gilleland

The Lingering Rose

A heavy frost
Covered the lawn
With a crystalline blanket
This November morn.
Against the fence
In my back yard,
A single pink rose
Remained upon its bush,
Glistening and sparkling
In the early sunlight
Holding onto its fragile petals
Refusing to fragment and fall
To join its peers
Dead upon the ground
Now so wet and cold.
A solitary soldier
Stubbornly holding its post,
Resisting the onslaught
Of cold weather,
Remaining the last
Bastion of summer,
Heroically fighting
The unwinable battle,
Not yet ready to
Submit to winter's sleep;
Determined to prolong
The beauty and pleasure
Of summer's vestige
A few more days
A few more hours...

Posted 1/6/02

The Beggar

As my friend and I were driving in his new Mercedes to the local casino,
While passing through a poor part of town, we stoppped at a red light.
My friend said, "Here comes a beggar to bother us, wouldn't you just know."
The intersection was grubby, with a liquor store on the left, a 7-11 on the right.
The man approached our car, carrying a sign "Will Work for FOOD".
I could tell by the way he walked his reception was usually quite rude.

He looked about forty and very much in need of a good meal.
I took a ten-dollar bill out of my wallet to have ready.
My friend snapped, "Save it!", I asked, "What's the big deal?"
His next remark struck me as cruel; "Let him go to work steady
if he wants to eat. Giving people like him money is always a waste.
He'll just buy liquor or drugs, not one morsel of food will he taste."

I thought about how our lifestyles were so comfortable and fine,
With our good jobs, expensive houses, luxury cars, trips overseas,
Our dining at fancy restaurants, spending fifty dollars on a bottle of wine.
How I'd never miss this ten dollars, how much this beggar it would please.
Besides, who knew how this poor man had arrived at his sorry state.
The indignities that he had suffered must be numerous and great.

When he reached the car, I handed him the ten-dollar bill.
His eyes lit up, a smile filled his face as his shaky, dirty hands took my gift.
"Thank you. Thank you, mister. This will be a lifesaver, it sure will."
Driving away, I felt good inside, my gesture giving my spirits quite a lift.
"You know, we really should help out people like that a whole lot more."
"Look behind you." Turning, I saw the beggar hurrying inside the liquor store.

Posted 1/6/02

                              Angry Words

Words spoken in anger
     Hot, hateful words I did not mean,
     Regretted instantly, but unstoppable in flight.
     Oh, why did I ever allow such a scene?

Words spoken in anger
     Their impact revealed by your face, your eyes,
     A look of surprise, then anguish from the hurt.
     Why is it a woman doesn't argue, instead she cries?

Words spoken in anger
     Fragmenting your trust in my ability
     To keep you safe, loved and protected.
     Please accept my apology for my insensitivity.

Words spoken in anger
     No matter how I might wish it to be otherwise,
     I know your memory is forever scarred by my anger.
     Would that I had never uttered words you so despise!

Posted 1/8/02