Photo by Keith R. Good | pictured words

ALL IN THE SAME BOAT (Or, “Idyllic,” a Sonnet for Political Sanity)

Photo by Keith R. Good

When I consider all, from left to right,
I find myself smack dab in center’s eye.
But I am now okay with that, despite
The pressures of a partisan outcry.

Those right of me say I should think as they,
And fault me for the way I lean more left.
While to my left are those who stand dismayed
That I am not (in their minds) more “progressed.”

Yet are we not one vessel, stern to bow?
We need to row as one, or we will sink!
And so let’s work together to learn how
Our center, left, and right can interlink.

Let’s turn off the contemptuous hate speech,
And focus on the positives of each.

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UNSPOKEN

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PHOTO BY KEITH R. GOOD

She fights to connect.
Even her thoughts are wordless,
she says. And I nod

as if I can grasp
telepathically , and
put music to it –

noting nuances
in tune with fluent fretting –
non-verbal vetting

of elusive words
she only needs for we who
don’t speak her spirit.

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MAJORLY SIMPLE

Photo by Keith R. Good

I discovered the simple life I lead
does not lend itself to major discoveries.

Or so I thought.

Then I discovered something major
in leading a simple life:

Contentment.

Not as in settling. As in
being settled.
No big dreams, met or unmet.

Then I discovered contentment
does not breed motivation.

Or so I thought.

But lo and behold,
contentment inspires thankfulness.
Then thankfulness – praise,
and praise – a relationship with my God,
and relationship with my God – contentment,
and contentment – thankfulness …

And I am content
with this

simple,

major,

inspiring discovery.

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November 23, 2018

Dream the Love, and Love the Dream (A Wrapped Refrain)

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Photo by Keith R. Good

When poets sigh, they sigh for love –
In awe of fragrant fruit thereof.
To spill the heart from breast to page
Release it from its living cage –
Free fragrant ache to fill the soul, and reach the sky,
And my-oh-my, breathe in love’s scent, when poets sigh.

And how I dream our words would fill
Our world with peace. With love. Goodwill.
And I believe that words can heal
And so I’ll write, and speak. Appeal
To peacemakers whose soothing words are as a stream
In moonlit gleam. It’s how I pray, and how I dream.

When poets write, they seek within
To find the space where dreams begin
Where love writes sighs, and peace prevails
Where words can heal, and goodwill sails
To span the breadth of all that’s true, and there alight.
We’ll dream the love, and love the dream, when poets write.

October 25, 2018

Hocking Hills Autumn 2018, 5-7-5 Water

Photo by Keith R. Good

I prefer water
Falling, or babbling in brooks,
To crashing on shore.

October 24, 2018

A Creator’s Palette (Sonnet to The Artist)

Reflections of autumn’s trees on Rose Lake in Ohio’s Hocking Hills region. Photo credit: Keith R. Good

Describing “yellow” leaves in fall, for me,
Does not at all depict their cheerful gleam
As sunlight spills as liquid through the trees,
And they themselves could light the day, it seems.

So also “orange” can’t describe the bliss
That autumn’s gorgeous vista just compels.
And though I can’t rename it, I know this:
Fall’s celebrated color casts its spells.

My favored autumn shades though are the reds:
From rosy blush to crimson, fire-and-iced.
They fairly flaunt and flame as they turn heads.
There’s no way common “red” would have sufficed.

How can we label paints and pens of God
That leave us reverential, praise-filled, awed ?

FOR POETIC BLOOMINGS AUTUMNAL POEM-A-DAY CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE, 2018, DAY 11: CRIMSON

October 19, 2018

LINDSAY ROSE

Day 6 photo heart copy

It was early fall. She was young and animated. The baby girl who had cheated death had become a young woman full of soul, and bright as her favorite color. Her palette was in hand. Her imagination as open and vibrant as changes soon to grace the trees. Camaraderie, harmony, and laughter were yearnings, with promise of fulfillment. Until, on her way to a weekend of music with friends, her song was silenced.

she laughs with Jesus
as they paint the sunset with
orange Crayolas

(I wrote the 17-syllable ending in September of 2011, on the anniversary of Lindsay’s car accident, and her passing from this life to the next.)

FOR POETIC BLOOMINGS AUTUMNAL POEM-A-DAY CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE, 2018, DAY 6: ORANGE

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October 17, 2018

UNTITLED

Photo by Keith R. Good

When summer takes leave,
fall embellishes the views,
and cues winter’s eve.

FOR POETIC BLOOMINGS AUTUMNAL POEM-A-DAY CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE, 2018, DAY 4: LEAVES

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October 16, 2018

AUTUMN AWAKENS (Sonnet for my favorite season)

Day 3 photo

Its very shadows fall uniquely fall
And that begins the season, in my eyes.
Trees flame with reds, or yellow fireballs
As autumn’s colors blaze against blue skies.

It sets my heart alight, and makes me smile.
Its cool air feels delightful to breathe in.
Its mood ignites a passion in my soul.
It is my chosen season – long has been.

Trees captivate me as their colors spill,
Like kindling for reflections long-since gone –
The merriment my child-heart treasures, still.
So much to love … excuse my rambling on …

But passion for Ohio’s autumn days
Will burn in me forever and always.

FOR POETIC BLOOMINGS AUTUMNAL POEM-A-DAY CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE, 2018, DAY 3: FIRE

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October 14, 2018

PENCHANTS

Photo credit: Keith R. Good

PENCHANTS

my air,
chilled

my coffee,
hot

my words,
spilled

my muse,
caught.

FOR POETIC BLOOMINGS AUTUMNAL POEM-A-DAY CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE, 2018 DAY 1 PROMPT: COLD

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pictured words

Tag: Photo by Keith R. Good

February 18, 2019

ALL IN THE SAME BOAT (Or, “Idyllic,” a Sonnet for Political Sanity)

February 13, 2019

UNSPOKEN

January 20, 2019

MAJORLY SIMPLE

November 23, 2018

Dream the Love, and Love the Dream (A Wrapped Refrain)

October 25, 2018

Hocking Hills Autumn 2018, 5-7-5 Water

October 24, 2018

A Creator’s Palette (Sonnet to The Artist)

October 19, 2018

LINDSAY ROSE

October 17, 2018

UNTITLED

October 16, 2018

AUTUMN AWAKENS (Sonnet for my favorite season)

October 14, 2018

PENCHANTS