War

War

War for anyone who has not been involved,

Is incomprehensible,

You have been pregnant,

Or you have not been,

You do not know,

I do NOT know,

We have three brothers,

None served,

I love war movies,

I know marines,

Other service men and women,

They love war movies, too,

The Vietnam War,

The lottery,

My year was the first year,

If you were #71 or less,

You went to war,

No deferment,

Before the lottery,

(I happened to be #192, so I did not have to go)

I said to my father,

“I am going to be a ‘conscientious objector’,”

My father had served in the Navy,

My uncle served in the Navy,

My grandfather served in the Army,

My father said to me,

“I respect what you are saying to me,”

“They will ask you questions,”

“For example”,

“If some men were to come into our house,”

“If they wanted to do something to your mother,”

“Would you stop them if you could?”

I said, “Of course I would!”

Then he said,

“As much as I dislike war”,

“Then son you will have to fight for us,”

“That is what I did,”

“If you are willing,”

“We fight for the defenseless,
“We fight for freedom,”

“It is hard,”

“But, sometimes we have to stand up to bullies,”

That is the last time we talked about this.

Peter Lowell Paulson
November 12, 2014

Nighttime

Nighttime

Silence,

You read,

The cat,

Jumps up,

He kneads,

His front paws,

Finds the soft spot on your robe,

He knows what he is doing,

It is primordial,

I think,

You say,

“He is just getting comfortable,”

I say,

“No doubt,”

Winter is coming,

And, nighttime comes sooner than it should.

Peter Lowell Paulson

November 11, 2014

Winging It

Winging It

Three, tethered, tied together,

In flight,

Just above the water,,

Out there,

Waves, and wind,

And, winsome thoughts,

It is a cold day,

Have to keep moving to stay warm,
I see the three ducks across the lake,

They seem to know where they going,

But, even if they don’t,

It is a great day,

To be alive!

Peter Lowell Paulson

November 11, 2014

Water

Water

Water wends,

Water washes,

Water wanders,

Away,

Rivers run,

Rivers rill,

Rivers rush,

Away,

Away,

Toward God!

Peter Lowell Paulson

November 11, 2014

Our Morning Walk

Our Morning Walk

Why would I step out?
Except to step out with you?
Your funny,
But STILL cute shoes,
There is nothing trivial,
About our relationship,
I love everything about you,
Even when you irritate me,
OK, sometimes you do irritate me,
Let’s be honest,
But, you are the best of me,
And, I always hope, that I am the best of you,
The weatherman say’s,
We have another good day tomorrow,
Then we have to plan,
For the winter walks,
Funny shoes,
Or boots,
And long johns,
When you slip your long johns on,
I peek,
(We have been married for forty years),
You always say,
“Hey, buddy, mind your business!”
I look away,
And, smile!
What, a cutie!
Isn’t that what love is all about!

Peter Lowell Paulson
November 10, 2014

I Don't Have Your Picture

I Don’t Have Your Picture

I don’t have your picture,

You are a best friend,

We are friends,

I have probably only had two others,

(In the same sex, like my brothers)

My mouth, just went south,

“Stop it mouth…”

“Stop it tears!!”

You are a MAN!

But, a poet man,

I am the strongest man I know,

I can tough the field,

As my coach said,

“Blood makes the grass grow,”

You know,

I actually believe that,

But, you are moving,

A golfing buddy,

To Iowa,

To be with your grandchildren,

The three couples went to dinner,

We toasted,

Wine and beer,

We hugged,

Wives and husbands,

I was very sad,

My wife drove us home,

I cried,

I never cry,

Enough is enough,

I am a man,

A poet man,

But, still a man,

Steel yourself,

Nobody died,

It is time to move ahead,

Your friend,

Is still your friend.

Peter Lowell Paulson

November 8, 2014