Monday, April 16, 2018
Poem: This Thing Sweeps Over Me
By: Donovan Baldwin
I have lived with hurricanes,
And dared to ride the wind.
I love thunder and lightening, and,
Come alive in the stormiest of storms.
Challenge wakens my soul,
Causing me to stand tall and proud.
But, this thing sweeps over me,
Leaving me breathless and in awe.
It is the feeling that I feel,
When I think of her.
If I could hold her hand,
Encirle her waist with my arms,
Once kiss her lips with mine...
I am not sure that I could breathe.
April 2018
And dared to ride the wind.
I love thunder and lightening, and,
Come alive in the stormiest of storms.
Challenge wakens my soul,
Causing me to stand tall and proud.
But, this thing sweeps over me,
Leaving me breathless and in awe.
It is the feeling that I feel,
When I think of her.
If I could hold her hand,
Encirle her waist with my arms,
Once kiss her lips with mine...
I am not sure that I could breathe.
April 2018
Labels: donovan baldwin, kiss, love poem, love poetry, poem, poetry, romantic poem, romantic poetry
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Don't Rush To Judge People By Their Appearance
By: Donovan Baldwin
Don't judge people by their appearance:
True story.....
Years ago, while in the U.S. Army, I was stationed in a small Texas town. My friends and I used to hang out at a local tavern, where we met a local guy I will call "Larry".
Larry was a happy old fellow with a beer belly and a penchant for gambling...on anything. His clothes and speech were those of a working man, apparently a cowboy, and, since he never bet more than a buck on anything, we assumed he was getting by on Social Security, or something like that.
A guy named Charley would try to win money from Larry, and we made a game of winning the money from Charley and letting Larry win it back from us.
One day, a brand new Cadillac pulled up in front of the bar, and a big woman, dressed to the nines, wearing a mink coat (in the middle of Summer), and several expensive looking pieces of jewelry, got out and came into the bar.
Stopping in the doorway, she yelled, "Larry XXXX, get your a** out in the car. You know you got to home and get dressed for the reception.
With hanging head, and muttering under his breath, Larry shambled out to the car and obediently got in.
Seeing the questions on our faces, the bartender enlightened us:
Several years earlier, Larry and his wife were dirt-poor with a small patch of land where they scraped by running a few head of cattle. Then one day, oil was found directly under Larry's land.
You can guess the rest. Larry wasn't on Social Security, he was on an allowance....from his wife.
His wife had used the money to hook into the local social scene and was friends with many powerful people in the area, as well as the governor of the state.
However, Larry was still just a "good ole' boy" who was only happy at the bar, drinking his beer, and playing pool and shuffleboard. Just like everybody else...except for the several million dollars he had in the bank.
True story.....
Years ago, while in the U.S. Army, I was stationed in a small Texas town. My friends and I used to hang out at a local tavern, where we met a local guy I will call "Larry".
Larry was a happy old fellow with a beer belly and a penchant for gambling...on anything. His clothes and speech were those of a working man, apparently a cowboy, and, since he never bet more than a buck on anything, we assumed he was getting by on Social Security, or something like that.
A guy named Charley would try to win money from Larry, and we made a game of winning the money from Charley and letting Larry win it back from us.
One day, a brand new Cadillac pulled up in front of the bar, and a big woman, dressed to the nines, wearing a mink coat (in the middle of Summer), and several expensive looking pieces of jewelry, got out and came into the bar.
Stopping in the doorway, she yelled, "Larry XXXX, get your a** out in the car. You know you got to home and get dressed for the reception.
With hanging head, and muttering under his breath, Larry shambled out to the car and obediently got in.
Seeing the questions on our faces, the bartender enlightened us:
Several years earlier, Larry and his wife were dirt-poor with a small patch of land where they scraped by running a few head of cattle. Then one day, oil was found directly under Larry's land.
You can guess the rest. Larry wasn't on Social Security, he was on an allowance....from his wife.
His wife had used the money to hook into the local social scene and was friends with many powerful people in the area, as well as the governor of the state.
However, Larry was still just a "good ole' boy" who was only happy at the bar, drinking his beer, and playing pool and shuffleboard. Just like everybody else...except for the several million dollars he had in the bank.
Labels: donovan baldwin, gambling, judge people, millionaire, shooting pool, texas, U.S. Army
Wednesday, April 04, 2018
A Bit Of Travel
By: Donovan Baldwin
Traveled a bit recently. Nothing big, just a trip from Texas to Kentucky and back (about 1,000 miles each way).
Family thing I've mentioned elsewhere.
However, it brought back memories of other places I've been, things I've done (some I shouldn't have), and people I've met on my travels. Some memories were funny, some were sad, some scary...other stories?
Maybe sometime I'll tell them.
I have been through 46 of the 50 states in the U.S.
I lived in one "foreign" country for six years.
I speak three "foreign" languages (If you count Latin.).
I have traveled in six "foreign" countries.
I have read about travel and people and customs in innumerable other parts of the world that I have not yet visited.
I've reached one inescapable conclusion.
Once you get past the pseudo-barriers of customs, and language, of a person or group of people, human beings are the same, whether they are in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, or the Philippines; Alabama, or Albania; New Hebrides, or New Jersey.
People around the world desire health and happiness for themselves and their loved ones, and, while there are always "bad apples" everywhere, people, no matter their land or language, will go out of their way to help a stranger in need.
Just so you know, I think you're one of those people.
Family thing I've mentioned elsewhere.
However, it brought back memories of other places I've been, things I've done (some I shouldn't have), and people I've met on my travels. Some memories were funny, some were sad, some scary...other stories?
Maybe sometime I'll tell them.
I have been through 46 of the 50 states in the U.S.
I lived in one "foreign" country for six years.
I speak three "foreign" languages (If you count Latin.).
I have traveled in six "foreign" countries.
I have read about travel and people and customs in innumerable other parts of the world that I have not yet visited.
I've reached one inescapable conclusion.
Once you get past the pseudo-barriers of customs, and language, of a person or group of people, human beings are the same, whether they are in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, or the Philippines; Alabama, or Albania; New Hebrides, or New Jersey.
People around the world desire health and happiness for themselves and their loved ones, and, while there are always "bad apples" everywhere, people, no matter their land or language, will go out of their way to help a stranger in need.
Just so you know, I think you're one of those people.
Labels: Alabama, Albania, donovan baldwin, Kentucky, New Hebrides, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philippines, travel
Monday, April 02, 2018
Poem: I Wish That I Could Tell You
By Donovan Baldwin
So many times you've made me smile.
And, even break into laughter...
Or song,
Silly...
Giddy as a school boy in his first love,
Flooding with warmth and...
Happiness,
Wow...
Waking each day to look for you,
Hurrying to read your words...
Excited,
Eager...
You are the beginning and end for me,
And all in the middle...
Forever,
Always...
I wish that I could tell you,
How wonderful you are...
Special,
Rare...
I hope I just did.
April 2, 2018
OJ
So many times you've made me smile.
And, even break into laughter...
Or song,
Silly...
Giddy as a school boy in his first love,
Flooding with warmth and...
Happiness,
Wow...
Waking each day to look for you,
Hurrying to read your words...
Excited,
Eager...
You are the beginning and end for me,
And all in the middle...
Forever,
Always...
I wish that I could tell you,
How wonderful you are...
Special,
Rare...
I hope I just did.
April 2, 2018
OJ
Labels: donovan baldwin, love poem, poem, poetry, romantic poem, romantic poetry
Sunday, March 18, 2018
I Call Myself A Poet
By: Donovan Baldwin
I call myself a poet.
I think I've earned the right, and, enough other people have granted me that appellation, that I'm comfortable with it.
Am I a good poet?
That's always going to be a matter of opinion...as is any other adjective you put in front of the word, "poet".
I think a majority of people are poets at some point, or points, in their lives.
Since I've started posting poetry and comments online, I've more than once had someone write me saying they wish that they could write poetry. I admit, it can be difficult to get the thought down just the way you want it to sound...or close enough.
However, often, in writing back and forth to these people, I will get a message, especially from those who desire with all their hearts to speak truth or beauty, a simple message in their own words... a message that simply sings and soars.
I have, whenever this happened, and, it's happened more than once, pointed out that what they wrote was poetry.
Most spotted it, once I pointed at it, and most were surprised at their own ability.
Even if the words don't come, nothing says you are NOT a poet, if you ever told someone, from your heart, that you love them...child, partner, parent. If you've ever looked at a sunrise or sunset, a tree, or a bird and felt yourself filled with wonder, you're a poet. You just haven't "written" your poem yet.
I call myself a poet.
I think I've earned the right, and, enough other people have granted me that appellation, that I'm comfortable with it.
Am I a good poet?
That's always going to be a matter of opinion...as is any other adjective you put in front of the word, "poet".
I think a majority of people are poets at some point, or points, in their lives.
Since I've started posting poetry and comments online, I've more than once had someone write me saying they wish that they could write poetry. I admit, it can be difficult to get the thought down just the way you want it to sound...or close enough.
However, often, in writing back and forth to these people, I will get a message, especially from those who desire with all their hearts to speak truth or beauty, a simple message in their own words... a message that simply sings and soars.
I have, whenever this happened, and, it's happened more than once, pointed out that what they wrote was poetry.
Most spotted it, once I pointed at it, and most were surprised at their own ability.
Even if the words don't come, nothing says you are NOT a poet, if you ever told someone, from your heart, that you love them...child, partner, parent. If you've ever looked at a sunrise or sunset, a tree, or a bird and felt yourself filled with wonder, you're a poet. You just haven't "written" your poem yet.
Labels: donovan baldwin, poet, poetry, writing poetry
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Poem: Love Unspoken
By Donovan Baldwin
Love Unspoken
You hear me say, "I love you",
And yet...
I often say, "I love you",
Without you hearing,
Without a sound,
Without an action...
I say, "I love you",
So many times each day,
In so many ways...
In dreams, and hopes,
And songs sung loud,
Hummed,
Or just thought...
In images, and art, and poetry,
And all the sights and sounds,
Of ordinary days,
Made extrordinary,
By you...
You hear me say, "I love you",
And yet...
If you could ever hear,
All the love unsaid,
The sound would be wonderful,
And deafening...
So, sometimes, I leave...
Love unspoken.
Love Unspoken
And yet...
I often say, "I love you",
Without you hearing,
Without a sound,
Without an action...
I say, "I love you",
So many times each day,
In so many ways...
In dreams, and hopes,
And songs sung loud,
Hummed,
Or just thought...
In images, and art, and poetry,
And all the sights and sounds,
Of ordinary days,
Made extrordinary,
By you...
You hear me say, "I love you",
And yet...
If you could ever hear,
All the love unsaid,
The sound would be wonderful,
And deafening...
So, sometimes, I leave...
Love unspoken.
Labels: donovan baldwin, love poem, love poetry, poem, poetry
Monday, March 12, 2018
Poem: The Weight of Words
By: Donovan Baldwin
A pendulum of understanding
Hangs suspended over us,
Pushing minds with impetus given,
By the weight of words.
Iron words, gossamer words,
Balanced, counterbalanced,
Weights shifting with the swing,
And tempo of time and history.
Gathering and defining humanity, and
Inhumanity, unequally...
Knowledge, belief, misconception,
Truth, difficult to interpret in time.
Limned and lighted at each moment,
Sliding and shifting upon that
Pedantic pendulum, given impetus,
By the weight of words.
7 March 2018
Hangs suspended over us,
Pushing minds with impetus given,
By the weight of words.
Iron words, gossamer words,
Balanced, counterbalanced,
Weights shifting with the swing,
And tempo of time and history.
Gathering and defining humanity, and
Inhumanity, unequally...
Knowledge, belief, misconception,
Truth, difficult to interpret in time.
Limned and lighted at each moment,
Sliding and shifting upon that
Pedantic pendulum, given impetus,
By the weight of words.
7 March 2018
Labels: donovan baldwin, poem, poem about words, poet, poetry, words
