Roses are sometimes red
Violets are, well, violet
Some things are what they are
Other times, not at all
Truth is unrecognized
When we are asleep
Courage is desired
But often invisible
Intelligence is valued
But often not welcomed
Happiness is sought after
But seldom sustained
Friendship is valued most
When it is lost
Musicians and cooks create joy
That sustains us
Food makes life possible
Music renders life bearable
Roses are sometimes yellow
But blue only in dreams
Imagination is to reality
What rain is to a desert:
Rare but precious when it comes
Love has no meaning
Except when it is received
Feelings have no purpose
Unless they are understood
Anger is useless
If its source is not revealed.
The function of work
Is to teach us the purpose of play
Play reveals the value of work
Work and play vie for our attention
Like fraternal twins seeking parental approval:
Too much or too little produce the same results
Ideas are found in abundance
Like rocks on a mountain path
No rock is valuable
Until a use is found for it
Power is an imposter
Masquerading as strength
Success is an illusion
That exists at the mercy of the wind
Certainty knows it is temporary
Fear feeds on the crumbs of doubt
Doubt is virtue
Until exploited for power
Life seeks meaning
Meaning seeks purpose
Purpose seeks understanding
Understanding seeks truth
Truth knows its limits
Roses are red, white and pink
And many other colors too
The ones you pick
Are totally up to you
__________________________________________________________
“My Funny Valentine” is a song from the 1937 Broadway coming of age musical , Babes in Arms written by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart. It has become a popular jazz standard, appearing in over 1300 albums performed by over 600 artists according Wikipedia.
Thank you for being one of my readers. I appreciate your support and welcome your feedback. This is the first I’ve written since the untimely death of my good friend, Charlie Fowler. Words and ideas just stalled at the gates of my brain which was overflowing with grief. I dedicate this poem to him.
I want to welcome my newest readers: Suazo, Maryann, rb9, day two, alidon. Thank you.
The older I get, the more I realize how precious and tentative life is and how important it is to love the ones we are with and the ones we wish we could be with. Be safe. Be well. Share my essays with friends, colleagues and family whom you feel would find them interesting. Knowing that you are reading my work inspires me to continue writing and connecting with all of you.