pop's poetry

Year: 2026

  • morning walk

    the view inside my thoughts is clear
    even in a cloudy world
    walking the true path calms me
    the sound of my steps
    through wind-swept leaves
    may I always be this present

  • chaos and order

    chaos and order

    order and chaos
    you may not see
    the pattern behind the chaos
    you may not know
    a reason behind the order

    there is a universe of order
    in the garden spider’s web
    the spiral of the stars
    the center of the galaxy
    a star warming the solar system

    there is a universe of chaos
    in the black widow’s web
    odd connections in the beauty
    the repetitions in the quantum
    the vibrations of string theory
    a black hole devouring space

    i am both of these
    order catching the strays
    chaos trapping disparate thoughts
    the wrapping of ideas within ideas
    the taste of clear and present moments
    a messy spiral of joy

  • A New Mantra

    They all lie
    Right
    Left
    They all lie
    Even when the truth sounds better
    Even when there’s no reason
    They all lie

    When I was a kid
    The one thing that started a fistfight
    Was calling someone a liar
    Now it’s hyperbole
    Now it’s normal
    Now it’s spin
    Even when the truth sounds better
    Our country is drowning in lies
    Flooding the world
    Watching how quickly
    Our democracy has degraded

    They all lie
    Them
    Us
    They all lie
    Even when the truth sounds better
    Even when no one is watching
    They all lie

    Now that I’m old
    The one thing I value most is truth
    Which is a rare commodity
    To be treasured
    To be protected
    To be loved
    Especially when the truth makes us better
    In a country full of despair
    Don’t listen to the lies
    Turn up, tune out, drop in
    On someone you love

    Be Present, Be Kind, Be Truth, Be Peace
    Be Present, Be Kind, Be Truth, Be Peace
    Be Present, Be Kind, Be Truth, Be Peace
    Say it with me

  • James Cooper

    James Cooper

    You couldn’t wait to join us
    We couldn’t wait to see you

    A few weeks early
    Yet perfect
    Bursting out
    into daddy’s arms
    A tiny gift
    Sweetest face and biggest hands

    You couldn’t wait to take a breath
    We couldn’t wait to finally breathe

    The ranch is so excited
    Goose Dog
    Mochi Cat
    Rooter Pig
    All the chickens
    Mostly idyllic and wonderfully messy

    You couldn’t wait to see the world
    We couldn’t wait to show you off

    Into a family of love
    Forever bonding
    All of us
    Who came before
    Mixed together
    Some sassy and many sweet

    You can’t wait to put on your boots
    We can’t wait to see you get them dirty

    A big, wide world to see
    Rocks to climb
    Horses to ride
    Fences to mend
    Life to explore
    Sometimes tough and often amazing

    You can’t wait for whatever comes
    We can’t wait to see your adventure

  • seeing in the dark

    I long to be just like one of them,
    those few amazing people
    who, when faced with the darkest night
    can still see a far-away light
    though impossibly
    dim


    I yearn to, like them, believe
    that though my eyes be weak
    I can somehow know there is a light
    even in the darkest moment
    and in that knowing
    see