Chivalric

Bejewled with honor
He divines at last the sacred truth
To live
To be
Demands bravery
The mustering of strength
The command of courage

Like Percival and forgotten times
The same fifty or five-hundred years ago as tomorrow
To love and be loved
Battle scared clutching one's heart

At end of journey
Sunlit banners unfurled
In unseen glory did he strive
In un-witnessed grace did he serve
In unblemished virtue did he search

To his own self was he true
Free at last in his banished state

A Few Simple Truths About Life and Death

In No Particular Order

Every day you don't shave is a good one.

Swimming is the best exercise.

We are not alone in the universe but with out limited lifespans we can not overcome the distances to communicate.

Running to catch a bus just makes it pull away faster.

Make sure to have a working spare, a back-up pair, and plans three including "B" and "C".

Drive defensively because some of those crazy people ARE trying to kill you.

Mythologies and religions aren't real, they are just pimping Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Krishna, Moses, or Benedict the umpteenth.

Taxidermy is weird.

Get your shots.

Eat correctly.

Stand aside.

Walk to the right.

Wear a life vest especially if you don't think you'll drown.

Plaids, poka-dots, stripes, and paisley might not work for you.

Big marshmallows are best for smoors which MUST be taken on all camping trips.

Drink mostly water.

Wear your seat belt.

If you are tripping the light fantastic wear a helmet.

One should not allow heavy objects to fall upon one.

Be kind.

Play and have fun 'till someone looses an eye, then be sadly quiet.

Don't litter.

Remember AND keep the golden rule.

Sing in your voice.

Dogs will give their life trying to save yours.  Cats wait for you to die then they eat you.

Farm family Thanksgivings are the very best Thanksgivings.

Trains are the coolest way to travel.

Patience is only a virtue if you have it now.

Be gracious.

Live THIS very day of days.  

Don't actually break a leg, but if you do it's a good thing if you can come crawling.

Clean up after yourself AND your animals.

It really is best to look before you leap.

The madness, anger, and disgust are not there to mess with you it's just a manifestation of our hurting emptiness on this planet we call the human condition.

Be your authentic self.

Listen.

Smile.

Say "thank you".

Love and be loved.

There is nothing wrong with being right.

It takes courage to be a decent human being.

Be courageous.

Put things back.

Enjoy your fleeting life.

Go naked.

Be respectful.

We all start dying at conception, some of us are just slower than others.

AT BAT

All resting on Lefty, a pair of shoulders
He steps up to the plate
Here's the pitch
Change up - outside
One and oh.

Hot glare of the sun
Outfield shadowing left
Fast ball down the middle
Strike called
One and one

Lefty crowds the plate
High and outside
Really chased that one
The call is one and two

Attendance good
Heat considered and reconsidered
Some runs, bats, errors

Fast ball inside corner
A swing and up it goes
Up and up and up
It's outta' here
Tell it goodbye

Cheers for Lefty, pair of shoulders
Doffs his hat on the way home

The loneliest teamwork

For Win

smile joyful

search honorable

intelligence undeniable

heart pure

pulse strong

independently independent

adventurously adventurous

Buddhistly religious

middlely pathed

peaceably at peace

sincerely sincere

lovingly loved

mightily missed

Opening Flower

Like a summer flower

 Her smile is a gift

She can bring joy by thought alone

Watch your heart

Her laughter at class time is a thing to behold

Bold, funny, endearing and searing

A ringing of bells

A knowing of secrets

Her sweetness can smooth hurts

Ask her of mystery

Ask of love

From an ancient land to a foggy sky

My dear Ozlem

My friend

Thinking of you I pray

For your journey, life, safety, loves

Blessings friend

As your heart unfolds like an opening flower

Kevin Watkins © 2010

A poem for Ozlem on the occasion of her engagement – San Francisco, California – October 2010.

POP

POP UPS
POP TOPS
I'LL JUST POP IN
SODA POP
POP GOES THE WEASEL
POP'IN FRESH DOUGH
POP-UP BOOKS
POP TOPS
THE BOSTON POPS
POPPY FIELDS
POPPY SEED MUFFINS
POP OFF AT THE MOUTH
POP A PIMPLE
POP YOU ONE
POP A CORK
POPCORN
POP MUSIC
POP TARTS
POPULAR MECHANICS
POPA SMRUF
POP ROCKS
POPULARITY
POP THE QUESTION
POP A PILL
BOMB POPS
POPS

The Most Holistic Way

she was dressed all in leather
she was spiked from head to toe
she'd got on the bus and started to cuss
and boy did that bus driver go

her chains did more than jingle
her spurs did more than clink
she looked like an escapee from a nut - house hotel
I assume she was the head shrink

more piercings than st. sebastian
more needles than a sewing queen
she was looking for an acupuncturist
to prick about her spleen

it's the most holistic way she plead
as her spikes poked out my eyes
i hope they don't mess up my hair she said
if they do i know someone dies