Has there ever been the perfect couplet
Two lovers in one bond of sonnet
We had Steichen and O'keefe
Robert and Elizabeth
But mostly it's a Jody all hunting
And a Tina all quilting
A John all poetry
A Melanie all nursing
It's just as well the poets don't compose
Who would wash the clothes?
In Bronson there is a Chill Zone
A place to stop while heading home
Scallops in the cooler from Steinhatchee
Beers on ice for unseen emergencies
But no trailer hub on a late Saturday
Pass the drinks men
Seems we going to be in the
Chill Zone til Sunday
Place in my hands the wonderful keys
That once unclasped
And set me free
The old piano at Verbenadale was strewn all over.
I’ve come way to far beyond the age of ten
far, far to ever bring it back again
And now, six decades into the playing
they are yet saying
it’s time to set aside the childish ways
but there are no nest eggs
no pensions of the prudent
no golden parachutes
I shall not retire to the Blurry Place
These toys shall serve this boy
It’s all he has
Too, too far beyond the age of ten.
Some days when all is going
so well
the bills are being paid
food enough not to wonder
where comes the next meal
no respirators
no tubes
no clinical trials
no prayer
no fasting
no trusting
I get to longing for
Calamity Jane
how it was just the two of us
clinging
I know it sounds insane
but in these times so far from God
I miss her
Look mommy
There are aero planes in the sky
So I cease mowing
Sit with camera waiting
Look mommy
Not an aero plane in the sky
And the moon knowing
is sinking
But isn’t the grass glad
To be growing again.
Johnclarestokes
I would if I could
Take the stray children
Home with me
Lonely little ones
Left to raise themselves
Melanie would say
What did you bring home today?
And I'd proudly exclaim
A most sweet, friendly
Little girl for you
The grand one you always wanted
A daughter to help you
A daughter to love you
Shall i put her in the guest bedroom?
Oh no, Melanie would exclaim
Up on the bed to snuggle with me!
Yesterday a little kitten
came out from under the auto
I was photographing
No mother came running
So I made the decision
I’ll take the little one home
And so it rode quietly with me
But when I made it to TLC
Christa and Chelsea’s love ruled
and they said we will take the stray
As Chelsea kissed the kitten
You could hear the purring.
The kitten was finally adopted by Christa’s brother
In south Florida.
Johnclarestokes
Daily she would load.... White Teddy...Black baby...and green monkey...in the red wagon...and they would visit...me. Then one day...White Teddy...Black baby...and green monkey...in the red wagon....stopped coming to visit...me. I later learned....White Teddy...Black baby...and Green Monkey....in the red wagon...were evicted from their home...And so I missed...White Teddy...Black baby...and Green Monkey...in the red wagon....coming to visit...me.
Deut.2:3.
One more week
Seems since leaving JCPenney after 19 years, the jobs have been a succession from six to one years. So come the first of August, this job I’ve done for three years is being out sourced and my time ends, again. I am improving, as my last job, after four years, I was fired from. For taking photos. This job was, taking photos. The irony. This last job that was outsourced ended but they liked me and found a place for me, as a driver, porter. This lasted another year or so until my stroke finally did me in.
This photo was taken while on a one year job, reading meters for FPL, a high ranking best job ever.
John Clare Stokes
Oh Osiana! We shall never know
Why to Benton you came into a world of kerosene
fat lighter walls and woods that seem
To stretch forever above the lanterns glow
Oh Osiana! Too dark were the long Needmore nights
the need to always trim the lamps
set high above your outstretched hands
When to you the stars offered enough light
Oh Osiana! Oil upon your gown of pure cotton
Too angelic for the time you came
Surrounded in the glare of a terrible flame
Too soon after that full moon your dying done
Oh Osiana! Why to a world of kerosene did you come!
Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Beyond Measure
John Clare Stokes
Once the man was rich beyond measure
Seven boats for his maritime pleasure
Once the man was rich beyond measure
Seven bikes to pedal at his leisure
Once the man was rich beyond measure
Seven cameras of the fastest aperture’s
Once the man young, time was unmeasured
Seventy years lived, now most treasured
John Clare Stokes
When a little boy
When counting to ten
seemed plenty long
to run and hide
I’d find that secret place
where they’d never find me
and they’d search
and their voices would grow
anxious
and they’d say
that’s long enough John
come out wherever you are
Eventually after taking all the fun
from hide and seek
I’d emerge and run safely to the base
but no one was there to tag me
they had moved on to some other fun
today, I am yet in the same hiding place
I can hear God counting
he’s up to seventy
Not tiring of the seeking
Oh, He must find me
He must!
Before the game is done
And He moves on
To tag another it.
