The Comet

 

A comet, emerging

        from the black void,

                displays its wondrous grace.

A treasure made greater

        by its short life

                across the night's dark face.

And when its time is over,

        to blackness it returns,

                and we are left in grief.

For we are like the comet –

        bringing the world our light –

                unique, but also brief.

2001

(from the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

Dedicated here to the memory of Gale Martin who died on December 23, 2022

Winter Cemetery

A winter night – the gates are locked

To guard the dead's serene repose.

But Nature's life abounds within

That snow-borne tracks clearly disclose.

Against this snow-blanched winter scene

The tombstones stand in stark relief

With chiseled epitaphs displayed

To honor those who lie beneath.

But it is Nature's poetry

Transcribed by tiny feet in snow

That do provide a depth of soul

That words in stone cannot bestow.

And I shall lie content to know

That squirrels, scribbling in the snow,

Are writing epitaphs for me

Upon my grave that all can see.

And though the sun and wind and rain

Erase them time and time again,

There'll be new poets to the site

To honor me by what they write.

2000

(from the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

"Your account is permanently suspended"

If you recall back in June 2021, I blogged about Twitter having suspended my account.  See here.

Twitter never gave me a warning or told me why.  They flatly refused my two appeals with a terse, generic message.

My only "sin" seemed to have been participating in a tweet storm to advocate for better treatment of animals.  

Well, with Elon Musk taking the reins, I wondered what might happen (but, to be honest, I do not want to be associated with Twitter under the present circumstances anyway).  

I did find it ironic though, that in the week when he announced that he was giving amnesty to those with suspended accounts and he lifted the ban on Trump and others of his ilk, a message appeared on my page written in bold letters "Your account is permanently suspended". 

 

This new development makes me look at the "What's happening?" line that Twitter displays and ask, yes, Twitter, what IS happening?!

Life's Journey

Together they had forged a life –

Raised three children as best they could –

The years had times of woe and strife

But all in all, most times were good.

Now his sight has dimmed, but his love has not

And he felt their life would start anew

And he went to bed with this comforting thought

But awoke to a future gone askew.

His lifelong mate had been struck down

There wasn't the least forewarning clue

She's in a hospital far from town

And there is nothing now that he can do.

Their old life has now been lost

Their home is but an empty shelf

He too rests his head

On a hospital bed

Praying that soon she will be well.

In moments of fancy he's driving a ball

Onto a beloved golf course green

In her fanciful moments she's standing tall

And painting a lovely verdant scene. 

Their world once traveled in single orbit

Now double ..., Hope asks for overlaps

With all that they have had to forfeit

Fate answers softly "perhaps, perhaps ..."

2003

(from the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

Nighthawk

And when the sky turns dusky gray

Before the night has fallen

I come to watch your flight display

I come when you are calling.

You call to me when day's at end

I long to see you in my sky.

My sleep will come – but only when

I've heard your nightly lullaby.

2018

(from the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter