Tuesday

Mr. Yester Day

There once was a miner named Yester,
From a snake bite, did his leg fester,
For three days Yester had to to suffer,
but he did eats that rattlesnake for his last supper!

His life was spent just mining for gold
Then nature claimed Yester...(So the story is told...)
Mr. Day did find what he was after...
So ironic, however, that he would meet this disaster.

He found his gold in a lost stream,
Where he oft panned for his dreams,
(all the gold that he was after)
And his death, that became his master.

So he carved on a tree for someone to see,
His last will... should he ever be found,
For though he died alone, he anted it known ,
He did love his family and home.

"To Any, my wife." (to ease all her strife,)
"all my gold I do leave."
And "To Whata,, my son," (who thinks life is all fun,)
 "my pick and my shovel are all he will need."

"To Summer, my daughter,"( who is just like her mother)
"I leave promises that turned into dust..
No love could I give her, as I panned every river
for the gold that was my first lust."

Yester had his best day, when his life slipped away,
Any thought he would spite her, but her days were much brighter
Whata stood fast, as he lived in the past,
Searching the streams, that was now, somewhat lighter.

Summer turned cold, for no one man could hold,
her heart that Yester had broken,
He panned only for fame, leaving her only his name,
So she searched for the love never spoken.

The lesson was thought, no love could be bought,
and is passed on from one day to another,
For if wealth be your fame, there is no one to blame,
Should one day be just like the other.


by JGP 
1992


This man is the inspiration for this poem.
Arizona Mountain Hermit 

For Your Ears Only

I found one earring in my couch today-
   with a silver wire and black beads that away,
I thought it might belong to my admirer...
   Lisa, my friend, my poetic desire...
Could it be her right?
                  Or could it be her left?
It was just left... and that was not right!
If it were found by some other.....You would be missing your brother!
For it is hard to explain to a girlfriend, I'll not name,
   Just "how did THAT get there?"...
                    and just, "who" owns THAT ear?"
If there WERE two I'd not feel so blue...
I would wrap them and mail them away
With a card that would say,
How I miss you a lot,,, but it seems you forgot.
The next time, I will look harder....and make sure you bother,
to leave with both ears attached, and earrings that match...

or
 you might be missing a brother!

Shades of Blue

           (for Brandi)
I have tried to stare into your eyes
So I could get a good look at you
But the was just not long enough.
to see that misty shade of blue....

There were moments I could catch a glance,
As when I caught you by surprise,
You had a far and distant look,
When I got to gaze into your eyes,

Depending on the moment,
Depending on your mood,
I depend on the look you give,
When you say that, "I love you."

I take all the looks you give
Be they happy, or be they sad,
I blend them all together as one,
for they are the best I have ever had.

If only for a moment,
More time is what I need,
For when one's heart is hungry,
then it's passion that you need.