These are from the same timeframe, age 20-22 or so.
The First Year
I wrote this poem for my cousin Bridgett when she turned one recently
The First Year
You’ve been here a year
And what have you done
Some spitting and drooling
And had lots of fun
We’ve watched you grow
From little more than a dot
What more will you do
Now that you’re a tot?
Soon you’ll be walking
Then running around
You’ll stare at the trees
And lie on the ground
Chase after your brother
And hide from your mom
You’ll laugh through it all
And you’re world will be calm.
Your days will be full
Time to play and to learn
An outdoors education
For which we all yearn
With love you’ll flourish
Your brother too
Till you both grow strong
And see the world anew.
Jackie Meyer, © 2001
Art Train
I wrote this poem at Art Train in DePere, WI. The exhibit is NASA Space Art and it was very inspirational.
Art Train
Images and Ideas
Drawings and Dreams
Interpretations of Facts
Science
Raw and Pure
Interpretations of the Unknown
Art
Abstract and Real
The merging of
Left and Right
Science and Art
Reaching that balance
pleases both
Soul and Mind
Jackie Meyer, © 2001
Neptune and the Fire of Knowledge
This poem was also written at art train and inspired by an amazing work of art by Andreas Nottebohm. It was painted on aluminum giving a very neat effect to this picture of neptune in space. That’s an oversimplification, so everyone should see it if they have the chance.
Neptune and the Fire of Knowledge
Energy
courses through space and time
drawing me to a destination
neither understood nor anticipated
filling the seemingly empty void
with a warmth of hospitality
Jackie Meyer, © 2001
The Tao of Jazz
These were written as part of an assignment in college when we were reading the Tao. It’s in two parts, hopefully I will write a third. But enjoy what is there now.
The Tao of Jazz
Focus
Nothing is more all-encompassing
Than a thick, full chord.
For a chord, when perfectly balanced
surrounds everything
like a pea-soup fog at dusk.
When I’m in the chord
only the chord exists.
The music is reality.
It sooths and warms my soul,
Healing it from the harsh world outside
I become one with the notes.
I do not exist.
I am the music.
Expansion
Sitting on a step
after the camp’s gone to sleep;
I watch a storm crossing the lake
from a distance too great for thunder to traverse.
I open my senses to absorb the sounds of Miles Davis
as they merge with the distant storm.
I feel the notes slowly
surround me
captivate me
steal me from this world
until I’m returned, changed forever
for my soul has absorbed the essence of
Jazz.
Jackie Meyer, copyright 1998
Typecast
My quick view of how people are put into roles in the het and gay worlds.
Typecast
butch and femme
women and men
everyone’s typecast in this
movie of the world
death by the populace
for the one who breaks the mold
freedom on the fringe
for whoever escapes
Both of these poems were written when I was in boot camp, on training day 26 and 27 (approximately 1/3 of the way through)
The Realization
As I sit by the window
watching the families pass outside
I notice many recruits feeling homesick
I am not.
Some people would be alarmed
But I’m not worried
I know it means I’m growing up.
copyright Jackie Meyer 1998
The Transformation
One of many in this faraway place
surrounded at all times
never truly alone
never free
Individuality is lost
I disappears
with it me and my
to become one of the same
Everyone clings to the I
fighting the transition
they fight the new self
they need to become
Some win that battle
they remain an individual
but in that win they lose the war
and go home defeated
For those that lose
the new self takes over
transforming the old self
into the best of the best
A United States Marine.
Pending Disaster
This was also written at boot camp, but has nothing to do with it. It’s about a mistake I made when I was young and naive. (Ok, I’m still young, and still naive, but I learned from this I think) In this poem the story is unfinished, but the title finishes it plenty.
Pending Disaster
You were engraved in my heart
the moment I saw your picture
Your beauty radiated across the miles
through that paper
making you real
We grew closer becoming friends
best friends
soul mates
we became flirtatious
playful
until one day when I wasn’t playing anymore
I was serious
so were you
I was thrilled at the thought of true love
(or what I thought it was)
I broke up with my girlf
trying to save my conscience
Next thing I know
we’re meeting at the airport
face to face
you, me
and Dana
my best friend
your girlfriend
Nothing happened at first
we had fun, the three of us
but it quickly became us and
her
I was so smitten my guilt was pushed aside
I got caught up in the excitement of
you
the possibility of
us
until it came together that saturday night
we both set up the evening
the two of us
alone
1 hour at the beach without having to pretend
I was so nervous
so excited
I wanted to explode
Then it finally came together
all the tension
released
in that one moment
when our lips met the first time
just us
sand
ocean
stars
It ended too quickly
our only moment together
cut short by cops enforcing curfew
A sign of things to come
Jackie Meyer, copyright 1998
A nice young man
I wrote this poem after a woman at the local co-op said “You don’t look old enough to be in college my son” I thought that was amusing on many levels, thus the poem. Enjoy!
“A nice young man”
that doesn’t bother me
I accept her definition
because it is all she sees
But there is always fear
fear of discovery
discovery of my truth
Truth is…
I don’t really know
what the truth is anymore
I am all and none
And who I’ll be tomorrow
is a mystery.
copyright 2001, Jackie Meyer
Reborn
I wrote the on the first day I managed to get my binding right so it didn’t slip all day. (it’s quite the accomplisment, let me tell you!)
Reborn
Baby Steps
moving slowly
towards who
I want
to be
lessons learned
skills mastered
a Child
in my
Adulthood
knowing
so little
about
Myself
but learning
so much
daily
How old
will I be
Tomorrow?
copyright 2001, Jackie Meyer
