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Poems in F
by
Douglas L. Simmons
Copyright © 2005 by Douglas L. Simmons
* * *
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Fading Memory
And I find.
That I've just taken up your time.
And I find.
That you're not looking much like mine.
Now I'm finding that I'm just
another fading memory.
And I thought love was something
that they couldn't do to me.
And now it's me that's crying,
and begging on my knees.
And now it's you that's smiling
as you walk away so pleased.
Well you know I was the high one
when I rode in on my horse,
and I knew they couldn't buy one
who was as free as me; of course!
But now I'd sell it all to them.
I'd find myself a place.
If I could hold you close again
in a tender love embrace.
Doug L.
March 5, 1977
Calumet Township, Indiana
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Fathers
Your children once
cried out to you
for the knowledge
you could teach them.
You've left them on place
to hide out from you,
so they had to get the edge
on you, now you can't reach them.
Doug L.
November 5, 1973
Mainz, Germany
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I Feel I'm Ready For Today
I'm ready for this pain.
I feel I'm ready for today.
Riding all the way
back into story land.
Post card places follow me.
Painted faces look to see
if I am their picture of mortality.
Yesterday is lying on the shelf.
Today is dying by it's self.
Tomorrow is well on the way
to becoming what you will try to say
is reality.
All I have to hang on to
is what I managed to steal from you,
and I am not planning to give it back,
so don't hold out your hand.
I am not your son anymore,
though I never really was before,
your lover turned to die in hell
and left this wish on you as well.
No, he was not the father of your bastard child.
Your life has turned to stare at you,
your mother only glares at you,
and in her ignorance she sells the pain you buy.
Don't look, for I'm standing in the light,
well hidden from your blinded sight,
and my tear stained eyes can't clear to see
if you are calling after me.
The words all blur into the clouds
and you're screaming much too loud.
Your meaning breaks like waves
that are afraid to come ashore.
You run, but then your plaster shell
shatters before you've time to dwell.
Rebuilding should be living,
but knowing isn't growing.
Only giving up to change
will ever save you now.
I've never been so helpless,
never, any way at all.
I never had to think of this.
I've never had to know.
Doug L.
February 26-27, 1974
Mainz, Germany
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Feeling
The moon comes up.
Old Sol goes down.
The world keeps
turning 'round and 'round.
About the sun
the earth does fly.
The birds swim
onward through the sky.
Oh the fish
in the ocean
got
no emotion.
They don't know
when to do,
and
when not to do.
They got
no secrete they want to hide.
They got
no feeling deep inside.
Doug L.
Hammond, Indiana
1969
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For Freedom
My brother is in the Army.
He flew off across the sea.
My mother says he's fighting
to keep our country free.
I know better
but I won't tell her;
she could never understand
the needle in his hand.
And he's fighting hard for freedom.
His friends die all around him.
And he's fighting hard to make it home,
but it's looking kind of slim.
Doug L.
July 6, 1973
Mainz, Germany
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For You
For you.
For you I will say the words
that I haven't wanted to say.
For you.
For you're the only song I've heard
that makes me feel this way.
For you.
I will take all that I may have
and give it all to you.
For you.
Because taking that which you would give,
that would not be you, or true, and I..., I want you.
Doug L.
May 2, 1974
Mainz, Germany
Peter commissioned the following poem to no lesser degree than if he had written a description of events or ideas and ask me to set them to verse.
His comments, suggestions and ideas were the progenitor of the poem. Without his insight the poem would never have been written.
At our bimonthly lunch meetings Peter and I discuss varied topics; from starting new business ventures to authoring a new philosophy that will revolutionize the state of the human condition.
At our last gathering we were discussing the concept of now as it related to all of time in the context presented by Jesus when he said; "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am..."
- --The Book of John: Chapter 8, Verses 58-59 (John 8:58-59)
In our discussion of human goals and our true purpose in life (why are we here?) our thoughts turned to structure and geometry. Discussing not only why we are here but how we are here.
The physical purpose of any living thing is determined by genetic geometry (Deoxyribonucleic acid --DNA) which is simply a structure of molecular ribbons and bows. (All the instructions needed to create more life containing the same DNA.)
The spiritual purpose of life is to flower and create beauty and love. Thus the rose.
Continuing our conversation we turned to descriptions of geometry as portrayed in visual art, usually using lines, circles and squares.
Which often finds difficulty describing certain irregular objects.
This was overcome by the discovery of fractal (mathematics) geometry; the visual imagery of which is known as Fractals.
Certain sets of fractals replicate the same image infinitely when viewed at any scale from the macroscopic to the microscopic.
Returning our conversation to the concept of now, omnipotence and knowing.
It is the state of the human condition that we can only know now, and that now only encompasses the limited span of time in which we are alive.
The concept of "I AM" encompasses all of eternity.
Which is now.
Thus was commissioned the poem; "Fractal Gardens".
- --Douglas L. Simmons
Whiting Indiana, USA
10:00pm, 08-22-2011
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Fractal Gardens
Life is a process of
Becoming a rose.
A simple geometry
Of ribbons and bows.
We create our gardens
In lines and in rows
Euclidean visions.
But the universe knows...
...and curves out of sight
Above and below
What we can perceive
Would possibly grow.
Doug L.
08-19-2011
Whiting IN
Commissioned by: Peter Katic
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Freedoms
Locked him away, there in a prison,
and he hurt, alone, inside.
Climbed the wall and left the prison
crossed the desert, should have died.
Like the drifting sand, a shadow,
lived and laughed, while others died.
People cheered him for his boldness,
loved him for his courage: madness?
Knowing he could never win.
He too knowing it was hopeless
stood there looking at them,
laughing.
When they found him, laughing
at them, and they shot him.
Still he stood there, laughing.
Dying.
Doug L.
(begun) 1971 - Hammond, Indiana
(completed) 9 May, 1973 - Mainz, Germany
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From You...
You took me in
...your heart
that was just
...the start
of love from you.
You took me in
...your arms
you kept me safe
...and warm
and then I knew.
That you had made
...me fall
because I wanted
...all
of love from you.
Doug L.
06-15-2011
Whiting, Indiana
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