The Old Man (© July,1996)

One day I saw a man, old and wizened and bent;
wrinkled head trembling,
tired feet shuffling,
everywhere he went.
He slowly raised his hand in greeting
as he went upon his way,
and remarked to me with a shaky smile
on the beauty of the day.

Once he was surrounded by little ones
wanting a piggy-back ride.
Once he'd held a squalling babe
with his loving wife at his side.
Now his children have all grown
leaving nothing but bitter tears;
the wife he'd adored with all his soul
gone these fifteen years.

Each morning he makes his breakfast
and eats it all alone,
and sadly wonders to himself
if his kids will ever come home.
He dons his hat, picks up his cane,
and goes out for a walk;
and if he's lucky, he'll find a kind stranger
with whom to have a talk.




A Woman's Prayer (© Feb.,1997)

What I hope for
Is that you take me as I am,
As a person, as a woman
Whose heart is in her hand.

What I long for
Is that you know me well,
Know the secrets
That I will never tell.

What I wish for
Is that you will be true
To my love, that's given
With so much trust, to you.

What I pray for
Is that you will love me
For all those things I'm not
And all those things I will be.




My Weakness (© Sept.20,1997)

The silence is deafening, relentlessly droning
But I am comforted by the heavy grayness of the clouds.
They are my cocoon, wrapping me in peace.
The rain, the quencher of my thirsty soul,
Drowning me in awareness of life.

I would be content to be a tree here
Beside this quiet stream, roots planted
In the history of times untold.
I would be strong, undaunted
By the relentless winds of change
But I am only human and strength eludes me,
Keeps me bent upon a never-ending quest.

The rain is harsh now, chills my very marrow.
I feel a need to glean some warmth from you.
As you draw me nearer your heat ignites me.
I can not be a tree today for I am too weak to resist.
My strength will have to come from you.
The silence is broken now by the sound of your breathing.





For My Children (© Sept.,1997)

Through the mundane and the dreary,
You are the torch that lights my way.
When my mind is tired and weary,
Your smile can make me want to play.

When my days are filled with doubt and pain,
You are the ones who keep me going.
Through all the times of endless rain,
Your flowers of love keep growing.

My entire soul and very heart,
Are yours for always and forever.
For you gave me yours right from the start;
This is a bond no one can sever.

I will be with you through it all;
Through wild and stormy weather.
I'll pick you up when down you fall.
We can face anything together !

Your hands in mine, we'll face the world,
With glad hearts in celebration.
Your tiny fingers around mine curled,
We shall dance in jubilation !




It Started Off Fine (© Sept. 4, 2002)

I started this day with good intentions
And a measure of true grit.
I didn't start out with apprehensions.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

It all started when I got out of bed
And got my feet caught in the mat.
Somehow the curtains landed on my head.
How on earth did I do that ?

So I got the curtains hung again
And headed to the bathroom,
Where I somehow toppled the garbage bin;
Hence I went to get the vacuum.

A vacuum is a noisy thing
First thing in the morning.
It set my heart a fluttering
When it came on without warning.

I belted out a startled cry
And dropped the vacuum on my toe.
I guess I needn't tell you why
My toe is swelling so.

So in this crowded room I sit,
With nurses at me peering
And either it is very late,
Or it's now tomorrow morning.


ALL POEMS COPYRIGHT BY
CHARMAINE V.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED