Poem of the Day: Bleachers

Bleachers
Are Miracles
of Earth's metal
Perfectly formed
but Easily bent
Miracles
of heat in summer
so cold in winter
A Symbol
of Sportsmanship
of staying out in
Cold and heat
To show support
Bleachers
A place to sit
To be alone after
A defeat
and see the expanse
Make you feel
so small
But can make you feel
So big in a crowd
Feel and see
People breathing
In anticipation
Leaning forward
Jumping to their feet.

A.J.W. 4/7/09

Poem of the Day: For Andy and Eric

For Andy and Eric

Two older brothers and me at the end
With big bear hugs and arms to extend
They helped me grow up and become unique
Made me smile and laugh and tickled my feet
They made my sun come up and my moon go down
Made my whole little world spin and turn around
Took me for walks in the woods and ran in the park
PLayed hide-and-go-seek till long after dark
Let me use their things and even play guitar
Dressed me up when i was little, treated me like a star

Poem of the Day: Bluebird

BLUEBIRD

Paul McCartney songs flit in and out, throughout my head
I'm so tired, so tired, I feel like I'm dead
My foot feels so heavy as it presses down on the pedal
I'm just blowing off steam, like a giant tea kettle
I hear my cell ringing, like the pounding in my ears
As I speed by I see the sign for the piers
My eyes roll back and pain rakes through my body
If life or death is a chance, then I'm just a lottery
Streetlamps disappear and my body feels light
I grip on the wheel and hold on tight
I feel the car lurch as it flys over the edge
I'm happy to leave, to get over the ledge
The radio keeps blasting that one Paul McCartney song
A song titled "Bluebird" makes flying not seem so wrong
For just one moment I feel I'm finally free
This was my choice, I'm where I want to be
But in one horrible moment my freedom stops
I feel pain in my chest, as I was just shot
My eyes slowly close as I walk into darkness
I'll be glad to be gone, this bluebird will fly into
Nothingness.

Poem of the Day: Struttin' Star

Struttin' Star

Just sittin here waitin for inspiration
Bein started at and hoped for by the whole US nation
With pressure and pressure pile'n up on my back
I can't leave or go away there's no turnin back
Can't mess up or break up don't make no mistake
Feel like my bones are all gone and my back's gonna break
I take a drink of cold water and my teeth they go numb
I shake my head clear my throat and to my fate I succumb
I walk out onto a stage and the lights blind my eyes
I'm amazed by the crowd the sound and the size
Suddenly a Beatles tune pops into my head
Suddenly for no reason I wish I were dead
Wish I could turn myself around and walk off this stage
Wish I could never have to read what I wrote down on this page
But then I walk up to the mic and the words flow out
I start talkin and singin and begin to shout
But I never actually said the words I wrote down
Sang the Beatles tune and heard the crowd all say wow
Sang that song "She's So Heavy" poured my soul out
Then I ended the song and the crowd gave a shout
I walk off the stage and back to my car
Now I feel proud and strut like a star

Poem of the Day: Live For The Moment

Live For The Moment

Rose colored nail polish covered her nails
In inch high heels she breezed by like a sail
She strode out to the car and didn't wave goodbye
The car door slammed and the wind blew by
Rain poured down and traffic was slow
But she went fast, she had places to go
She went off the road, so impatient was she
Didn't care about safety, she had places to be
She heard honks and thunder as she drove past
She was enjoying the moment, wanted it to last
A bright, pure feeling of being totally free
Racing on by, proclaiming, "It's All About Me!"
Then she heard on the radio of a car crash ahead
And inside her stomach filled a pit full of dread
She saw lights close by blinking blue and red
She slammed on the breaks and hoped she wasn't dead
She heard metal and screams and felt a crunch
She screamed, her mouth wide, screamed a whole bunch
And why not? Who wouldn't in such a situation?
In a car crash, maybe killing someone on their vacation?
The car screeched to a halt after its smash
And suddenly she wished she'd been killed in the crash
For there, on the ground, right there beside her
His heart not beating, a dead police officer
She threw open the door and ran away fast
This was one moment she didn't want to last
She couldn't stand the guilt, so she just ran away
And she hasn't been heard of or seen to this day.

Poem of the Day: Silentium

SILENTIUM
By A. J. W.

A long, classical black dress trailing on the floor...
A head held high, but filled with thoughts of doubt...
Ears filled with the sound of a thunderous applause...
All eyes focused on one person...
All eyes watching her...
All with the highest expectations...
A graceful bow before she sat down on the slick black bench...
Silence...
Cold, oppressive silence...
The world was quiet there...
For a second she forgot what to do with her fingers, but they soon found a place on the white keys, her red painted nails a brilliant contrast with the pearly ivory colored keys...
Silence...
Cold Blue Eyes staring her down...
She took in a deep breath...

...and didn't let it out...

...she filled the theater with a total absence of the music they all so desperately longed to hear...
She stood up...
Cold Blue Eyes shot shivers down her spine...
She opened her mouth to speak...
Silence...
Cold Blue Eyes nailed her tongue down...
She fought for freedom...
The pressure...
The silence...
Collapsing over her head...
Failure...
Humiliation...
Betrayal...
She looked into Cold blue eyes and broke away...
She was no prisoner...
It was her on the podium...
Just her...
Alone...
Silence...
She broke her chains...
Freedom was close...
She fought against the tide...

...she found only silence...

...nothing waited for her at the end of the road...
If she took her first step towards freedom...
She really would be alone...
Was it worth it?...
What would she gain?...
What am I thinking? she thought...
I can have freedom...
Cold Blue Eyes tried to command her...
No longer...
Silence...
No longer...
She found a voice...

"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for coming here to see me. I know you were all so looking forward to seeing my performance, but I'm afraid I have bad news."

Cold Blue Eyes stood up and stared at her...

"I've forgotten my music."

Cold blue eyes stood up and left...
Shocked silence...
Her Atlas lost his strength...
Her whole world fell...
She ran through a bottomless pit...
She had to escape...
Something about fresh air crossed her mind...
The stage was empty now...

The theater was empty now...
She was free...
She ran down the streets...
Never-ending streets...
Shattered silence...
The City was alive...
A beast that had eaten her silence...
She flew away...
She stopped abruptly when she saw the Lady...
Liberty...
She vowed to be like that Lady from that moment on...
No longer would Cold Blue Eyes knock her down...
Her own eyes would let her gaze into the light...
She would no longer let Cold Blue Eyes see everything for her...
She was so caught up in that one wonderful thought...
She was so caught up that she didn't see the real lights...

...sometimes our daydreams will come true...

The world grew quiet...
Someone else screamed for her...

...she knew the cost of freedom now...

No one had been there to watch over her...
Her guardian angel had flown away...
She was so confused...
How could this happen...
The world snapped into black and white...
Things disappeared...
Disappeared one at a time...
The last thing she saw was the tall, erect Lady Liberty...
She smelled the gasoline nearby...
Felt hot air rush by as astonished people yelled and cried to get her help...
It was all her fault...
She could've prevented the accident...
Cold Blue Eyes...
Freedom...
Then, she heard silence, and closed her eyes...
She was peaceful...
She had lived her own life...
SHE WAS FREE.

Poem of the Day: The Differences

THE DIFFERENCES
by AJW

What can a poem do that a paragraph cannot?
Well...a paragraph is a restricted, uniform pile of words...
...A poem is a free fall tumble of your thoughts onto paper...
Paragraphs are the steady heartbeat and thump of steady heart...
...Poems are scrambled eggs...
Paragraphs say what you know you should be saying...
...poems say whatever come to mind, good or bad...
Anyone can write a paragraph on why it's important to show allegiance to your country...
...Not everyone could have written a star spangled verse declaring their allegiance...
Paragraphs are ordinary, and can be boring...
...poems are unique and never the same...
A paragraph is a standard of excellent academics...
...A poem is a free opinion that will impress people more...
A paragraph is sawdust...
A poem is grass with dew on top on Saturday morning...
A paragraph is like bow-tie shaped pasta arranged perfectly on a plate...
A poem is a tangled quagmire of spaghetti with tomato sauce on top...
A paragraph is dusty, too salty, old cracker...
A poem is a cookie with a warm brown center...
Paragraphs are clear, white skies...
...poems are windy days with patterned clouds...
Paragraphs are blank sheets of paper...
...A poem is piece of paper filled with thoughts that need to be said.

Poem of the Day: Definitely Worth It

DEFINITELY WORTH IT
by AJW

"BAND! TEN HUT!"
A thousand images flash before Their eyes
Days and days of August heat
The sweating
the swearing
The screaming
The yelling
The friends
never ends
The heat
Can't be beat
Their feet
they ache
Their strength's
Gonna break
Be strong
For the throng
Be brave
Time They gave
The work
Never stops
Feels like
They're gonna go
Berserk
"BAND! TEN HUT!"
The aching feet
Snap to attention
To the beat
Permanent in their heads
Eyes look up
Up at
Their Drum Major
They see many things
But mostly the same
Bright eyes
They're ready
For this
Ready
To look up
Into the crowd
Be blinded
By florescent
Football lights
They're ready
to win
To triumph
High Chins
Straight backs
There's nothing
They lack
They're here
Today
Now
They're here to win
"BAND! TEN HUT!"
They're ready
They remember
The sweating
the swearing
The screaming
The yelling
With pride
It was all for
A good reason
For this
This feeling
Like none other
Eyes with pride
They know
They're gonna win
And when they do
They're gonna cheer
Like none other
All in perfect rows
Lined up Real Straight
Their eyes so bright
Their set so great
They're a little nervous
They're all wound up
Gonna wait
Almost ready
Announcer speaking
Their form is steady
Inside they're shaking
Now they're ready
They take their first step
Started already
After all
They are
The one
The only
LOUDOUN
COUNTY
MARCHING
BAND

Poem of the day: Murder on Market Street

Murder on Market Street
by A.J.W.

blood on a knife
is like
evidence
A single red snowflake on
cold
hard
metal

he ran
quickly
without a sound
dropped his knife
on the cold cold ground
didn't look back
never has never will
the headlines say that
money
will be offered for his
head
murder on market street
the people all whisper
done by our dearest most wanted
murderer
little did they know
the man at the newspapers
who had reported
every single article
on their dearest most wanted
murderer
was their dearest most wanted
murderer
watching them all between the lines of his papers
dropping knives with scarlet secrets spilled

Poem of the day: Robert Lenwood, Pair of Boots

Robert Lenwood, Pair of Boots
by A.J.W.

First a mile of cows
Hungry, chewing afraid of machines.
Next, a busy factory,
Old cow hide turned into smooth leather.

Worn by an old man,
Who bought boots just to walk through mud.
Looking for his grand daughter
New boots that wallow in muddy sorrows.

Never ending searches,
I think this search is pointless.
One day a nightmare,
A quick fall down a mountain slope.

The old man fell,
All I can say is "Peace be with you."
And now I sit,
In my old masters sons house.

The son, working all day on the farm.
I sit here, doing nothing all day long.

Poem of the day: Simple Nature Haiku

Simple Nature Haiku
by A.J.W.


Haiku No. 1

A metallic flash
Could it be a gold nugget?
No, it's a gold fish.

Haiku No. 2

Sunlight through branches
It smells warm and welcoming
Trees are beautiful

Haiku No. 3

A flash of bright gold
A splash from their long tail fins
Fish play flashily

Poem of the day: The Sounds Of Cooking Dinner

The Sounds Of Cooking Dinner
by A.J.W.

Get out a pan
Clang, clash, bang
Now get a pot
Turn on the stove with a
Click
And
Make it hot!
Sizzle sizzle
Pop, pop, pop!

Cooking is fun,
I never want to stop,
Ssssss...Ssssss...
The frying pan flips
A ringing sound comes
Chop, chop!
Knives slice through tomatoes
Slice, slice
Dice, dice
A splash and a squash
Plink, plink

Noises of the kitchen.
Salt rattles in the jar
Water gurgles in the pot
But most of all,
HISS
Goes the asparagus
Being fried in olive oil
and pepper.

Poem of the Day: Thoughts On Myself And Waterfalls

Thoughts On Myself And Waterfalls
by A.J.W.

I am like a waterfall
Because I'm quick and irreversible
I am like a waterfall
Because I'm grand and applaudable

I am like a waterfall
Because I'm free and wild
I am like a waterfall
Because I'm carefree as a child

I am like a waterfall
Because I'm quick and love to run
I am like a waterfall
I'm lively and like to have fun!

Poem of the day: Jobs

Jobs

I'm an artist she said,
I paint and I draw
and I'm talented.
I'm an author he said,
I write and I read
And I'm educated.
I'm an engineer she said,
I type and I print
I'm sophisticated.
I'm an actor he said,
I speak and I shout
I'm applauded.
I'm very lazy I said,
I don't have a job
I'm contented.

A.J.W.
7/9/07

Poem of the day: Right Answer

It IS the right answer,
Just told in a different way,
It IS the right answer,
No matter what you say.

It IS the right answer,
Trust me on this one,
It IS the right answer,
No joking no pun.

It IS the right answer,
I'll check in the book,
It IS the right answer,
See here, just look.

It IS the right answer,
I'll bet you a lot,
It IS the right answer,
Oh wait...its not.

~ A. J. W.
5/16/07

Poem of the day: Dinner

Dinner

Lots of pears,
And some pasta,
Glass of juice,
Salad lot'sa,

Oranges and Kiwis,
Slice of pie,
Pumpkin Spice,
Bread that's dry,

Ripe red apple,
Slab of steak,
Bag of chips,
Chocolate cake,

Wedge of cheese,
Cup of tea,
Big red grapes,
Bowl of peas,

Some fresh tomatoes,
Squash that's thinner,
That's what I eat,
For my dinner.


A.J.W.
6/2/06

Poem of the day: Description of Lord Kass

Description of Lord Kass

BEHOLD! The General,
FEEL the ground quake,
DO stand back,
FOR all our sakes,

HE is strong and mighty,
AND he's off to battle,
LORD Kass is his name,
FEEL the ground rattle.


A.J.W.
9/11/06

Poem of the day: A Season's Passing

A Season's Passing

Spring is bright,
Flowers popping up,
Cherry blossums bursting,
Clover filling my cup,

But now springs gone,
Long gone,

Summer is wet,
Everyone's swimming,
Playing Hopscotch and Jacks,
Ropes they're skipping,

But now summers gone,
Long gone,

Fall is crunchy,
They're raking the leaves,
Jumping into piles,
Climbing up the eaves,

But now falls gone,
Long gone,

Winter is snow white,
Building some snowmen,
Throwing snowballs,
Making a snow den,

But now winters gone,
Long gone,

Now a years gone by,
What a time we had,
Having so much fun,
Faces were so glad.


A.J.W.
9/14/06

Poem of the day: Museum

Museum

Small French pictures,
With shiny golden frames,
Showing off so brightly,
No two are the same,

Small French pictures,
Twenty in one room,
Each one is so cheerful,
None show any gloom,

Small French pictures,
Their creators long gone,
But they're still shining brightly,
Glistening in a new dawn.


A.J.W.
8/29/06