Final Poems

Here are 10 of my poems to be submitted as my final work. Most of them aren't finished yet but then again, I don't ever really think my work is finished so...I guess it is what it is. Enjoy!


Snow Walk
Vacant Home
Quote
Lamp Unto My Feet
Disaster
After Tricia's Lazarus
Valentine's Day
American Sonnet
List Poem
Easter Occasion Poem

Caitlin

Easter Occasion Poem

Crowded pews, huddled masses
of still and silent sheep
surrounded by spring flowers.
Followers?

Or lives spent floundering
in muck and mire, aimless
wandering in an empty tomb,
searching for a body
in an abandoned grave?

Perhaps they fell asleep in the pasture
and did not see their shepherd ascend.
What will it take to awaken them;
to resurrect them?

List Poem

Going Home

Miles of road passes beneath our wheels

like an unraveled roll of film.
It spans the route 

between here and there and

my side window plays a scene
from that old film being rewound.

Objects pass quickly through my lens--
familiar, distant sights: 

a rusty blue tractor, a muddy pasture,
a telephone pole,

an old, tied-out retriever, an abandoned sugar shack,

a nondescript convenience store,
a telephone pole,

another telephone pole,
a man and his wife walking along side the road,
children playing in a field,
their mother leaning outside of a red, side door
calling them inside for dinner.

a telephone pole. 

Miles of old footage spans the route

between here and there;

between the present and past. 

American Sonnet

Famiglia Festa

As ziti is passed about the table
the sound of Papa's voice stills our idle
chatter. Our storyteller offers wild
stories of past adventure; embellished,
affirmed by few remaining, aged brothers.
Evening deepens as we listen and laugh.
"I'll have just one more piece of bread," Sal claims.
"One more glass of vino." Connie echoes.

Though our group strives to will time to delay
we all know this communion cannot last.
When scattered crumbs and empty glasses stand
untouched on the table, our group must part.
Withdrawn, we part with bellies and hearts full,
to perform the duties of life, alone.

Valentine's Day

Savory, sweet

honey date pancakes
are the fruit of her morning rush.

She dashes around the room

instinctively; preparing

knapsacks for the day ahead.

Dreams of a different life

have been dead for many years,

lifeless as St. Valentine himself.

They leave--bags packed and bellies full.
Devotion to her family consumes her as

she loves and is loved.

After Tricia's Lazarus

Lazarus

the tree still has berries,

little purple globes
nestled in clusters with their nightcaps of snow
alive
only sleeping

_________________________________________________

Spring

Once vibrant hills,
now pale and lifeless.

We look on-
Weeping, Longing, 

Mourning, Loving.

Cold foliage lays rotting
in an earthy grave.

We wait for a time;

the clouds roll back as the stone
Hope is lifted with the
coming of the sun

Lazarus, arise!

Remove your burial garments

Be clothed anew.

Disaster

Selfishness
evident in deed;

leaves her defenseless as 
she drowns 
in her sobs.