Category: Personal

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 25

On By WinstonIn A Father's Wish, family, Love, my blessed life, my daughter, NaPoWriMo, Personal, PoetryLeave a comment

I’ve written poems about my wife, and about my dogs, but I don’t think I’ve ever written one about my daughter. This one is for her.

A Father’s Wish

I wish you joy to temper pain,

Some sun your clouds to chase.

I wish you love to lift you up,

To gently touch your face.

I wish you peace when weariness,

Tells you you can’t go on.

I wish you friends to carry you,

When all your strength is gone.

I wish you luck for everyone,

I know needs luck at times.

I wish you hope to not give up,

In spite of all life’s crimes.

But most of all I wish you sight,

To see the one I see.

And courage that you may become,

Who’ere you’re meant to be.

I pray that every wish you wish,

Is someday coming true.

Because your joy is my one wish,

My daughter I love you.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 22

On By WinstonIn Love, Loving Life, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, PoetryLeave a comment

I love to sing. I think, and most people would agree, I’m not very good at it. In fact, very not good might be more accurate. I am very fortunate indeed then that the one person who most often hears it actually enjoys it! Against all probability, Lynn likes when I sing. What are the odds of finding the one person in all the world who likes my singing? And who has bad enough taste in men to fall in love with me. I am truly a blessed man!

I Sing

I sing a song of endless joy,

I sing a song of pain.

I sing a simple nonsense tune,

Then something else again.

I sing the sun into the sky,

The moon has it’s songs too.

I have a song for everything,

Shall I sing one for you?

Just tell me what you want to hear,

I’ve got a tune for it.

I’ll sing you anything you like,

Forgot, or famous hit.

For singing brings me such great joy,

My soul, my song sets free.

Now lend your ear a moment please,

Hear my song, sing with me.

I sing a song of endless joy,

I sing a song of pain.

I’ll sing until my end of days,

‘Til only songs remain.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 20

On By WinstonIn Humor, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, writer`s blockLeave a comment

So, as you may have noticed, I’m running a couple of days behind on the whole post-a-day idea. This stresses me far more than it should and it quickly begins to rob me of the fun I have doing this. So this year, I’ve stressed less and just let things unfold as they will. So now, if I write one more verse before midnight, I’ll be all caught up.

April Struggles

The more behind I get it seems,

The faster I must run.

I stress and struggle with each word,

Until this is no fun.

If not for fun, then what’s the point,

What does it matter then?

I may as well do something else,

Than stress myself again.

Yet here I am and here I stay,

Too stubborn just to quit.

And there is that good feeling,

Once all the pieces fit.

Yes here I am and here I stay,

Though struggling, fighting still.

Continue putting pen to page,

And prob’ly always will.

As long as there is life in me,

Can still turns words to rhyme.

As long as I’m still having fun,

Up this hill I will climb.

Though I will often fall behind,

I will keep keeping on.

Keep doing this until at last,

All words from me are gone.

That is not yet, and hopefully,

Still far, far off for me.

So please enjoy these simple rhymes,

My gift, to you, from me.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 19

On By WinstonIn Friendship, Love, Loving Life, my angel, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, RelationshipsLeave a comment

I was talking with my wife Lynn this morning and thinking how blessed I am to have her in my life. We each have our fair share of issues, but we are aware of them and we are working at dealing with them. Neither of us is perfect, but we are perfect for each other.

Perfect Imperfection

We are not perfect people true,

Are flawed as we can be.

But all your broken pieces fit,

In all the cracks in me.

God knows that I’ve got my defects,

Of that I’m well aware.

It’s not about perfection though,

But working with what’s there.

You know you are not perfect love,

Your flaws are all you see.

Though you can’t see your perfection,

You are perfect for me.

Without the flaws that marks us though,

We’d not be who we are.

If we were anyone but us,

Could we have come this far?

I’ll pick up all your broken bits,

With your help I’ll be fine.

There’s no one else I’d do this with,

‘O perfect Angel mine.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 17

On By WinstonIn Bullying, LGBTQ+, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Religion, Society, ValuesLeave a comment

This is for every LGBTQ+ friend, family member, acquaintance or total stranger out there. I see you. I support you. You deserve to live your life and love who you choose as who you are. Stay strong. You deserve happiness and don’t let anyone tell you different!

Free to Love, Free to Live

Not free to love, not free to live,

Their life as who they are.

Well just because the law has changed,

Don’t think we’ve come so far.

There’s still so many ways someone,

Can run somebody down.

Suck every fleck of joy from life,

Then laugh to watch them drown.

If you do not conform to what,

They claim is God’s own way.

They’ll name and shame and try to blame,

Claim it’s their right to say.

How many people have to live,

Their whole life as a lie?

How many more so wracked with shame,

That they would sooner die?

The “Gay Agenda” is a myth,

There’s no such thing my dear.

The sole agenda’s age-old lies,

And vague, unfounded fear.

Not free to love, not free to live,

I swear this is not right.

And though it’s not about me still,

I will support this fight.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 16

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Global Issues, Media, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Rants, SocietyLeave a comment

I was talking with a friend the other day and they commented on how much worse the world has become since we were young. (Yep, I’m that kind of old man who sits and talks about such things.) I said I don’t think the world is getting worse. I think we are just exposed to a lot more of it, a lot more quickly. It’s up to us, how much of it we internalize.

Today’s poem is about that.

All The News That’s Fit To Internalize

I dream of waking up someplace,

So far from anywhere.

There’s no bad news of any kind,

Too far to ship it there.

Imagine how sweet life could be,

No constant doom and gloom.

How bright your days, how light your soul,

If we gave fear no room.

I do not seek a perfect life,

A life devoid of pain.

I only want to step away,

‘Til you and I remain.

Then I would know these joy and fears,

Of mine are really mine.

And not some outside aggregate,

From TV and online.

Now as you live your life recall,

Life’s not dark as they say.

No matter how much dark is pushed,

Into your mind each day.

I have not found that someplace where,

Bad news cannot reach me.

Instead each day, I try to choose,

Just what my soul will see.

If I can learn to limit dark,

And elevate the light.

Then I will know more peaceful days,

And better sleep each night.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 15

On By WinstonIn Bullying Yourself, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Hump Day! Today is the midpoint of the month!

Today, I was at my trailer for the first time this year. I was with Lynn and Ducky and everything was going well. Out of the blue, I had a terrible anxiety attack. I don’t want to let it run my life again, so I’m trying to work through them now. This is part of that process.

What Doesn’t Matter, Shouldn’t Matter

On this day down through all the years,

Ten billion things were done.

And we’re impressed when history,

Remembers even one.

The lesson here is plain to see,

Don’t take it all to heart.

However large each problem seems,

It’s just one tiny part.

The odds are you won’t even care,

A few years down the line.

If you remember them at all,

By then all will be fine.

So think of this next time you stress,

For things you can’t control.

You only make your problems worse,

And dig a deeper hole.

You know that thing a person said,

That made you feel small.

Odds are the next day they forgot,

They spoke to you at all.

Why give them all this power then,

To so mess up your life.

Like telling someone mugging you,

How best to hold their knife.

By holding on to hurtful things,

Miss out on all the rest.

So focused on the negative,

We cannot see the best.

A moment that should be enjoyed,

Is lost within the noise.

Of darkness and anxiety,

They rob us of our joys.

If each of us just work on this,

Perhaps we’ll find a way.

Keep past and future in their place,

And be here now today.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 12

On By WinstonIn Embrace the Wild, NaPoWriMo, Nature, Personal, PoetryLeave a comment

Spring is here and with it a yearning to be out in it as nature wakes from it’s winter slumber. I grew up… rural… to say the least. I love my life, but sometimes I miss the more direct connection to the wild. Today’s offering speaks to that desire.

In Nature, Peace

Out in the green with growing things,

That’s where I am most free.

With trees and moss and lily pads,

That’s where I am most me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my house,

My nice, suburban town.

But nature is my therapy,

When my life gets me down.

The scent of earth, a mossy bed,

Upon a hill of stone.

Connect me now to everything,

Though I am all alone.

I wonder have you ever watched,

A squirrel in it’s tree?

Or wind-blown waves in fields of grain?

It moves just like the sea.

Sat silent in a wood to watch,

Some grazing deer nearby.

While finches chirped and chipmunks dashed,

And clouds went drifting by?

When thunder booms across the plain,

Or sun shines on the glen.

When silent snowflakes softly fall,

You’ll see me smiling then.

A roaring wind, or gentle breeze,

Each stirs something within.

A yearning for a wilder place,

Adventures to begin.

So come with me if you’ve a mind,

Out from this place we know.

To walk the land as once it was,

Give our souls room to grow.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 11

On By WinstonIn Bullying Yourself, NaPoWriMo, PersonalLeave a comment

Now and then, I try this theme, and that theme and something else and nothing will come together. Then, the doubt creeps in and I start to question whether or not I’m good enough at this. Is it even worth doing? Does anyone care? Do I care? So today I decided: If you can’t beat your inner demons… put the bastards to work.

Work Demon, Work!

My fingers fumble blindly ‘cross,

The keyboard on their quest.

To link some words, to build a verse,

From chaos, meaning wrest.

There is no hope, that’s long forgot,

Yet doggedly pursue.

With single-minded stubborness,

This simple rhyme I’m due.

I do not write to seek renown,

Ne’er one to grasp at fame.

I’ve no illusion anyone,

Will long recall my name.

The only one I seek to prove,

My skill to is just me.

Yet even I, a skeptic still,

For no skill do I see.

Yet still I write and strive to find,

Some worth within my dross,

A deeper meaning to convey,

To somehow get across.

So bear with me, this phase shall pass,

As night must pass to day.

This self-doubt and mistrust will fade,

And I once more will play.

With pleasant scenes and lighter words,

With confidence and verve.

Until when next, my fear steps up,

And pitches me a curve.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 10

On By WinstonIn Coffee, Humor, Loving Life, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Pop CultureLeave a comment

I had absolutely no idea what to write about today. I said to Lynn, “I’ll make myself a coffee and see how it goes.” That simple idea provided the impetus for today’s effort.

Magic Bean Juice

How great the joy that I derive,

From just the smallest sip.

That mighty bean, filled with caffeine,

Holds me within its grip.

How long ago, I first assayed,

That aromatic cup.

Not knowing just how strong the hook,

Could never give it up.

Now just the smell of it’s enough,

To brighten up my day.

Most days that brew’s the only thing,

That sees me on my way.

My doctor said I must cut back,

I say he’s quite insane!

No longer smoke, and rarely drink,

Just let this vice remain.

This richly fragrant friend of mine,

That greets me every morn.

Then hangs with me throughout my day,

So I am not forlorn.

Yes coffee is my silent aid,

When life comes crashing in.

I’m sure the thought of cutting back,

Must be some kind of sin.

My magic bean juice sits with me,

Now as I write each line.

And if these words do not amuse.

Not coffee’s fault, but mine.

Cheers, Winston (and his magic-bean-juice)