Mike Salsbury's Blog » poem

Poem: Merry Christmas, Goodbye

mike — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 13:47:23 +0000

Many years ago, I was very much in love with someone. For
reasons I’ll probably never quite understand, it didn’t work out.
My heart was broken, and it felt like my life was over. Had it not
been for an appropriately-timed radio commercial, it might have
been. Writing this poem helped me to work through some of that
pain.

The good news is that today I’m married to an absolutely
wonderful, beautiful woman who treats me with more respect, love,
understanding, and consideration than I ever thought possible.

Christmas

With shaky nerves, I grab the phone.
It’s
cold and snowy here alone.
I fight the shivers, walk in place.
Thinking only of your face.
The number dialed, a distant ring.
Your smiling voice, the only warming thing.
I ask if we can work
it out.
You say no, it’s over now.
You’ll see him soon, you
leave tomorrow.
In your voice I hear no sorrow.
Two great
years gone, what will I do?
There’s just no focus without you.
If it wasn’t this time of year,
And my family wasn’t here,
I’d end it now to kill this pain.
And you’d still board that
plane.

Poem: Friends

mike — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 13:42:39 +0000

This is a poem I wrote over 20 years ago in high school, about two
good friends who seemed to be constantly competing with one
another. Though I intended no offense by it, I don’t think they
liked it much…

Friends

The two men faced the challenge
With wills as hard
as steel;
Powered by the need to win
Their own two fates they
sealed.

Competition had for years
Been only in their
games.
But when it spread throughout their lives,
They treated
it the same.

Each vowed to crush the other one,
Put
himself on top.
If they could see through others’ eyes
This
senseless bout would stop.

They looked instead through
blinded eyes,
Their hearts controlled their heads.
So when the
smoke rose from the field
Two old grey men were dead.

Poem: Night, I Welcome Thee

mike — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 13:40:50 +0000

I guess I’ve pretty much always been a night owl. This poem,
written at least 20 years ago when I was in high school, sums up how I
felt about the night in those days.

Night, I Welcome Thee!

Night, I welcome thee!
Thy cover is
a blanket,
It hides my doubts
And smothers my fears.

I am debted indeed to thee, dear night,
For, in thy domain, my
dreams unfold.
My pains subside.
I am whole.

I need
not the harsh, bright day.
It blinds my heart and burns my soul.
I need the courage brought by sleep
To rise and face each
morn.

So thanks to thee, from me, dear night,
My
friend,
I love you most of all.
I’ll need you ’til the bitter
end
To catch me when I fall.

Poem: Kyra at Two

mike — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 13:38:54 +0000

The above was written on 01/01/97 about a young child (not my
own) with whom I apparently spent too much time…

Kyra at Two

In silence and shyness she greets
at the door,
A tender young thing, almost two, but not more.
Her shyness is fleeting, as soon I will see.
“Pick her
up!” will come words directed at me.
The shyness now gone,
she’s very much bolder,
Barking out orders like “Sarge”
to the soldier.
“This way,” she directs me, pointing
ahead,
Handing me books that at once must be read.
“Put
her in!” “Get her out!” “Sit down, Mike, sit
down!”
Each delay in compliance creating a frown.
Could I
argue? Refuse? Well, I could, I suppose…
But what else would I
do, and where else would I go?
Where a life that starts this way
will lead, I can’t say.
Will she learn something useful from games
that we play?
What will Kyra decide that her life’s all about?
I haven’t a clue, but it’s fun finding out!