Constant

orange nails, tiger’s last dream
red smoke, blues, wafered puns
age in its one piece monologue

To the Daughter I Never Had

I don’t mean to sound unkind, and I am far, far from perfect, as a father or man. But I have spent some time in your future, and hope to help you avoid some of what just ordinary life, and poor judgement and the next 20 years of wear and tear might do to you, as it has to too many of your older sisters.

For now, you revel in the intoxicating power your young beauty has to excite desire. It just landed in your lap —no pun intended— and by God, you’ll use it. And, it’s fun for a while. (You’re smart too, but that will last longer.)

Older women like to mock men’s appreciation for younger women. “You look ridiculous–” they’ll say “–panting after her like that. “Don’t you realize how ridiculous you are?”

Yes, we feel ridiculous a lot,  especially when we’re reminded of it—and often when we walk by a mirror, so we don’t need more reminders. Do they, do you suppose?

But we realize it comes from losing the illusion of immortality, of hurt feelings, and fear of being left behind; from the cosmic unfairness of time slipping away, and also a realistic understanding about how men are suckers for a good visual. You feel you can’t win. Ever. Some days Sisyphus wins, some days the rock wins.

Actually, the rock always wins. It’s the same for us.

Old and Young

A difference between

the young and the old….

Most of the people the young loved

are still around.

Questions That Come With Age

The clock… relentless.
What’s my allotment going to be?
How to make the best of it?
How to keep dignity,
avoid a failure of imagination,
avoid self-pity….

“Savor each moment…”
Yes, well that’s a cliché.
I know what’s coming,
What I’ve lost for good.
The trick is to
Savor these, too,
With a little grace.

No lies in the mirror.
No false smiles.
No regrets.
No cruelties.
Kindnesses given
with no expectations.

There are enough
bitter herbs around.
But

One surprise smile is enough
to recharge a whole day.
Thank you, darlin’

Among Thistles and Roses

I’ve disappointed a few.
A few have returned the favor;
I’m angry for a while at both of us, but
also wonder if I am simply wrong
to expect more.

My beard is grey, but inside
is the deluded spirit of Ulysses,
yearning to go down again to the sea
in ships, to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
But let me refill that cup, and from somewhere,
perhaps in my own throat—
is that a bird? or merely
the cry of a frightened child,
longing to be gentled
against the soft comforts of
undemanding love?

Yesterdays

yesterdays stole my shine
to flaunt their windy pride
I wear no coat for smiles
but buttoned by same dews
each morning, every morrow

Autumn

    Autumn

 

So many things

are vulnerable to cold—

the cucumber’s crisp

and my sweet basil’s toes,

Butterfly Cinquain: 2018-08-29

Syllable pattern : 2-4-6-8-2-8-6-4-2

marbles
huddle not close
till you make them ready
as old school bell of yester years

marbles

Twitch

twitch not this silence, my owl
I hear the waves in your eyes
rock not this dark, my owl
I see time gallop down your gaze

Interval: A Cento

I was asking myself:
will I be like this? How will I manage?

Limerick – Age

Limerick – Age
‎01-Dec-2017

-by Venkat

Wrinkles they stood up, lined in stripes
As tigers they held voices, hollow pipes
Life’s jungle, dark stripes in white
Grew eyes to paint the night
Age in shooting aches, gives best wipes

image www.behance.net

It Is Something To Have Been

“Karma,” New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. An impressive sculpture is located in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, which is found at the New Orleans Museum of Art. It is made by Korean artist Do Ho Suh.

I am well past my 20s,
that golden time
when I only saw a little—and even that
with optimistic eyes.

I’m past the days of cheap
apartments with friends and wine and roaches,
lentils and rice for breakfast,
or leftover cold pizza.

I’m beyond learning of
war and death and pestilence.
The visitations of grief
have marked me, too.

A Fantasy of Permanent Youth

I’m racing the inevitable,
my only weapon an
optimistic fantasy
of permanent youthfulness.

The 1970s are to blame.
My generation is to blame.
We started this crap,
pretending we could play
where, before,
only teenagers and children could.

Time

*Alliteration Poem – Time*

5th Oct’17  ~by Venkat
Talons, treacherous, talons, tired

Treacherous, time takes the tooth

Timeless tresspasses, timely treason

Tossed talons, tremulous trees

Borrowed Dust

This body is nothing but
borrowed dust
Animated somehow and passing
along this unmarked
road, from who knows
what to who
knows where.

Songs in Sand

And still the waves
slip ashore,
singing their
conspiratorial whispers
between grains of sand.
The wind slides in
from the deep,
empty places,
haunted and lonely,
cold and clean
like a wet finger around

Measurement of Worth

Words hurt – words scar.

Words can undermine who you are.

Words can set to a rolling pace…

Working Vacation

After 60 years of work, more or less,
I’ve decided to take a working vacation.
I’m booking a cruise for the next 60 years
To go exploring along the coasts,
Poking my canoe up the inlets and rivers,
Probing the veins and wires and memories of
Some unfamiliar parts of me, and some
I’ve been missing for a while, to
Seeing whether there’s anything
Worth saving, or maybe just toss it all out.

It’s Time




Maybe it is time to forgive God
For the hundreds of women
who have rejected me over the years,
Starting in third grade,
(theoretically, of course,
whether they knew it or not.
And for the one or two who
didn’t, but should have).

I’ve reached the point in life
too late where I
Would actually be of some
use to them,

Could gently walk with them without harm,
And be remembered with
generosity and fondness.
But I have reached the age
of their fathers,
And so, instead, have become
regrettably invisible.

All Is Temporary

I’m nearly old, she said… to no one,
Before the mirror,
Tracing a line down her cheek
With a fingertip,
Lost in memory.

She sighs.
A chill; her soul shivers .

Song of Life – Part I and II

Old men
      and women

Some in smiles younger
     some old

Caves in mouth
Sing a long song of life

A song of waters

Song of Life – Part I

Old men
      and women
Some in smiles younger
      some old
     
Caves in mouth
      Singing songs of life

Beyond

Beyond the Gates of Diabolical Time

Mystery consorts with Harmonious Rhyme

Whispering Sedition in Melodic Tones

Gregory

He looked up at me

“Hi Dad” I said

His eyes were inspecting me

Up and down, side to side

“You are not my son” he said

Magnets and Stones

Would you take me
Back to my place
The age of stones

When stones rubbed
to give light

The New Ice Age

As Earth spins into seasons
We spun snow upon our feet
Immobile, white with frozen eyes
We breathe through cones
A smile, melting into our teeth

-12.05.15_00:22-

Feeling like
The twenty year old
I was,
Lasts until
I get up,
Then the weight

Taunting Thunder

Taunting thunder
Bring on the storm
Rail against the rain
Scream at the sea’s form