GuruGraffiti » Verse/Poetry

Did You?

ptarver — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 02:25:46 +0000

It’s Valentine’s Day, 2009 and therefore appropriate that I publish a love poem. Unlike many of the poems I wrote years ago, I have no difficulty remembering the inspiration for this one. In 1995, I met my future wife, Pam, on the Internet. After more than a year of long distance communication (She lived in Horseheads, New York and I lived in Meridian, Mississippi with over 1,100 miles between us), I was very much in love with her and often consumed with a need to be near her. In late 1996, I was driving down the road one day and was inspired to write the following on the back of an old envelope. I hope you like it.

Did You?

Did you feel me with you today,
                 when chaos ruled around you?
Did your heart skip a beat today,
                 at the same moment as mine?
Did you catch your breath today,
                 just when my chest felt tight?
Did you think of me today,
                 just when I thought of you?
Did you feel my breath on your ear today,
                 just when I whispered your name?
Did you hear my voice today,
                 when I thought I heard you speak?
Did your face flush warm today,
                 when I looked at your picture?
Did you tap your foot today,
                 when I heard the music play?
Did you feel me with you today,
                 just when I felt you with me?

The Visit

ptarver — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:45:27 +0000

When I was in college in the mid-eighties, I was busy with classes, studying, and various other activities that occupy the time of college students, but somehow I had time to watch “Days Of Our Lives” with a lot of other guys in the dorm so we could have stuff to talk to the girls about. Days Of Our Lives had mystery and drama, and we were constantly discussing whether Roman was alive or did he really die at the hands of Stefano. I said all of that to say that I’m positive that I wrote The Visit while I was in college and when I re-read this today, I have to think that I saw something like this on television or something that got me thinking about a young man visiting an older man. Time frame for this is somewhere between 1983 and 1986 and no, this isn’t about my father.

The Visit…

he spoke of his children,
like he had for years.
in a quiet tone, but
bursting with pride,
about some present
they made for his birthday.
he told of a doll house he built,
with his son, for his daughter.
robbie and mary, I believe is what he said.
robbie played baseball, first base,
longed to see the yankees.
mary was the most beautiful girl in the world.
they were the best students,
and listened to his every tale.
he showed me their picture,
a torn and dirty piece of paper
with most of the picture rubbed off.
obviously black and white.
“these are my kids,” he said,
“the best damn kids.”

all too soon the visit was over.
it was time for me to go.
they were closing for the night and,
we’d have to finish our talk some other time.
as I stood to say goodbye,
I leaned over and,
kissed him on the forehead,
“goodnight, Dad,” I said.

The Journey

ptarver — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:00:33 +0000

Written in 1996, The Journey was intended to be an examination of life which was pretty heady stuff for me to be thinking about back then. I’m not sure what the inspiration for this was, but I liked it when I finished it.

The Journey

There are those see the journey,
As the shortest distance between,
Where they are today, and where they want to be.

There are those who see the journey,
As the hurdle they must cross,
Before they can reach the brass key.

There are those who see the journey,
As an uneventful ride,
Toward the visions they have seen.

There are those who see the journey,
As a tedious waste of time,
Endured for the sake of their dream.

And then there are those who see the journey,
As their only reason for being, and the goal
Is just a parting gift for having made the trip.