Drifting Wisdom

Is there a vessel for my magical words?

buried under thrashing guitar noises

why bother organizing anything at all

when i can sip from my black coffee

potent as the air in this room

breathing slow and deep

with a blade that cuts the silly faces

of scanned brains

hiding in the ancient mugs of doom

corrected by blue fields stuck on sheets

of ordinary lives gone

through acid wisdom

they cannot see me in this place

I have drifted beyond the lake

now swirled by colors and drawings

do not end this relationship

between the sky and metallic bridges

the paint splattered in  the wars of men

it is pink in here among the drug plains

crashing into the desert realm

I shall keep calm and carry on

stationed in the corner

I will read my book and then do back flips

raising my fists in the sky

feeling so high on razor sharp electric music

radio waves strangle my brain

until the eggs of thought spill on the floor

my head is split wide open now

the eye shaking king is here to

take me away from reality

a prisoner of time’s pieces are breaking away

What does a pen do?

well it writes words and draws circles around thoughts

what does a pen do?

um, it doodles and spills ink on these thin lines?

the pen cannot do anything without me

just sits on the corner of my bed and maybe it will roll off

falling on the carpet and then i have to reach down

and pick it up and write more

but what else does a pen do?

i dunno stabbing someone that keeps asking me this?

its a weapon to fight off writers block

ideas like to hide from me but my pen is my light saber

that attacks these blank pages with aggressive force

i force and shove my words on this stupid piece of paper

because it just wastes away until i come along

stomping, biting, digging my aggressive words of wisdom

in between these tiny rows

i squeeze the tip of this pen which is having a hard time

providing the ink when i want it to be read

by a random curious person that happens to stumble

upon this bitch fight between the pen and

the crappy recycled notebook paper

oh how i hate this!

and now a new sheet for me

to express myself

or at least whatever seems to be seeping

from my head at the current moment

but soon it will pass

and so will my gas

and then the room will clear

but not my pen because i am

its master painter

no pen is useful without my strokes

of curiosity and the whimsical nature

that i possess

what good is a pen without rivers

of imagination?

WHAT IS THE APPARENT PATH OF APPARITION?

The warmth grows where the feelings
Of the deep mourning lie
We seek to grow
Always trying to know
But the ever changing symbols
That fester in our minds
Focus and reflect upon
The mirror of our souls.
The softly spoken words
Of wisdom
Never wander away

Smooth is the surface

Of these shelves of thought.

Nothing is what it seems
Because what we are
Is what another dreams.
All that we’ll ever be
Is something that no one can see.
At the center of situation
Everything feels
Like nothing ever began.
It is interesting when thoughts
Cannot control themselves
They invade the spaces
Beneath our feelings
And the end of all we see
Comes not easily.
Couldn’t bare to find
What we left behind
In the new light
The burning is almost too much
We have buried the strength
To withstand the agony of change.
A responsibility
Left to break
And die alone……

—author   CHRISTOPHER NOE

The above poem you just read was an excerpt from my book: Wait For The Night To Smile

http://www.amazon.com/Wait-For-The-Night-Smile/dp/1467959634

She’s Crafty

What you are looking at is some really talented clay art that my oldest niece, Amanda, made recently. I am especially proud of her crafts. She and her sisters love the new game out there called minecraft. Personally, it’s not for me. But what I have gathered is that it is the LEGOS for our new generation of virtual, iPhone and computer using kids nowadays. Everything is techno. It’s basically a sandbox without getting dirty. It inspires creativity and a way to feel proud of something you can build or invent for others to check out and enjoy. What else can I say? Whether I like a game or not….I can appreciate the idea and ways to escape the burdens of school, stress and to simply have fun!

Why Poetry?

It always brings me back to my youth
Tasting an apple for the very first time
Smelling the fresh air of the summer wind
As your friend gives you an underdog on the swing set at recess
I loved those days, it always felt like summer
The first ride in the car going down to Florida
For summer vacation
Capturing memories and dreams on paper
Why poetry? Because it has everything that real life
lacks. Absolute freedom like you couldn’t imagine
A child is poetry
Because poetry is open-minded and confused
My poetry is confused by me sometimes
Both children and poems are vulnerable

Sadness and joy
Laughter and anger
Greed and envy

Unlimited feelings and emotions become adjectives
In poetry
Thoughts stray constantly
Without boundaries
There’s too much structure
In America sometimes
Not enough innocence
Why poetry? Everyone has something to say
Our souls must roam free.
Throughout human history as our relatives
Have had to face the shocking and alarming fact
That we have no clue who we are
Or where
We are going
In this maze called life!
The people of “power”
The ones in command?
You know?
The religious
The political
The educational establishment?
They have tried to sooth us
By giving us order, rules, and a set of laws
Instructing us and shaping our minds
To accept their view of reality
What about my view of reality?
That is “why poetry” for me
I still want to hug a bag full of sweets
And run around wild chasing fireflies
Once again I return to my youth
Helping my dad out in the garage
Or baseball games with the neighborhood kids
At the lot across the street
I take steps forwards
And sleepwalk backwards
To the small days of early life
Why poetry? I want to think for myself
I question authority
and the rules it provides
Poetry is not structure
We must keep talking
And let loose the power of our mind’s eye
Put ourselves into a state of open-mindedness
Allow room for chaos and confusion
Weren’t things better when we were young and confused?
I want to live dangerously
And yet remain calm, clear and observant
I’m no fool, I see what goes on all around me
So I write because its how I feel
That is “why poetry” for me.

 

What Makes A Dad

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it … Dad

~~Author Unknown.~~

 

What Makes A Dad

 

Wiped my ass when I was a baby

Taught me how to ride a bike despite me crashing into a tree and getting blood and dirt on me

Coached me in little league baseball

Came to the rescue when my classmates in 6^th grade tried throwing me into a dumpster

You were my Scoutmaster in Boy Scouts and truly helped me become an Eagle Scout

You have always given me solid advice

Built a loft for me in college and drove all the way down by yourself because there was a part missing and it was very selfless of you to do that

We went on an amazing trip, just you and I, to South Dakota

You always helped me with my math homework, whenever you could

With several scary moments involved, you taught me how to drive. I think you had white knuckles then.

You took me to my first concert. It was Pink Floyd at Soldier Field. Very awesome!

You taught me how to mow the lawn

You went to my graduation ceremonies both in high school and in college.

Impersonated Donald Duck

Made me laugh a lot

You have an impressive music collection and taste (especially pink floyd)

A White Sox fan and went to a lot of games together.

You were always handy in the kitchen and with the grill.

You watched my track meets, swim meets and cross country meets

You drove me to school in your cool dodge truck

You let use drive your truck for a couple of summers to take to work when I was at the theater.

When I drove a Plymouth Acclaim, you had a cd player installed in it for my birthday and I was surprised!

You took us to the movies when mom had Tupperware parties.

You taught CCD and ushered at church

A firefighter for 20 years

You demonstrated the properties of liquid nitrogen at school and various organizations and froze a hot dog and it shattered on the ground when you smashed it.

We built model rockets and pinewood derby cars together for scouts while listening to the Beatles in the background.

You even took me out for my 21^st birthday and bought me several drinks.

Thanks Dad for always being there for me…..no matter what!

Love,

Chris

A Golden Opportunity

 

I am employed at an excellent company with awesome benefits. Ball Seed is a world leader in plant development & distribution. So I have a career in the Horticultural world. Ever since I began working there almost eleven years ago, I have been exceptionally HAPPY. The people I interact with every day are simply amazing! After all of these years I have received numerous vacation days,made a lot of friends and have experienced other great opportunities. One major accomplishment  I will share with you now.

You see, after ten years, you get to attend a great big banquet and award ceremony. Cocktails, mingling and music kicked off a spectacular evening. It felt like a real classy wedding, or something. Gourmet food was certainly quite delicious! Managers gave speeches awarding everyone with such dedication and the years of service put into the company. I received my award pin and got to hug the C.E.O. on this special night. I received a book with a list of prizes to claim.

The prize I chose was “travel vouchers.” I spent some time with my wife deciding where to go and what to do. Finally, we made our decision. I wanted to go somewhere I haven’t been to since my father and I took a special journey almost fifteen years ago. Nature, wildlife, mountains, rivers, fresh smell of pine needles, history and a peaceful retreat is exactly what I need. To get away from the hustle and the bustle of the suburbs provides salvation to this busy life I can get caught up into daily.

I am simply talking about the Black Hills of South Dakota. To some folks, this may not seem that exciting but it is for us. Hiking through the woods, lakes and hills among fresh air and away from computer devices is great medicine. To observe wild rock formations known as the “badlands” and man-made tributes to our presidents (Mount Rushmore) and great Native American warriors (Crazy Horse) blasted on lush, breathtaking mountain tops are truly remarkable.

We are staying in an old restored 1800’s cabin for five days. We are “unplugging.” I am taking photography lessons before our roadtrip this Spring. I want to enhance my skills and use my wife’s Pentax digital camera and get a better grasp of shutter speed, aperture and lighting. Taking pictures is a passion of mine. Roadtrips are a passion of mine. Exploring the great outdoors and the essence of America is what we are seeking.

So this voyage was 15 years in the making. Uncle Sam made this possible and most certainly I owe a debt of gratitude to Ball Horticultural Company and all of these exciting years getting to know a wonderful family. They rewarded me for all of my efforts. Because I love music so much, I like to make playlists and soundtracks to the various moments I experience. I truly feel this is a great opportunity that I must take to center myself.

My wife is spiritual and connected to her Native American heritage deeply. She loves the outdoors, even if the outdoors don’t always agree with her asthma and allergies. But she enjoys hiking and kayaking anyways and doesn’t let her medical issues stop her from embracing life. We both agree that I’d love to own a cottage in South Dakota some day. The sights and sounds of the black hills’ forests are quite astonishing!

So this is something that is truly exciting for me and most certainly makes me HAPPY.

When Do I Feel FREE or “In-The Zone?”

This occurs when I am preoccupied where I lose track of time

When I am writing while listening

to the right sounds, rhythms and tunes

on the computer blogging and cataloging

or downloading music

essentially doing research

talking about something

that excites me and that I feel so passionate about

without skipping a beat.

 

Nights

weekends

vacation days

In Michigan at my dad’s

watching a movie

writing in my notebook

listening to

and sorting through music

long bike rides

sleeping

iPod on a train

When my boss is off work

even for a few hours

breaks

lunch

in the bathroom

at an amusement park

 

HAPPY

What Interests Me, Excites me……Thus Making Me HAPPY

Music (rock, jazz, indie, mellow)

Writing poetry

Going to diners

Picture collages

Collecting weird items

Movies

Movie posters

Road trips

Travel

Hanging out with friends

Neon lights

Pin ups

Stanley Kubrick

Alfred Hitchcock

David Lynch

Salvador Dali paintings

Baseball

The Avant-Garde

Black and White photographs

Disc Golf

Astronomy

Television

Coffee

Swimming

Tacos

Listening to Jazz Records

Going to Concerts

Halloween

Car Shows

Poetry Readings

Rollar Coasters

Discussing rock bands

Planning Vacations

Art

Math problems

Film studies

The behavior of people

HAPPY

Sydney’s Crochet Time With Music

We spent time with our nieces last weekend. They helped me make my annual chocolate nut clusters. I’ll reserve another blog entry talking about that. But what I want to focus on here is my youngest niece, Sydney. She loves to play games and is a real curious 9 year old girl. My wife likes to knit and crochet as a passion and hobby. Sydney took a real interest into what she was doing one night and wanted to crochet something. So Denielle, my wife, showed her how to make a chain. An endless one. This little princess became so fascinated with it.

What made me really happy was when she asked if it was okay to play my iPod through my iJuke (mini jukebox). The music of Adele, Katy Perry and Imagine Dragons played from that powerful little stereo system. She ran into our bedroom as we were each reading a book and said to us, “Look at what I’m doing? I really like listening to the music too because it helps me stay focused.” There’s so much truth in how helpful music can be as therapy to get you through projects. I am proud to call Sydney my niece. As a music fanatic and blogger, I take pleasure in being an Uncle to her and my two other nieces; Amanda and Samantha. All three have a love for music, art, poetry, writing and games.

 

HAPPY