Memories of you…

Sky blue eyes
And a soft squishy belly
Kind warm smile
Often watching the telly

Passionately patriotic
And oh so humble
Hardly ever a complaint
Or any kind of grumble

Lover of his country
A soldier he became
Flying the flag high
In every parade

Talented carpenter
Was his dedicated trade
Whistling while he worked
A lovely tune and serenade

Green thumbed man
And lover of nature
His dedication to God
Should have made him a preacher

Skilled kite maker
And master kite flyer
Practically nothing
Could ever go higher

Lifesaver candies
And minty cigarettes
Things he would one day
Very much regret

Was it black coffee
Or earl grey tea?
As I contentedly bounced
On his never tiring knee

Crackers and sardines
He shared them well
Convincingly trying
To tell me they were swell

Tums for indigestion
He always had a pack
And even though it pained him
His smile never lacked

Rosy red cheeks
And an almost bald head
Read his Bible every night
Before going off to bed

Sadly enough
It’s now been too long
I can’t even remember
His favorite song

He now rests with grandma
Still whistling his serenades
And his kindhearted demeanor
Will certainly never fade

I miss him immensely
He gave me my love for life
But I’m so very thankful
He’s now free from pain and strife

© 2021 Michelle Cook

*This is an older poem, written in 2017. It was written in loving memory of my grandfather, who meant the world to me.


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/beach-bird-nature-ocean-outdoors-1846694/

The battle of love…

Oh why can’t we make love instead of war?

Isn’t love supposed to make the world go round?

And if a thing of beauty is a joy forever
Then where is this everlasting joy?

A soft answer surely turns away wrath
But what ends up taking its place?

I’m always hopeful that love will find a way
And yet the journey of a thousand miles must begin with that first step
I wonder… am I really ready to begin that expedition?

I’ve been reminded in recent days of how misery loves company
And a friend in need is a friend indeed
But if opportunity never knocks twice
Then how did I end up here?

Cold hands are supposed to equal a warm heart
So I’ve been looking for the chilliest weather I can find
But I know Rome wasn’t built in a day
And it seems that time is taking its own sweet time

It definitely takes two to tango
And you can’t teach an old dog new tricks
So where in the world does that leave me?

And don’t get me wrong…
I know you can’t win them all
But people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
Especially since all is fair in love and war

© 2021 Michelle Cook


* Here’s a glimpse of some of my old writing, all the way back from 2016.

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/goodbye-kiss-couple-relationship-1441470/

Raindrops never lie

Raindrops never lie,
and yet still, I wondered why.

I guess I should’ve known
because love is never owned.

But still, I’d wished upon a star,
and it didn’t seem all that far.

Yet that’s the illusion of a dream;
it often looks like an intact seam.

So I ignored the knock of fate,
and by then, it was much too late.

© 2021 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/rain-puddle-water-mirroring-wet-2563986/

Burying yesterdays

The afternoon settles
into a quiet calm.
But it’s here
in this noiseless state,
where I find myself interrupted
by restless winds.
Those unexpected currents
stir up buried memories
of regretful sighs
and uneasy bitter truths.
Then with trepidation
coursing through my veins,
a quiet declaration is made.
I move in silent determination,
carefully traversing
those frustrating fields,
where chaotic blooms
begin to mushroom in my mind.
At last taking control,
seizing those past reflections,
wrestling with the delirium
of all those unspoken things.
And finally after hours
of agonizing lamentations,
those lingering grievances
begin to crumble
inside an iron-gripped will.
All those listless thoughts
long in their coming,
turning to ash,
fluttering lifelessly to the ground,
tasting their very last words.

© 2021 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: Pixabay.com

The heart of who I am

Another day dims
but the light of your love
radiates brighter than ever.
In this worn out, weary world
you’re the one constant,
the heart of who I am.
You’re my shimmering star,
the everlasting one
whom I continue to follow.
Even when darkness
overtakes me,
nobody, not one
can change my mind.
For you live within me,
you’re the breath of my soul,
the very reason I shine.
I love you completely,
and I will trust you with my life
because you gave me yours.

© 2021 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-person-sunset-dreams-alone-491623/