Category: Free bird Poetry

Poems about the lonely traveler

Love Never Grows Old

 

      Love Never Grows Old

Tell me, are my eyes still blue?

My hair is gray, just like you.

Do my lips still taste the same?

Despite all the aches and pains,

I still love you like I always did.

I have loved you since we were kids.

My skin is dry and wrinkled.

I have problems when I tinkle.

Liver spots are now quite common.

My favorite food is now Top Ramon.

I have to take my time when I walk.

My legs look like 2 pieces of chalk.

Yet, my heart is still aflame.

Just the mention of your name

can get my heart to flutter.

You excite me like no other.

Many seasons have come and gone.

If I had known I’d live so long,

I would have kept in better shape.

That way, I could still have my cake.

But, never cake without the frosting.

I know how much it is costing.

For you are the frosting on my cake.

You have been since the very first date.

I have grown old but, I don’t feel blue.

Why?—– Because I still have you.

———————————R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

The Watchers

 

             The Watchers

I was walking down a country road.

Enjoying the view, resting my load.

Then, I looked up in the sky.

A UFO caught my eye.

It came slowly down.

Then hovered, just off the ground.

I went over for a closer look.

I heard a rumble & the ground shook.

A blue light came down & covered me.

Next, I was in the air above the trees.

I was taken up inside the ship.

Next I knew, I was in, like a slip.

Three big eyed creatures surrounded me.

Big head, no ears, & a slit of a mouth, you see.

They were short, about three feet tall.

They spoke inside my head. What gall.

Mental telepathy, it seemed to be.

They wanted to know all about me.

I wanted to know about them to.

There was nothing I could do.

After awhile, I was communicating well.

They understood all, from what I could tell.

They said they have observed our race for a millennium.

They wondered why we couldn’t get it in our craniums.

A pretense for violence is wrong.

We could all end up dead and totally gone.

Self annihilation,  they think it is called.

I asked them about their cattle mutilations?

They said it was another alien nation.

There is more than us who are watchers.

I said too bad they weren’t helpful, like doctors.

A treaty in place prevents direct intervention.

Although, this did not reduce the tension.

I wondered what was the sense of it all?

Most races wanted earth to answer the call.

What call are you referring to?

The call to join the universal community pool.

To be one race among the many others.

That stretch across the galaxies, one to another.

Many, many planets have races that are coming of age.

They will soon be ready to join the universal stage.

To obtain this we must stop warring with our fellow man.

At least, that is the general plan.

All races seem to reach a point in their growth

where they will self destruct or overcome & promote

the wellbeing of everyone and all others.

Think of everyone as a sister or brother.

Then, they are ready to leave their earth.

To expand into space, for what it is worth.

To become part of the universal community.

To live in peace and harmony.

That final step is up to us

Does the human race have the stuff?

All we can do is wait and see.

The ‘watchers’ hope we will learn to be free.

————————————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Home Coming

      The Home Coming

Coming back home, where the oak trees grow.

Where the foothills thrive & rivers flow.

Where the mountains start their upward climb.

Where I left that love of mine.

 

Look at the changes that have happened here.

The small town has grown more than I feared.

The old homestead is still standing.

Sometimes, it isn’t easy understanding

 

why I ever left this little bit of heaven.

I guess my bread needed more leaven.

I needed to rise to the occasion.

Which I did, without hesitation.

 

All of that is behind me now.

Time to hitch the horses & get behind the plow.

Time to make a life here again for me.

Time to see if my old love is still free.

 

She hadn’t heard yet I was back in town.

She was surprised when I came around.

She threw herself into my arms.

I was aware of all of her charms.

 

She told me she thought I had died.

I said “No, I am very much alive.”

I told her I was surprised she had waited for me.

She told me that wasn’t how it was, you see.

 

She had dated many men. But, no one filled the bill.

Only I could ever give her a thrill.

I said I felt the same about her.

No one could replace her. That’s for sure.

 

So, our romance, that had been put on hold

began again. Like a whirlwind, we rode.

It led to our marriage and a family.

We made a go of this farm & its shanty.

 

We have a beautiful spread we call home.

Three fine kids and a life they have grown

to love each and every day. In every way.

The time will come for them to go away.

 

Hopefully, like I did, they will return.

Heart in hand for the one they yearn.

May their desires turn out as well as mine.

But, that will all happen at another time.

————————————-R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

Ode To Mountain Mike

      Ode To Mountain Mike

He was a mountain man through and through.

You could tell by the way he would talk to you.

He was tough as cow hide and twice as strong.

Once he started, he wouldn’t stop all day long.

He crawled 20 miles on cracked ribs & a broken leg.

Took him two weeks. Then he drank a keg.

He made it to a small, outback store for help.

To pay for it, he gave the guy a pelt.

Hunting and trapping was his stock and trade.

He made his living by what it paid.

When the Rocky Mountains were first explored,

mountain men made the first scores.

Our mountain man, we’ll call him Mike,

was as tough as a steel spike.

He had a one room cabin way up in the mountains.

He called it base camp. It was near some fountains.

He roamed an area now called Yellowstone.

He saw hot pools of water, bubbling up with foam.

He saw geysers, rivers, and hot mud flats.

The mud felt good on his tired feet. It’s a fact.

He would hunt & trap bear, beaver, badger, and elk.

He would eat the meat and save the pelts

Once a year he would go to civilization.

Take his large store of pelts in preparation.

He would then buy supplies for another year.

Then, off he would go hunting elk and deer.

He would often fish for himself. Nothing was fished out.

He would catch big, beautiful rainbow trout.

A fish dinner cooked on an open fire.

It would fill him up and he would retire.

Next day he was up early and off again.

One day he ran into a group of red men.

It was an Indian hunting party out for the day.

He knew enough of their language to say.

“How is it going? Was hunting good?”

They would answer as best they could.

He had made peace with the local Indians.

Since the day he saved the chief’s son’s skin.

The kid was pinned down by a bear.

Mike nailed the bear with a shot from nowhere.

He was so far away, the Indians could hardly believe

the shot was possible to achieve.

Such things Mike took as a task to be done.

Indians respected him. He was the ‘one.’

Many stories of mountain men are told.

Most were exaggerated to sound bold.

But, the stories of Mountain Mike were true.

There was nothing that he couldn’t do.

But, today, we are running out of time.

We will tell another of his stories another time.

——————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picking Pine Nuts From The Cone

 

      Picking Pine Nuts From The Cone

Life wasn’t what it seems.

She only came to me in dreams.

I wanted her with me & much more.

She could help me with my chores.

 

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

It’s much more than it’s been shown.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

 

I saw her walking down the street.

She was tall and oh so sweet.

I didn’t even know her name.

Yet, I tried to play the game.

 

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

It’s much more than it’s been shown.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

 

I said ‘Hi, remember me from?”

She looked at me like I was dumb.

I said “I can’t remember your name?”

“Don’t look at me. I’m not the blame”

 

“I think we got off on the wrong foot.”

‘What is it your getting off your gut?”

“I wanted to get to know you.”

“You could help me do what I do.”

 

“Picking pine nuts from the cone.”

“Picking pine nuts from the cone.”

“It’s much more than it’s been shown.”

“Picking pine nuts from the cone.”

 

“You’re a nut. Get away from me.”

“I would never want to see

me picking pine nuts from  the cone.”

“So, go ahead, and run on home.”

 

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

It’s much more than it’s been shown.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

——————————-R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

 

You Didn’t Do A Thing

      You Didn’t Do A Thing

You could have hugged me.

Like she hugs me.

You could have kissed me.

Like she kisses me.

 

But, you didn’t—-do a thing.

You just stood there, looking at the ring.

She is everything I wanted you to be.

Now, I will miss you,—– for eternity.

 

You could have said you wanted me.

Like she says she wants me.

You could have loved me.

Like she loves me.

 

But, you didn’t—-do a thing.

You just stood there, looking at the ring.

She is everything I wanted you to be.

Now, I will miss you,—- for eternity.

 

You could have clung to me.

Like she clings to me.

You could have never let me go.

Like she will never let me go.

 

But, you didn’t—-say a thing.

You just turned, and left the ring.

She is everything I wanted you to be.

Now, I am without you,—- for eternity.

——————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

An Adventure Not Worth Repeating

      An Adventure Not Worth Repeating

We were just kids at the time.

We didn’t know what was dangerous & what wasn’t.

It was decided we would explore an old mine.

Five of us headed out with sack lunches.

We rode our bikes about five miles.

Then, we hiked down an old dirt road.

It went down the side of a hill. We had smiles.

The feeling of a new adventure was  a real goad.

We went for about 2 miles. There it stood.

A big black hole in the side of the hill.

There were old mounds of dirt and wood.

What appeared to be rails, remained still.

The kind ore carts would be rolled on.

They disappeared down the middle of the mine.

It was very dark inside. Not far in light was gone.

We started in with lights, taking our time.

It wasn’t long till we came to a branch.

Three of us went on straight ahead.

The other two went right, a smaller tunnel.

The two of us went on, watching our head.

After awhile, it narrowed like a funnel.

Quickly, we came to a huge cave in.

By lights, we saw we could climb up and over.

It was a very low space to fit in.

We crawled up and over a pile of boulders

Once past the cave in, we continued on.

The tunnel curved to the right

After a good distance, it was water, we came upon.

We decided to wade on in. Right.

It soon was up to our waste but, we kept going.

We tripped on something. It was submerged rails.

We went on. If we had a boat we could be rowing.

Then we saw lights & heard voices. We yelled a hail.

It was our three buddies. We had made a circle.

They were at the water’s edge.

We had scared them enough to make their blood curdle.

Their tunnel went straight. .Ours cut off, like a wedge.

Their tunnel was flooded from there on.

We decided we would not explore anymore.

The water was real cold, with mud that made a bond.

When we got out, we had our lunch, and more.

We exchanged tales of how we felt.

We told the others of crawling over the cave in.

We acted brave. Didn’t really say how we felt.

We said we would not tell where we had been.

just in case we ever decided to come back.

That never happened. I think we were scared.

Now, years later, we can talk about our track

we laid down when we were young & didn’t care.

———————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

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Agreeing To Never Disagree

      Agreeing to never disagree

I’m really feeling good all day long.

Despite the fact, I’m breathing in smog.

I do a little dance and whistle a song.

Just really happy, as I jump a log.

 

People wonder what has happened to me.

I seem different, more energized.

They don’t know I’m as happy as can be.

Because you came back and apologized.

 

A minor disagreement had me down in the dumps.

I felt as low as a snakes belly.

I wasn’t wrong, but I had taken my lumps.

My confidence was as shaky as jelly.

 

Then, you showed up at my door.

This was a total shock to me.

You apologized for the way you were before.

We made up & agreed to never disagree.

 

Now, I’m on cloud 9 and you are too.

I was meant for you & you for me.

We will stick together tighter than glue.

Though were together, we both feel free.

 

What a difference it has made for us.

A simple decision for us to follow.

No more arguing and raising a fuss.

Agreeing to never disagree is not hollow.

 

It works for us. It may not for you.

Things have greatly improved since then.

It is something we can easily do.

Since we don’t disagree, there’s nothing to defend.

————————————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

The Pain Lasts So Long

 

      The Pain Lasts So long

The sun was bright. It was time to rise.

Something grimy was in my eyes.

I staggered to the bathroom & washed my face.

I started looking all around the place.

What a mess. I’ve been depressed.

Feeling to poor to clean it up, I guess.

I brushed my teeth and combed my hair.

I put on clean clothes. But, still didn’t care.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

 

I made some breakfast, but didn’t sit down.

I just wasn’t hungry, without you around.

I got my coat and headed for the door.

I had nowhere to go that wasn’t a bore.

I walked along and turned into a park.

Last time I was there was after dark.

Couples were walking and holding hands.

Chatting together and making plans.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

 

It all reminded me of better times.

I leave the park and try to unwind.

Up ahead I see a movie marquee.

I go in to see what there is to see.

It was a romance. A happy ending .

It left me tearful, uncomprehending.

It did not end up happy for me.

I was as depressed as I could be.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

 

Up the street, I bumped into some friends.

How was I doing?——- So it begins.

They knew I was no longer with you.

They were just trying to be supportive too.

But, it only made me feel worse.

I couldn’t tell them that. What a curse.

Finally, they let me go on my way.

They all wished me a better day.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

 

Back home again, I feel half dead.

Instead of watching TV, I crawl into bed.

I say a prayer, especially for you.

I just don’t know what else to do.

I get up and brush my teeth.

I kind of stagger. feeling a little weak.

I hop back in bed and turn out the light.

Again, tomorrow, I’ll take up the fight.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

—————————————-R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Birth Of Love

      The Birth Of Love

Long, long ago, in the Garden Of Eden.

God created man, with a good reason.

In His own image, God created him.

He worshiped God as his creator, then.

Then man asked “Why am I alone?”

“I need someone to call my own.”

So, God created woman as his helpmate.

It was perfect,—– not a mistake.

This is how love came to be.

Love between man & woman, see.

It was perfect at the very start.

Till Satan came along & tore it apart.

Through the ages, since that time.

Love hasn’t always been real kind.

But, when the real thing comes along.

You’re back in the garden, where you belong.

Things become perfect again.

The real love grows through thick and thin.

Satan may try to mess things up.

But, if both of you are tough.

Also, if you are wise in your ways.

Neither will give Satan any sway.

Your love will prevail against all odds.

Proving that man is worth this gift of God.

This gift of love, given with all its blessings.

That leads back to God. It’s truly refreshing.

So, if you find a ‘helpmate’ to love.

Treat her as a gift from above.

No greater gift was ever given.

Till He gave His son, & we were forgiven.

——————————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2015)