Time
By Jim McDonald
can’t hear it
can’t see it
can’t feel it
or can I
elusive but
all around us
forgotten but
mirror finds it
lost but
always here
can hear it
slipping away
can see it
fading away
can feel it
wasting away
here it comes
now
By Jim McDonald
From left to right; my youngest son Billy, my oldest son Jamie and my mom (Grace).
never called her mommy
never called her mother
never called her Grace
just mom
she cleaned my hurts
with iodine and tissue
dressed with band aides
covered with love
loved me with smiles
loved me with hugs
loved me with food
loved me with spankings
my best chauffeur
my best teacher
my best friend
my best person
never yelled at her
never stole from her
never hurt her
so I thought
I never understood
till I was dad
all the work
she loved me with
By Jim McDonald
not yesterday
not tomorrow
only now
there’s only this time
not another day
not another hour
not another moment
only now
what happened
no today
no hour
no moment
no now
this time is missing
in yesterday
in tomorrow
this time is lost
no now
By Jim McDonald (true story)
the hole in the wall
controls my all
an anxious captive
peeking out
screen or glass
buffers the fright
how do I leave
how do I stay
the hole in the wall
controls my all
breathing is rapid
breathing is brutal
afraid to leave
afraid to stay
the hole in the wall
controls my all
afraid to live
afraid to die
the hole in the wall
controls my all
2011
By Jim McDonald
laid down to sleep a while ago
wasn’t sleepy I was hungry
wondered what to eat
thought about the frig
nothing to eat just water
steak no to heavy
hot wings at hooters
yes spicy chicken
yes skimpy clothes
yes spicy women
now I can’t breath
plumb tuckered out
just thinking about it
tired, exhausted, totally rung out
now I can roll over and fall a sleep
now I have too
The Houseboat Poet 