Desires Shelf

Walking to the broken edge of struggling misery,
Reality slams its hopeful face onto faulty mind,
Torn asunder by mixed focus dreams will bind,
Trudging toward brink of sanity, vision freed.

The imprisoned memory floats in freedom,
Wafting glory over sweaty tormented body
Pardoned faith responds quietly its drum,
Living begins with dreams held set free.

Destiny’s course pens itself upon vacant trust,
Racing gathers each victory for desires shelf,
The laps of life increase each chanced success,
Sparkling sun shines glowing reward of self.

Robert Dodson
July 18, 2009

The Drought

Tall grows the summer burnt rows of needful corn,
Parched earth begs its mercy toward hazy heavens,
Farmers wander fields’ once lush and vibrant gems,
Needed moisture abandons the farm with scorn.

Kneeled in prayer weathered face pleads case,
Other crops welcome the regular calls for rain,
The dry summer breeze crosses dying plain,
Hopeful eyes search longingly for hidden ace.

Days plod slowly toward summers’ needed end,
Parched lips mutter the routine cry for wetness,
On the horizon lost clouds begins to darkly rend,
Slow drizzle starts its downward trail to bless.

Robert Dodson
July 16, 2009

Cowboy Paradise

Dramatic rocky outcrop forms soulful reflective sight,
Sheer red cliff rises abruptly toward cloudless sky,
The sinewy raging river calms below rapids bright,
Basin spreads its peaceful glory upon fortune’s eye.

The beckoning mountain hides behind festive spruce,
Snuggled against lonesome ledge tiny shack waits,
Fireplace shows whisper thin smoke filtered states,
Rustic well and corral hold sway an uneasy truce.

Restless cowboy saunters through sparse clearing,
Howling coyote silhouettes the slivered harvest moon,
Critters and birds and insects sound a steady tune,
The cowboy lightly sleeps till dawn breaks unhearing.

Robert Dodson
July 15, 2009

Romance

Gawking at the romantic serenity of valley green,
Pounding heart stirs the beating rhythm tranquil,
Love gathers its fondness at my footfalls serene,
The sounds in the air and trees suddenly still.

The roaring blood of my ears loudly drains
Rising temperature cools like summer rain,
Senses heightened by the aroma of love,
Feelings cascade over my being from above.

Romance does a nimble dance in my head,
Partners forever share common dreams,
Clear starry night hide faint moon beams,
For my amorous goddess my arms spread.

Robert Dodson
July 14, 2009

Paused Gratitude

Today is a yesterday strung together by moments endlessly,
The future is time becoming a forgotten wind blessed sea,
To change the future, turn into reshaped pattern free,
Leaning past to show a tomorrow focused on fresh creed.

Never arriving, mired within the cells of lonely tyranny
Venture toward fresh beginning seeking belief true,
Doctrine compels action slamming worthless irony.
Principles strength props a slumping dogma blue.

Paused gratitude relays smartly designed hope,
Accomplishment renders furtive heart to cope,
Pride pushes briefly to the front and faith restores
Held high journey begun releases its shores.

Robert Dodson
July 10, 2009

Camping

Gathered around brightly burning camp fire,
Sticks and marshmallows give tasty gooey mess
Under starry filled sky, tales spun desire,
Horrifying shadowed images made you confess.

The burning heat warmed a body and froze fear
Stories related bound boys until youth retreated,
The frightening pictures hounded all while seated,
Finally petrified kids clambered into sleeping gear.

Sleep that night came agonizingly hard for most,
Several restfully snoozed like a cuddly teddy bear,
One slept only when a false dawn came to share
The announced rafting trip caused panic to be lost.

Robert Dodson
July 9, 2009

Paradise Visit

Encircled by the sultry cobalt ocean kindness
I face the poise of unending pleasant gaiety
The black sand beach entices a fun rarity
Soles tread gingerly upon new friendliness.

Palms sway gently on tropical flowing breeze
Trusting hope lays a gathering distinct laziness
Summer time clouds shelter mountains haziness
Orange juice comes deliciously squeezed.

Vacation island satisfies the dream held tight
Strolling the paradise in bright filtered moon light
Final evening reveals the memory of cherished desire
Yet the gloom of home extinguishes my burning fire.

Robert Dodson
July 8, 2009

Football and Youngsters

Brimming with energy the youngster explodes onto the pile
Stored for days emotion wells up rapidly in crashing style.
Oblong object attracts thousands of eyes seeking glory
Hands magnetically grasp frozen leather under light sea.

Respect on Oblong Square shapes a child for destiny
Courage displayed weekly grants new earned trophy
Discipline taught lessons needed for growing humanity
Obedience lends itself to manners of generosity.

Regulations ordered by self contentment apes life
Growing older rapidly dissolves the vigor of youth
Teamwork encourages cooperation through strife
Victory earned shows the necessity of uneasy truth.

Robert Dodson
July 7, 2009

My Road

Nestled within my mind dreams collide
Debate wrangles victory over to the side.
Questions remain for a future yesterday
Living sees its tragedy stuck per se’.

Grab the zest of doing and live to fulfill
Triumph is measured by many failures
Giving up has no chance to establish will
Fighting through sets a tune heard for years.

Life’s end measures a well traveled journey
Choices made reveal no failure or success
In the end, flowers still dress a smell sweetly
My road paved hearts to those I can bless.

Robert Dodson
July 6, 2009

Independence Day

Searching heart freedom is in my grasp
Reflections on yesterday give me pause
Failure to remember the whys is my gasp
Truth of conviction is the lifelong cause.

Putting faith inside my being carries me
Living freedom is the simple task I bear
Breathing liberty requires complex duty
Independence is earned by the blood of I care.

Proudly our flag waves its moving call
Ask those fallen souls what price glory
I stand free today honoring those who paid all
My right to stand alive in silent liberty.

Robert Dodson
July 4, 2009

Aisles of Destiny

Forging through the trails of traveled path
The aisles of destiny await considered road.
Wavering moments require elephant mode
Enduring droughts of elation’s planned wrath.

Moseying along Grand Canyon awe slams
Depth of grandeur amazes the ribbon river
Flowing upon Painted Desert of sandy clams
Richness of self rewards a heart’s quiver.

Completed journey recalls the tribulation earned
Measured success filled by dreams realized
Destination appears from missteps learned
No goal can be so small that it becomes resized.

Robert Dodson
July 2, 2009

I Continue On

Gripping tightly to an ever present goal,
Steadily gathering pieces of my puzzle,
Sorting into smaller parts to guzzle
Readily the dream begins to foal
I continue on.

Achieving tiny ones makes heart race
Building towards the next step stimulates
Moving forward enhancement graces
Acquiring each purpose lessens fate
I continue on.

A lifetime passes ever so rapidly
Looking back the journey pleases
Resting at long last, moments flee
Success fights a battle to never cease
I continue on.

Robert Dodson
July 1, 2009

Lessons Learned

Lost in a jungle of twisted hope hearts hold a key
Tangled within a vision of future past desire stalls
Encrusted hate washes destiny from painted walls
Humanity rises upon sensually stark blue sea.

Tropical breeze carries a storied dream gently
Through the lobby of my soul to share silently
Glistening sand beaches warm my passion
The relentless surf pounds stoic attention.

Lessons learned use fortified interest again
Saving for fulfillment life begs for new wish
Working gradually becomes anticipation’s dish
Pleasure of success is opening rewards drain.

Robert Dodson
June 28, 2009

Choices

We walk the silently screaming beach
Hand in hand with my loving wife.
I rise in the morning to an alarms’ call
Together we perform the morning ritual.
Sometimes I spend an extra moment over coffee
Others I rush to complete tasks for the day.
I go to a movie, the mall or the park
I can attend the church I choose or not.
I take an early morning jog to stay fit
I could visit a museum, a friend or go home.
Today I choose where and what I do.
I can waste my money or I can save for the future.
I could call my closest friend or email my congressman
If I want I can vote for the best candidate.
I can criticize my elected officials and fear not.
I can buy anything I have money to buy.
It could be a vehicle, a lamp or illegal drugs.
I could perform all manner of improper things.
I have that right.
I have the choice to obey the law and most like me do.
I have that right today.
I can travel the farthest reaches of our country or planet
I cand stand in awe at the Grand Canyon
Or visit the Statue of Liberty.
For all these things and many others
I thank the American soldier.
Thank a serviceman who gave us these choices.

Robert Dodson
June 27, 2009

Montana

Gentle summer breezes touch the prairie with loving hands
Mountain ridge guards a rustic and serene valley below
Tiny stream bubbles across mystic rocky formation slow
Scattered trees shelter nature’s surreptitious band.

Glaring sunlight heats the small herd of grazing bison
Nearby the growing corn shares the sluggish wind
The quaint ranch house nestles against rocky bend
Flowers decorate the vista in multi colored fun.

Vacation retreat gathers enduring grace to give
Harmony is ruptured by music of the scenery
Peaceful surrounds the dreams I passionately live
Each time I visit the wide open big sky country.

Robert Dodson
June 26, 2009

The Cottage

In wintry cold the cottage stands vacant
On sea swept hill the beach invites
Lonely is the surrounding countryside
Months slowly ebb into glowing spring land.

New season jumps willing into sudden green
Repainted cabin beckons for companionship
Robust family arrives on welcoming scene
Stowing luggage, they rest from travel blips.

Vacation spent passed like a fiery comet
Reflection on past soothed nestled fears grip
Next year seems further than distant planet
Togetherness held links to magnify passions trip.

As fall leads to winter the cottage is empty again
Doors and windows shuttered against nature’s fury
Once more the countryside feels sad and dreary
The seasons will change like perpetual rain.

Robert Dodson
June 24, 2009

Dreams Ascend

Passion falls to dusty floor sad
Past events raise a battled trust glad
Minutes chug drearily into a future mad
Broken promise endures terrible trouble bad.

Love rises from within bursting on the soul
Lost in togetherness conquered values spread
Dreams ascend meteoric clash of dread
Settled score resolves hope held icily cold.

Joined forever leads mission to save fancy
Flowered aisle defines the promised future
Seaside visit created zeal always chancy
Years flew rapidly by like painted picture.

Robert Dodson
June 23, 2009

Happiness Reborn

Grasping for insight, I reached the threshold,
Retreat gains lessons given gilded glamour
Advance toward living destiny once foretold
Instinct garners a hope held tightly enamored.

Happiness reborn catches rewards to reuse,
Stepping from the glow love carves truce
Forging strength as joy leaps through care
Leaving despair ditched in the river fair.

Giving trust earns respect for truth said,
Laying on the edge of victory could descend
Chanced defeat from traveled bend
Makes forgiveness’ a debt already paid.

Robert Dodson
June 22, 2009

Father’s Day

Today I reflect on the past,
Strong hands helped tie my shoes,
Taught me important things
I cherish today and always.
My character is my foundation
Laid in place by a gentle man.
The things I learned so long ago
Built me to be the best I could.
Tangible habits are the evidence
But those unseen traits are my walls.
Honor, manners and respect were learned
Mostly by example, some by a slap
Gratitude fills my heart every day.
Living life is my daily tribute
We had good and bad times
But through it all we shared love.
Sometimes spoken, but mainly unsaid
I am proud to call this gentle man, Dad.

Robert Dodson
June 21, 2009

Fulfilled Hopes

Yesterday I crawled at the vigil of leaping present,
Seeking a route through the dreary sight of daring
Lost among the frenetic harbinger upon emotion pent
Holding time’s grasp of feeble mentioned caring.

Today I stand resplendent in dizzying bequest
Distracted purpose holds hysterical heart
Touched by symbolic reticence is my behest
Wrapped within my quiet dream, I start.

Tomorrow I hobbled to faraway drummer
Fulfilled hopes satisfy living courage free
Mistaken ideas garble their way to summer
As I become the writhing waves in the sea.

Robert Dodson
June 21, 2009