MORNING EXERCISES

I

I write to the world this day
to sense the wonder
asking it to remember the chances
of it’s beauty.

In writing to the world this day
it is the joy of simply Being
of participating with your God
in bringing the depth of a springtime thaw.

The snowmelt engorges the stream
a long male member pushing down

the meadow below awakens with it
there is a newness to the banks
with the stimulated green
coming from deposits of a fertile brown, fine alluvium

beavers repair their woven dams
spreading water over stream banks
the long winter’s nights have given work to them
see them smile as they cut new limbs to weave

the farmer looks back on the newly plowed field
satisfied that the new shoots
will raise their green heads
towards the sun.

The poets write to give
a sense of the wonders
the beauty of broken winter
the people rely on us to do so
to remind them that their paths
aren’t necessarily muddy.

If even for only a few moments
the readers and listeners to the words
that even the mighty oaks
grow new leaves to shade us.

II

Forget what justifications as there may be
giving a elusive credence
to the crimes against humanity
the narcissistic despots propagate

the killing
the dying
an un-natural cycle created by constructs
of pursuing wealth above the spirit.

Stepping over the pollution
of plastic washed up on our ocean shores
ignoring the warning barks of our dog brothers
telling us to beware

we are all animals, children on our solid continents
unheard are the cries
from a wounded Mother Earth
that is rebelling against the wounding.

It is the lance from the picadors
bleeding red drops to the arena ground.

III

I write to the world this day
to again feel warm wonder
asking it to bring forth the new growth
of it’s beauty.

In writing to the world this day
to the joy of simply Being in tune
with your God’s sent purpose
in bringing growth to this spring’s thaw

touch the sprouts emerging
see the little yellow birds
on the tree limbs happily in the white flowers there
feel the smiling warmth of your dog brother

have seeds of wonder grow
in your place, from the ground of what is possible.

We poets write to give away strength
sourcing the pictures of their universal wonders
the people rely on us to do so
showing the beauty in the winter breaking
to remind them that their paths
aren’t necessarily rocky

focus on what color your beauty is
and that warmth from a bright and gentle sun.

Poem copyrighted 07/2023, Ray Whitaker

In the morning, I kneel and pray
Thankful for another day
To be alive and wonder aloud
Because today I can be proud

A selfish thing once was I
Drinking and using, living a lie
Now I am free from burden and strife
I’m grateful that I can live my life

I’m grateful for another chance
To exist in this world, to steal a glance
At what my future could possibly hold
And to see what my story will unfold

Here in the present there are many things
Paintings to paint, and songs to sing
Hands to grasp, and lips to kiss
A life to live, I nearly did miss

I’m grateful for grass underneath my feet
I’m grateful that my heart still beats
I’m grateful that I choose myself
I’m grateful for my growing health

Each day I live brings something new
A different thought, a sky so blue
And with supportive family and friends
I’m grateful that my life won’t end

But what I am most grateful for
Is having you walk through my door
A love I cannot ever explain
You are my sun and falling rain

With you by my side, there’s always light
Hope and joy and sparks ignite
I’m grateful to be sober with you
And to live a life I never knew

Everything means so much to me
I never thought that I could be
Happy and in a better place
A second chance to show me grace

I’m grateful at night to go to sleep
And dream a dream so very deep
But before all that, I kneel and pray
And thank God for another day

I am grateful For:

My sons laugh, where his eyes close and he reveals a smile that heals every wound that’s ever been afflicted,

For the woman who has always been in my corner even when I was circling my darkest days,

For the abundance of energy that I curate and the way my attitude has shifted,

For my parents who worked hard and showed me the old ways,

For the fortitude I’ve been afforded when my troubles were consistent,

For the metal rods holding me together and there was no co pay,

For my friends that heard my poetry and made me perform, they insisted,

For my fellow vets who checked on me when they knew I wasn’t ok,

For the love I now give my body and the openness to holistics,

For me living with love and not having room for no hate,

For all my friends that deployed who were never injured by ballistics,

For the opportunity to switch school that I took back in 08,

For he work ethic instilled in me I project with persistence,

For the faith that i wont live forever, but my words will succumb to no date,

For the truth in my tongue that wants to help elevate extistince,

No late times in the grand design,

For the great spirit and to my future self I’m so faithful,

I hope I emanate all things I am so grateful.

In the moment I share the stage with you, a man amongst the ruins of personality and beauty. Your words inspire me, the qualities of a man that I climb the ladders of ancestry and slowly achieve this image you see. A brave man who stepped into his skin, exhibiting scars of times when processing your riddles of masculinity was a mystery. A formidable opponent where it would take decades of pruning for me to finally grow a sturdy garden of belief. And yet you carried me a seed to term and watered me with wisdom and love In the soils where nothing returns. I’m grateful for you graduating in your class of life my gratitude shakes the core of my soul. You leave me in physical shock and ache for your eyes closed to the stars of cancer as they pinch the life away from you into the emotional sea’s of heaven.
Shine bright star of stars, and shine bright your dreams into mines. So elder star in the sky reuniting the DNA inside. Collect the God in you and rain down the ideal of your life.

Dear, Unsealers:

I’m grateful to be on my own feet. Each day, I see them with all the scars and calluses as symbols of confronting the biggest struggle with having cerebral palsy.

Yet, they’ve carried me from the streets of NYC to sailing around the islands of Santorini. They wobble and tire out easily but they don’t give up on enjoying life.

It’s with that idea in mind that this poem came along:

I’m grateful for being on my own two feet

As I’m able to open my eyes
And see them in scarred, callused glory

It wasn’t always this way, though…

Years of being held back
By varying braces and orthopedics
A mentality that sunk into my mind

Of being helpless
When all I wanted to do was walk
With normalcy, like everyone else

Now, I treasure each step
Whether its out of my room, walking down the block or in a new destination

No matter the difficulty
On hills, boats and all uneven terrain
I step into my power

To be on my own two feet
A feeling that’s worth so much to me

Gratitude doesn’t do it enough justice
For the magic of walking on my own two feet

tomorrow marks 2 years since you left
breaking the entirety of my being in ways I didn’t know were possible.

but, I’m not sad anymore.

I can finally say your name without trembling
and my heart doesn’t skip a beat anymore when I think about you.
Don’t take this wrong and think that I don’t still love you
because I do,
I always will
and nothing can change that.

because e.,
in the years since our eclipse,
no one has ever come close to
making me feel
as loved and accepted as you.
not even myself.

you changed me
and I am sincerely better for it.
the eternal gift of your love and for this I will always be grateful.

self-ideation was a just a concept and
I had no idea who I was before you
showed me what it felt like to be
recieved with intention.

I will never forget your smile
the first night we met
or how gently we kissed in front of Rebar
listening to my favorite band on repeat.
(“one more hour” was always my favorite track, but now it’s even more special because of you.)

I never got the chance to tell you but e.,
you quite literally launched me into this new life as a poet
and propelled my devotion to spirituality.
that one rose quartz caused it all and now I have more crystals than I can even count
every time I get a new one, I think of you
and I’ve finally stopped favoring ones that are blue.
I’ve most recently started gravitating to purples and pinks.
a symbolic representation of my journey of trying to fall in love after you.

I’ve had to learn the hard way that no one will ever love me like you did
and I’m not saying that out of pity or remorse at all.
It just makes what we shared all the better because you are the blueprint
You made falling in love feel like a dream.
You are the reason I know to never settle
and know what it means to reach perfection because you saw it in me
and nurtured it even when you knew you’d have to leave.

That used to make me sad but I understand why now.

Without your influence, I would be doing so much worse.
I definitely would have settled
and probably gotten stuck with a baby
co-created by someone not even worthy of my energy.
(SINCERELY…THANK YOU!!!!)

I’ve written so much about you and I don’t think I’ll ever stop.
A part of me will always miss you
but I know that we weren’t meant to be
A forbidden love
with a man lost at sea.
My literal sailor and hero
in the U.S Marines

Thank you for gracing me with your presence.
Thank you for seeing what I didn’t know existed inside of me.
Thank you for teaching me that feeling and connection are not something to fear.
Thank you for showing me the importance of surrendering to the universe,
to trust the process and just flow.
Thank you for making me a poet
and forcing me to grow and
receive new love in ways
I never even dreamed

You really did change me e.
and for that, I will always be grateful.
I don’t know if you’ll ever see this,
but that won’t stop me from giving flowers when they are due and my one regret is not being able to give you that while you were still here.
So e.
if this does ever find you,
all I really wanna say is
thank you <3

The commencement can be formidable, but conquering fear, and letting reason prevail sets in motion a surge of untapped capabilities.

Become intentional of the route for what you desire and destined to be. What will master over your course or your final fate. Is it fame, love, or fortunes knocking at your door steps?
Are you going to answer to any or crumble in your indecisiveness to live a life of regrets and drown in sorrow.

Time does not discriminate and awaits no souls or foes. An attitude of gratitude is a priceless commodity that tends to be the light at the end of the tunnel in our darkest hours which restricts our dreams from imploding and rather exploding into a masterpiece.

Yet so intricate but so fragile is the anticipation and anxiety with father time and uncertainties of mother nature with the inevitable escape of death creeping with every season and changes we make for history not to repeat itself not to seek vanity or lose morality to condemn failure and uselessly implore. Would you rather not want more?

You are the author of your life
Take your stride and strife to fight
Feel the burning torrent rage in your bones
Stand up to fury and flip the page because yesterday’s worries are no longer a part of today’s story.

As the sun lay to rest and the moon awakened from its slumber it showcased that tomorrow brings another opportunity and changes that you can not hide. Muster up the strength of a mustard seed and reveal your resilience to conquer and overcome any obstacles obstructing your reach of your endeavors.

For that constant breath flowing through your nostrils is the sole purpose of an attitude of gratitude that change is always presented with an opportunity for self betterment.

The moment i locked my eyes on yours
It felt like magic
An instant connection
All we did was smile at one another
We knew what it was
It was
Love at first sight
For the first time in my life
I felt a feeling i haven’t felt before
It’s not the same old saying
Oh i like her cause she’s different from the rest
No
It’s a feeling where my heart beats a million beats a minute
It’s pounding out my chest to the
Sound of your voice
By the way you look at me
Your intellectual mind
Your touching soul
Your glowing smile
How big you heart is
Mi amor i truly am thankful for you
And all you do
You show me you love me
That you care
You have my heart
I wish to not part
To this special woman i love
I’ve fallen in love
You make my life worth while
You take my away from my reality
Only you are not a dream my love
You are real and true
I get lost in you
I never thought it was gonna be like this
Such a bliss
You amaze me
This is true
Baby soon you’ll know it’s true
How grateful i am for you
I’ll express how i feel
To show you what i feel is real

What doesn’t kill me

Makes me stronger

So I can live

A little longer

To hold you through

Hot summer nights

And then enjoy

Those winter lights

‘Cause days go by

So very fast

But slowing down

Can make time last

Your smile, your breath

Your touch, your kiss

To be with you

Is all I wish

And when we’re old

And weak and frail

I want the world

To speak our tale

Of love and hope

And fortitude

Of living life

In gratitude