Saturday, October 27, 2012

Clothes Shopping

by Rick Williams


I sometimes think if I were gay
I'd have more flair for fashion.
The choices when I dress each day
I'd make with much more passion.

My clothes are vague and ordinary
and don't vary by too much;
I wonder which blue jeans to wear
and which t-shirt and such.

I've never really had much sense
of what or why to buy
and if I do get to a store
my shopping goes awry.

I don't know why I struggle so
when I make it to the stores
I seem to get too overwhelmed
with all those shirts and drawers.

Maybe the prices that I see
is the problem when I shop.
I see the dollars adding up,
get frustrated, and then stop.

I'm not asking for too much;
just desire and some style.
The attitude and knowledge
to go shopping with a smile.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Fireflies

By Rick Williams


Two decades of my life passed by
before I ever saw a firefly.

Because there are none where I live
I'd never seen one, please forgive.

That day the light was fading fast
the dirt road dim from shadows cast.

Then I walked out of the trees
and what I saw then made me freeze.

I was mesmerized at what I eyed
before me in a meadow, wide.

For in that open field out there
were a million blinking lights, midair.

I know that I was struck with awe
dumb with wonder at what I saw.

For I stood, transfixed, and stared in shock
and found myself afraid to walk.

I stared in wonder at the flashing show
that blinked a yellowish-greenish glow.

I never will forget that night
I saw that show of insect light.

What really made that it second to none
was before that night I'd never seen one.

Thirty years have passed since then
and I'm sure I'll never see again.

To never see, then see so many
is like someone said, "you've seen plenty."

"No more for you, you've seen the best.
Go write a poem if you were impressed."

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Summer Things

By Rick Williams


Lying outside in the summer sun
listening to happy children run

Wispy dresses that light shines through
Sitting on porch steps with a microbrew

The lazy drone of a distant plane
The dusty smell of a sudden rain

The scent of grasses, yellowed and dry
swimming in lakes and rivers nearby

Colorful flowers alive with bees
The whisper of blowing leaves in trees

These are just a few of many
things of summer I love plenty.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Back in the Black

by Rick Williams


Weekday freedom ends today
I'll finally be employed.
My weekdays will no longer be
the carefree days enjoyed.

I got a lot of home chores done
and that was a good thing,
but we were missing paychecks
and the freedom that they bring.

I didn't do too bad it seems
Two months was all it took.
Some poor guys have been out there
for years and still they look.

More vacation also comes
with the new job that I'm at
and because we both like traveling
we're both really liking that.

It all apparently worked out
this unplanned change I made
I'll earn a lot more money now
like I've finally made the grade.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

More Coworker Limericks

by Rick Williams


[I wrote these at work sometime back around 2004 or so, killing time while running a high-speed stamping press.  I remembered writing them, but I had given them up as lost until I just discovered them in a box of papers yesterday.  They're not my finest work by any means.]


There once was an idiot named John
who we are glad that is finally gone.
It became very clear
that when he was near
Something was bound to go wrong.

There once was a man named B.Z.
whose head was quite shiny you see.
The long stories he'd tell
would trap you in hell
and you wanted so badly to flee.

We all know that Bernie is tight.
Spending money, to him, is a fright.
If you need a new pen
better have a trade-in
or he'll put up one hell of a fight.

There once was a man named Bruce L.
who could fix anything, and do it well.
When something would break
his tools he would take
and his corn-nuts and his whistle as well.

There once was a buyer named Dale
who loved it when there was a sale.
Parts or supplies
the obscure:  No surprise
he could find it and seldom would fail.

Everyone's favorite, Elaine
is blessed with good looks and a brain.
There is little or no doubt
if she ever walks out
this place'll be unbelievably plain.

To check out part specs we see Dan.
When it comes to measures--he's the man.
You'd better well bet
that the numbers he gets
are the same as the ones on the plan.

Rod from de-burr used to lie.
He'd stand there straight-faced and deny.
His hands--they would shake,
and he'd say, "I didn't take"
Until the boss finally tired and said, "Bye."

[I apparently even wrote one about myself!]

Rick was the noisiest man
making noises all day was the plan.
People showed disbelief
at his comic relief
fearing one day he'd get out of hand.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The Phantom Scent

by Rick Williams


The thorny, naked stalks are there
but nothing else remains.
The leaves and petals are both gone
as warmth and daylight wanes.

The memory still lingers on;
I can close my eyes and smell
the natural perfume that was
the fragrant rose's spell.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The Proud Woodstove

Bow before me, yes indeed
gather round, I've what you need.

Embrace me, yes, but don't dare touch.
Believe me--you'll not enjoy it much!

I offer comfort to those of you
who might need some to see you through.

Remove your shoes and wiggle your toes
feel my warmth as numbness goes.

Feed me--don't dare let me fade
or in your home cold will invade.

Sit inside, all warm and dry
safe from the dark and rainy sky.

Years have passed and the fact remains:
Of woodstoves in winter no one complains.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

The Stranger

By Rick Williams


A sleepy village changed the day
a wandering stranger came.
They had no clue their mundane lives
would never be the same.

A pair of zebras led his cart
a sight quite rare indeed
for people there had never seen
a creature of this breed.

If that were not quite odd enough
his wagon caught their gaze;
adorned with flames of swirling colors
that seemed to dance and blaze.

The man himself was very short
his ears a curious shape
he wore a tall, orange, shiny hat
and and a green & purple cape.

His mustache formed two graceful loops;
each framed a rosy cheek,
and each one of them ended
in a sharply-pointed peak.

On his chin a tiny bell
hung from a wispy beard.
It jingled very faintly
as his throat he cleared.

"Spread the word to one and all:
I've brought something to share!
Tell family, friends, and foes alike
to be here in this square."

"You'll not want to miss out
and it's absolutely free,
so tell everyone in town
that here they'll want to be."

"I'll be back later tonight
after you drink and dine.
I'll answer all your questions then
and fill your curious minds."

With that he turned and sat back down
and whistled a curious tone
the zebras jumped and off they flew
leaving blank-faced folks alone.

Several folks chased after him
but stopped at the first turn.
They stared with sudden disbelief
No trace could they discern.

They muttered, "Not a trace of dust
or track--how can that be?
He vanished like a ghost, he did
and we were there to see!"

Slowly, folks began to leave
and go about their day
But there was lots of talk
and lots of things to say.

When evening came upon the town
and the hour was drawing near
The town square filled with villagers
though the reason was unclear.

"Who was he?" many people asked,
"Why do we make this fuss?"
"What is this thing he said he had
to give away to us?"

Suddenly, the crowd grew silent
and there was heard a sound.
A clopping noise came from behind
And people turned around.

The stranger had arrived again
and silence did ensue,
and as he rolled into the throng
the crowd slowly withdrew.

When he reached the center
of the village square he stopped.
He stood and smiled down at the folks
then from his seat he dropped.

There was a murmur from the crowd
as people tried to see
what the stranger's business was,
and who he claimed to be.

He opened up the carriage door
and put a stool upon the ground,
and with a basket full of bottles
he stepped up and looked around.

"Hark ye! Gather near to me--
come hither with great haste.
move quickly before the day is done
let not a minute waste."

"You there, small timid man
with long and crooked nose;
I see that curiosity
within you surely grows."

"You too, old woman
there, way in back
with grey-streaked hair
and dressed in black."

"Come forth, good people
for I have brought
something that you surely need
but currently have not."

"I offer you salvation
from discomfort and from pain
to you I give my bottled cure.
From payment please refrain."

"I see from many faces here
that are staring out at me,
that some of you are skeptics
while others yearn to see."

"Worry not the least dear friends,
it is my gift to you.
My payment is to see you well
when tomorrow's sky turns blue."

He offered bottles in both hands
held outward toward the fray
and slowly townsfolk inched in close
to what he held their way.

"Don't be afraid," he volunteered
as he held the bottles out.
"There's nothing here unsafe for you
of that please have no doubt."

The townsfolk began to make their way
to the stranger's outstretched arms
and slowly excitement began to grow
as they were caught up in his charms.

No one seemed to notice
that he had the exact amount
of bottles for each person there
or that he did without a count.

Soon everyone was drinking
and the contents were all gone
and people looked around to see if
anything was going on.

A murmur rose from in the crowd
and it began to rise.
"I don't feel any different...
...how about you?" became the cries.

The stranger climbed back up atop
the zebra-powered cart.
He stood and faced the crowd once more
and held his arms apart.

"You'll see or feel nothing at all
until the morning light.
So just relax and go about
your evening, and good night."

He turned and sat upon the seat
and gave the reins a shake
and suddenly he and his cart were gone
leaving chaos in his wake.

When morning came the town was still;
no people and no sound.
There were still the sounds of nature
but no humans were around.

Then in the eerie stillness
a familiar sound was heard:
The stranger and his zebra's hooves
where the only thing that stirred.

He paused at each and every door
while the zebras patiently stood
he went inside and came back with
anything that looked good.

When he had went through every house
he had spent the entire day,
a multitude of very tiny folks
watched him roll away.