Betty

I wrote this poem after my Grandmother passed away in June 2008.

'nuff said
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No words can ever express what you mean to me,
or begin to explain the pain inside that's so extreme,
I'll remember you always, and the lessons you taught,
and how you took the blame for trouble, wether it was you or not.

I know you loved me, and I'll never forget,
all the good times we had, and not one I'll regret.
Spilling cans at the store, or breaking windows at home,
all the movies and stories, I'll always have what you've shown.

You've left us now, though I know not by choice,
"I Love you so much" I still hear by your voice.
I'll try to be strong, though I know it's quite tough,
I'll be gentle with Zoe, and play not too rough.

I'll live like you said; one day at a time,
and try to forget your passing, it feels like quite a crime.
For such an adventurous woman, so happy with life,
A loving grandmother and mom, an especially great wife,
You were taken quite soon, and it hurts all the more,
My being's been shaken, right down to my core.

I know this poem is but words, and it won't bring you back,
but I feel like I owe a tribute, and with poems, I've a knack,

So i've written this small piece, hoping to make you proud,
and I love you and love you, and I'll shout it quite loud,

because when it all comes down to it, I've loved you so much,
and on everyone's life, you've had such an amazing and loving touch...

Kid's Book Excerpt

This is one of the poems from the children's book I'm currently working on. The whole storyline looks like a something from a Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (a.k.a.: Lewis Carroll) work, which is not surprising, because if I remember correctly, I had read "Through the Looking Glass" in the week leading up to writing this. And yes, there was some consumption of.... fire-water .... prior to writing this.


Some of the other limericks and poems in the book wouldn't make sense out of context, but I'll do my best to post the ones that are funny even out of the book.

***I am still looking for an Illustrator, for those of you who can draw. (email: KGCottawa@gmail.com)

A beringed hand, as big as a horse,
Came swooping down, on the Boy in Shorts
It knocked him over; he fell to his knees
there were rotten flowers all around, making him sneeze
And then saw the boy, the owner of the hand
Who must have come from a Far-off land
For he had; four noses, three ears and a tail
Seeing this Creature, the Boy let out a wail;
For he had never seen such a scary-looking beast,
And it was hungrily staring at him as if he were a Feast!



KGC

Un- titled/orthodox Sonnet

If there's one thing three hour philosophy lectures have taught me, it's that mind-numbing boredom can sometimes be cured with half-hearted attempts to write. I wrote this sonnet while my professor rambled on about the 'Many Worlds Theory' for the third consecutive period.

There were a bunch of comments on my other website as well as some messages sent to me, and they all dealt with the same few points. So, to avoid confusion up front, I'll clear it up in advance:

1. No, I do not think that poetry is dead, however, I do think that there has been a huge drop in the popularity and general respect for poetry as an artform.
2. Yes, I am being jovial and not utterly serious when talking about myself; i'm not seriously suggesting that this half-assed sonnet will trigger the rebirth of poetry. I was more aiming for a lighthearted piece somewhat similar to Robert Frost's, "The Oven Bird".
3. To those who commented on the rhyming patterns in this poem (and "Fall In Ottawa"), saying that they found some unorthodox or 'off-sounding', I can only answer with the following:

"IM RICK JAMES!"


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Untitled Sonnet

[A]  1   When I awoke this morning,
[B]  2   A surprise waiting there was for me
[C]  3   I heard the News claim that poetry had died,

[A]  4   And from now on there was only prose; how boring!
[B]  5   I set about to rectify this matter immediately,
[C]  6   To prove to the world that the news had lied.

[C]  7   Unfortunately my poem had much hubris it could not hide;
[C]  8   It was predominantly a production of a lowly poet's pride!

[D]  9   But my only goal was to aid poetry Live,
[D]  10   And only a small contribution did I give

[E]  11   But my hope is that it creates the first crack in the Wall,
[E]  12   And that the Barrier may be breached by any and all,

[F]   13   So former poets and writers; both published and unknown,
[F]   14   Come back and create; from your roots shall Poetry again be grown,

[G]  15   And perhaps I shall wake one day in the future and learn,
[G]  16   That in the rebirth of Poetry, some well-deserved recognition I did earn!


KGC

Those Who Were Brave

This poem is one of my favorites; I wrote it in about 4 minutes while at the Foo Fighters concert here in Ottawa a few years back. At the time, I had had a few drinks, and had received a News Alert on my blackberry that Canada had suffered more casualties in Afghanistan. I guess the combination of alcohol, Dave Grohl's dismal crooning (the song was 'Skin and Bones') and the realization that several families and Canada had just forever lost some great men combined to provide me with the right inspiration to pen this.

I have made some small edits over time, but the following is almost identical to what I threw down furiously that night while trying not to forget any of the lines.

1    Protecting the People, protecting their rights
2    We're calling you, Troops; come aid in this fight.
3    We need you to win, else all is lost.
4    We'll pay with your blood, But we'll further the Cause.

5    Come serve your time, for signing upon that line,
6    Come feel the shred, of the enemy's endless lead
7    Come here to die, yet through Death, Live

8    We'll all remember what you came to give.
9    And through Remembrance will the world learn Anew
10  What Hatred, Ignorance, and Evil Men can do.

11  And we'll praise you and rejoice, for the people are saved,
12  And we'll cry and we'll mourn, for Those Who Were Brave.