Virginia Carson Jefferson

I saw it rather clearly on that day
The tears flowing down
From eyes that had seen
99 years of life and death
As I held the same hand that
Held Molly McBride’s over seventy
Years before…seven years before Dad
Was born…you were thirty-four
When he came into your world
27 when Molly went out
And a young 65 when I came in
~
I can see…I can feel…
The girl inside, born in 1893
To the good Doctor P.K. and his Mary…
Did he deliver his own?
Of course he did…
He delivered the whole county
Your brothers Estell and Thurman, who died so young
Sharon and your beloved Sam and Minnie
So very long ago…
I can feel…see the little girl
At seven, waiting on the turn
Of the century
The one you almost made it all
The way through
~
You felt so fragile on that day
As I held you up
And led you over
To see what you never imagined
You would live to see
Your brother’s son lying there
So peaceful and serene
You tell me…in all your darkest hours…
This one you didn’t want to outlive
You tell me…
You can see both of them in me
I tell you…
I can only be me…I hope it is enough
You hold my daughter
And seem to know
They are all here in us
And I see tears of joy
As it was your way
~
This will be
One of the few memories
I will keep from one of the
Worst days of my life
The tears rolling down
Your ninety-nine year old face
Extreme sadness, extreme joy
Life, that’s what you taught me
That’s how you live
To be 102…
Staying young inside
Thank you, great teacher
Great Aunt Virgie
I will sing of you
For all my days
Perhaps I am, after all,
only half-way there

Mike Carson
2-18-2008

Rebel Without A Pen

In the days before the poet was born
I was everywhere but not within
My switchblade hiding in my boots so worn
My mind was hellish bent on mortal sin
~
I was everywhere but not within
Running with the wolves seemed the thing to do
My mind was hellish bent on mortal sin
Youngish rebels with fertile fields to sow
~
Running with the wolves seemed the thing to do
In all the endless summer nights we raved
Youngish rebels with fertile fields to sow
I sought but never found the thing I craved
~
In all the endless summer nights we raved
My switchblade hiding in the boots so worn
I sought but never found the thing I craved
In the days before the poet was born
~
Mike Carson
2-16-2008

Vibes

Mt. Fuji rises
Above the clouds
The sun will soon
Rise again
This much is very clear
One cannot stand
On this ledge
Of time
And not see the future
Traveling back to a day
In 1978
Wounded ship on crutches
Sits in drydock on wobbly legs
Hastily provided
To keep her afloat
Above the murky waters
Of Tokyo Bay
From the deck one can see
The snow-covered peak
Far above the tree-line
Turn…and one can also see
Tokyo skyline
Bustle…hustle
They are busy
In the east
Ready to rise once more
Feel the shudder throughout the keel
Will she ever float again?
~
Mike Carson
2-15-2008

Belinda Gail (Sunrise)

Before you, there was
Formless void, vast emptiness
Life yet to happen

We were bound for each other
Waiting for the sun to rise

Mike Carson
2-14-2008

Passing Through The Pouring Now

winding road unfolds
as far becomes near and now
the mountains passed…fade

Mike Carson
2-4-2008