Name

What is a name?

I find starting my poems with a question often helps in people’s ability to focus.

But this questions purpose is not a literary equation that equals your attention.

What is in a name?

A name something untamed, from the firery fingers that might point to blame, put to shame or lift up to fame.

A name is something that can be quiet and humble or something that can be puffed up and proud.

A name can be a silent scare in a innocent mans back, or

The identification card that lets you into every door, and lets people even more adore you.

A name can be signified by a mountain in people’s minds, or an ant in between your fingers that you grind without a second option in mind

But don't take this as a sign, because for some names you need to stand in line, and others are given freely

For some names you find a poet without lines, and other can be written for years,

Each poet penning his purpose on platinum paper, that could never be tampered by the delete button on a keyboard,

What is a name?

A name is something that identifies you, a name for a corporation is someone that they wish to send to or to bill to, or to give their money fill to

A name for others, can be that which brings tears, of joy or of pain.

Of a father who left without leaving a note, the name of someone great that we love to quote

The name of a river that always flows, the name of a dam that will never let anything go.

What is a name?

My name is David Clark Swenson

David because my mother said she never knew a mean David, and she counts on that when she becomes old.

Clark, so I always remember the artistic foundation that I was built on . because my grandpa who carried that name was an artist

Taken from Sven son, Sven being my forefather, Swenson the name of my father, the name of my brother, the name of my mother.

Im proud of the name that was given to me, and I hope to live up to the legacy that was left before me.

I cant wait to see at the end of day when my sunset has set and my clouds are grey, the name shall be known by those who know me. Maybe by some who don't.

What is your name?

Can you stand up and be un-quieted and proclaim, in front of a crown with chin up and eyes proud.

Or when you speak the words you call your name, to say it like the little boy who just broke his mothers favorite china.

Eyes down, in a low whisper.

When you say your name, what emotions does it create in those around you, does it create a sense of love, a sense of fear, someone considered loud or sincere? in those that you believe to be held dear.

Now, go out and tell the world the name that you've been given and live up to the legacy of life and living.

If you don't have one to live up to, then create one for your kids.

A name is never lame, a name is always original, even if it's the same of everyone else on the plain, your not the same,

Even if your name is Aldo or Amber, Bailey or Barry, Caden or Cailyn, Dakota or Daisy, Edmond or Ellen, Federico or Felicia, Gena or Garrett, Haden or Hadley, Iris or Isaac, Jack or Jacquelyn, Kadence or Kevin, Lacey or Lamont, Magnus or Makala, Nathan or Nayely, Oakley or Olive, Pablo or Paris,  Quincy or Qianna, Raheem or Rachael, Sadie or Samuel, Talon or Tami, Ulysses or Uma, Victor or Vivian, Wendy or Wilbur, Xzavior or Xandra, Yale or Yasmina, Zaylee or Zachary. Or any other name you have or can think of between A and Z.

Its yours, Take it, claim it, hold it, save it and show it,

Everything has a name,  that's what makes us human. We have names and we name things. And more critically that those things are important, those uttered letters that create personality.

A name can be found like a diamond hidden on the ground, like a symphony making its beautiful sound. What is your name? can you find it? Can you show it up high and not rewind it.

My name is David Clark Swenson, and I say it with a smile.

Because I don't have to cringe back or revile the name that I have been given.

And I hope for the day when my kids look up and say “how did you get your name?”

The same way that you got yours, with a loving heart and tender hand, of those men and women who are now a part of the sand.

What is your name? 

is this you?

Is this you or me

Ive spent a long time, trying to find the best parts of me

And before I met you… I thought I had found them

I thought I, as a blue spruce had grown as tall as I could

But you make me realize that I am a redwood.

I worked and grew, and sprouted and sprang,

Before I met you I thought running a mile was an amazing thing

And then you made me realize I was built for marathons

I cant decide, if these parts were in me before,

So deep in my core, Then I met you and the rain began to poor

On the painting that I called me,

This painting was a twelve years olds kids late assignment, painted 15 min before it was due so he could pass the class,

As the finger paint, and chalk drip, drop away,

You reveal me as a Rembrandt.

I was a small stream, flowing, almost unnoticed down a rocky trail,

And you're the flash flood that caught everyone’s attention including mine.

As you flooded my every thought, drenching me in your waters

I found that, leaving you was like leaving you was like leaving a hot tub in the winter time.

Even when I’m late, busy, flustered, worried, worked, spent, tired, hungry, thirsty, sad, moved, rocked, socked, mocked, pushed for time, or late for a dead line. Ill wait until the last possible moment to leave. Because a part of me stays when I do.

A warmth leaves, and cold returns that can be difficult to subdue.

I try towel off, but my body seems an endlessly shiver

Am I in you, like you are in me?

Do you have trouble finding your way into sleep, because im on your mind?

Does your heart sink when you see a picture of me, and realize that im hundreds of miles away?

Do you feel the same cold when I leave, as I do?

is this you, is it me? 

Anis Mojgani performs "Fisherman"

What is

Life, poetry, motion, work, church, hail, rain, snow, wind, pain, pleasure, cultured, insane, lame, walk, run, stunned, shunned, accepted, rejected, keep, fun, learn, lose, groove, smooth, jew, black, white, asain, indifference, love, union, ply, shy, cry, try, laugh, smile, rock, lock, sock, fight, sight, write, kite, fight, sight, write….. fight…. Sight…. Write…. Poetry….

Poetry…. What is poetry?

“Language packed with meaning to its upmost possible degree”?

in a sea of words, picking the ones with the most meaning?

Is poetry a prayer on paper? An open safe of unlocked emotions?

Is poetry created or discovered? Made or delivered?

Is it floating, right above the daily tasks which distract? Or is it in the way we respond and react?

Poetry with out feeling is like music without instruments.

So is poetry a feeling? Or are feelings the gate keepers that let us in?

Why is it, that when poetry is spoken, people seem to stop in silence?

Why is it, that for something that we cant really explain, seem to connect lines to something quiet and sustained, something we all feel, no matter where your at in the game. Short, tall, small, big, fat, skinny, smart, dumb.

It seems to distill the stagnant waters, in everyone.

People, often after hearing a good poem, like to say “that was deep”

But what does that phrase even mean?

Does it mean, that we all have something in us, maybe small, discrete and fragile? Like a present we don't remember we had until we find it again. Like a lost dog, or long lost friend.

Makes us want to stop walking, and stand right over our feet, when we hear shear noises, created words, that begin to stir, often our feelings will concur.

But maybe we’re not sure. Because its so quiet, we often do not speak, of this language called poetry.

A whisper to loud could break its back,

We could spend a whole lifetime trying to get back that which we lack.

Poetry is a chance taker, a mind maker, a line braker,

Makes us grow, expand, and draw our very own lines in the sand.

Leave a mark on moon, that will never be takin away.

Footprints treaded on mountains, which have never been seen.

Except by those travelers who’s voices break into scene,

Who open up the paintings and climb in without the fear of the unknown, knowing they will win.

Poetry, poetry is you, poetry is me, it's the old lady living alone down the street, its cops and the criminals, it's the optimists and the cynicals, it's the ones stuck in line, it's the ones running free, its dogs it's the cats, it's the birds in the trees, it's the low valleys, and the high peaks, its everywhere, its in everything

Poetry… what is poetry? 

when I get old

When I get old I wanna have wrinkles,

On my four head, and lining the corner points of my lips.

To prove to this world that I have a strong smile and a crippled frown.

Because on the days that were sad, my smile took that as a challenge, and lifted and pulled, and pushed until it literally turned my frown upside down.

I wanna have fingernails that are cracked, and permanently have a little bits of dirt in them, to prove that I spent and entire life in daily work.

I want hands that shake a little, because they made a record of all the times I faced my fears, and was scared to death, but couldn't show it, so they decided now to make up for lost time.

I want a receding hair line, and the color of it to be white,

To show the times, that I stressed and worried and been seriously concerned about those I love

I want sore knees and a bowed back, from all the nights and early morning spent,  getting to know the God who gave me life.

I want feet that people don't want to touch.

Because they are like the a little boys favorite shirt, worn, tired, stained, and ugly, but like that little boy, I love them all the same.

I want to get emotional, have trouble watching sad movies, or my grand daughter as she plays at her piano recital because I cant do it without crying, this life, which makes some men hard, has slowly almost unnoticeably made my heart softer. But I’ll still be embarrassed at my tears.

Now days, everyone wants to stay young, this doesn't make much sense to me? Maybe its because I am young. People today try to make naturally growing old, seem somehow un-natural? Growing old is not something to be ashamed of, it's a beautiful thing, I only hope I will be able to do with same elegance that I have seen done.

And lastly I want clear eyes, ones that seem to catch the light just right, and show their depth more often then not.  I want eye’s, that prove that I lived, but that also are more pure when I leave, then when I got here.

When I get old, I wanna have wrinkles. 

Women and Men

Trees,

Trees and power lines

Some people might say “what do trees and power lines have to do with you and me?”

Well let me tell ya

We men are like the trees, with pride rooted so deep, very few can break us down

Bark so thick, we often can be negligent to the fact we cant feel the pain we’re causing.

With branches trying to reach and expand, with unclear intentions sprouting in every direction

But often we grow ourselves too long over edges, that will only lead to a long fall.

There are few men who can hold themselves back from over extension.

Then there are power lines.

Made up of the same stuff, but far more powerful.

Power lines… so commonly placed, you could find them all over the world. Their everywhere.

So common sometimes we miss them.

Power…. Lines… its true you know, women are the power lines.

Their the only ones who make us, who are close to them , cut our branches.

Work ourselves around them, surround them, but not close enough to wrap or control them.

Those who try… to control, I mean.  Try to split their lines, share them with all their other liquid spined friends. Will eventually end up burnt, by the very power which surges them.

Because women, are just that… Wonderful Obvious Manifestations of Eternal Nature.

Its true you know… what they say, when a women looks into a mirror she is looking at the closest thing on this earth to God.

Men, men are trees

And Women, women are power lines. 

Good Girls

Good girls

I’m like Coldplay, serenading the stereo

Of a high school kids 1982 Honda civic

And you… your like the rain

Although my musical intentions are to make something spectacular

No matter how hard I try my rusted frame, doesn't seem to portray what I want

And then…. There is you.

With the joyful drops of rain,

Cascade the surface of my exterior

You take what was once beautiful,

And make it magical

You're the reason why poets write poetry,

Why songwriters write melodies

You…. You're a good girl

One that makes a rusted old car of soul,

Want to be better then what it was built for.

You flake off the years of pain,

To reveal parts of me, as I didn't know I existed

You…. You are the reason astronomers reach for the stars

And then stand wrapped in awe, that even the universe with all its complexities

Cant stand to the simple things in life that leave us grateful

For all the good, simple, worth while women on this planet.

Who make us… want to build, grow, flow, show, go, paint, create, escape, discover, climb, shine, be kind, and stand in line until the end of time, if that's what it takes to find you.

Good girls… their the ones worth fighting, striving, waiting, changing, creating, saving, keeping, slaving, talking, walking to the end of the earth for.

Good girls, please keep being good, because if you don't, there’s no hope for us.

Thank you.

Thinking about you

I'm thinking about like fall thinks about changing the color on the leaves,
like robin hood thinks about being the prince of thieves,
like sushi thinks about being Japanese,
I'm thinking about you like,
hicks thinks about hunting in the sticks,
like addicts think about getting their fix,
like tools think about getting chicks,
I'm thinking about you like
mountains think about being tall,
like I do after we've finished a call,
like Saul thought about becoming Paul,
I dont know how to explain how natural it feels to think about you....
its like a stomach right before meal, or
like a marine right before becoming a seal,
im nervous, excitedly scared, anxious, and still...
still thats not enough to explain how i feel,
i feel like a tigress does about her cubs,
like gangsters do about hittin clubs,
like i do everyday, "thinkin about you",
thats all i can say

Desert

Right now i feel like a beached whale,
I don't know how i found myself out of water?
i only know that I'm suffocating,
and only you can save me or leave me to lye
I'm a swimmer with cramps so deep I can't keep from going under,
and you are there with one hand half way in the water,
ready to save me, but your scared
because if you save me, you might fall head over heals like I did
I'm a man stuck in the middle of a desert,
and you are the water hole that could replenish my parched mouth from a sandy tomb,
or... are you a mirage,
simply tantalizing me witha false hope?
Love. from the moment I met you I knew, so.....
I waited...
Just to be sure,
like a stain glass window is handled carefully,
as to not add a scratch of pain to it's beauty,
So I made sure to I would always love you before I told you,
I do,
And now I'm here with hands wide,
ready work for you....
All you need to tell me, is that want me to work for you too.
I'm like a mountain, balancing on a pebble,
ready to fall which ever way you wish to push me.
so decide Love, take me.... or lose me