[x]

Creek SideI am rooted creek side
listening to what the water has to say
it was talking when I arrived
and will continue long after I am gone
telling of the trees and the fish
the moon and the sun

A waterfall interjects its wild stories
in a cacophony of splashes and spray
of cataract canyons and gigantic boulders
they have worn down through the ages
before they join their liquid brother
passing along to wherever creeks go
I listen; my roots grow deeper creek side

8:30 A.M. Mountain TimeI was late for work
but I always put on my shoes
in front of the television
and watch the news

I wish I hadn’t that day--
I saw buildings burning
humanity falling
death from above

People falling
who had no wings
I cried for them

I sat on the couch in
stunned, unbelieving silence
staring at the carnage
that had already passed

It was 8:30 A.M. Mountain Time
It was 10:30 Eastern Time

I was late for work
I watched the South Tower fall
over and over and over again
then, the North Tower fell, too
over and over and over again
I cried for them, too

and then I heard about the Pentagon
and about Flight 93
my shoes remain

Speak To Me of Magic 2Speak to me of magic
using ancient words
the earth shatters
in high places
leaving just
bits and traces
of dust left on the page.

Holding out a bloody sword
feeling like you've lived too long
with no enemy to point it toward
days slowly tear your soul
as if the constellations
lead to dark places
like a friend.

When Everything DiesDoes it really matter if there are explosions in the skies?
what time does, time doesn't wish to explain
and in time, even silence eventually dies.
I can almost see you in the dawn and embrace
your memory, your touch, your taste
I want you, wishful thinker, that is why I'm lost
I dreamt of you, I can almost see you,
but our worlds end with me.

This will destroy you, a whisper in the snow
the sounds of absolution slowly collapsing
into a beautiful, echoing memory.

I just wanted to make you sleep

One day, all this will happen
you, falling on the bank, with me
watching the world go by,
watching our worlds go by
Time will never come back,
so

Be StillIt's my time now
now or never
never lose the will
will I ever forgive?

Deafening is the silence
silence; a prayer to forgive
I forgive and I forget
I forgot to forgive

I am now someone else
else I am who I am
am I looking back?
back to warmer days

Time marches on
on through the night
nights are forever
forever, in darkest December

I forgot to forgive
I forget to forgive
I forgive to forget

Broken Dreams

I tip this hat of broken dreams
and never really knew where I was
but there I am--standing in the silence
and it's a God-awful sound

It would seem to all of us
that the road back to reality
lies along a silent road
paved with hats and broken dreams

ArtI draw pictures of mountaintops
coldly covered in snow and ice--
dragon caves dotted along the way
to the top of my perilous route to

VICTORY!!!

But--

There are no damsels in distress;
there is no Kingdom to save;
I am not a brave knight on
a personal Quest or a
common peasant showing
his worth to his King--

I am a kid in art class
with a new pack of crayons
except for the black one--
that one I used to create a piece
I call, “Crows at Night.”

© 2009 John Hardesty

Hum a Few BarsMy cats don't like my singing
They flee the room with
Fearful backward glances and poofy tails
When the volume increases

This feeling that I get while singing
Makes me feel alive
I wanted to share it with them
Not so, it would seem

They run; They hide
They cower under the beds
With saucer-shaped eyes
Until I notice they are gone

I stop singing; abashed
But, they still won't come back
For fear I'll start up again
An octave or two out of tune

…God damn critics

My Grandmother's EulogyMy memories of grandma Toni are certainly different than anybody else’s. What do you remember about her? Her smile? Her twinkling eyes? How such a small and unassuming woman could become larger than life when properly provoked?

I remember all of that and a little more. I remember how, after the initial shock of seeing small, hairless or featherless animals brought into her immediate vicinity by her small and seemingly innocent grandkids, would be grudgingly, but lovingly, cared for. Sometimes for years and years, except for mice and snakes. Grandma didn’t do mice and snakes at any time. She was pretty firm on that one.

Do

Simple and SweetAn old soul
a dark traveler
breathes in last season
catching the night-scent
of lonely laughter--
something sweet; something simple

He doesn't notice the collision apocalyptic
the perfect crime
the death of innocents
he plays the game knowing
the black veil hides
how it really feels to see
what's been done

He moves on--
following the dark; always, it seems
a shimmer in the shadows
a killing constellation of lies
like voices in the wind; laughing
simply and sweetly

© John Hardesty 2010

Another DayAnother day
Coffee in the cup
Sugar on the counter
Spoon on the floor
Eyes roll
What now?
Why now?
Why not?
I'm on bottom
I'm on top
I'm slide-ways
Falling up
Under the horizon
Under the top
Under the weather
underwhelming
Raining now
Clouds over me
Nothing to see
Wet shoelaces
And wrinkled feet
Carry me onward
To the one day
That day; this time
Will see
My majesty
My honor
My humility
My hope
Overwhelming
Another day

I dunno...As I think this,
I am really more
vulnerable
than I should be

As I write this,
the paper tears
from strokes that are
rapier-like

As I type this,
I punch the keyboard with
staccato like
precision

As I post this,
I wonder if people
will think I’m
whacked…

In The Nick of TimeIn the nick of time
Someone doesn't die
Another gets to see the sunshine
When closed doors suddenly open
In the nick of time

In a heartbeat
Someone walks by
And looks you in the eye
You understand their soul
In the nick of time

In a fantasy
Pawns on the table
Regard each other with trust
And walk off the board with majesty
In the nick of time

In the blink of an eye
I was lifted from darkness;
A troubled niche in my mind,
By your graciousness
In the nick of time

Jericho's WallsThey were devout nomads
These rambling souls
Desert dwellers
Living as they would
Their children learning
The ways of old
Cathedrals of sand
Great mountains of worship
Ever-changing with the wind
And baked in the hell-hot
Summer sun
Devoutly praying
For guidance
Yet knowing the way
Already to
Jericho’s walls

© 2009 John Hardesty

Happy Motoring        Fast car         slow c
highwayhighwayhighway

   Fast car     slow car
highwayhighwayhighway

    Fsalsotw ccaarr
highwayhighwayhighway

    slow car  Fast car
highwayhighwayhighway

lice car:                 Fast car
highwayhighwayhighway

police car:fast car
highwayhighwayhighway

policse lcaor:wfacsta crar
highwayhighwayhighway

police:fastcar    &#

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Still Trying

by *Corvidae65, Oct 29, 2009, 4:17:30 AM
Literature / Poetry / General Poetry / Free Verse

"I'm coming out" she said,
she didn't mention
she was coming out of her head

trying to turn over a new leaf
one without the drugs or
all the men caused grief

alcohol wasn't doing it either
though apart from the chemical haze
intoxication was a nice breather

She's found silence in this space
Splitting her numb world
With amazing grace

she's still trying;
still lying on the floor
still blocking the door

© John Hardesty 2009

Still Tryingby *Corvidae65

Literature / Poetry / General Poetry / Free Verse

©2009-2013 *Corvidae65

Poem inspired by

's amazing picture. He graciously granted me permission to use the above image in my submission. See the original image here

along with the rest of his amazing gallery

Image is copywrite Andrew Gettler

and is used by permission

Text is copyright 2009 John Hardesty

*Villenueve Nov 4, 2009 Hobbyist General Artist

Deep and powerful words!

Reply

*Corvidae65 Nov 6, 2009

Thank you very much

Reply

~tracteurrouge Nov 1, 2009

Awesome and powerful writing John!

Reply

*Corvidae65 Nov 6, 2009

Thank you very much again, Paulette

Reply

~tracteurrouge Nov 6, 2009

My pleasure John

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*Manwathiell Oct 29, 2009

Great poem, great photo... but this makes me sad... I know this part of life exists, though...

Reply

*Corvidae65 Oct 29, 2009

Thank you Manwathiell

It is a little on the dark side, but we can't deny that this exists. It's supposed to be more a message of hope than despair. One can't exist without the other--Yin and Yan...the balance of life. Where there is darkness there has to be light casting the shadow.

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*JonnyGoodboy Oct 29, 2009 Hobbyist Photographer

You complimented that image to perfection John

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