Now that I am grown,
the day is loud
with mother-daughter
voices speaking.
We have traveled,
hard roads, leading
to a learning road.
We share in wisdom
on rare occasions
that shed negative beliefs
that run our lives,
and we learn to tolerate
each other as we grow old.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Yippee for the Rain Man
© 2008 Photo and poem by Sue Miller (artist unknown)
Or is he the yippee-yi-yay man
jumping for rain in a cloud shirt,
on a cloudy day man
in striped pants.
A blissful man,
a cone head man,
almond shaped eye
with a beehive pupil,
a Cyclops eye man
full of spirit-can-you-feel-it man.
His jumping "J" boots are jammin' man.
Star of the watermelon pink wall.
jumping for rain in a cloud shirt,
on a cloudy day man
in striped pants.
A blissful man,
a cone head man,
almond shaped eye
with a beehive pupil,
a Cyclops eye man
full of spirit-can-you-feel-it man.
His jumping "J" boots are jammin' man.
Star of the watermelon pink wall.
Now he's online as the yippee man.
Monday, May 12, 2008
An Outgrowing
Mid 60s--American Japanese girl next door
invited me to play her Beatles records.
Star struck, I looked at her framed reproduction
of John Lennon on her bedroom wall, I imitated
him and the others, played air guitar,
harmonicas and drums before it became the rave.
I pretended to be them with a Beatle haircut,
sang their vocal parts over invisible microphones.
Mid 90s, I cleaned and dusted my collection.
I couldn't believe they were my idols.
I put away those records like old love letters.
John, Paul, George and Ringo--crushes vanished,
a fading mirage and an eye blink.
Silly, imitating the Beatles.
invited me to play her Beatles records.
Star struck, I looked at her framed reproduction
of John Lennon on her bedroom wall, I imitated
him and the others, played air guitar,
harmonicas and drums before it became the rave.
I pretended to be them with a Beatle haircut,
sang their vocal parts over invisible microphones.
Mid 90s, I cleaned and dusted my collection.
I couldn't believe they were my idols.
I put away those records like old love letters.
John, Paul, George and Ringo--crushes vanished,
a fading mirage and an eye blink.
Silly, imitating the Beatles.
Afraid
Why was I scared? Where did it come from?
I'd be on my hands and knees, hiding,
under tables, scared that teachers would get me.
I remember growing up quiet and timid because
"children were meant to be seen, not heard."
In school, looking, searching, afraid
of not being able to move forward, afraid
of not having enough skills, afraid
of being hurt, of not being educated, afraid
of being limited or criticized, afraid
of being held back, afraid of inexperience, afraid
of speaking before groups. I wonder
where did this timidity come from?
I'd be on my hands and knees, hiding,
under tables, scared that teachers would get me.
I remember growing up quiet and timid because
"children were meant to be seen, not heard."
In school, looking, searching, afraid
of not being able to move forward, afraid
of not having enough skills, afraid
of being hurt, of not being educated, afraid
of being limited or criticized, afraid
of being held back, afraid of inexperience, afraid
of speaking before groups. I wonder
where did this timidity come from?
Saturday, May 3, 2008
All we have to fear is fear itself
fear of the unexpected
of predicted storms tomorrow
dreading trips she doesn't want to take
as nervousness brings accidents
afraid to walk around the corner
worried that evil waits in shadows
she hesitates to take one more step
timid of free choice
unable to understand leads to confusion
apprehension of future events
with pointless qualms of perceived danger
doubts, anxiety, trembling, stress
causing social doom upon herself
I want to tell my mother
that troubles can duly disappear
our woes change to relief
taking risks to find out the truth
turn on the light when fate is shadowed
we have the power
to grow like colorful flowers
our reactions stay calm as we know
that this inspires us
as religion of fear disintegrates
of predicted storms tomorrow
dreading trips she doesn't want to take
as nervousness brings accidents
afraid to walk around the corner
worried that evil waits in shadows
she hesitates to take one more step
timid of free choice
unable to understand leads to confusion
apprehension of future events
with pointless qualms of perceived danger
doubts, anxiety, trembling, stress
causing social doom upon herself
I want to tell my mother
that troubles can duly disappear
our woes change to relief
taking risks to find out the truth
turn on the light when fate is shadowed
we have the power
to grow like colorful flowers
our reactions stay calm as we know
that this inspires us
as religion of fear disintegrates
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