No

People love me

until I say no

and sometimes

I must say no

(c) Glenda Kotchish

Next Generation

Thirty-Something in 2015

We are so different.

you want a shiny new penny

and we like the old Indian head penny 

have you ever seen one?

did you ever look at the coins

and marvel at the old dates?

We created the technology

to which you feel entitled

to which makes your world spin 

yet you scoff at the mainframe

and laugh at the giants' shoulders 

on which you unwittingly stand

Our fathers fought for our freedom

and we were aware

and we were thankful

and all that our fathers gave us

we were thankful

as we had eyes to see 

the needs unfilled of so many

and we were thankful for all we were given

But you - you want the shiny new kitchen

and the Jacuzzi bathtub

and the chrome facets

and the granite counters

and shiny new floors.

So much beauty in the old

that you are missing

in your plastic

Disney cartoon world.

(c) Glenda Kotchish

May 28, 2015 

Anna on Mother's Day

Anna on Mother's Day

Anna blew in town

today

she's kind of moody

one minute all sunshiny

the next - all dark and stormy eyed

tear drops flowing

then everything's fine 

"it was nothing really"

it's  all blown over

and now  ... she's blustering about

again.

She moans

that she stuck in a rut

...our unfortunate rut it seems

She insists

it's because 

"I'm tropical".

(c) Glenda Kotchish

April 9, 2015

Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Poem - Gossip in the Cul de sac

Gossip in the Cul de sac

They spin and spin

Their little vortexes

One starts

Touches another

That one spins

Touches another

Which spins

And so it goes

Until before you know it

They are a force

Which you don’t want to be caught in

Step away

They will

one by one

Die down

Until they all

Die out.

© Glenda Kotchish

4/27/2105

Knowing - Poem

He doesn't know 

what I know

Do I know 

what he knows?

I don't know. 

(c) GMK  03/30/2015

Again?

Again?

You're back!

another visit?

so soon?

weren't you here just last week?

someone else's anger

mean words

scathing

accusing

demanding

in writing this time.

And me - just trying

to do a good job

the right thing

on top of it

responsible.

I bit

feel into your trap

...again

Fretted all night

couldn't sleep

...again

Responding

responsible

...again

Defending what's

rightfully mine

...again

Which only

makes you

stronger

meaner

colder and hotter

...again

Until I stepped aside

to let you seethe

all alone

...again

I'm sure I'll see you

many times more

but I'm onto you

...finally

(c) GMK 3/18/2015

You asked for it.

Oh it's so cold.

It's grey

It's rainy

It's snowing

I can't wait for spring.

The complainers -

Wishing away 

this time of rest

granted to us by winter.

Stay in the house

by your fire

in your warm bed.

Sit in your chair

read your your books and

papers, 

without guilty feelings 

of outside work calling you.

But now, something's 

stirring.

They've turned the clocks forward

already.

The ground is soft from the winter  rains

Green things are showing up

Spring.

Time for you to: 

rake the leaves left from fall

put down new compost

spread your seeds for grass

that you must cut - weekly

pull the weeds from the beds

repair the fence, the timbers,

trim the shrubs

the trees

maybe power wash the sidewalk, the house

paint the shed door,

paint the porch

And spring cleaning:

the carpets

the windows

airing the rooms

painting walls?

And your car -

needs a wash

inside and out

But you love the spring

You say.

You love the outdoors

the fresh air

the sunshine

the endless chores

And what follows - 

summer's heat 

the weeds,

the grass cutting,

the endless chores

until finally you long for

winter's rest. 

(c) GMK

3/9/2015

A Visitor

A Visitor

Here you are again.

You've been gone for a long time.

But you're back ...

for a brief but grueling visit.

You question.

You accuse.

You point.

You threaten.

You push

trying to beat me down

and making my blood boil.

I remember you now.

I know you.

Now that you've come back

Up to your old tricks.

Your arrows are 

not meant for me.

They glide by me

into thin air

finding another mark

as I ever so slightly

move out

of your path.

(c) GMK 

3/4/2015

Dragons

Dragon Ladies

So beautiful

in a fierce sort of way

Your eyes glaring

yellow and red

Your lips stern and pursed

Your brows creased

You have robed yourselves

in glistening 

scales of color

hiding your 

angry, fiery

hearts. 

(c) GMK

3/5/2015

Poem - News Gal

Her hair -

so straight

I bet

it's curly

(c)GMK

Dream

A ceramic dress -

to a lace one -

gold.

I slipped on

and flitted about

room to room

street to street

free and beautiful

Dreaming October 12, 2014

(c) GMK

Last resident's remnant.

Last resident's remnant

Where did you come from?

Lying on your back

legs up

still as death -

a roach.

(c) GMK

When asked - What rejuvenates you?

Rejuvenate Me!

YOU  rejuvenate me -

your jokes and smiles

your  funny faux pas 

I rejuvenate me -

my poems

my drawings

my humor

NATURE rejuvenates me -

her breezes

her clouds

her rainy, misty days,

a purple thistle

in the sidewalk crack

(c) GMK

When?

When?

A week ago, I wondered

when you'd show up.

You're late this year

leaving us to wait 

while you linger in other places.

We are having

a lovely time

as things are - 

sinking into a lazy

complacency - actually.

But the thought of all

you'd bring -

your breezy ways,

your color,

the sound of you rustling about 

makes me wonder -

when?

Then, finally, today!

I guess the earth

tilted just enough -

the precise degree

and you arrived

in all your color,

crispness 

and salutations.

A late October -

Autumn

(c) GMK

History - a mystery

History - a mystery

Golden boy

King of Egypt

Chariot racer

Youthful, tragic death 

Enclosed in a dazzling sarcophagus  

King Tut

Incestuous 

Brother-sister-parent

Born deformed

Club foot

Wide womanly-hips

buck teeth

King Tut

(c) GMK

1st and 2nd editions

1st and 2nd editions

Everyone knows

The first edition

Is a learning run

Expect some errors

And allow for the

Lessons to sink in

Making room for a second edition

(c) GMK

More on Steel and Glass

steel glass wall

warming, cooling, dawn to dusk

into night - weathering time

(c) GMK 06/06/2014

Beginning the Day with Bill

Beginning the Day with Bill

Morning, start working.

She spies photo on her desk.

His smile makes her smile.