Category Archives: Writing

The Flags We Fly: Patriotic Sonnet

Our household flys a few flags
outside of our doors.
Often just one or two.
Sometimes a few more.

In season there’s Packers, Badgers,
Brewers and Sounders flags, too.
Sometimes there’s an M’s or a “12” banner.
But there’s always the Red, White and Blue.

Old Glory waves proudly
from the dawn’s early light
and on through the sunset and dark,
when we shine her up with spotlights.

No matter what sport we might be cheering or involved in,
our house wants folks to know how much we love our great Nation.

My wife is so patriotic she wrote a book about freedom. Find out about “Restoring Liberty” here. 

Where My Creative Passion Goes: Free Verse

Each day
I read,
get aroused
or excited
or perplexed
or disgusted
or saddened,
and I write.

I shout
out
to the wind,
to the sun,
to the moon,
stars,
planets.

I scream
out
to the woods
and fields
and lakes
and creeks.

I think
outloud,
and express it,
as though my words
and thoughts
might actually
be read,
might actually
make a difference.

Who am I fooling?

Social media
is not my pulpit.
It is not my op-ed page.
It is a place
for me to respond,
react,
rant,
and write
drivel.

It is a waste of my time,
my talent,
what I’m blessed with.

I need to change.

Her Keyboard Versus Mine: Free Verse

How I wish my fingers
in the evening flowed
like the creek,
like wind through the trees,
like a late summer’s gentle rain,
like the deepening orange-red sunset,
like the darkening eastern sky,
like her fingers dancing
across the 88 black-and-white keys,
like the music she creates
swirling and ebbing and dancing
out her door,
across the porch,
through the grass and leaves.

Instead, my fingers
bang bang clickety-clackety
across black keys
with white symbols,
creating not beautiful sounds
but only words
I hope will ebb and flow
and move.

If they are read.

Otherwise, that obnoxious
clickety-clackety noise
is the only sound
the peaceful evening will get
from my flying fingertips.

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