Double Standards

Double Standards

By: R. A. Slater

11/28/12

I reaped the benefits of his sexism

Favored because of my gender

But I grew tired of it after awhile

A line I would not cross

Men were crapped upon

As were the less endowed

He couldn't even be consistent in that

Knowing others had spoken before

And failed in their attempt

The truth fallen unheard

So I bided my time as I searched

Then gave my notice with glee

They tried to screw me even then

Dismissing me before my time was done

They gave me a sop

Hoping I'd just go away

But I took great care

Filling out my exit papers in detail

Finding out later

Thru the grapevine

That I had made his life at work

Too hot for him to handle

And he beat them to the punch

Quitting and leaving the state

What joy I felt was coupled with my shame

At not speaking up sooner

 

Sent from my iPhone

The Looking Glass

The Looking Glass
By R. A. Slater
11/27/12

I look in the mirror and there she is

My own worst enemy staring back at me

She knows my every weakness, my every flaw 

I am an open book to her, even what I hide 

She leads me astray, exploits her knowledge of me

Intent on getting her own way

But I am all there is

No one else can fight her 

I alone can conquer

To run the race before me

Though my path is not smooth

And the way ridden with obstacles

I need no one to swoop in and save me

For as I am my own villain

I am my own hero

Shouldering the burdens of reality

I press ever onward

Refusing to be defeated

The Truth About Winter

The Truth About Winter 
By: R.A. Slater
11/24/12

Winter is harsh and unyielding

With its cold snaps and January thaw

Wind howling at the eaves

Snow flying, covering everything

Ice encasing freezes lasting for weeks

Yet in its own way

It brings a breath of fresh air to life

Resting and renewing the spirit within

Preparing for the spring growth

Storing up energy for the green rush

So that the cycle can persist

Late One Night

Late One Night
By: R.A. Slater
11/21/12

I was wandering late one night

Pondering the meaning of life

By the light of a pale moon

When I was interrupted by a curious sight

Ghost riders in the sky leaving their trails of fire

As slow moving meteorites

They alighted in my path and approached

'Tell me young lady, what country are we in?' The pale rider in front asked

'Why, it's America!' I answered in stammer

The riders in the back broke into chorus

Singing 'Song of the South' off key

'We're looking for Georgia,' the leader did say

'You're close,' I stammered again and pointed south 'it's about a three hour drive that way!'

'I guess that fiddler gave us good directions after all!' The leader said with a sigh

With a tip of his hat, he thanked me and gave me a wink

Then as one they turned their fiery steeds 

And galloped away, still singing in their off kilter way

I stood there amazed and watched them go

As odd as it was, the sight as they again lit up the shy

Really was something beautiful  

With my path again clear I continued on my walk

No more answers than when I started

But my heart beat lighter

Their song lingering in the air

Long after their trails had faded

Is This Paradise

Is This Paradise?
by: R.A. Slater
11/22/12

Is this paradise?
With the morning crush invading my sleep
The smog infested dream breakers
That harrow me on my way?
Far from it and no one can deny
The drive to make a dollar
Bowing and scraping to another
Watching for another to fall
Securing our place for tomorrow
To pay the bills and keep up with the Jones'
Is no one's paradise

Rather to stay up too late
Writing of humanities silliness
Spinning webs of lives and dreams
Causing wars and bringing down kingdoms
Breaking hearts and putting them back together
To sleep the sleep of the satisfied
Arising late to watch the last fog
Wisp away in the morning breeze
Sipping from the coffee cup new vigor
Fresh resolve to solve
All the loose threads from the night before

Chains on my Legs

Chains on my Legs
by: R.A. Slater
11/20/12

Pictures and papers laying about
Scattered petals of a dying flower
Memories and broken dreams
Chains about my legs
No order at all
A life of chaos
One day at a time
Sorting it all out
Bringing order to past and present
So I can let it all go
To embrace the future
And fly with the eagles
Released from my chains

The NeverEnding Saga

The NeverEnding Saga
By: R.A. Slater
11/19/2012

The Wheel spins ever on
Taking its characters from one country to the next
One Way or another
Spinning a tale too large to take in
Capturing its visitors with prophecy and intrigue
Description of splendid palaces and humble villages
Men and women of Power
Villains masquerading as heroes
Heroes found among villagers, wolves, and savages
Love entanglements and hatreds running deep
From one Age into the next
He held us captive even beyond his death
The NeverEnding Saga ends this January
Much to our anticipated dismay

Walk in Beauty

Walk In Beauty
by: R.A. Slater
10/04/2012

I walk in beauty like the light
His enshrouding glory
A halo of love that can be seen
Through smiles in darkness
And outstretched arms
Hands that heal the broken
The beauty of lives being changed
Cities renewed and transformed
Hearts being mended and made whole
A far reaching beauty
Shining for all to see
To light the Way for many

Heaven's Streets

Heaven's Streets
by: R.A. Slater
10/13/2012

Can you see these tears
That flow so freely
Stemming from your absence in my life?
I cannot stop them
You left so quickly
Without so much as a goodbye
And left me without your presence
Left me with unmet dreams
Plans unfulfilled
Even though I know
We shall meet once again
And dance on heaven's streets
The tears rain down
At the longing to see you again
Just one last dinner
One last cup of coffee
To exchange those words of comfort
To say "I love you!" one last time
But this is denied me
Even in my dreams
So I cling to that hope
Of heaven's golden streets
When once again we meet
What joy that will be!

Blood Like Water

Blood Like Water
by: R.A. Slater
10/12/2012

Life flows through my fingers
Blood like water
As salty tears mingle in
Seeping away faster than the tide
And I am powerless to stop it
My greatest fear, my greatest desire
I may never know

The Darkside of the Moon

The Darkside of the Moon
by: R.A. Slater
10/12/2012

The pain ebbs away
Like the darkside of the moon
But questions remain

And The Bride Danced

And The Bride Danced
by: R.A. Slater


The hero of our story
Stood ready at the altar
Dressed in all of his finery
The jubilant trumpets flared
Their silver peal resounding
The doors swung open
And the bride did enter
Dancing on her way to meet him
Her joy was that complete
Gossamer ribbons of silk
Streamed from her hair and wrists
Fluttering in the breeze she created
Light bouncing off the gems adorning her
Touching all who saw her
As a colorful butterfly flitting from flower to flower
Light and gentle, peaceful and alive
Grace personified
For the battle was over
And the day had been won

Small Gesture?

Small Gesture?
by: R.A. Slater
5/31/2012

It seems such a small thing
Or so it seems
But in today's economy
300 dollars for a car that runs
Really is a small amount
What it represents is so much more
Freedom and independence
Trust and confidence
An 'I love you' without the words
And so much more

Double Standard

Double Standard
by: R.A. Slater
5/24/2012

Have you ever noticed
Something unfair about our lives
That what a guy can do
A lady just cannot
I like not the look
But I love the feel...
...of my hands running over the stubs
...of the wind whistling around my ears
...of my lovers hands as he caresses
...of not being overheated
I love the freedom
...of being able to wash and go
...of not getting long hair caught and pulled
...of not being a slave to fashion
...of being me
Yet I know not what is worse
The looks that I get
Or the looks that dart away
As though I had the plague
It is just hair
It does not define who I am
And will grow back
And be in my way before you know it
I don't know why people feel so threatened
By something I chose for myself
That hurts no one, not even me!

...me...

The Poem in My Pocket

The Poem in My Pocket
by: R.A. Slater
5/24/2012

I wrote a poem down
As is my wont
On the back of a piece paper
In the spare moments at work
When no one would mind
But it just wasn't flowing
The cadence was all off
So I folded it up
All nice and neat
And tucked it into my pocket
With the best of intentions
When I got home
The hustle and bustle of life
Got the best of me
And I forgot all about it
Until the next day at work
Thinking that it may have been good
That I never got to the laundry
Depending on your point of view
So I did what any poet would do
And wrote a poem about it
Which if you're now reading
Then you know that this time
I didn't forget one bit
About the poem in my pocket

Fragile Mourning

Fragile Mourning
by: R.A. Slater
5/20/12

How fragile breaks the Mourning
When the wounding is the freshest
Like glass shattering at the feather's touch
Undoing all the healing that time has wrought
All it takes is just one moment
A smell, a phrase, a familiar object
And it all comes crashing in
The loved ones gone ahead
Having finished their race on this earth
And moved on to heavenly realms
To stand on what is now our sidelines
As we continue to run our race
Sometimes staggering beneath the weight
Though we cannot hear their cheers
They are shouting nonetheless
To keep plodding onward
And fight the good fight
To pick ourselves up
No matter how many times we break
For the race must be finished
That is our victory
And we shall see them again one day

A Child's Dilemma

A Child's Dilemma
by: R.A. Slater
5/17/2012

Save room for dessert
Says my mama
But then tells me
To clean my plate
I want to be a good girl
To make mama happy
But I want a piece of cake
And a scoop of ice cream
And I'm afraid if I eat all this
That I won't have room for dessert

Wednesday Poetry Prompt

Heartbroken

Heartbroken
by: R.A. Slater
5/16/2012

It breaks my heart
That I am so unable to help
An innocent in need
Helpless I look at your picture
There is nothing I can do
Save say a prayer for you
My bank is empty
And you need money
More than empty words
For a cruel fate awaits you

you can find him here

Mindless Drivel

Mindless Drivel
by: R.A. Slater
5/09/2012

You'd think that I could write
With this slow moving conveyor belt
Bringing only a few pieces
Of this grade they call 'lean cow'
But all my tired mind can come up with
Aside from this mindless drivel
Is how badly it wants to go home and rest

Little House on the Mountain

Little House on the Mountain
By:R.A. Slater
5/10/12

The girl put her book down and looked around
How different her life was from the story 
A three bedroom house not made of sod
Perched in a valley on a mountain
Far from any prairie
Happy her family was not
Though their life much easier
Than the days of the pioneers 
But they loved each other just the same 
Through thick and thin
Even when it seemed they didn't even like each other
Still sometimes she wished she could go 
And be a member of that family
Only partly real, for even they were polished for the story
But she knew it for the silliness it was
Picked her book back up and read on
Satisfying herself in the illusion of her imagination

Jagged Edges

Jagged Edges
by: R.A. Slater
5/8/2012

I dropped the ball
It was an accident
But that didn't stop it
From shattering into a million tiny pieces
With jagged edges that caught me unaware
And left me with bloody fingers
When I tried to fix it
So I swept them up into a pile
And meant to shove them in a corner
Until I saw how jagged edges
Threw the light into the room
Instead I put them on a plate
And set them in the window
For all to see
Maybe someday it will be fixed
But for now I'm going to let the light shine

Half Written

Half Written
by: R.A. Slater
5/5/2012

It since in the files
Under the heading of "Drafts"
Only half written
Not one bit polished
I look at it and my mind goes blank
Everything I had has vanished
Work interfered with my pen
And I didn't get it written down
But bills must be paid
Until it decides to return
It will sit
Half formed
Half written

Apple

Apple
by: R.A. Slater
5/4/2012

Hanging on the branch
All seeing its red ripeness
Beyond reach today

Jewel

Jewel
by: R.A. Slater
5/4/2012

Deep below the earth
Beneath our very feet
Indescribable pressure
Forms a precious jewel
A thing of beauty
Though still uncut
And caked in mud
Waiting to be unearthed

Friday!

Friday!
by: R.A. Slater
4/27/2012

How can it be?
It feels like forever...
But the clock does not lie,
It's scarce been fifteen minutes!
Time has decided to drag
To tease and torment.
What can I say?
After all, it's Friday!

River

River
by: R.A. Slater
5/2/2012

A deep azure ribbon
Swiftly cutting through the land
Peace finds me here

His Eye

His Eye
by: R.A. Slater
5/3/2012

The woods grow silent
The fallen sparrow takes flight
Under His watchful eye

No Stopping

No Stopping
by: R.A. Slater
5/2/2012

Ain't no stopping me
haters gonna hate
fans gonna scream
me, I gotta write

Masterpiece

Masterpiece
by: R.A. Slater
5/1/2012

It was a habit he had
Decidedly eccentric, but harmless
Collecting loose puzzle pieces
That had become misplaced
He found them everywhere
Under the couch, and on the stairs
Wedged in a corner, and under the bed
Amongst the trash on the street
Some were in pristine condition
Not a mar on them
Most were not
With faded colors and ragged edges

Each time he would check
If the pieces would fit in a slot
Of puzzles he already had
Sometimes he got lucky
Most often he did not
Until one day he decided
To see if the misfit pieces
Would fit together with each other

It was tedious at first
As colors would clash
And designs wouldn't mesh
But at last two did meet
And then a third
Encouraged he kept at it
Though it didn't come together
In just one night

Day by day he toiled
Fitting these pieces together
patiently as days faded into weeks
He did not give up
Though months turned into years
He had started something
And he would finish
Though he could not see the whole

Until at last all holes were filled
And the edges smooth
At first he saw nothing
A jumbled mess of color
But then he took a step back
And looked from a different perspective
The colors shifted as a kaleidoscope
And coalesced into an image
The very face of Christ

At first he was astounded
As each angle showed him a different expression
From the kind Teacher to the Resurrected King
But what held him the most
Was the face of the Persecuted Crucified Christ
Blood flowing as sweat
Mingling with tears
On a face of agony

He knew that he could not keep secret
The truth of the misfit puzzle pieces
He called his friends and family
And strangers off the street
To come and see this masterpiece

A precious few saw what he had found
Though some needed it pointed out to them
Most could not see a thing, however
They thought him quite mad
And spoke of men in white and straightjackets
After all, misfit puzzle pieces were meant to be tossed
Not meant to be kept, and certainly not together
But he knew the truth
And shut that kind out

The pieces though lost
And not fitting with others
Fit together in an odd symetry
For though they were different
They were of one Body

Launch

Launch
by: R.A. Slater
5/2/2012

I sit upon this mountain top
Staring into this great vacuum
That I used to live in
Suffocating, joyless, numbess
There is nothing there but broken dreams
And starless nights
I shift my gaze
And stare into the heavens
Glowing moon and brilliant stars
Are there to great me once more
Leaving behind the dark night of my soul
I launch once more into the unknown
And dare to dream great dreams once more

Summer

Summer
by: R.A. Slater
5/2/2012

Sunshine on my face
Flowers in the field
Butterflies stetch their wings

Breathe the Dust

Breathe the Dust
by: R.A. Slater
4/30/2012


Thundering, pounding
Hooves beating the ground
As the town watches
The gang ride through
Raising the dust in great clouds
That last long after they're gone
Leaving the people to breathe the dust
As it settles once again
Into the normalcy they once knew
And the sound of their passing
Fades away as a retreating storm

Shhhh....

Shhhh....
by: R.A. Slater
4/30/2012

Quietly
Gently
Now we must go
Like the fog after the rain
On tip toe across the carpet
Fading away into mist
A memory of what was
A whisper on the wind

Already?

Already?
by: R.A. Slater
4/29/2012

Please tell me it's not over
Say there's more time
It was only just Friday
How can it be
That tomorrow is Monday?

One Blood

One Blood
by: R.A. Slater
4/29/2012

I saw a picture today
Of a cheetah and a dog
Cavorting as though best friends
I read the full article and found
That they'd been raised together
Since they were pups
How much we could learn from them
Though they indeed are different animals
We humans are of one blood
Meant to live together and thrive
Not to throw stones and judge one another
That was never meant to be
If only we could regard one another
As friend instead of dinner
How much different the world would be


Story and Pic here :)

Bad Days & Good Days

Bad Days & Good Days
by: R.A. Slater
4/28/2012

For some reason I'll never understand
I have good days
When the hormones work right
And then I have bad days
When they just plain don't
There is no reason I see
For me to be this sad
I've tried all day to cheer myself
Even my patient partner has tried
And yet the depression persists
Draped around me like a wet blanket
Not warm or even cold
Just wet...heavy and suffocating
I try to think on the good
Of Him, cookies and love
But instead the bad sneaks in
The people I miss
The people I will miss
The bills coming due
The food pantry becoming bare
So I do what I know works
I sit down and resort to poetry
It might not solve anything
It usually doesn't
Except for peace that comes
In the venting
I might not feel happier
But I feel better
Just for the telling
There is magic here
Whether Godly or myself
I do not know
It does not matter

Status Update 2

Status Update 2
by: R.A. Slater
4/27/2012

There's more to my talent than satire
More than wit and comedy
Even more that poetry
Definitely more than 'just' a pen for hire!
 

The Trouble Is I Work Full Time

The Trouble Is I Work Full Time
by: R.A. Slater
4/27/2012

The trouble is
I work full time
Bills to pay
Needs to take care of
Never enough money
Or time or energy
Boring days that drag
With too many thoughts
Floating in my head
Poems wanting to take form
Stories begging to be written
It leaves me tired
And hurting
Sometimes unable to write
Yet I must soldier on
Until I'm ready to cry

Cougar

Cougar
by: R.A. Slater
4/27/2012

They call her a cougar
Because her mate is younger
And she wonders why
When she is no predator
She's just a woman
Looking for someone to hold
A man to love her
He's just looking for a woman
Who doesn't judge
Their families frown at it
She's just having a crisis
She is that age you know
And he is just going through a phase
Just a boy you know
Some get it, they see it
The tangible connection
Of two matching souls
Of strengths and weakness
Balancing each other out
He'll still be there in the morning
She'll still be there the next day

Surely You Jest

Surely You Jest
by: R.A. Slater
4/24/2012

Writer's block, she scoffs,
In the energetic voice of the young
There is no such thing!
Surely you jest?
Open your eyes and see
All the inspiration you'll ever need
Is all around you!
In the rising of the sun,
To the splendor of the night sky!
From the gentle flower petal,
To the beauty of the rainbow!
All you need is to trust
This wondrous ability you have!

You may be right, says the older one
I argue not! Except to say
You've never been there
When blank paper mocked you
Because all you could see
Were failures at your door
All my energies I did pour
Into a story from my heart
Then when I went for more
I found it spent
How the audience expected you to please
When you mocked them for sport
And they laughed and cried for more
So in disgust I walked away
And slammed the door

You sound almost bitter, the young one says
And shakes her head
But it sounds like you've a learned
To look at things differently
Than when you first begun
For that's what it's all about
Looking at things and seeing
A myriad of things
That none other but you can see
Drop the cynical callous on your heart
Let it feel again, let it heal
It's up to you to tell your tale
It's alright to be different
They need you to be that way
Even if they themselves don't know it

I took the time to live
The older one went on
To live and breath and explore
Did things I've never done before
Spent more time with family
Did not shy from new people
I can see the wisdom in what you say
And my heart wants to catch fire
I'm still afraid you see
Of what people might say
Even more what I'll find
In the hidden recesses of my heart
It's an ongoing process
And I'm getting there

That's the spirit, the younger one rejoiced
Don't be afraid, but plunge on ahead
You won't find what hasn't been found before
Catch fire and burn
Blaze like the sun
Write your stories and your poems
Lose yourself in your dreams again
No turning around
No looking back
Except to remember your lessons
Share with the world
What has been given to you
Don't hide it in the sand

Taking her words to heart
I set out across the sand
Knowing that the further I can go
The farther I can leave it behind
And embrace the future
And harness the storm within
To ride through the battles
Remembering how to dream
Will be easier
Than I first thought
As I keep on moving
Onward to where the water is
Out of this desert place

My thanks to Mara Wilson Writes Stuff for the inspiration for this poem.  May she forgive me for the liberties I took with her 'character'!

Puck

Puck
by: R.A. Slater
4/24/2012

Flying across the ice
No time to waste
No standing still
From one end to the other
Circling the rink
Feel the rush
And the chill

Classic Case

Classic Case
by: R.A. Slater
4/24/2012

You and I are a classic case
The perfect love hate
You tempt and beckon
With easy fun and thrills
Even now I hear your call
But it is never long
And I am caught in your web
Obsession drives me onward
Needing that next moment
One more time and then I'm done
Or so I tell myself
I love to play your game
As much as I hate not scoring high
The time I spend with you
Coud be better spent
But your siren call
Is hard to ignore
And the next I know
I've gone another hour
Lost in you

Dread the Morning

Dread the Morning
by: R.A. Slater
4/23/2012

Let the night stay
For I dread the morning
With its alarms and deadlines
The daily rush and clock-in times
For here in your arms I am happy
There is no rushing
No need to hurry away
Warmth and love surround me
Acceptance and no judging
Let me stay with you
Don't let morning tear this away

Frozen Moment

Frozen Moment
by: R.A. Slater
4/12/2012

Magic
Pure Magic
Filled this moment
Caught in between
The sun rising
And night fading
A few bright stars
Still hung in the sky
While morning painted
Her glory across the horizon
Soft hues of pink and lavender
Highlighting the low lying fog
Wisping across the countryside
Patches here and there
As a new day was birthed
And a myriad possibilities
Awaited discovery
In this frozen moment
Before reality comes crashing in
And the sun scorches
Our dreams away

Disappointment

Disappointment
by: R.A. Slater
4/22/2012

I called you expecting understanding
A sympathetic ear to help me plan
And for a moment I was delighted
Knowing of your past troubles with the matter
For that moment I felt encouraged
I didn't feel alone anymore
But then you turned the tables on me
With your negativity
And it all came back to me
The overwhelming sensation
Of carrying the burden on my own
Knowing that if I fail
You will be quick to condemn
Though you did not help
But I guess my shoulders will be wide enough
To handle even that
It appears I have no choice
But to keep on trucking
Even if I am alone

Drunk People Suck

Drunk People Suck
by: R.A. Slater
4/22/2012

Drunk people suck
They are too loud
Much too clumsy
They spill their drinks
All over the table or floor
They flit around and flirt
Until they can’t even walk
And have to crawl instead
They think of no one else but themselves
And expect their DD’s to take watch out for them
To clean up their messes
And pick them up time and time again
While they are having fun
The rest are stuck babysitting
Drinking water and soda
While the steak cooks
Maybe next time the tables will be turned
They’ll be the responsible ones
While we drink till we’re silly
But somehow I doubt it
For some people never change
So I’ll swallow my jealousy
And take a bottle for later
When I’m safe in my home
The dog has been walked
And my charge put to bed
It won’t be as much fun
But sometimes you take what you can get ;)

Throwing Stones

Throwing Stones
by: R.A. Slater
4/22/2012

I lay here in a heap
Huddling on the ground
My clothes barely covering me
They dragged me here that quickly
Standing there wrapped in their Law
That has no mercy for one such as me
Stones they hold in each hand
Waiting the word to throw
Why have they turned on me now?
They who were all too eager
To pay me for my services before
Where is the pharisee I was with
When through the door they did burst
But on the fringe
Stones in his hands as well
They are all silent as they speak to Another
Asking what He thought should be done with me
I looked out through hanging strands of hair
And see a Man stooped down
As though drawing in the sand
For one split second His eyes meet mine
And I am lost in that gaze
There is no judging or hatred
Nor contempt for my kind
Only the purest love I've ever seen
Kindness and gentleness and hope
He rises and speaks to those who would test
And challenges them
Only one who has never sinned
May cast a stone at me
Knowing them I cringe
Waiting for the first blow
But it does not come
I hear soft thuds on the ground
And open my eyes to see
Judgement turned within
And the subject found wanting
One by one, then in groups
They all walk away
Except those behind this Man
I rise to my feet in the emptiness
And then He speaks to me
"Where are you accusers? Is there any left to condemn you?"
For a moment I cannot speak
Such respect I've never heard
Words spoken to me as though I were an equal
I manage to answer that there was no one left
He nods His head and told me He wouldn't either
Go, He said, and sin no more
Numbly I nod, knowing that my customers will be back
Wondering how I could sin no more
With pharisees such as these
Thinking He asks too much
I being to walk away
Knowing I need more clothes
When I hear Him say to those following Him
"I am the light of the world..."
And then I know what I can do
I can follow Him too
There are women in this group
Who come to no harm
And are not abused
Respected they are, and taken care of
My walk breaks into a run
There are thing to be done
And then I'll be back
Knowing that if He didn't judge me
Then neither would the rest
Indeed, while I was gathering my clothes
There is a quiet knock on my broken door
I turn to see a group of them
Woman well dressed and smiling
These few didn't look down their noses
And I knew I was free

Imperfect Lens

Imperfect Lens
by: R.A. Slater
4/21/2012

Every status update
Every blog entry
Down to the smallest tweet
Can come under scrutiny
Of someone somewhere at some time
The more famous you are
The more likely it will be
But it can happen to the most ordinary
Your joke wasn't funny
Or the picture was lame
Your topic too bland
Or just incendiary
Bosses look and frown
Relatives see and gasp
Strangers may applaud
-or throw a fit as the mood may be
There is no privacy
And room to just be free
This imperfect lens
That society uses
To judge, condemn and stone
The whole story we do not see
Of the loneliness, fear, and insecurity
The masks we need to wear
Are more truer than we know
Made clear on this Internet
That we are more alike than not
And some just can't handle that

Status update

Status Update
by: R.A. Slater
4/21/2012


Onto my second cup of coffee
Wondering what today will bring
Other than laundry, coffee, and poetry

Let's Not Forget

Let's Not Forget
by R.A. Slater
4/20/2012


Let's not forget
The moments between us
The simple sounds of like
Of you in the bedroom
Playing on your Xbox
Me in the kitchen
Typing out another poem
The dog on her chain in the yard
The only one enjoying the outdoors
Let's not forget to live
To poke our heads out
And take a breath of air
To remember there's more than just living
To this life of ours
Let's not forget to remember each other
And not take us for granted
Appreciate our differences
And our similarities
Let's not forget to enjoy
Every moment we can
And not take for granted
The shortness of this life
We've lost too many
In just this short year
There are no guarantees

Battle Drums

Silence.
Slowly a drum beats begins, soft at first, then growing louder, until it settles into a battle cadence.

Hear the battle drums
Feel their heartbeat
The thunder of the air
They set the tempo
They set the pace
Of this the coming war

In the midst of the beat, a trumpet sounds one long clear note.

Head the trumpet's peel
The call to action
To make haste
And not to delay
For the day is at hand
And the hour now is

In the midst of the beat, the trumpet sounds three times.

How can you not hear?
Does not the very air tremble?
How can you be unaware?
Does the earth not shake?
There is lightning everywhere,
Do you not see?

In the midst of the beat, the trumpet sounds once, as though far away.

The time is now passing

Drums begin to fade, then build louder and quicker. Grows quiet, then loud again. They work themselves fanatically.

Do not delay any longer
Or sit idly on the sidelines
No more time can be wasted
The battle lines have been drawn
The opening melees have been fought
The first push awaits

Drums fade out.

Hear the battle drums
Heed the bugle call

One last faint trumpet sounds, then the drums grow quiet.
Silence.


This is a poem that is meant to be presented in front of an audience, preferably with a live drummer and trumpet.

Longing

Longing
by: R.A. Slater
4/19/2012

It has not happened yet
This moment that I am longing for
It may never come
But I hold on to hope
Even when it seems dim
To retire from the daily grind
And focus on other things instead
Like reading, writing, poetry
But I have not made my millions
Nor the lottery won
So each morning I rise
Long before the sun
To tend to others chores
In order to earn a dollar
For all the bills to be paid
Only to come home too tired
To have any fun
Except to rehash and remember
All the thoughts that ran through my mind
While my body was busy
And try to capture all that I can
In the written word
Before my battery dies

Ringing of the Bell

Ringing of the Bell
by: R.A. Slater
4/19/2012

The hour was late
When the bell was rung
Startling the sleeping
In their beds
What chaos ensued
While the sleeping joined the night watch
Some with swords already in hand
For they'd worn them to bed
Some were prompt, some were late
But the captains turned none away
Every straggler had a spot in line
Because every sword was needed
Regardless of the sharpness of the blade
And for those who came without
A weapon was found
For the enemy stood at the Rubicon
Flaunting their numbers
Flexing their muscles
Jeering and taunting
But never crossing
More than a toe over the line
The captains moved to and fro
Encouraging the members in their line
"Stand fast, lads" they would say
"Be strong! We've been here before,
"We'll be here again. We'll send them running
Every time, as we've done before."
But even they could not convince
Themselves of the truth
That this time there was something different
In the ringing of the bell
How clear each peel sounded
How crisp it did echo
Over the mountains and through dales
Calling all who would come

Chocolate

Chocolate
by: R.A. Slater
4/18/2012

Such a cliche I know
A woman and her chocolate
But it is my drug of choice
Raising my blood sugar and my weight
It is a hard thing to say no
Such sweet bliss
Cheering me when I'm sad
Tantalizing my taste buds
Whether dark, milk, or white
Chocolate is my choice
Plain or fancy
I care not
A delightful frenemy

Marbles in the Sand

Marbles in the Sand
by: R.A. Slater
Sound Bites Series #15
4/18/2012

Dirt and grime
Sand dune against the door
Driven by the winds of change
Ever shifting, ever blowing
A glimmer in the sunshine
Reveals a hidden gem
Marbles in the sand
Thought lost all this time
Hidden just beneath the surface
Pieces of treasure from long ago
Regathering them takes but a moment
Wondering what will be uncovered
During the next storm

Jigsaw

Jigsaw
by: R.A. Slater
4/15/2012

A tiny thoudand pieces
Floating in my head
They fit together somehow
Like a convoluted jigsaw puzzle
Scrambling my brain with its smooth edges
I know that if I just relax
The pieces will click together with ease
But jigsaws have always been my bane
Unless they were the easy ones
Edges and corners blurring into one
Colors and patterns swirling
Until I can see nothing
And walk away in frustration
Only to be consumed by obsession
Returning once again
To turn the puzzle pieces over
To examine them anew
Waiting for them to come together
As I know they will

Living Characters

Living Characters
by: R.A. Slater
04/14/2012

Living characters in God's play
We frolic and romp
Across God's green earth
Running to and fro
Wreaking havoc and mayhem
Sowing love and joy
In a never ending battle
Between good and evil
With heaven as our audience
Angels and demons amongst the throng
And the Son our referee
He the master of detail
We cannot see it all
Plot lines run here
And then take off there
Splits and merges defying logic
The flaw in the weave
That holds it all together
Humans' free will
Free to chose their own side
Free to chose their own role
Destiny teases at the edges
A faint scent on the breeze
Some will chase it down
Hound dog on the run
Others will let it linger in the air
Wrapped up in their comforts
Our choice to make
Before the clock runs downs
And the curtain call sounds
Will there be applause?
Will they yell for an encore?
Or will silence be our due...

Memories of You

Memories of You
by: R.A. Slater
4/13/12

How thin this image
Seemingly inconsequential
These simple lines and colors
That coalesce into a you I never knew
A single moment captured
Before I was ever born
And yet I can still see
The you of my memories
In the gentleness of your smile
I can even hear the bubbles of your laugh
Memories of times spent together
Words fail me even now
For they cannot express
The depth of your effect
On the lives touched by you
How deeply we feel your absence
Though we are at peace
Knowing you are in heaven
Until we can meet again in that place
And dance together at Jesus' feet
Our memories of you will be treasured

In memory of Audrey A. (Isabell) Allen
1/21/1952-4/3/2012