Some of my classmates are getting old
I see the wrinkles beneath their eyes
Their hair is gray, their children are grown
Were the dreams we dreamed just lies
Some said
I want to go to Hollywood and party with the stars
I’ll own a house in malibu and several shiny cars
I’ll paint with fields of color and start an artist’s revolution
I’ll save the whales and sea turtles and remove plastics from the ocean
And still for others
These dreams are dreams left up high on an empty shelf
But the biggest dream I ever dreamed was the life I live myself
writer
Sometimes I do read my poems out loud
I was in a friend’s wedding this weekend and wrote and performed this poem for her and her husband. It turned out silly and sweet and I’m so pleased that everyone liked it. I wish someone had recorded it.
For Kala and Kris:
Live like every day is your last
Remember to make each other laugh
and when times get rough
know that together you are enough
Your teamwork will see you through
Like if Kris suddenly comes down with man-flu
Or if he tells you about a work event the day before
Or you’re struggling to get Kala on time and out the door
Or you’re too hot and she’s too cold
Or someone’s left dishes in the sink and they’re growing mold
But all jokes aside, two is better than one
I hope your days are filled with fun
I hope you hold hands when you watch TV
Love fiercely and unconditionally
But I”ll wrap up, and say only this,
“We love you, congratulations to Kala and Kris”
❤ ❤ It was such a beautiful day!
Haiku: Summer on Campus
sounds of construction
float across empty side-walks
chaos building peace
Not Perfect
the greatest part about learning to love yourself
is loving yourself on the days
where you don’t look your best
you feel fat
you’ve gained weight
to look at your naked body in the mirror
to see the lumps
the discoloration
the stretch marks
to feel sexy because
perfect, never meant to be
an empty canvas
and although my curves are rounded
and my bumps have lumps
and my stomach doesn’t stick out quite right
I am everything I was meant to be
Checkout my poetry book!
If you’ve liked what you read here, check out my poetry book Walking in Cemeteries…available for purchase on Amazon!
Hot July
sultry and
dripping
with July
today’s show
begins
and ends
with tornadoes
Campfire
how can something
so dangerous
be so comfortable
it’s like using a hug
to strangle someone
a chef’s knife
slides through kidneys, too
and every silver rain storm
that brings life
can take it away
these are the opposites
to life’s balances
the Yin and the Yang
nature just isn’t beautiful
she is red hot and smoldering
from aunt mana
she was three days old
at my high-school graduation
three years old when we watched
A Bug’s Life together
and now eighteen
and driving
and graduating today
about to embark on the world
nervous and unsure
but so beautiful
oh, so beautiful
she is gorgeous on the inside
and gorgeous on the outside
i wish for her
to always love herself
as much as she is
loved by everyone
My niece Maddie is graduating high-school today. How can it be? How can it be?
–AJM
Congratulations
For all the graduates.
–AJM
you are
beautiful
brave
and strong
you can do no wrong
work hard
work smart
remember to follow your heart
be kind
stay true
always make time for you
this is your life
follow those dreams
but don’t forget to wear sunscreen
read books
and laugh lots
always look in your blindspot
aim high
know when to go slow
and always remember the below:
chase your dreams
but don’t forget
there is still so much that hasn’t happened yet
what would the world look like
Yesterday, I did a little research and reading about Juneteenth, and I was inspired to write this poem. Slavery should not have happened. It should have never started to begin with in the 16th century.
I hope wherever you are, you are enjoying the day, learning something new, and enjoying time with family and friends. Happy Juneteenth!
–AJM
what would the world look like
if no one decided
that men, women and children
were no better than savages
because of their skin color
because they didn’t live in houses
with picket fences
and cobbled stones
if no one said
i’ll take this one and then that one
stuffed them into watery cages
where people suffered, died and bled
if no one said
work this land or we’ll kill you
or rape your women, or beat your children
you’ll know no life other than terror
you’ll know no life other than work
to feel the rotten sting of shame
to not know your self worth
what would the world look like
if someone had said
show me where you come from
i’d like to understand
if someone had listened
would they know
their crime would crush
hundreds of generations
what would the world look like
if someone had
backed away
took themselves home
and worked the land themselves
A. J. Morse 