
WITHOUT ANY
SOCKS
MAKING IT ALL
A COMEDY
ROCK,
I LAUGHED
AND LAUGHED
AND LAUGHED
SOME MORE
AT THE LOOK
UPON HIS FACE,
CAPTURED IT
ALL IN A QUICK
PHOTOGRAPH,
BEFORE HE
JUMPED BACK
AND MADE
HIS ESCAPE,
AND NOW
WHEN I NEED IT,
(A GOOD HEARTY
JOKE)
A SILLY SUBMISSION
A QUICK HAPPY
POKE,
I FLASH ON
THIS PICTURE
OF MASCULINE
FRILLS,
WHILE MY
HARDY DEAR
BROTHER
RUNS FOR
THE HILLS…
AND I
SHARE THIS
IMAGE
TO GIVE YOU
A THRILL!

©JW WINSLOW 7/1/2020

Slow Burn


I CLOSE MY EYES
AND WAIT BEFORE
THE SUN WILL
RISE AT DAWN,
WONDERING HOW
MY LIFE WILL GO
NOW THAT YOU
ARE GONE,
DISAPPEARING
IN MORNING
MIST
THE SCENT OF
LOVE INVADES
THE SILENT ROOMS
THE GARDEN BLOOMS
THE PLACES YOU
WILL WAIT,
STANDING THERE
AGAINST THE SUN
YOUR SHADOW
CARRIES
TOUGH AND
DARK
BUT OH SO SMART,
LIKE WHEN WE
WERE TOGETHER,
AND NOW I LOOK
AROUND THE ROOM
SEARCHING FOR
A CLUE
THE VERY DAY
WHEN ENDS WILL
RHYME
AMONG THE
SHADOWED GLOOM,
AND TIME STANDS
STILL WHILE
IN MY MIND,
I’VE GONE AND
LEFT YOU
FAR BEHIND,
THE LIFE THAT
ONCE SEEMED
VANITY,
JOY AND LAUGHS
AND SANITY
HAS NOW
BECOME A
DARK NIGHTMARE
(BUT YOU AREN’T
THERE)
AND DON’T BELONG
IN MY
BLINDED STARE,
I WALK AMONG
THE ROOMS
THAT STAND
SO SILENT
IN THE DAY
WONDERING HOW
THE TIME WILL GO
NOW THAT YOU’RE
ASTRAY,

AND I AM LEFT
ALONE AND OUT,
FULL OF PAIN
AND TEARS
AND DOUBT,
WHATEVER MADE
ME SAY THOSE
THINGS
THAT ROSE
ABOVE MY HEART
THE BLAST OF
ANGRY MULITUDES
TEARING US
APART,
THEY WAITED THERE
ALL THOSE YEARS
WHEN I WAS
FASCINATED,
SO IN LOVE
AND BLINDED STILL
WITH DREAMS
THAT STIPULATED
MANY THINGS
SO HIGH ABOVE
THE ROARING FIRE
THE CALL OF LOVE,
INNOCENT
AS BABY’S BREATH
IT WAS MY CALL
TO HAPPINESS,
BUT NOW THE
TIME HAS
COME TO TURN,
TO RISE ABOVE
AND SLOWLY BURN
CINDER AFTER
CINDER GOES
INTO THE STREAM
THAT FLOWS
AWAY
INTO THE SEA
FOREVER
CHANGING
YOU AND ME,
FOR WE WILL
NEVER BE
THE SAME
OUR TIME IS
GONE
AND WHAT
REMAINS
IS ONLY JUST
THE LAST HOT
TURN,
WATCHING WHILE
WE SLOWLY BURN,
BLOWN AWAY
WITH MORNING’S
BREEZE
WE FREEZE
INTO THE
SUNRISE,
MELTING
SLOWLY
AS WE TURN
I WATCH OUR
LOVE
BECOME THE
URN,
THE LAST COOL
ASHES
SLOWLY BURN,
I CLOSE
MY EYES
FOREVER…
(RISE)

©JW WINSLOW 6/1/2020