Point of Reference
By R.B. SealsTrafford Publishing
Copyright © 2012 r.b.seals
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4669-4024-6Contents
Grazeland.....................................1Iniquity......................................2Nandaleena....................................4Dispensation..................................5This Day......................................8Full Circle...................................9Allegiance....................................12Far Point.....................................13A Higher Calling..............................14Emissary......................................16Castaway......................................18Light of Day..................................19School Daze...................................20Lives on the Edge.............................25Faction Nation................................27Limericks ~ part..............................129Wishing.......................................30Ode to the White Dove.........................32Good Tidings..................................33Sentinel......................................35Dawn's Early Light............................36Continuum.....................................39Carnival......................................41Bearers of the Faith..........................43Where the Rabbits Run.........................44Casualty of War...............................49La Maison du Mystère.....................51Rise and Fall.................................53Life Force....................................55Change of Life................................56Failure Analysis..............................57Limericks ~ part 2............................59On Holy Ground................................60Span of Control...............................62Heartstring...................................63On Diverging Course...........................65Star..........................................66Ruminations...................................67Anderson Bay..................................70Locality......................................73Eight Twenty-Three............................75Status Quo....................................77The Lesser Kind...............................79Brief Encounter...............................80Nemesis.......................................82A Wish 4 You..................................83Voyageur Infini...............................84Crossroad.....................................86Limericks ~ part 3............................88Solstice......................................89Running on Empty..............................90Fade From Glory...............................92Descendant....................................94Counterworks..................................95Lamentation...................................97Winners' Circle...............................99On Self Destruct..............................100Crimson Tide..................................102Messenger.....................................104February Day..................................105Escapade......................................107Past Light....................................109Mandate for a New Age.........................111Natural Resource..............................113Annotation....................................114Valediction...................................115
Chapter One
Grazeland Standin' unfettered in pasture fair
Where fleas and flies often share,
Happy cows chew cud from hay
As spindly calves near mothers stay.
Shaded under nearby chestnut trees
Bovines gather and stand at ease,
Keepin' cool under midday sun
While droppin' patties just for fun.
Down by communal Crystal Creek
Where fauna and flora often speak,
Conversations cover events of day
While local kids on shoreline play.
Yonder way stands Farmer Fred
Lookin' like he's just been fed,
Feelin' good as he surveys his spread—
His source of income, his daily bread.
Scannin' sky o'er waves of heather,
He looks for signs of changin' weather.
All in all, life is good down on the farm
With all its country, down-home charm.
Iniquity Don't mess with our kind for
Hate is the cross we bear.
In homes and halls,
We'll voice our noble cause—
Your concerns of little care.
As disciples of extremist doctrine, we speak
Against minorities and society's weak;
Your fears fuel the motivation our
Gestures, rallies and actions bespeak.
Proudly, we've mastered parent's attitudes
That structured our formative years,
An education based on disparaging epithets
And slurs that rudely assault your ears.
Honoring ideals of our founding fathers
That serve to make this country great;
We work to keep pure and wholesome the
Race the good Lord chose to consecrate.
Protected by freedoms you enjoy, our mission
Finds support through God's good grace;
A call to duty to protect our kind,
Insuring our children's rightful place.
Despite scorn and hostility by lesser
Breeds, our people shall endure:
To maintain our blessed line,
To achieve a nation white and pure.
Nandaleena A combination of curse and treasure
Stands before tired and troubled eyes;
A collection of charm, beauty and
Tender grace he would realize.
Touched by warmth of her voice and
Manner, and beauty of face and form,
Her welcoming eyes meet his
And she quells the inner storm.
Unique, an encounter that could bring
Rest and relief and hope to his soul,
A safe harbor offering sanctuary to an
Anxious heart—a refuge ne'er to know.
Held faithful by duty, honor and loyalty,
Their separate lives he must abide,
Destined to carry feelings—held
Special—he holds for her inside
Dispensation To each must come
The last certain day
When life ends and flesh
Returns to soil and clay.
Perhaps I shall find welcome
Relief and grateful gladness,
But will also realize a terrible,
Intense and personal sadness
For I will miss the sweet, melodic
Sounds of orchestral symphony,
The rhythmic vibes of modern jazz
And the poignant ballads of country;
The chance to look once again on
The wonders of a nighttime sky,
To witness the marvels of creation
And miracle of wanting baby's cry;
To listen wistfully to anxious
Strains of nearby cooing dove,
Or feel heart's quiet pounding as it
Responds to the mystery of love;
To look upon awesome symmetry
Of delicate, sculptured garden rose,
Or benefit from process of thought that
Spawns ageless poetry and prose;
To admire the magnificence of
Mighty, majestic mountain peaks,
Or look with delight at flora and
Fauna alongside secluded creeks;
To be in awe of earth's splendor
From high above on silvered wings,
Or savor compassion and tenderness
A lover's gentle touch can bring—
Point of Reference
Such valued knowledge and insight
Gained as participant in life,
Despite the trepidations, the
Trials, the sorrow, the strife.
Thus, be my request to retain these
Precious memories I so treasure.
Hopefully, a deity's just recompense
Through kind and merciful gesture.
This Day Two score and
Four—
No less, no
More;
Years granted me,
A future left to see—
Today.
Aging half a
Score
Or decade
More,
I'll look back and ponder
If love grew fonder—
Today.
Hopeful by sixtyFour,
I'll benefit so much
More:
A pension check,
A backyard deck
And memories to replay
That venture my way—
Today.
Full Circle Devoted, dutiful son
Attending by your grave,
Ever thankful for the love
And name you freely gave.
So heavy the stone
That marks your stay
And the burden,
Respect demands,
I carry to this day.
Once mighty, noble patriarch
Was it hard to appease
The harsh rantings of a
Father you strove to please?
Was I the child you
Would come to regret:
A stark reminder of self
Disappointments, failures
And hopes not met?
For me, childhood memories
Remind of doing little right
And resulting anger
My misdeeds
Would certainly incite—
And hiding from your
Scorn in cover of night.
In private moments, I
Still feel smarting sting
Of sapling switch in
Frenzied fury applied—
Despite my whimperings,
Mother's pleas, protests and
Frightened tears she cried.
I still see your face,
Set in anger and resolute,
Expressing unchecked rage
And mother's intercession
To fend you off—bolstered
By her amazing courage.
Threats of reform school
I remember to this day,
And the many prayers
To a silent, distant god
So not to be sent away.
Thanks for your gift
That courses through me:
A loathsome mix of
Indecision and confidence
Lost others, I fear, will see.
The seeds of failure have
Undeniably grown:
An adult untrusting, unsure,
Anxious and hence, alone.
Congrats are in order for
A victory you have won:
Your son's resulting apathy
And permissiveness giving
Rebirth to your character—
Embodied in my son.
Allegiance Though battered in body and
Spirit she stands by her man,
A disconcerting loyalty
We fail to understand.
What can be her reason pursuing
Painful path, forsaking any cure?
Perhaps to honor an institution
Too often reputed safe and secure.
Denying domestic assaults she
Carries on outside closed doors,
Using attire and makeup to hide
Her scars, bruises, cuts and sores.
Prisoner to custom and scripture
She struggles to stay the course,
Her vow to live—or die—by a
Mandate that forbids divorce.
Far Point Wanted to be with you one last time
Before blue skies turned to gray,
To savor the precious, fleeting
Moment before you went away.
Alas, gone for what seems forever
When just one day is just too much,
I recall the miracle that is you, your
Smile and your ever-soothing touch.
For within me, life fades quickly and
I yearn to leave this empty home
To be with you once again, renew
And know I'm not alone.
Anxious to reunite and hold you
Near, I somehow must sustain,
Waiting the moment your face comes
In view and I can breathe again
A Higher Calling Meeting lifelong commitment
With every given breath,
She honors vow's expectations
'Till released one day by death.
Perhaps a time may come
When she can get away
And escape the duties that
Persist with each new day.
Maybe to play or frolic, or bask
On secluded, sun-soaked beach,
Sipping maitais with juicy slices of
Pineapple or rum-glazed peach;
Or lounge on swaying hammock
While caressed by warm, sultry air,
Or wander aimlessly in delightful
Divergence void of cause or care.
For now, respite is found in
Elusive and empty dreams
As pressure from daily demands
Vents in silent, stifled screams.
Her selfless roll as caregiver
Hides a tired and troubled heart
Bound by duty, incessant and
Unbending, 'till death do them part.
Emissary At metro bus stop, a
Stranger comes to town,
Alights to sidewalk, draws
In fume-filled air and
Pauses to look around.
Among diverse folk
Hurrying to-and-fro,
She blends in—nondescript—
Just passing through,
Pausing only to stop, then go.
Canvassing alleys and byways
Uptown, down' and 'round,
She comes with kindness and
Compassion to society's forgotten:
The destitute and downtrodden,
The lost and seldom found.
With endless cheer and grace
She hands out goods and stuff:
Blankets, coats, socks and
Shoes, soup and sandwich, and
Fast-food booklets—and, like
Always, she brings just enough.
To the fortunate, her timely gifts
Must have seemed heaven sent,
Brought to them by an angel of
Love and goodwill—who
Indeed was heaven sent.
Castaway Invites don't arrive
Much anymore,
Nor occasion cards
Like times before.
Family membership
Became something of the past,
His function as patriarch
Having failed to last.
No longer participant in
Traditional family 'fairs,
He's excluded from parties,
Dinners and holiday fare.
Attention toward one's family
Neatly occupies children's time,
Divorce from their mother
Being his unforgiving crime.
Rejection cuts like scalpel
And proves difficult to brave;
Sadly, a loss and emptiness
He must carry to the grave.
Light of Day Framed beneath the azure sky
She moves with poise and grace,
Reflecting beauty from deep within
Showing easily upon her face.
Caressed by patron star, beams
Dance through golden locks of hair,
Bringing all who witness here a
Welcome calm that fills the air.
From her lips words would
Flow like rain from placid sky,
Their content falling on anxious ears
Bringing comfort, yet tear to my eye
School Daze Alarm sounds nonstop
At elusive crack of dawn,
Nighttime retreats and waning
Darkness dwindles gone.
Daybreak unfolds, and
Air strikes crisp and clean,
Fall foliage loses hold
Covering lawns of tired green.
Despite the hour, body and
Mind feeling good today,
No aches, or pains, or
Upsets to spoil my day.
As if by silent command
Rufus comes bounding in,
Pulling covers and licking
Me from head to chin.
Meanwhile, near front gate,
As witnessed by lifting fog,
Daily paper is shredded
By neighbor's puppy dog.
Sunlight pierces through
Jumpstarting my heart,
While painting dazzling deco
Of awesome daybreak art.
Is it Wednesday's curbside
Trashcan collection clatter,
Or Mom frying bacon, or
Stirring pancake batter?
Annoyingly, it's scrappy,
Sinister, sister Grace
Shouting her victory in
Morning bathroom race.
Moving at snails pace, she
Goes all-out to make me wait;
Her goal—like last semester—
To insure I'm always late.
Perhaps sometime soon
She'll receive her due:
Maybe her toothpaste
Laced with Elmer's glue.
Or, perhaps something
Else seen less extreme:
Her jar of Ponds filled
With Dad's shaving cream.
Entering "survival" mode,
I hurry to dress and eat,
Then it's off to school
To homeroom seat.
Present in body, but
Not always in mind,
I wait anxiously for
Hours to unwind.
From class to class,
I better basic skills,
Subjects learned—I'm told—
Will one day pay the bills.
Relief comes from band,
Art, gym, and study hall,
And lunchtime excursion
To nearby shopping mall.
Comes mid-afternoon, and
Last bell signals to dismiss,
I scurry home with jacket
And books—well ahead of sis.
Need for cerebral challenges
Quickly passes away,
Allowing time for Little League,
Exploration and backyard play.
Smells from Mom's cooking
Signal notice the hour of five
And family gathered together—
A wonderful time to be alive.
For the moment, sibling
Rivalries are put aside,
Reminding parents once
Again their source of pride.
Six-oh-five and scrumptious
Dinner soon fades to past,
Leaving tummies stuffed with
Food and too much gas.
Moving into evening phase
Sis and I enter "chores" mode:
Homework, rooms to clean,
Lunches and clothes to fold.
Later, after Nintendo', reading,
Or tube its "nightie-night" time:
Teeth, shower, jammies on
And prayerful bedside rhyme.
A quick amen, a kiss and hug
To Mom and Dad, and off to bed;
A shout "goodnight!" to sister
Too and off to sleep I head.
Lives on the Edge A troublesome mass
Grows within her womb,
A woman's lonely dilemma:
Whether to carry through,
Or consent to its doom.
Victim of wrongful assault
That transformed her life,
Can she find the will
And strength to carry
On as mother and wife?
Finding comfort in fetal position,
She wrestles with loss of control,
Reliving flashbacks, fears
And phantom shadows—
All taking emotional toll.
Growing insecurity becomes
Her constant companion
Despite husband's loving
Support, understanding
And vain protection.
Recurring feelings of disgrace
Seek to undermine her sanity,
Her willingness and ability
To recover hinge on her
Faith, mettle and tenacity.
As delivery draws near,
Sense and sensibilities collide;
Her act of acceptance or
Rejection forever affecting
The precious life inside.
Faction Nation Sixty-second spot:
Coveted time slot.
The righteous and ordained
Praised on newsprint type:
Masterful mega-dollar
Campaign hype.
Power strategies imposed
In the public realm:
Maneuvers to manipulate
And overwhelm.
Party's philosophy laid
Out in rhetorical spiel:
Ambiguities to standardize
What is real.
Cameras focused on
Politician's smile:
Images enhanced to
Bewitch and beguile.
Spin-doctors dispatched
On special mission:
To deny, to redirect,
To refute public opinion.
Meetings arranged
To wine and dine:
Discussions to clarify
The unwritten line.
Prescription speeches
Voiced tongue-in-cheek:
Written to persuade the
Undecided, the meek.
Campaigns funded by corporate
CEOs and elite well-to-do:
Elections decided before
Voters gather in queue.
Such are special interest groups
Controlling a nation's needs:
A government defined by
Hidden agendas and deeds.
Cagey feline sits poised on lawn,
Certainly not a fool or pawn;
Often dogs give chase,
But she will win the race
Employing use of brain, not brawn.
* * *
Regrettable has seized the day
Where mice—not Man—are now at play
Where poverty flourished
And kids played malnourished—
Such was the tenure of his stay.
* * *
Yonder sits little Billie Beau,
Once viewed by folks as in the know;
Another, in town,
Challenged and took his crown;
A rival not his friend but foe.
Wishing
Seems you'll be gone
For another birthday,
As often it seems
It's planned that way.
Family and friends
Will circle near,
Extending best wishes
And hearty good cheer.
On the menu I suspect
Will be the usual fare:
The traditional trappings
That show they care
Including a present
Or two—or few—
And customary cards,
Cake and candles too.
Perhaps on tap a
Change to evening gown
For a fun-filled night
Of "doin' the town."
But whatever the activity,
As end of day draws nigh,
Remember to look with
Fondness at nighttime sky;
For there you'll find
Your favorite star
And attached a special
Message from afar,
Sent to wish you all the best
As only heaven can display,
In sparkled splendor the
Words: Happy Birthday
Ode to the White Dove
You catch the restless wind
As if pulled by unseen string
And flirt amongst the drifting,
Sunlit clouds and the
Company they bring.
Unfettered, you soar and leave
Behind the earthly plight—
A brief reprieve granted by
Your creator's gift of flight.
Framed against the brazen
Sky and the comfort it brings,
You fly unscathed high
Above the troubled lands,
Safely aloft on able wings.
Sweet symbol of hope and peace
We celebrate the life you live,
The valued ideals you embody,
The blessings you freely give.
Despite the dangers we bring your
Way, we pray your kind endure:
A precious gift of form and function—
Truly from heaven we can be sure.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Point of Referenceby R.B. Seals Copyright © 2012 by r.b.seals. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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