‘Sanity’ – a poem by Danny Faragher with artwork by Michael Cano

April 20, 2016 in Coping, Happenings, Poetry, Thoughts

sanity

the shattered glass reflectsSanityPic
a thousand images

where lies reality?

the ordered world breaks down
into a random spray of neurons

matter over mind
free radical chaos

sanity is a dangling rope
reach out, grab it and
hold on for dear life

Sweet Persuasion – a poem by Danny Faragher, artwork by Michael Cano

April 15, 2016 in Happenings, Poetry, Reflections, Thoughts

Sweet Persuasion

sometimes on a sleepless nightelusive muse
the elusive muse appears before me
and with seductive charm implores me
in sweet persuasion I can’t fight

she reaches out to extend the touch
of fingertips beneath my chin
and gently lifts my gaze to hers
to command with whisper – ‘Write!’

 

Invisibility – A poem by Danny Faragher with artwork by Michael Cano

April 4, 2016 in Coping, Happenings, Poetry, Thoughts

InvisibilityInvisibilityPicjpg

they call them the ‘wee’ hours,
but when enveloped in their dark cover
one breathes the severed solitude of  the ‘I’
the bed creaks under my rustle and turn

a dog barks in the neighborhood,
sharp spears of sound  pierce the night.
do keen ears detect an intruder?
perhaps he fears invisibility,
dreads disappearing into the inky gloom
and is announcing to the universe
a confirmation of his existence –
‘I bark therefore I am’

I fight the urge to open the window
stick out my head and
join my canine friend in primal cry

 

– See more at: http://www.dannyfaragher.com/category/poetry/coping-poetry/#sthash.5Da20uY0.dpuf

 

Lady Death – a poem by Danny Faragher, artwork by Michael Cano

March 20, 2016 in Coping, Happenings, Poetry, Reflections, Thoughts, Uncategorized

lady death is always thereLady Death_pic
she rides in the shotgun seat
we are fellow travelers

though my gaze is fixed on the road
and our eyes have never met
her figure looms in my periphery

between us there is an awkward silence
how does one break the ice?
can’t chat about the weather with death
(man, talk about an elephant in the room)
the white lines are racing by
but with my companion
there is no closure
no shedding of light

sometimes, though,
out of nowhere
she purses her lips
and whistles a
haunting tune – the
melody strange,
mysterious,
but, oddly,
familiar

Manassas Battlefield – a poem

January 17, 2016 in Happenings, Poetry, Reflections, Scrolling Back, Thoughts, Uncategorized

Manassas Battlefield

302

Photo by Bryan Faragher

a forest,
turning red and gold,
keeps solemn watch
in the chill October air

the last vestiges of daylight
begin their retreat from the
rolling field below

high above,
the agitated sky
swirls and tumbles in a
boiling mix of blue and gray

a  row of cannons,
perched on the high ground,
is melting into the dark.
the bronze barrels that once
belched point-blank horror
into a sea of humanity
are now mute
cold to the touch

beneath a green turf
the ground slumbers
but it is the sleep
of the traumatized
the fitful sleep
of the wounded

I  tread softly

on a hot summer day
a century and a half ago
this was the most violent
spot on the planet

under clouds of acrid smoke
young men in itchy wool
clutched their weapons
and marched into this
field… this
valley of death
in the opening act of a
national tragedy

I ponder…

the wound still festers
the divide still stands
the promise of a
‘new birth of freedom’
still a work in progress

I see figures in the distance

beyond the edge of grass
standing in the knee-high straw
an African-American bride and
groom are exchanging vows
she in white dress
he in black tux

the pastor pauses,
closes his book
and looks up
to nod and smile

the man and woman turn
to face one another
and falling into
each other’s arms
they embrace
and plant
a loving
kiss

01/17/16

 

 

Elvis, a poem in honor of his birthday

January 8, 2016 in Happenings, Poetry, Reflections, Scrolling Back, Thoughts

Elvis

lips in a snarl,
hips a-swiveling,Elvis3
Elvis leaped from the
black and white box and
into the nation’s living room,
bopping and shimmying
like a Mississippi catfish

and in his unassuming
backwoods way
this poor boy
ripped to shreds
that buttoned down,
zipped up facade that posed
as the American dream

to the stick up the ass-
jim crow- bomb obsessed-
are you now or have you
ever been…? world
he proclaimed –
‘let’s get real , real
gone fer a change’

and oh…
did we ever

Thanks, Elvis
Happy Birthday!

January 8, 2016

Grief

January 6, 2016 in Coping, Poetry, Reflections, Scrolling Back, Thoughts, Uncategorized

Griefgriefjpg

connection cut
but connection still felt
her presence is all around –
the strands of hair in an idle brush,
a smiling snapshot on the dresser top,
a note found stashed in a coat pocket

he roams from room to room
reaching out in vain, trying to
penetrate the empty space
she left behind
the walls mock him with the
echo of his own weeping

grief has no expiration date
it does not diminish or subside, but
flows like an underground stream,young mary fin
carving out new caverns of being
and flooding to the surface now and again
with a startling paroxysm of tears

but the sun rises and sets
life scrolls on
one copes,
learning to live with grief
just as one learns to tolerate
a pain in the joint or
to tune out a ringing in the ears

AlServ

 

A Happy 2017 Wish to All from Danny

January 3, 2016 in Happenings, Poetry, Reflections, Thoughts

Danny New Year Shot 189

 

 

the new year

twisting through the turn-around
to soar into a brand new chorus
‘ah, take it again , boys!’
another twelve bars await invention

the groove beckons
the ivory keys entice
inviting all to jam with the
harmony of the spheres

 

Photos by Charlotte McClain

Danny New Year Shot 206

blood moon rising

September 28, 2015 in Nature's Backyard, Poetry, Reflections, Uncategorized

 

Blood-Moon

blood moon rising
breaking through cover
of cloud

bearing earth’s shadow
upon its face
like a proud scar

then free – it looms large
commanding the night sky,
illuminating the upturned
faces below

cry, dark cloud

September 25, 2015 in Coping, Poetry, Scrolling Back, Thoughts

cry, dark cloud
let your tears rain downDark-Clouds-Over-Ocean-Wallpaper
upon me

weep, dark sky
unfold your shroud to
cover my sorrow

sigh, deep, rhythmic sea
exhale your misty breath
against my being
to wash my soul
and comfort me