John's Poetry

Music "Autumn Symphony" by John Durant
copyright 2006 by John Durant

Stream 2

"A Sweet Escape"

I rest my aged scarred hands

on the eighty eight

black and white keys

and make my mind

a blank canvas

I tap a few notes

to begin my journey:

life's shackles

fall to the floor

with a heavy metallic clank

I saddle and mount

my spirit horse

and steer her

toward the open gate

onto an endless beach,

through an alpine meadow,

up to the clouds and beyond;

past planets, stars, and galaxies

to far away places

within myself

infinite possibilities

and adventures await me

What a sweet escape...

"Notes From Percy Warner Park"

A crystal clear stream flows quietly

through Percy Warner Park,

tall, strong, beautifully aged trees

line its steep acorn covered banks

like sentries,

their fallen friends

add character and counterpoint

to this picture perfect autumn scene

that induces such a wonderful sense

of calm, peace and tranquility

I find a safe path to the water's edge

and walk carefully

across the exposed rock

as small fish dart back and forth

through the shallow water

that covers a bottom

of one continuous sheet of stone

the water moves swiftly

for a moment

then eases into quiet pools

a natural ebb and flow

much like life's journey

from birth to death

navigating through the many twists, turns and waterfalls,

in perpetual motion

toward its final destination

I should visit here again

"The Flower"

I walk through

an abandoned parking lot

and see a single flower

growing in a small crevice,

her pretty petals are even more beautiful

against the dull gray concrete

By chance,

or the hand of God,

this single seed

dropped into fertile soil

and flourished in such a desolate place

Her closest neighbors,

mostly weeds and common grass,

say "oh how beautiful she is",

but many are afraid to mingle

lest they look ugly

or plain in comparison

So she waits for another flower,

prays for another seed to take root nearby

before she grows old and wilts away

that will be such a sad day,

and all the weeds and common grass

will mourn her passing

"A Good Life"

A lone cloud

in the summer sky

drifts for miles

no hurry or worry

no aches or pains

no pills or bills

no enslaving time clock

just lazily drifting

whichever way

the wind blows

peaceful

serene

happy

quiet

content

a good life...

heaven

"Hebrew National"

Hebrew National Franks,

the filet mignon

of the lips and assholes industry,

the only honest hot dog on the planet

No Artificial Flavors

No Artificial Colors

No Fillers

No By-Products

Made with Premium Cuts of 100% Kosher Beef,

the gold standard for hot dog lovers

with a discriminating pallete

much unlike their extreme counterpart

the Value Hot dog,

the nameless anonymous generic cuisine

manufactured for the poor and starving masses

Lord only knows what mechanically separated ingredients

are cast into the Value Grinder from Hell,

rats

cockroachs

bloated cows

lab animals

John Doe's

seniors without Colonial Life,

and maybe if you're lucky

a token scrap of chicken, pork or beef

salvaged from factory sink traps

and floor drains,

the final product

is barely fit for human consumption

and is much better suited for FEMA rations

or Fear Factor challenges... eat 'em if you dare!

Value Hot Dogs,

the lowest common denominator

of American cuisine,

they're dirt cheap

and dirt is probably better for you

fortunately we have an alternative

to this culinary Frankenstein,

a great tasting product

inspired by Kosher tradition

that's sold for a modest price

in supermarkets everywhere

as we gather around our dinner tables

and thank God for our food, family and health

let's not forget to give thanks

for Hebrew National Franks... Amen

"Hello Old Friend"

Hello old friend;

so many years have come and gone

since I've seen your face

I think of all the holidays and seasons
that have rolled by like a train,
and in retrospect,
I realize that I've barely noticed
how much time has passed

I see the years we've missed
in the lines on your face,
and all the changes that come with age;
and I wonder if you're laughing on the inside,
as you see that time has also caught up with me;
and my waistline,
and my hairline....

Every time I hear
the familiar sound of your voice
it's like a time machine,
bringing us right back
to where we left off so many years ago
as if we hadn't lost a day

It's great to see you my old friend;
I hope that sooner rather than later
I'll see you again