Abstract Rhythms of the Heart
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About this ebook
In this book of poetry the reader will find poems that will remind them of situations which are occurring in everyday life. The poems are of a more serious nature this time, but are still rhyming and flowing as they did in my first book, Abstract Rhythms of Life. Life is filled with happiness as well as turmoil and this book explores these issues. There are poems of courage, honor, hope, compassion and sacrifice. The poetic form is thought-provoking and makes the reader curious as to how the poem will end. The natural cadence is still there; rhythm in motion. This book also contains poems for those who have gone on before us and poems which have been written upon requestfingerprints of the soul, if you will. As with my previous book, a brief synopsis at the end of the book will give the reader a clue as to why I wrote each poem. The words within are a rare and special blend of poetry. My hope is that they will help some to endure and others to prevail. Take a leap of faith and peruse my book. Youll have no regrets. Enjoy!
Kathryn C Clay
Kathryn Clay, author of Abstract Rhythms of Life, has been writing since her teenage years and is now publishing her second book. Her special talent is enjoyed by many poetry lovers. Originally from Springfield, MO, she resides in Ft Worth, TX and after 38 years of “working on the railroad” is now retired.
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Book preview
Abstract Rhythms of the Heart - Kathryn C Clay
Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn C. Clay, The Abstract Poet.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
ISBN: 978-1-4917-0944-3 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4917-0945-0 (e)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013917653
iUniverse rev. date: 10/26/2013
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Remnants
Give A Hero A Hand
Giving Back
Pearl’s Vision
Divorcing The Court
Rewards of Friendship
Let Us Pray
Rambling
More
Fair Weather
Gonna Walk
Nostalgia
Proud To Be
Things Forgotten
My Spirit
‘Tuffy’
Happy, Happy
Diagnosis
Out Of The Darkness
Unjustified
Matricide
Opaque Conditions
Rasta Man
Carpe Diem
Phobic
Still
Hidden Agenda
Ugly Cousin
Catharsis
Insomniac
Da’ Blues
Bridesmaid
Grifters
Red Light Life
Tattoo
Push
The Natural
The Heart Hunts Alone
Cuckold
Bogus Love
Fait Accompli
Stripper
Gigolo
Misogynist
Cheater
A Lover’s Pain
Depraved Heart
Requests Fulfilled
Footprints In History
However Hard We Try
Sgt. Major
Ode To Phil
Heart Of The Home
Teach Me
Turnaround
My Wish For You
Hello To Thirty
Kitty
Now And Then
I Do, Again
In The Back Of My Mind
Shadows
Nightmare
We’re Not Alone
Crossing Over
Wallpaper
Voodoo
Séance
Seven Sins
Gone, Never Forgotten
The Good Fight
Broken Angel
Son Of Mine
There Comes A Time
Room For An Angel
From The Bottom Of My Heart
Sweet Torture
Like-Minded Souls
Soul Comfort
There’s A Time
Still And At Peace
Take Heart
The Moments Remain
Farewell To Mama Lela
King Michael
Heaven Has Her Voice
There’s No Escaping Reality
A Tragedy Revisited
Verbal Vagary
Traffic Jam
My Abuser
Head-On
Battered
Polygamist
Snapped
Same Sex Parents
Stolen Innocence
An Education In Death
Belly Of The Beast
Tail Of The Devil
Invisible Wounded
Soldier Boy
Safe House
Literacy
Retirement Is Sweet
Sweet Retreat
Gore, No More
Deano’s Last Flight
Twelve-Day Escapade
Duo Exit
SYNOPSIS
In memory of my son, Norman Lavelle Carlock Jr
(December 5, 1967-November 25, 2009)
My son may be gone from the core of this earth
But he’ll never be gone from my heart
With life and love and lessons, I know
We’re only a memory apart.
K. Clay
Acknowledgments
My Higher Power is responsible for any earthly talent I possess and I am still thanking Him for blessing me with the gift of writing poetry.
Special thanks to my parents, Alma and Noble Clay, for giving me life and breath. Alma is still our ‘angel’ and she is still going strong at 87 years old. I should be so fortunate. Love you, honey.
To my siblings, Karen, Walter, Lynn, Chris, Chelly and Charles, thank you again for your love and support. Variety is the spice of life and we have that among us. We are all different, but somehow all the same.
Much love goes out to my sons. My oldest (Lavelle), now deceased. My youngest son is Renelle (Nate), who will always be a mama’s boy
.
Special thanks again to my dearest friend Karin Carter for understanding that some days I just couldn’t hang out because I had to work on my book! It didn’t stop the impromptu shopping, though. I so much appreciate your support and your friendship.
My grandchildren, my nieces, my nephews, my aunts and uncles, my cousins, my sisters-in-law and my brother-in-law all hold a special place in my heart. No matter the distance, love reaches out to all of you.
I’m sending out sincere thanks to my church family at Gibson Chapel in Springfield, MO. Also, thanks to all of my friends, lifelong and otherwise. From San Diego, to Ft Worth, to Seattle, to Memphis, to St Louis, to Springfield, to Tulsa, to Kansas City, to Atlanta, to Los Angeles, to Phoenix and all points in between. I can’t name names because I don’t have the time or the space!
Thank you to my Honey Talk
book club sisters. This sisterhood goes back quite a few years and we have come to embrace a mutual respect and camaraderie.
I give deep appreciation to all of those who purchased my first book. Thank you so much for the positive feedback and for letting me know how you are looking forward to this new book as much as I am.
My final acknowledgment and many, many thanks goes out to the Good Samaritan (Brad) who rendered aid to my son, Renelle (Nate) after he was hit by a car. God Bless.
Peace,
Kathryn
Introduction
Since I wrote my last book, I have had the pleasure of not working anymore. I like it a lot. Retirement really is ‘sweet’. I read quite a bit more and work many, many more crossword puzzles. I still read the dictionary from time to time, as words are a fascination for me. I’m also looking for words to use in our Scrabble games whenever I go home or to use in quizzes that I make up for my book club sisters.
I still write on demand (so to speak) if someone needs a poem for a special occasion, a special person or something along those lines. However, writing another book has taken me quite a little while. I write from my heart and sometimes my heart just wasn’t in it. My last book was a culmination of poetry I had written over the years. This one, I more or less started from scratch and I must say it has tried my patience. I’m sure that is because I have experienced writers block
. Meditation has helped with that anomaly.
I’m sure you’ll notice a change in my poetry as a whole, but something that has not changed is that the poems always rhyme and they always tell a story. In essence, the poems make sense. The world is changing every day and my subjects have changed, also. Some are interesting, some disturbing. All-in-all, they are still very satisfying to read. Bear in mind, each thought is my own personal point of view. I try to put myself in whatever situation I am writing about, then draw from feelings that manifest themselves at that time.
Friends and family are, of course, of the utmost importance to me. As I get older, I learn more about the word appreciation. I’ve known for many years that it’s the little things that matter and the older you get, the more they matter. Last, but not least, procrastination matters. Welcome it; wallow in it, then get on with what you know you really need to do.
I hope that anyone who read my first book, Abstract Rhythms of Life, will enjoy this one as much, if not more. I see myself wittier and wiser than I was a few years ago. Don’t take me too serious, though.
The synopsis of each poem is once again at the end of the book. It is your choice if you want to know the criteria before or after reading each poem.
Peace be with you,
Kathryn
Remnants
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
~ Lao-Tzu
Give A Hero A Hand
We jumped and we screamed and we shouted
We laughed and we cried and we prayed
We went crazy with pure satisfaction
What