What's Underneath?

By Rick Williams


The clothing I see ladies wear
does fill my mind with wonder.
I find myself with thoughts like,
"What are they wearing under?"

I'll wonder if they match or not.
Are they plain or are they racy?
Does she wear cotton fabrics
or maybe smooth or lacy?

Most times I can't tell at all
what kind of things they wear
or maybe there is nothing worn
and under they are bare!

And the women that dress boring;
what are they hiding under clothes?
Are they throwing up a plain facade
wishing secretly to expose?

Sometimes it's quite obvious
when flaunted in a naughty way.
They want their sexy things to show;
that's why they're on display.

Even just the little things
will catch my roving, lustful eye.
Just a texture or a line
barely seen as they walk by.

Am I bad to ogle women as I do?

It fills me with such pleasure!
I look and I appreciate
and find them all a treasure.

Good Morning, Web

By Rick Williams


It's Sunday morning at my place,
spontaneous yawns across my face.
A cup of coffee with me too,
perusing websites to see what's new.

So much to see, and so amazing!
all things things at which I'm gazing.
I wish I had such talent too
to wow, and speak through things I do.

See, I'm inspired by creative hosts
I'm happy to sit and surf their posts.
The art and culture that they share
makes me all the more aware.

Shop the stores; nevermore.

by Rick Williams


Once upon a Christmas eve
while I sat drinking, much relieved;
there came a ringing at my door.
Shop the stores; nevermore.

"What could it be?" I pondered then
"An item ordered way back when?"
I sprang and slid across the floor.
Shop the stores, nevermore.

I cracked the door and peered outside
it was late you see, and my brain was fried.
The porch light blazed, and brown he wore.
Shop the stores; nevermore.

I was so happy, though late the hour
that piles of praise on him I showered.
I attacked the box; I ripped and tore.
Shop the stores; nevermore.

Aha! It's the final thing I needed.
My Christmas shopping had succeeded!
The online world has so much to explore.
Shop the stores; nevermore.

What drove me to this shopping style?
Why did I stray from wandering aisles?
It seems only yesterday that I swore:
Shop the stores; nevermore.

The crowds of shoppers, the crazy sales
It grew too great! My patience failed!
and when I found I could take no more:
Shop the stores; nevermore.

No more traffic, no stressful pain,
from jam-packed parking lots I can refrain.
I'll sit warm inside while rain does pour.
Shop the stores; nevermore.

I'll miss the decorations of reds and greens,
and the multitude of Santa figurines.
Although "impulse" items I'll fail to score:
Shop the stores; nevermore.

I'll (not!) miss the endless Christmas songs
that play all day and all night long.
Yes, lines at checkouts make me sore.
Shop the stores; nevermore.

Although you can't touch or try things on
at least you can order before they're gone.
If it must be returned then it becomes a chore...
still...
Shop the stores; nevermore.

Driving Lights

By Rick Williams


Headlights, quad
oh my god!
I hate those blinding things!

Who ordered four?
Did we need more
of the searing light they bring?

When they're behind
I often find
I'm blinded from the back.

They may see clearer
but they're in my mirror!
Now it's a rear attack!

Maybe I'm just too old
cataracts foretold
that gives sparkle to all the lights;

but it's getting to where
I should have sunglasses there
in my car when I'm driving at night!

Waiting

by Rick Williams


The miles go by, and those are good
but it's the waiting...

the sparkly lights at night, so pretty
and then the waiting...

conversations of the boastful men
in between the waiting...

the drone and rumble of rusty trains
while she's stopped and waiting...

arrival at the destination comes
and again begins the waiting...

she should be home and safely tucked
but instead she's stopped...  and waiting.

The Rains Have Come

By Rick Williams


From summer rain
we did abstain
but that finally came to an end.

The rains have come down
all over the town
and have begun the fall/winter trend.

There's one good thing
that the raindrops bring
they lull me to sleep, which is good.

Though everything's wetter
I do sleep much better
though still not as deep as I should.

About Wood

By Rick Williams


It's hard when it happens:
(though no pun is intended)
days I wake up with wood
and it's crying to be tended.

I try not to succumb
every time that it rises
what if it's the best thing all day
and the rest I despises?

It never happens at bedtime
at least, without warning
when it could send me to sleep
and I'd smile until morning.

The Rain Song

By Rick Williams


While in my house one quiet day
I heard a sound--a sort of ringing
My ears reached out with probing wonder
I realized then: the rain was singing!

The random raindrops played a tune
as they splashed against the chimney tin
I smiled and closed my eyes as I
enjoyed it--safe and dry within.

Hot or Cold?

by Rick Williams


The heat, oppressive as it is
in August, people languish
they forget that only months before
they spoke of cold in anguish.

"Give me warmth to thaw my bones
I can't take this any more
I must have sunlight--bring it forth
I'm frozen to the core!"

How quickly they forget those words
though heartfelt they were then
now that it's both hot and dry
their tune changed yet again.

"Give me winter, where I can layer
as much as needed to feel right--
a time when I have full control
of comfort--'specially at night."

The scene repeats two times a year
and why?  There are two reasons:
Winter and summer both, and
people struggle with both seasons.

By the time six months have passed
the memory of their hate will wane
and they forget how bad they felt
the last time they professed disdain.

But every year the same old cycle
comes and goes as it has always
and every year the same old song
will echo down the same old hallways.

Soldier On

By Rick Williams


Sometimes, alone, my tears will flow
and after, some relief I'll know..

While depression isn't on my list
of things, which, in my life persists

Still, occasionally it does present its face
and causes anguish while in its embrace

I have to wonder how those cope
When they can't run or have no hope.

To rise from bed and sleepless night
shielding eyes from screaming light

Stubbornly, their dark and weary faces
manage to bend and tie their laces.

What drives them is a stubbornness
Apparently most of us must possess.

It's one of those unwritten human things
to soldier on, no matter what life brings.