"US Review of Books, February 2014
RECOMMENDED by the USR
“…(Few) compilations are as thorough and encompassing as Point of Reference. Seals…most intriguing poems are those where he digs deeper on topics that humanity is so afraid to look in the eye….Seals never ceases to impress with his understanding and utilization of rhythm and rhyme. Poems such as ""Heartstring"" deliver an almost musical feel....Overall, Seals poetry is infused with vivid imagery….Without a doubt, this is a must read that will likely be a source for healthy discussions in society.”  
Reviewed by Mihir Shah

ForeWord Reviews, June 2013
Five Stars (out of Five)
""...Point of Reference, is like taking a peak into someone’s diary. These lyrical poems offer the reader thought-provoking metaphors about the realities of the world, from a brief encounter with a robin to tough topics like abortion and assault....The diverse points of view and confessional voices provide new lenses with which to see the world....The poems encourage the reader to take a step back from familiar situations in order to see from a new angle and react against the status quo.""  
Lisa Bower

""Some of the poems are very insightful and make you delve into the topic questioning your own beliefs. Others are very dark and I felt very uneasy reading them as if I was looking into someone’s soul and their deepest, darkest secrets.""
Bobbie Lutz
Dover, Delaware

""Poetry is a metaphor for life and humans have worked to reflect our lives in poetry the way other craftsman have left their marks on the world in stone or marble. The effect of poetry as art is similar, and as profound, and often as lasting and durable in its own form.

In his latest collection of poetry, Mr. Seals has gathered ideas as diverse as can be conceived, but their disparity holds common the art of humanity. Images of cows in pasture share pages with grappling with a father’s death and the author’s thoughts on extremist ideals.

It is obvious from the beginning through the end that Mr. Seals wishes to provoke thoughts on tough topics and hold a mirror to the ideals we sometimes hold dear. Many of the pieces he has chosen for the collection tackle topics that we as a community often deal with and even dwell on, but topics we rarely choose for polite discussion. These issues are dealt with in digestible parts that help us quantify and understand our own emotions.

One’s decision to have an abortion, or dealing with domestic abuse in a religion that condemns divorce are not debates we often choose to have, but issues that require thought and consideration nonetheless. Good poetry succeeds when it exposes life’s truths in a way that makes us re-examine our beliefs and re-consider the viewpoints. Mr. Seals succeeds in squaring the righteous and moral with his sparse prose and lays bare many emotionally fraught issues.""
Amanda MacDonnell
Yorktown, Virginia
"

Point of Reference

By R.B. Seals

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2012 r.b.seals
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4669-4024-6

Contents

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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