Golden Days

Advice I give is good more than a year.
I make soup from a raindrop and a smile;
My stories bring both laughter and a tear,
And both of them repeat after a while.

My beard and mustache used to be dark red,
But now they’re mostly white and silver-gray.
My hair no longer covers my whole head;
What’s left seems like it wants to fade away.

I used to spend my days working around,
And now I spend them sitting on my grass!
I spoke and sang with such a mellow sound,
And now I sneeze and cough and pass some gas…

Days -- they flitter past in merely minutes,
Far fewer up ahead than left behind.
Golden Days are here with all their limits:
‘Long as I get to live them, I don’t mind!

Mick McKellar
December 2023

Snow

 

by Mick McKellar / December 2023

Three Angels

Three angels lifted me up high so I could see
The oceans and the lands of our blue home.
They did not speak to me, but stood back, silently
And gestured quietly, I would say solemnly,
That I observe our planet’s biodome.

I didn’t understand and quickly raised my hand
To ask them if this was some crazy test.
The angel in command, with gesture broad and grand,
Repeated his demand that I observe the land,
But gave no further nuance of behest.

I gazed upon the Earth, the planet of my birth;
Where my gaze stopped I felt emotions strong.
Few places had a dearth, too few were filled with mirth,
And rage’s mighty girth gave prejudice a berth.
But love and joy seemed nowhere to belong.

An angel caught my eye and sighed a mighty sigh,
And gestured for me, please, to step aside.
“You kill until you cry, yet don’t stop to ask why
The rage drives your outcry. You kill until you die
And glorify the deaths with wrathful pride!”

I felt no anger there, nor did I sense despair,
Just sadness -- so immense it blocked the Sun.
I felt my deep faith flare, erupting in a prayer
That burst forth in midair: “Life is love to share!
Rage and hate and killing profit no one.”

I turned around to see three angels grin broadly;
They shook my hand and laughed and called me brother.
Inside, buried deeply they’d found some empathy,
And prayers held in by me that emotions set free.
They said farewell and flew to find another.

Mick McKellar
November 2023

Young men dream of glory
Old men dream of peace

Mick

This Too Shall Pass

A nomadic band in a desert land,
Trekked border to border on golden sand.
They found an oasis where none could dwell,
For sticky, black goop had poisoned the well.

That meandering folk who used to roam,
Parked at the oasis and called it home.
Word spread far and wide that their wondrous goop
Smelled like rotten eggs, and made awful soup.

Big foreign investors and local toil,
Helped them pump out a vast pool of crude oil.
Though the pool is empty, the well gone dry,
The land’s still a desert under the sky.

They once lived on that land dwelling in tents,
Now it’s high tech and complex investments.
Then they remembered an age-old story,
Of fleeting wealth and vast vainglory:

For the happiness of an ancient king,
His people made war for a golden ring.
The ring knew his joy would never last,
Its inscription read: "This too shall pass!"

Mick McKellar
October 2023

Storm In A Jar

On the back  of the shelf,
Sits an old glass jar.
It’s all by itself.
It looks empty;
At least that’s how it looks so far.

No one knows for sure,
What it once contained.
I just know it’s a cure,
Welcome help,
When I’m angry or I’m pained.

I saw it flash one night,
When I was so mad,
That I wanted to fight;
Hurt someone.
Could have hurt someone bad.

Floating there in the jar,
Was a tiny storm cloud.
Lightning flashed so far,
It hit the bottom;
But it wasn’t too loud.

When I’m sick or I’m hurt,
There’s bad weather inside.
All my pain I divert --
And everyone thinks,
That I take it in stride!

Mick McKellar
October 2023

October Dreams

Far and away, o’er the wild, craggy hill,
Live old forest woodlands in peace.
And though they're ancient their magic is still
Alive, with sunrise from gold to cerise.
Tis a land where nobody ever goes,
Though tall tales are told by many a tongue,
Of eternal light, and everyone knows
Those who dwell there are forever young!
As Samhain grows nearer, the veil grows thin,
And careless dreamers have sometimes crossed.
The careless can easily dreamwalk in,
And it’s almost certain they'll get lost.
One must beware the ancient power streams:
The arcane magic of October dreams.

Mick McKellar
October 2023

Autumn Memories

The air is crisp and fresh and good,

The carpet of leaves shush like they should,

Over the river and through the wood.

I wish I could, oh how I wish I could!

Vainglorious Autumn has donned her best,

A rainbow of leaves sparkle in the West,

Chased brilliant streamers at the winds behest,

As the forest welcomes each awestruck guest.

I gaze out my window, my thought conceives

That my heart will feel what my mind believes.

I’ll watch until my mind perceives,

I’m jumping into that big pile of leaves!

I’ll feel all the leaves, cold, soggy, and wet!

I’ll disappear from sight, you can bet!

And then I’ll get stomped by a leaping pet,

About as much fun as a kid can get.

Then I sit back down in my rocking chair,

I’ll smile as the children caper out there.

I’ll laugh to recall the memories we'll share,

If we ever talk, some day, somewhere.

Mick McKellar

October 2023