Lyrics in Search of Music

By Terry L. Rath

I have composed the following collection of poetry for more than four decades. This is my second published book of verse. Once again, it has been inspired by people, places, and life episodes that have been a large part of my life. Writing has become a great passion for me, as it occupies such a large part of my life. In this book, I cover several darker subjects from the less popular side of life that I didn’t feature, in depth, in my first book. Working in downtown Denver for more than ten years, I encountered people that were struggling to just survive rather than actually living life. My goal, in compiling this collection, is to present a strong mix of poetic subjects.

—Terry L. Rath

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984565983

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Terry L. Rath.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2018913618

ISBN:       Hardcover          978-1-9845-6600-3

                  Softcover           978-1-9845-6599-0

                  eBook                 978-1-9845-6598-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 11/19/2018

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CONTENTS

PART I

Lyrics & Notes

LYRICS, IN SEARCH OF MUSIC

BLANK PAGES

EVENING AT THE SYMPHONY

BLUES, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF LIFE

BOOK TIME

GORD’S LINER NOTES

HIGH COUNTRY POETRY

RADIO MOMENTS DOWN ON MEMORY LANE

ENTERING AN ARTIST’S WORLD

IN MY GUITAR

BARREN LOOM

MUSIC, SO ESSENTIAL

CHAPTERS .. BOOKS .. WORDS

SONGWRITER’S BALLAD

NIGHT POETRY

MYSTERIOUS INTERLUDES

DREAMS OF A SINGER/SONGWRITER

BOOKSHOP FOR BOOKWORMS AND BIBLIOPHILES

VIGNETTE

IF CREATIVITY DOESN’T COME

BETWEEN HERE AND THERE

ORCHESTRAL ALCHEMY

ECLECTIC SHOPS AND ENDEARING FELINES

HE WRITES, IN THE MEANTIME

KQMO • KFYR • KBRQ • KYSJ

BASS CLEF

GRASPING TIME, CONVERSATION AND POETRY

KEEPING IN TUNE WITH MY GUITAR

BUSKER

I AM JUST A POET

LIFE IS JUST LIKE MUSIC

DREAMS OF POETS

HEADING DEEPER INTO THE WRITING WORLD

DOWN MUSICAL MEMORY LANE

GRAND OLE OPRY

VISITING THE DUSTY ROOMS OF THE PAST

BOOKSHELF

A SOFT, COOL TUESDAY AFTERNOON

INKLINGS

OLD TWELVE-STRING FRIEND

BOOKS, WANDERLUST AND ADVENTURE

LAST SHOW ON A COUNTRY RADIO STATION

FULL CIRCLE • SEQUENCE OF A SONG

KINSHIP OF WANDERLUST AND POETRY

BLUEGRASS

IT’S THE POETRY

NIGHT OWLS AND BOOKWORMS

FOLKSINGER

INSPIRATION’S LOOM

LOST IN THE WORLD OF WRITING

YESTERDAY IS MISSING

FEELING JAZZ

COFFEE IN MY LIBRARY

KEY OF LIFE

MUSICALLY SAD

CAUGHT IN THE READING

INK TRAVELER

JOURNEYING THROUGH THE THOUGHTS OF OTHERS

MUSIC’S TRANQUIL FLIGHT

KALEIDOSCOPE

LIBRARY MOMENTS

SOMETIMES, A SONG

QUEST OF A DASHBOARD POET

LONGFELLOW’S BOOK OF GOOD FORTUNE

RECORDS

I LOOKED HERE AND I LOOKED THERE

DOWN THE WRITING WORLD’S LONELY AVENUE

LYRICIST

GHOST OF SYLVIA’S MOTHER

BEHIND THE MICROPHONE

INTEREST IN MY READERS

ENTERING THE REALM OF A BOOK

LOST MUSIC

ONLY ANOTHER POET

LYRICAL SHORT STORIES

PIANO ENVY

LITERARY QUEST AS A READER OR WRITER

PATHS OF POETRY

STREET CORNER SINGER

MY LIBRARY IS…

SONG CRAFTSMAN

INTO THE WRITING WORLD

POETIC CONFIDENCE

OLD HYMNS

QUARTET

POETIC REUNION

NIGHT OWL POET

PENSIVE, PLAINTIVE AND POETIC

ROUGH DRAFT

SEQUESTERED SOLACE

LADY POET: FEMALE LAUREATE

FORLORN BAR BALLAD

SHADOWS

POET’S PONDERING

JUST AN AGING TROUBADOUR

GETTING LOST IN A REALM OF BOOKS

QUEST FOR ROBERT FROST’S ROAD

JOURNEY WITH PAPER AND INK

THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF MUSIC

FAIRY TALES

POE-ETIC LYRICISM

OLD STORYTELLER .. BACK ON THE ROAD

SLIPPING BETWEEN THE COVERS

PAGES

SATURDAY MORNING PONDERING

NIGHT OWL POET’S LACK OF SLEEP

SONGWRITER – STORYTELLER

LONG ROAD OF POETRY

POET AND MUSE • CREATING LIFE’S POETRY

IN THE LITERARY REALM

STREET SONG

ONE BOOK LEFT IN THE LIBRARY

QUIET TIME, WITH BOOK IN HAND

MUSIC VENUE

MY LYRICS KEEP SEARCHING FOR MUSIC

PART II

Nature’s Avenues

NATURE’S AVENUES

CLOUDS

IDYLL

EVENING AT JOHNSON LAKE WILDLIFE PRESERVE

PEAK TO PEAK HIGHWAY

SUPER HARVEST MOON

WONDERS OF CREATION

A QUIET, SNOWY INTERLUDE

DAYBREAK

BIRD WATCHING IN MINNESOTA

A DAY IN SPEARFISH CANYON, SOUTH DAKOTA

CELESTIAL DANCE

HALF-MOON SONNET

ON THE MESA

SUNRISES, SUNSETS AND RAINBOWS

CHANGING NIGHT SKY

GHOST SHIP

EARLY JANUARY MORNING

AUTUMN IS HERE

DRIVING ON THE NEEDLE’S HIGHWAY IN SOUTH DAKOTA

GAZEBO POETRY

LAYERS OF LIGHT

SUMMER’S ON THE WAY

BLUE SKY AT NIGHT

HIKING THE HIGH LINE CANAL TRAIL AT FLY’N B PARK

LIGHTS IN SPACE

A SNOWY ROCK AND A MURDER OF CROWS

COLD FRONT

GYPSY WIND

LOST IN A WARM SPRING DAY

RIPARIAN ZONE REVISITED

ENJOYING THE FLEETING MOMENTS

BACKYARD AUTUMN

MARITIME ALCHEMIST

FLUKES AND FINS

CHESHIRE MOON

OF THE THINGS I MISS

QUIETNESS IN SNOWFALL

APRIL SHOWERS/APRIL SNOW

OCTOBER TRIO

COLORADO DAY

NIGHT GEESE FLYING ACROSS A STAR-FILLED SKY

DOUBLE SUNSET

PONDERING A MINUS TIDE

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT…

DRIVING THROUGH A JANUARY SNOWSTORM

STORM CHASER

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MONUMENT

WALKING AT WILDCAT RIDGE

SUMMER STORM

COLORS OF A NAUTICAL NATURE

MOONDUST ON THE OCEAN

SPRINGTIME SNOWFALL SONNET

FIRST QUARTER MOON AND JUPITER

ON THE BLUFFS ABOVE LONE TREE

AUTUMNAL OBSERVATIONS

TWO FULL MOONS

FULL MOONS THROUGH THE YEAR

WALKING THROUGH A BIRDWATCHER’S DELIGHT

VERSES FROM MY BACKYARD PATIO

HIGH COUNTRY BALLAD

LUNAR ECLIPSE

UBIQUITOUS AUTUMN LEAVES

ON THE SEVEN SEAS

SNOWFALL BRINGS A LOVELINESS

DAWNING OF THE DAY

COLORADO WINTERLIGHT

THROUGH AUTUMN’S WINDOWPANE

FROM THE MOON’S POINT OF VIEW

AND NOW THE NEST IS EMPTY

PART III

Contemplations

THE THOUGHTS AND DREAMS OF A WANDERER

DIFFERENT ROADS

AIR OF MYSTERY

CHILD OF THE STREET

SOLITARY MOMENTS

EMPTINESS

ASYLUM DREAM

EVENING

FADING ECHOES

CHILDREN

GENERAL STORE

CONCOURSES, GATES AND RUNWAYS

FREAK SHOW

GOTTA RUN!

COFFEE SHOP DITTY

ICE CREAM!

VILLANELLE OF SEASONAL FLOWERS

HOUSE WITH FOUR VIEWS: PART 4

HOUSE WITH FOUR VIEWS: Part 5

HOUSE WITH FOUR VIEWS: PART 6

HOUSE WITH FOUR VIEWS: PART 7

HOUSE WITH FOUR VIEWS: PART 8

SENSIBILITIES II

BEYOND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

DEMENTIA

REFLECTION

DARKNESS OF MIGRAINES

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

BEYOND ABUSE

CLOSING TIME

A DAY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001

BEHIND CLOSED EYES

RESTLESS RIDER

STRANGER IN THE MIRROR

FINAL SHOW

ANOTHER …

EYES

FLYING ABOVE AMERICA

BLACKTOPS

LUTHIERS, BOATBUILDERS & OTHER CRAFTSMEN

CRASH-LAND MY SPACESHIP

PICASSO KIND OF DAY

SQUIRREL ROMANCE

PUGS

MACADANGDANG’S REEFSIDE BAR & GRILL

KEEPER’S THOUGHTS FROM A FICTIONAL LIGHTHOUSE

LOCATIONS AND RADIO STATIONS

IN SALOON NUMBER TEN IN DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA

COLD WEATHER MARCHING BAND

GOSSAMER FLIGHT

MEMORY LANE

SHOEBOX FULL OF MEMORIES

BEYOND DEMENTIA’S GRASP

CLAUSTROPHOBIC DARKNESS

FROZEN IN TIME

DIAGNOSED INSANE

EARLY CHECK-OUT AT DESPERATION HOTEL

BEYOND REGRET

IF I EVER…

STUDY IN BLACK AND WHITE

NO TALES TO TELL

DANCE OF THE DECEASED MARINERS

SONG OF THE SEA

ALONG THE TIDE LINE

COASTAL VISIONS

THE WRECK OF THE OSCEOLA

COAST GUARD TEAM

POEM FOR THE AMERICAN VETERAN

A SOLDIER’S BATTLE

NURSING HOMES OF AMERICA

VAGABOND HARBINGER

IF IN MY LIFE…

DEAD MAN’S HAND

IN A HOMELESS WAY

VOICES FROM A SATELLITE

NOCTURNAL WINDOW LIGHT

PASSION

SEQUENCE

THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO

MELANCHOLY FIRELIGHT GLOW

UPON A PORCH OF LIFETIME DREAMS

PART IV

Heart Strings

HEARTSTRINGS

FORTY-THREE YEARS AGO, TODAY

FORTY YEARS: ANOTHER MILESTONE IN COREY’S LIFE

IF I COULD CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF RAIN

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION

MOM

A MEMORIAL DAY SALUTE TO MY DAD

HOME AT LAST

DANCING AFTER HOURS

FAMILY TIME

MUSIC MAN

CIRCLE OF LIFE

HE AND SHE

CADE RATH: APPRENTICE STORYTELLER

IF I WROTE

DAUGHTER OF THE WIND AND THE OCEAN

BIRD WOMAN OF HAWAII

A DECADE, ALREADY

DESTINATION: FAMILY

GAYLEN’S POEM

AWAITING THE ANGEL

ULTIMATELY FREE

NORTHERN HEARTLAND

SATURDAY WITH COREY, ETHAN AND CADE

A LADY AND A BLUE MOON

FRIENDS, I’VE NEVER MET FACE-TO-FACE

SELF PORTRAIT

LIFE MOMENTS

IN A ’70 CHEVY IMPALA

A LONG, LONG TIME AGO

HALTER TOPS AND HOT PANTS

TRAVELING SPIRIT

EIGHTEEN WHEELS ROLLING

GARDEN BEAUTY

IN VAIL, COLORADO WITH OLD FRIENDS

MOONLIGHT ON OUR LIBRARY FLOOR

A CENTURY OF LIVING

WHAT LIES IN THE LINES?

DAD PERHUS’ FIRST DAY UP IN HEAVEN

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU…

CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS

FRIENDS

POETRY IN PHOTOGRAPHS

RALPH’S GUITAR

DANCING IN THE KITCHEN

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION

SONNET FOR THE WOMEN, IN OUR LIVES

ROOTS OF FRIENDSHIP

CHERISHED REMINDERS

IVORY DOC

THRESHOLD TO THE PAST

WALKING IN DAD’S FOOTSTEPS

UP HERE

DAYS GONE BY

JUST IN CASE

I WONDER NOW

MY ANGEL OF MERCY

QUICKLY, AS TIME PASSES

YOUTHFUL LOVE AND ETERNAL LIFE

I’M IN LOVE WITH A WOMAN

VOICES FROM THE PAST

PART V

Eternal Focus

VISION TOWARD ETERNITY

A LIGHT IN DISMAL TIMES

GOD’S MAJESTIC CREATION

X’S IN A BLUE WINTER SKY

CHRIST IS MY CATHEDRAL

DEATH’S DOOR

FAREWELL

ETERNAL THOUGHTS

LIFE’S BOULEVARD

GARDENS

LIGHTHOUSE

MASTER CONTROL

THE ANCIENT OF DAYS

AGING

GLORIOUS DAY

CONSIDER THESE

BEYOND THE COSMIC REALM

OF GALACTIC PROPORTIONS

PATHWAY TO INFINITY

MASTER WORKS

ENVISIONING

AUTUMN ARTIST

SURREALISTIC VISIONS OF REALISTIC BEGINNINGS

NUMBERS OF LIFE

THE COURTROOM

UNCHANGING

BOAT, PULLED UP ON SHORE

GRANDEUR

MASTER OF BEAUTY

FINDING JOY

A LIFE IS…

IN PRISON, ONE COLD WINTER DAY

SOLDIER’S PRAYER

IN TATTERS

TEMPEST

THE SEA-WIFE, THE CAPTAIN & THE MASTER

CALL THE CAPTAIN TO THE HELM

I PRAISE YOU, LORD

PASSAGEWAY

INSTINCTS

HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

BIBLE STUDY, WITH SPECIAL EFFECTS

HOLY COMMUNION

MYSTERIES OF GOD

PRAYER FOR THE AMERICAN FARMER

YOU’D BETTER LOOK RIGHT NOW

THANKFUL

COMING SOON!

DEATH, JUST A DOORWAY

OVERWHELMED

THOSE SAME EYES

PATHWAYS

BROKEN WING

RAILS OF RESCUE

SILENT WINTER HYMN

HEAVEN’S LIGHT, THROUGH ANCIENT WINDOWS

FROM THE SHADOWS

NO NEED FOR A BUCKET LIST

INCREDIBLE, INDESCRIBABLE MAJESTY OF GOD

PART VI

Wanderlust

WANDERER’S DILEMMA

A WILD PONY RUNS

CHASE YOUR DREAMS

GOING THROUGH THE LABYRINTH

DOWN THE LONG ROAD

JOURNEY

THE COMPASS ROSE

MOSTLY, LINCOLN CITY

ON POET’S ROAD, NEAR IMAGINATION LANE

I NEED TO GO OUT WANDERING

A TIME FOR CHANGE, AGAIN

DIFFERENT HORIZONS

NORTHERN WHISPER

YEARS PASS QUICKLY BY

I’M SURE THIS ROAD GOES FARTHER

MILES TRAVELED, IN THE SPAN OF MY LIFE

DRIVE

WINDSWEPT PLACES

DRIFTING ON THE COAST

FROM THE AIR

HIDDEN PATH

LAKE ERIE

LAKESIDE ROOM

MAPS

HAZY NORTHERN DAWN

KEEPING WANDERLUST FRESH

MY IDEAL HOUSE

NIGHT RIDER

BACK ROADS & SIDE STREETS

GHOST SHIP DERELICT

FAR HORIZON

HIGHWAY OF FREEDOM

MAINE

ONCE

FLIGHT TO OREGON

CACOPHONY

ANCHOR

LEAR JET

FULL SKIES OVER COLORADO

I’D LIKE A HOME

HAWAII CALLS

COAST ROAD

MARITIME VOICES

QUIET PLACES

VAIL, COLORADO BALLAD

PERFECT PLACES

KENTUCKY AVENUE

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

QUEST: OF A WANDERLUST NATURE

SADDLE UP!

NIGHT LIGHTS AT THE BEACH

MARITIME DESIRE

WATERFRONT IN COOS BAY

BACK ROAD

EACH PATHWAY

HIGHWAY 101 SONNET

ALONG THE OREGON COAST

I MISS MY OREGON COAST HOME

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

THE SHIPYARD

NORWEGIAN MARITIME TRIO

PORTS OF CALL

CORNERS OF AMERICA

ESCAPE TO AN ISLAND

HAWAIIAN RECOLLECTIONS

QUEST FOR SOMETHING NEW

YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK HOME

DREAMS I CHASE ON TIGER TOOTH

MAINE BECKONING

GEOGRAPHY

ROADS

BEYOND THE DUSTY CORRIDORS

LONG ROAD OF ADVENTURE

WANDERLUST, AGAIN

I

dedicate this book to

my amazing wife, Sandy,

who is always there for me

I also dedicate it in memory of

my father, Edgar Rath

my father-in-law, Leon Perhus

and one of my best friends, Ralph Plummer

who have all passed on to Heaven’s eternal shore

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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I would, once again, like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to write this book, for without Him, nothing is possible. Thanks to my wife Sandy, for her patience and endurance through these writing-years. As I mentioned in my first book, without her love and support, my life would have been completely devoid of poetry. Thanks to my Mom, our son, Corey Rath, our daughter-in-law, Bryn Rath, and our grandsons, Ethan Rath and Cade Rath, and my sisters Marlys Zuther and Lynette Bender, for their support.

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INTRODUCTION

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I have composed the following collection of poetry for more than four decades. This is my second published book of verse. Once again, it has been inspired by people, places and life-episodes, that have been a large part of my life. Writing has become a great passion for me, as it occupies such a large part of my life. In this book, I cover several darker subjects from the less popular side of life that I didn’t feature, in depth, in my first book. Working in downtown Denver for more than ten years, I encountered people that were struggling to just survive, rather than actually living life. My goal, in compiling this collection, is to present a strong mix of poetic subjects. – Terry L. Rath

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PART I

Lyrics & Notes

LYRICS, IN SEARCH OF MUSIC

Lyrics, in search of music,

that is what my poems are;

They’ve been a special vehicle,

that have carried me this far.

Lyrics, in search of music,

all these verses that I write;

They’ve been with me through carefree days

and many a restless night.

Lyrics, in search of music..

they’re my rhythm and my rhyme;

and I plan to write and live these lines,

throughout the hours of time.

Lyrics, in search of music,

if they someday find a song;

then just maybe, they will reach that place,

where I feel, they belong.

* written in Lone, Colorado, 7/2011.

* this is the title poem for this book. They contain the essence of why I continue to keep writing.

BLANK PAGES

Blank pages lie before me,

like an endless paper sea;

now awaiting words and phrases,

filled with possibility.

To portray each unique face,

within the realm of each one’s space;

sure descriptions of life’s phases,

that the reader may embrace.

Subject matter is unending,

destinations are still pending;

all relying on selections,

thoughts, in written word, ascending.

As words grow upon blank pages,

as they have, throughout the ages;

they advance in all directions,

hoping there, to be contagious.

* written in my library in Lone Tree, Colorado, 8/2011.

* it all has to begin somewhere.

EVENING AT THE SYMPHONY

The crisp, clean sounds of violins…

the evening symphony begins;

As cellos and violas play,

my spirits rise and drift away.

An overture for queens and kings,

percussion, woodwinds, horns and strings;

String basses, with luxurious tone,

a trumpet fanfare, brightly blown.

A rolling, thundering timpani,

crescendos through the symphony;

A French horn solo fills the air,

above the sharp staccato snare.

The conductor, with her deft baton,

directs the players on and on;

at times, dramatic atmosphere,

a pleasure for each listening ear.

Caught in the lift of music’s wings…

percussion, horns, woodwinds and strings;

A pleasure for my wife and me,

this evening at the symphony.

* written in Lone Tree, Colorado, 5/2011.

* inspired after an enjoyable evening of listening to the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra in Lone Tree, Colorado.

BLUES, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF LIFE

Sometimes I feel, I’m walking,

on the edge of misery’s knife;

somewhere, along the outskirts,

on the ragged side of life.

It’s not that I am homeless,

or a penniless man, you see;

It’s just that I do not approve,

of what’s become of me.

I’ve allowed the clouds of darkness,

to remain here, much too long;

and the blues, to crowd the music,

that accompanies my song.

There are days, when I can’t find the path,

where happiness is found;

so, I ask my heart to tell me,

but, it doesn’t make a sound.

Now, I’m following my instincts,

with the hope, they’ll lead me home;

as I wander through the thoughts,

behind the verses of this poem.

* written in my library in Lone Tree, Colorado, 1/2017.

* just one of those moods.

BOOK TIME

When you finish a book

and you close the back cover;

it’s time for the next one..

new things to discover.

A book is a friend,

that will stay by your side;

until you take a moment,

to wander inside.

A pathway of words,

that will lead you somewhere;

for, you just need to read

and it will take you there.

New places and faces

and characters and moods;

new settings, on paper,

as each chapter concludes.

If you never take time,

to get lost on a page;

you will possibly become,

the next fool of the age.

For knowledge is priceless..

it grows as you read;

with a book as your friend,

just what more do you need?

* written in Lone Tree, Colorado, 3/2017.

GORD’S LINER NOTES

(Gordon Lightfoot Tribute)

I just read your liner notes,

oh, Poet of the North;

and as I ventured through the words,

my wanderlust burst forth.

I read about your lost loves

and your words, of moving on;

of ships and trains and airplanes

and of dreams, that are long gone.

I wandered through the frets and strings,

of guitars, in my mind;

and all the songs you wrote

and those, you chose to leave behind.

Your poetic scenes of nature

will stay with me, evermore;

I’ve loved your songs, from now,

way back to decades, long before.

I called you Grand Canadian,

when I played your songs, on air;

the years, I was a disc jockey,

in my all-night studio lair.

Your Songbook holds a wealth of words,

that I’ve enjoyed for years;

I’m happy, you keep singing,

’cause they’re music to my ears.

* written in Lone Tree, Colorado, 10/2018.

* inspired after reading the liner notes in Gordon Lightfoot’s 4-cd set, entitled Songbook.

HIGH COUNTRY POETRY

When I stand in the high country

and view the valleys, below;

it gives a bird’s eye sense of flight,

that flatland folks don’t know.

The forest stretches far away,

beneath the hazy sky;

and brings the inspiration,

that will fill a poet’s eye.

The mountains are a special place..

just second to the sea;

a nice escape from time to time,

to find one’s sanity.

Way up around the timberline,

the air is cool and thin;

and poetry flows from my thoughts,

at peak adrenalin.

* written in Lone Tree, Colorado, 8/2018.

* inspired by numerous visits to the Colorado Rocky Mountain High Country, throughout the years.

RADIO MOMENTS DOWN ON MEMORY LANE

I went so far down memory lane,

last night, I lost my way;

I barely reached this present time,

before the break of day.

I found myself in younger times,

back, thirty years ago;

when I rocked the night and rolled with the flow,

in the world of radio.

I recall the days of rock ’n roll,

aired on AM radio;

when I pulled my music an hour, or so,

before I ever aired my show.

I chatted with people and played the tunes

and I rocked out, all night long;

I found myself riding high, at times,

to the sound of a favorite song.

I treasure my years as a radio DJ,

as I drift off, way back then;

But, radio’s changed and I’m not really sure,

that I’d ever wanna do it again.

It seems, certain romance is nowhere around,

in most radio shows, these days;

and it would be better, for DJs like me,

to drift away in a nostalgic haze.

* written in my library in Lone Tree, Colorado, 11/2017.

* inspired after looking at old photographs of myself, taken during my KFYR Radio DJ years.

ENTERING AN ARTIST’S WORLD

(armed with only words)

If I can find the beauty,

that an artist sees, each time;

I will wrap it up in words,

and paint it with my written rhyme.

Far beyond the day’s distractions,

when the midnight oil burns low;

that is when imagination’s

late-night river, tends to flow.

I am entering an artist’s world..

I’m armed with only words;

truly hoping, that the night owl,

is the wisest of all birds.

I possess no paint or palette,

only letters, words and thoughts;

as I weave them all together,

tied with literary knots.

I sink deeper into nighttime,

as the morning hours arrive;

knowing, writing is the only way,

a poet can survive.

* written in my library in Lone Tree, Colorado, 2/2017.

IN MY GUITAR

I have a guitar that’s full of songs,

I’ve never learned to play;

I never seem to have the time,

but, hope I will, someday.

The strings hide notes and scales and chords,

that I have never found;

but hopefully, someday I’ll play

and make a joyful sound.

I’m really not that versatile..

I’ll never be a star;

but certainly, I’d like to learn,

the songs in my guitar.

* written in Lone Tree, Colorado, 9/2012.

BARREN LOOM

Where in the world does the poetry go,

when it cannot be found, anywhere?

Though, I wander inside of the weaver’s domain,

I discover, the loom is bare!

There are times, though I search for the words, I desire,

not a consonant or vowel can be found;

Then, before they find wings, to fly off on their own,

unfueled poems will just crash, on the ground.

Lyrical interference can occur anytime,

as life’s obstacles slip in the way;

For