In the Mohave, Once More

In 2005, i found a book of poetry with a poem in it entitled "In the Mohave". it was published in 1917. the name of the poet was Patrick Orr. i searched for information on this poet and all i could find were two poems. no birthdate, no bio, no nothing. as an interesting and entertaining project, i decided to write something within a similar vein to the previously mentioned Patrick Orr. below is my poem "In the Mohave, Once More" written in 2015, followed by the original "In the Mohave" published in 1917. scroll down and read the original first and then back to mine and let me know what you think. enjoy.

In the Mohave, Once More

As I clamored yet again through this rocky terrain,
     I prayed the pilgrim shadow's hand would stay.
Do not fill this gulch with a flash of rain
     Washing my desires with the rocks away.

And as I rode, i saw a form serene,
     A former inhabitant who had lingered too long,
Whose bones had been blanched and carcass picked clean,
     Whose death I once felt had been cruel and wrong.

But i defy the cruelty I see!
     Hamakhaave cannot have me serene.
I follow the compass cactus through the Joshua tree
     to my love who waits beyond San Bernadine.

It has been a long journey but I am keeping pace,
     O'er the mountains, under the sun above
And I shall defeat this desert with the burns on my face
     To be united once more with my true love.


....and now, the original from 1917....

In the Mohave

AS I rode down the arroyo through yuccas belled with bloom
I saw a last year’s stalk lift dried hands to the light,
Like age at prayer for death within a careless room,
Like one by day o’ertaken, whose sick desire is night.
And as I rode I saw a lean coyote lying	5
All perfect as in life upon a silver dune,
Save that his feet no more could flee the harsh light’s spying,
Save that no more his shadow would cleave the sinking moon.
O cruel land, where form endures, the spirit fled!
You chill the sun for me with your gray sphinx’s smile,	10
Brooding in the bright silence above your captive dead,
Where beat the heart of life so brief, so brief a while!

Grandma

You don't watch too much television.
Wash your hands before you eat.
You don't get a glass of milk until you finish that sandwich.
Take off your shoes or wipe your feet.
     These were life lessons from Grandma.
     Memories that we hold dear.
     And although we know you're still among loved ones,
we damn sure wish that you were here.

A staple in her kitchen was biscuits and gravy.
-I bet a lot of people are going to miss that taste.
For me, she made the best carrot cake
and I never let any of it go to waste.

...but while I was writing this, it dawned on me:
     None of us would be here without her and Grandpap.
She held a special place in each of our hearts
     and no one can fill that gap.
Those gathered here today would not have gathered:
Friends and family, grandchildren and greater, husband and sons.
All here to pay tribute to this woman.
-I hope she's smiling, seeing what she's done.

And all of our memories that involve her
are precious and held so dear.
God, we know she's in a better place
but we kinda wish that she were here.
Grandma, look down,
We love you
and will always hold you near.

A Letter from Anna Louise

                    Dear Billy, Mom, and Dad,

     Thank you for all the fun we've had.
The time we had together, the bonds we made
   are memories I cherish that will never fade.
I know you are sad and I miss you so much, too
   but you wouldn't believe all the things I can do.
It's wonderful here. The view can't be beat
   ...and I'm supposed to say hi from Diane and Grandma Birchstreet.
I still gesture with my hands but i use my words, too
   and I want to use them to say:
          I love you, Mommy.
          I love you, Daddy.
          I love you, brother Billy too.
I have the greatest family, like no other
   and I was loved by more than just my mom and dad and the bestest brother.
I know you are sad. I miss you. Please don't cry.
I took my first steps, Mommy,
   and now I can fly.

                                                        Love, Anna Ingle

Lady Fair

Lady Fair

Thank you. What more can I say?
   You have enriched our lives in so many ways
       And ‘tho we sorely wish that you would stay,
   We thank you for always brightening our days.

Lady Fair, no one can compare
   To you in all the joy you bring.
From the tears and the laughter and everything that came after,
   You knew how to make our hearts sing.

And it was a song of hope to help us cope.
   You gave until there was nothing left to give.
You embraced life and overcame strife
   And showed us what it means to live.

With your style, with your grace,
   With that smile on your face,
You were there for those you honored as their friend.
A loving daughter who never faltered
   To be there and see things through to the end.

I know I am better for having known you
   And stand in awe at the things you could do.
Your constant strength, your peculiar wisdom,
   An unending compassion to show you care.
You were the best that God has given,
   A lady among ladies and the fairest of fair.
Words will never do justice
   For someone so loved, so honest, so true.
So from all of us here who held you so dear,
   We have nothing more to say,
      Save Thank You.

For thee

And if I fall, let it be for thee.
     From this moment forth
   to the depths of eternity.
From the highest on high
   to the dredges of the opaque lake of fire
To burn and drown, all the way down,
   to the secrets of man's wanton desire.
Your lips, they hold a treasure trove.
     Your smile, it holds the key.
Your eyes are flint and steel that make it all real
   igniting something inside of me.
Let the religious have their gods.
The greedy, their gold and coins.
For there is so much more than has been seen before
   that dullards detract to mere lust of the loins.
No, I see ...I feel a fondness for life,
   a joy, a oneness of spirit.
A vibration so clear that the deaf can hear,
   so why doesn't anyone else hear it?
They are lost in self and enact a play
   whereupon the star awaits an encore call
     but i bet those that strut and fret
   will leave behind nothing at all.
Not like you who've touched me so.
No, you will go on for evermore.
- but I wonder what it is in your heart of hearts
     that affects me to the core.
Is it something within your lilting gaze?
Your speech or deeds, those actions that are so very?
What clout overcomes fear and doubt?
   -making you a memory ...simply legendary.
You've risen me to a level beyond my bar,
     above my status, farther than I could ever climb.
And when you whisper that secret - for one day you shall
   -oh, it will be joyously sublime.
I can go no higher nor wish to do so.
For now, your vision is all I need to see.
One day, I may fall -after having seen it all
   -and if I am to fall, let it be for thee.

I am a poet

I am a poet
that is how i live
that is how i'll die
I am a lover of words
a charlatan to the naked eye
I am a rainstorm in a world of fallen trees
-in laughter, i am the sigh
I am a problem
sandwiched in a life of complication
I am one beat within two hearts
-and i am the reverberation.

Many of you who feel at loss:
I am the pathless way
Listen close to my silence
and ignore only what i will not say
I am directionless and misleading
I am the thought your hindsight has brought
I am the firefly within the night
and the child that was never caught
I am the truth between sutures
-in death, i am a sham
In the twilight of unbroken evening
 you can become all that i am

I am a poet
that is how i lived
that is how i must have died

tired and uninspired

when dewdrops kiss the misty morn,
 when night bears witness as tomorrow is born,
when exhaustion succumbs to thoughts forlorn,
     only then will you catch my eye.
when the sadness that creeps bids farewell to the friend
 that leaves as the tea party comes to its end,
when sleep receives the dream that you send,
      then and only then do i sigh.
good night my peoples, good night to you all.
 the sandman vanquishes another to fall
 into the oblivion of the warriors hall
     bereft of certainty desired.
 and though i must go as so many before,
 take to heart these words i implore:
 seize your time and shake the buds once more!
      never allow life to be ...tire or uninspired