Note: If you do not see a poem about yourself, don't despair. More often than not, my words cannot do justice to the people I love the most. Or I cannot think of anything that rhymes with "wrinkles" (that's for you, Kathi).
The Funeral (In Loving Memory of Cora B. Oaks)
We are gathered here to witness
The passing of a beloved soul
(Shed tears on the evening sunset
Feel the water burn)
Silently I hold them
So gently my siblings near
Holding my mother's hand, whispering
"I know how you're feeling, dear"
I look at the face of the woman I loved so well
The stubborn fire of her hair and spirit
Never faded by time or tide
The worry lines in her face
Coming from selfless care
The ones she cared about most
She put first with a stubborn air.
I remember her tears at my other grandma's funeral
When I found out that Mom might die
If the results came back positive
All I could do was sit there and cry
While her strong, unwithered arms held me
Against her hardened shoulder
Callused from years of hard work and abuse
Cleaning up after those who took her for granted
Grandma never cared
That we took her for granted
I can still see her there
Asking us to stay for dinner
As she took care of her sick kittens
Doctoring them as best as she could
While she took care of Donna and Tom
Trying her best to keep up with
Twenty indoor cats
A disabled veteran 13 years her junior
(Who she married the day my half-sister was born)
As well as the special angel
Who was my Aunt Donna
More than enough love for everyone
I remember most of all
How she taught me to take pride in my heritage
And not to be ashamed of being poor
I stand now, not crying
Though I wonder why now
Perhaps I'm really not crying
Because (I don't know how)
I can see her in Heaven
Delores by her side
And her aged voice echoing
(And tinted with pride)
"I love you, Rebecca
And I always will"...
"I love you too, Grandma"
I whisper
Clutching a yellow rose to my breast
Of all the grandmas I could have had
I think I got the best
Slowly I'm saying goodbye
And I know I've let you go
And now a star shines brighter in Heaven
Blessed by your fiery glow.
�RLO 1999
My darling's eyes are like the sea
Blue but green but ever-changing
His hair is like the flaxen field
Where cattle are free-ranging
His lips are like the rosebud
That he gave to me as he smiled
I laughed and I knew that he thought
That I was a delightful child
His hands are those of an artist
What beautiful music he plays!
My darling's nothing short of a genius
With all of the plans that he lays
�RLO 3/21/99
Wyatt Winghead
What is a Wyatt Winghead?
Is he a pilot?
A singer?
A doctor?
A friend?
Is he a sensai
Brandishing a combat stick,
Or is he a comedian
With his wit so quick?
Maybe he's a gunfighter
From the old West
Or perhaps a retiree
Just feathering his nest
Whatever he is
Or whatever he'll be
Mr. Winghead, wrinkled sensai
You have a friend in me.
�RLO 1/21/99
Wild Fox
Grey-green eyes
And a bushy tail
A sweet way with words
And a loving soul
His loyal heart
Belongs only to his love
Oh, lucky girl
To have tamed that wild heart!
A dreamer
And a romantic
To him, love never dies
If ever he should break his heart,
A thousand hands would reach out
To dry his weeping eyes
Run, Wild Fox
Run straight and true
A swift comet streak of red
If those who love him
Were to die of love
We'd surely all be dead!
�RLO 1/20/99
NightPhan
No mask can disguise you,
My kind-hearted friend
No music enchants all who love you
Like the music of your soul
An open heart
A charming grin
A warm velvet cape
To wrap others in
Fiercely protective of the ones you love
Though ever as innocent as a child
You inspire me
To go ahead and dream
Though the road ahead looks bleak
You never belittled my pain
Or made me feel ashamed
Because you always tried to see things
From my point of view
Though you didn't always agree
With all I had to say
You never judged me
Always letting me lean on you
Angel of music
Truly a friend
You deserve all of life's richest blessings
And none of its pain
I love you, dear sister
Forever I will be
Working hard to be the friend
That you have been to me
�RLO 1/21/99
Riverdance
The river flows
Into my soul
As I read
What is written before me
Sweet words
Of passion and pain
Weave a magical spell
In fact, they implore me
River flows on
As I read and reread
All the verses
So dear to the heart
Of the one that wrote them
Oh, River
Never change
Always flow sweetly
As your verse carries us on
To the sea of poets and dreams!
�RLO 1/22/99
Lucas
I know it's hard to be optimistic
In this crazy world
But somehow you manage it
And I find it inspires me
I see your work almost every day
And I know that mine
Could never compare with yours
That your talent isn't mine
You always challenge me
To look beyond myself
Beyond my selfish pain
Into who I am inside
You help me put aside my pride
Whenever I needed
A shoulder to cry on
A friend to lean on
Someone to listen
(And kindly remind me not to whine)
You were there...
Your parents named you well
Lucas
In spite of what you might say
How you claim you hurt everyone
In truth
You bring light
To the darkest corners of the heart and soul
The light that illuminates human emotion
A light that shines beyond all pain
And I am honored
To call you my friend...
�RLO 2/18/99
Sparrow
Soft fluttering wings
And a heart that beats so fast
Warm and loving hearted bird
With beautiful songs to sing
They said you were a child
Though you have seen much
In your none too numerous years
Childlike innocence is just a memory
Still, my friend
You never give up your dreams
Always seeming to hope
For a better day for everyone
Do you remember the parable
Of the tiny mustard seed?
I compare your sparrow's heart
To that selfsame plant
For both seem to grow larger
With each passing day
As you show the downtrodden
Your dearest and most beloved friends
The way home
�RLO 3/2/99
Watercolor Stain
A watercolor stain
Rose from the ashes
Shook herself off
And walked away...
Wandering on her journey
For the right place to be
Sometimes used and abused
But always learning and moving on
A strong voice in a silent world
Shaping souls with her wisdom
Healing others with her strength
Teaching with a firm hand
Unlike most watercolor stains
Which wash out in the driving rain
She stubbornly stands by her friends
As the storms come again and again...
Neither a creampuff
Nor an eclair be
This watercolor stain
Who's a true friend to me
�RLO 3/18/99
Last Modified: 11/18/2000 by Rebecca L. Oaks
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