Saturday, November 18, 2023

The Doors Of Perception

On a journey

Together

On a path

Something happening

Powerful

A connection

Silence

Terror

Joy

A full range of human emotions

A meeting of the minds

Accepting the disparate

Accepting the outsider

As one

Seeing more than anyone else

Had seen before

Jazz and blues and flamenco

And words written to explore

You can’t burn out if you’re not on fire

by Bill Ferguson

A Winter’s Day

I saw a mouse in the woodpile

Well aware of the morning frost

Setting fodder aside for those days

When going outside would be a loss

The fence hums in the gusting wind

Sending shivers down my spine

Reminding me to not be alone

When the storms arrives with its full mind

A cricket chirps by the fireplace

It makes me wonder what they eat

How long can he survive in a house

Will he live without the growing heat

by Bill Ferguson

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Celestial Journey

She floats along the path

Heading for the cool autumn water

Hair flowing like shooting stars

On their celestial journey

She pauses and waits

For her furry companion

Where she contemplates

Being out in the cold moonlight

Barefoot she continues

As the icy morning dew envelopes

Her steps,

She feels no pain

Shedding her clothes,

She steps into the depths

In the morning I walk to the shore

I sit and wait for the midday sun

Illuminating a path

And reason with my heart why absence

Makes the heart grow fonder

by Bill Ferguson

Recently I was informed that someone I knew quite well at one time in my life, was felled by an obscure type of cancer. Over time we drifted apart and our friendship was over with. Upon hearing of her death I had time to reflect back on our time together and I wrote this.

Another Lifetime I Never Knew

The wind whispers soft and low

Beating branches keeping time

While the sound of the whip poor will

Offers comfort to my mind

The day is heavy amidst the clouds

The cornfield sways and rattles its leaves

And in a corner of my mind

I picture you lying there fast asleep

I am told in time a heart does mend

Maybe after a few winters come and go

There are words I could have said

There are decisions I will never know

So now I walk through the fields

Through the woods and past the stream

To the lake where waves do grow

Beating me about my knees

And in the morning I will have

A one sided conversation once again

Hoping to find answers I never knew

As I spend another lifetime with you

by Bill Ferguson

Monday, October 23, 2023

What?

Sometimes experimentation is a good way to stay creative. I started out with a couple of w words and from there it grew to something more and took this form.

What?

Watching waifs wonder when

Wishing women wistfully whittle

Wicked ones whisk wildly

Without worrying wedding wrath

Wireless wiretaps working witness

Windswept wasteland without weed whacking

Whistling wildfires wrangle woodpiles

When working writers weaken

by Bill Ferguson

All Rights Reserved

An Electric Performance and The Show Always Goes On

Near Millbrook Ontario there is an outdoor theatre called 4th Line Theater. It exists on a farm and has since 1992.They put on original performances that reflect the history of the region. These performance developed scripts are based on local stories. It really is an eclectic setting where the stage is the ground between barn and the drive shed with the bleachers facing one of the barns. There are entrances and exits from many, many different directions. Sometimes they will cross the field. Other times it will be on the second story of the barn. It really keeps you on your toes as a theater goer. And sometimes, when thunderstorms threaten they continue until the rain prevents them from being heard.

Here are two poems about the same event. It’s funny how different they are, yet the same as they describe the same event..

An Electric Performance

Opening night and the play had started

Outside, natural setting,

Air fresh and blowing

Lightning strikes in the distance

While thunder rumbled on and on

Droning over the dialogue

Yet not muting

The vocal ruminations

That were delivered with eloquence

The winds whip trees

And calm just as quickly

Accenting the plot rather deliciously

Adding punctuation to the turmoil

And then the rain came

Gently falling

While the actors carried on

Giving electric performances

Not disturbed by nature’s tantrum

Near the end the skies opened fully

Drenching all who still sat

Gripped with rapture at the depth

Of the acting

Until lightening cracked right over head

Sending all for cover

And finally ending a brilliant performance

Short of the true ending

In truth the evening was truly special

by Bill Ferguson

All Rights Reserved

The Show Always Goes On

An opening night performance is special

It is a treat for watching eyes

Tonight the audience hopes the play goes on

Under threatening skies

The warning passes lightly

As the storm clouds fill the air

Somehow it doesn’t seem real

Somehow it doesn’t seem fair

So many people sitting in the rain

Watching the wind blow the trees away

Arguing for it to go on

Arguing for it to be postponed

Still the actors stay within their roles

Voices growing louder to be heard

The clouds billow and bluster

Filling up with water and spitting it out

At first a gentle mist, then avenging downpour

Thunder provides it’s curious applause

Lightning makes us remember

That nature has all its own laws

In the end it almost ended

But also the storm did not allow it to be so

by Bill Ferguson

All Rights Reserved

Divine Dissatisfaction

I read an article not too long ago that remind us that who we were when we were younger, or quite young in some cases, is not who we are now. We have grown and changed and seen much more of life. And yes, while all of our decisions are based on our past experiences we shouldn't be defined by what happened so long ago. We have moved on and are different people now than we were, even a couple of months ago.

Divine Dissatisfaction

Why did I say that?

What did I do that?

What was I thinking?

I digress into my imperfect past

Trying to editorialize a moment lost in time

Oh the things my younger self never knew

About arranging,

Rearranging

When I was developing my thoughts

And ideas

Into coherent threads

Among the daily ritual of living

So much to learn

Still

My imperfections last forever

Capturing

Who I was

And who I’ve become

Is acceptance of my younger self

Even an option?

Punctuation

What can one say about punctuation? It is the bane of society. Some people are demanding that it be used properly. Some feel it is to be used at their need. Others abandon it fully. It really can change meaning which is why I use it sparingly. I would rather you determine what you need rather than my saying what it is. It can be more fun that way. Or not depending on what you expect.

Punctuation

While necessary

In many cases

Takes away

The fun

Of determining

Meaning

For

Yourself

by Bill Ferguson

What?

Sometimes experimentation is a good way to stay creative. I started out with a couple of w words and from there it grew to something more and took this form. Punctuation has its limitations and rewards. It all depends on what one is looking for.

What?

Watching waifs wonder when

Wishing women wistfully whittle

Wicked ones whisk wildly

Without worrying wedding wrath

Wireless wiretaps working witness

Windswept wasteland without weed whacking

Whistling wildfires wrangle woodpiles

When working writers weaken

by Bill Ferguson

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

High Window

The sky was blue

When you came to call

Shadows lurking

You walked down the hall

Hearts open

Words had their way

Eyes shining

Glad you're here to stay

High window

Open to the sky

High window

Urging us to try

High window

What was meant to be

High window

Capturing you and me

The song you sang

Reached into my heart

Quickly fixed

What was torn apart

Forced a smile

Where none had been before

I could never

Have loved you more