MAPoet

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I am a poet and photographer who likes sports, jazz and art inspired by other art. I served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the early 1970's and was assigned to the Computer Sciences School in Quantico, VA. I have published a chapbook of grief poems, I Keep You with Me. My work also has appeared in publications such as Thorny Locust Magazine, core. zine,The Enigmatist, Veterans' Voices and Kansas Time + Place An Anthology of Heartland Poetry. My visual art pieces combine poetry and photographs, and have been most recently displayed at InterUrban ArtHouse, Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, Buttonwood Art Space, and The Smalter Gallery.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Birthplace

Birthplace

A city tucked on

a great lake that

intensifies its winters.

The people know how

to wield a shovel, steer

a snow plow, not only

for themselves but also

for each other.

They pull together

during a storm just

like they do during

a Bills game.

United to influence

the outcome

in their favor.

Do you write about your hometown? What is it or its people known for?

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Thursday, December 10, 2015

Caught

Caught

Leaves float down,

are picked up

by the wind and

carried for miles.

It sets them down

to let them skitter

along the ground.

Suddenly, they stop,

caught in a thin slot.

They can't break free,

no matter which way

the wind blows.

What's caught your attention lately? Have you written about it?

Links

Riverfront Reading Holiday Open Mic

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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Road Work

Road Work

He stands

in the

middle of

the lane,

dressed in

reflective clothes.

He holds

a sign.

STOP

I do.

I sit.

I stare

at an

empty lane.

He turns

the sign

with authority.

SLOW

The motion

of his

hand signals

GET GOING

Do you have a story involving road construction? Have you written about it?

Links

Riverfront Reading Holiday Open Mic

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

Fast

Fast

Why do you go so fast?

Do you see life as a race?

Who are you trying to pass?

Are you afraid of coming in last?

Do you prefer every day to be a blur

so you don't have to see what's happening.

Does life move to fast? What do you do to slow down?

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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Why Blame the Rain?

Why Blame the Rain?

Why blame the rain

when it changes

from liquid to ice?

Isn't it at the

mercy of the

temperature?

Can't the wind

blow in the cold?

Don't the clouds

contribute when

they cover the sun?

Why blame the rain

when it freezes?

It doesn't work alone.

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Thursday, November 26, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving

I am grateful for the natural wonders in my life,

animate and inanimate, past and present.

Happy Thanksgiving

and thanks for stopping by.

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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Other Side

The Other Side

How long did

it take to

build this wall,

to make it

so solid,

to make it

so tall?

What will it

take to bring

it down,

to turn our

lives around,

to bring us

together?

Do you build walls? What kind?

This poem was inspired by one of the early prompts in the 2015 Poem A Day Chapbook Challenge: united and/or divided.

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Thursday, November 19, 2015

Reliving History

Reliving History

The ancient storyteller

uses a lyre to help

him pass on the truth.

Calls to the muses

whenever he is confused.

Proclaims the songs too hard,

but continues in his role as bard.

Recites, revises, relives as long as

history repeats itself.

Does history repeat itself? Can we change that?

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Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Everything Seems the Same

Everything Seems the Same

The sun rises

at the usual time.

Leaves lie

on the ground.

The wind blows

them around.

The rain falls.

Drops tap

on the roof.

A crow

scavenges

in the street.

Squirrels run

up and down

the trees.

The neighbor's

dog barks.

Everything

seems the same

but nothing is.

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American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Turn on the Lights

Turn on the Lights

How do you

turn on the lights?

Your stage is

the canvas.

You portray

the actors with

brush and paint.

How do you

captivate the

audience,

shine the

spotlight in

the right place?

Make us stop,

examine and

applaud, not

caring that

so much is

still in the dark.

Where do you place the spotlight? How do you draw the audience in?

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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

To the Author

To the Author

I am submerged

in the words.

Surrounded

by your choice

of nouns, towns,

sights and sounds.

The characters

you created; the

stories you related.

No more will come.

You have left

all you could.

Every time

I read them,

I am immersed

in your love of words.

I wrote this poem as part of Robert Lee Brewer's 2015 November PAD Chapbook Challenge. The prompt was submerged.

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Thursday, November 5, 2015

Once Upon a Sailboat

Once Upon a Sailboat

I was once

upon a sailboat

when the weather

turned so fast

I had to face the fear

that this sail

might be my last.

The river changed

from glass to swells,

the sky from blue to gray.

The steady breeze

became great gusts.

The sun simply

went away.

We came about

and headed back,

our progress

made in spurts.

Forward, capsize,

right the boat--

we reached the dock,

relieved, unhurt.

I have always

loved the water

and I always will,

but I never forget

a storm may form

when all seems

bright and still.

I wrote this poem for Robert Lee Brewer's 2015 November PAD Chapbook Challenge. The prompt was to take the phrase, Once Upon a (blank), replace the blank and use the completed phrase as the title of the poem. What is your "Once Upon a (blank)" poem?

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Monday, November 2, 2015

Celebration

Mother Nature went heavy on the blue today.

Celebration

The fireworks are popping

a little out of season

but for good reason.

They celebrate

a goal achieved through

determination, resilience

and camaraderie.

The pops continue

as end of day turns

into new morning.

On any other night,

we might resent

a disturbance at

such an hour.

Tonight, we

surrender to the noise.

I'm posting a little early because of today's blue sky and the freshness of last night's World Series victory by the Kansas City Royals. Surrender is today's prompt for Robert Lee Brewer's 2015 November PAD Chapbook Challenge. I have a feeling any prompt Robert gave today would have ended up in a poem about the Royals.

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