STABS AT POETRY

by Jim Caswell

By no stretch of the imagination do I call myself a poet, but I have occasionally dabbled in the art. Most sound more like Hallmark Moments than actual pros. But here they are nonetheless. So consider yourself fairly warned and enjoy.

Valentine’s Day – 1990
On this day of all days
Although we’re miles apart,
The thought of your sweet smile
Quickens my beating heart.

The value of your friendship
Makes ours more dear to me,
For friends are a treasure
That doesn’t need a key.

Friendship
Whenever I feel sad,
Whenever I feel blue,
I think of the friendship
That’s shown to me by you.

The sound of your laughter
Reminds me of wind chimes.
And hope that our friendship
Can pass the test of time.

First Thoughts
When I first saw your face
One thought ran through my mind:
She is a pretty girl,
One of the best to find.

The second time I looked,
You were looking at me.
I then thought to myself
Maybe she is my key.

When I looked once again,
You had come to my side.
And from that moment on
I was on for the ride.

The Flower That’s Out Of Reach
I have seen a special flower,
A rare type that is flesh and bone.
With a smile that brings out the sun
And a voice made by God alone.

In the entire garden of life
I’ve found no other like this one,
The others all fail when planted
And you find that the weeds are none.

Though the flower is all perfect
I have but one lesson to teach;
I have found none that can compare
To the flower that’s out of reach.

Blind Date
You were a blind date
That opened my eyes,
And then I could see
It would change our lives.

You were a blind date
And neither could know,
That our relationship
Would flourish and grow.

You were a blind date
And now I have found
I’d rather go blind
Than not have you around.

Two Hearts
There are two hearts
Upon that tree.
One stands for you,
The other for me.

Those same two hearts
Are twined together
Showing our love
Will last forever.

All Day Long
I open my eyes each morning,
Your face is the first to appear;
And like that first ray of sunshine
You make everything become clear.

I wander through each day smiling
With the thought of you being near;
And thinking, in all of heaven
There are no angels quite as dear.

Each night, while trying to slumber,
Your face appears to me once more.
It’s then I know deep in my heart
That I’ll love you forevermore.

Free Spirit
You are a free spirit
Like a bird in mid-flight,
And you opened my eyes
To a bright, shining light.

I’ve lived all my life
Within my convictions,
Contained in the four walls
Built by my delusions.

But now that I’ve seen you
It becomes clear to me
That those same precious walls
Keep me from being free.

So until I escape,
With your love, I have earned,
I will just let you fly
And wait till you’ve returned.

Heartbreak
I had you for a time.
To me that time was dear.
But then you broke my heart,
And made me shed a tear.

I hoped and I had prayed
That I was on your mind,
But now I have realized
You won’t be at my side.

So now I must proceed
And search for another,
Though I know in my heart
There will be no other.

21
Twenty-one years ago
God looked upon the Earth.
Wanting to improve it,
He brought about your birth.

So when this day rolls round
Your friends all celebrate,
For we all know it as
A very special day.

A Christmas Wish
At Christmas time
We must pay due
Towards those things
That we hold true.

To the family
We dedicate,
Whose love for us
We can’t debate.

Our friends are next
For they are dear,
With them we share
Our hopes and fears.

As season hopes
Begin to grow,
Our sadness falls
Like fresh-formed snow.

And so we smile
To celebrate
The coming of
This special date.

So this Christmas
I wish to thee
A season that
Is filled with glee.

For Rosie Martinez,
Whose love was lost.
At The End
As snow lays on the ground
And rays of sun appear,
The thought runs through my mind
That you should not be here.

Among this cold dampness
And quiet that I can’t bare,
I try to remember
When we became a pair.

And as I look upon
The place in which you lie,
I know none will split us
Though life and death may try.

Untitled
The smile that is upon your face
Brings great joy and warmth to my heart,
And each moment we’re together
Makes me feel like it’s a fresh start.

Although it’s just been a short time
I feel as though we can not fail,
We are both the same character
In two versions of the same tale.

Untitled 2
How do you tell someone
Your feelings towards them?
And know if those feelings
Are love, or just a whim?

It’s made even harder,
For they know not their wants,
And how to satisfy
Can not be learned, nor taught.

Life teaches us this game
And that we must all strive,
That, for all, thoughts of love
Will help us all survive.

I know not how I feel
Nor where each of us stand,
But you should know one thing,
I’m here to lend a hand.