Truth

Getting to the truth of a thing

It’s kind of like digging for good dirt

Sometimes the earth

Is soft and compliant

The soil is easily turned

Willingly revealing layers underneath

So easy, allowing us to

Push our hands into the dirt

Pull up clumps of weeds

Plow a path for a Spring flower trail

Sometimes the earth is hard

Unyielding

Protecting the dirt

Layering diversions

Of hard rock

Perilous gulfs of varying elevations

Deterrents to digging

Deterrents to plundering

The precious soil

Explosives

Bulldozers

Full-on destruction

We press on

Digging deeper

In search of the elusive dirt

And what happens

When we have finally found

The precious place to build

The right foundation

Was it worth it

Or is the dirt revealed too sensitive

Too raw

Too damaged

Getting to the truth

Can leave a lot of destruction in its wake

Only to reveal something

Too fragile to take

E.A. Fussell

3/17/2019

White Sneakers

The box lid opened

I lay there in wonder

What the hell am I doing

I should be six feet under

They didn’t listen

When I said no funeral

They dressed me up

Put me on display

Now here I lay

Looking at my feet

Trying not to see

The people

Peering in at me

Why didn’t they come see me

When I was alive

Even if it was

A very long drive

Nope, I can’t do this

Too many faces

Too many years

Too many tears

Wasted

I will focus on my feet

Who the hell picked my shoes

I would rather see my toes

White sneakers

The worst color

They’ll be dirty way too soon

One good thing that I see

No laces

That suits me

I wonder what will happen

If i just get up and go

How will any of these people

Ever even know

Come on sneakers

It’s time to go

It’s a weird thing

To see yourself

Lying in a coffin

Your loved ones gathered in one place

This doesn’t happen often

A twinge of anger

Or is it regret

As I drift upward

And try to forget

Wait

Upward

That’s good right

Come on sneakers

Let’s go toward the light

The light seems to be fading

We’ve got to run fast

I understand why I’ve got on

White sneakers at last

Run sneakers run

Let nothing get in our way

Hurry up sneakers

We get to see God today

E.A. Fussell

3/16/2019

(Poetry exercise, topic: sneakers)

Crows Feet 2

Crows feet

Prancing

Dancing

On my roof

In the trees

On the street

Smart little birds

Communicating without saying a word

Scavengers

Messengers

What omen to impart

Are you telling me

To open up my heart

Or keep it closed

Locked down tight

As you take your flight

Will you return

Or leave me here to burn

In speculation

What is your destination

What is mine

I’ve lost all sense of time

Yet time marches on

Crows feet

Prancing

Dancing

On a more sensitive surface

The surface of my skin

Smart little birds

Communicating without saying a word

E.A. Fussell

3/16/2019

(2nd 5 minute poem exercise with topic crows feet)

Crows Feet 1

Spring is almost here

Fall reflects itself in my mirror

The crows feet upon my face

Have left their dubious trace

Spring is drawing near

The fever to roam familiar

The crows feet mark a warning

Not many days left will be dawning

Spring, when it comes each year

Brings reminders of youth

And lack of fear

The crows feet get deeper

Reminders that a good life is cheaper

Than one lived on the edge

Always teetering on a ledge

E.A.Fussell

3/16/2019

(1st 5 minute poem exercise with topic crows feet)

Broken Spoke

Quick-Quick

Slow-slow

And away we go

Texas two steppin’

At the Broken Spoke

It’s an old fashioned dance hall

Where manners abound

Old fashioned music

Where they’re serious

About two steppin’

They’re not messin’ around

If you love to dance

And you’re in Austin, Texas

Put on your boots

Put on your Stetson

Head over to the Broken Spoke

You can even take a lesson

Then grab a dance partner

And meet some really nice folks

Don’t worry ladies

There’s plenty of dance partners

In a variety of ages

E.A. Fussell

03-02-2019