View From a Bob
Contact
  • Home
  • About Bob

Wine

2/1/2019

0 Comments

 
.by Bob Dougherty
 
driver’s license notice comes
written test   book online
study manual   watch YouTube  
be sure to be on time
 
open door to DMV world
bureaucrats moving slow
dull frustration   hollow stares
all lines just barely flow
 
the first thing is get in line
civil servants   so serene
such strange people    oh   that’s me
now “go to queue 14”
 
look all over   no 14
even clerks need their kicks
start all over   back in line
now says “go to queue 6”
 
give right thumb print   pay the fee
      E   O   R
         S   L
           Zed
now says “go to queue 13”
guy ahead   slow   or dead
 
need new picture   squeeze a smile
pass the test   check and sign
open door to familiar world
drive home   pour glass of …


0 Comments

Emily's Hymn

6/7/2018

0 Comments

 
By Bob Dougherty
 
I'm a guest in Emily’s house
I hear a haunting hymn  
a door appears and opens wide  
large chamber with lights dim 
 
old organ plays a peaceful tune  
the hymn  Amazing Grace   
from open sky a flame descends
all candles burn in place
 
I watch as I begin to feel
thoughts flow and more are mine   
the flame ascends and leans the sun
then candles cold still shine  
 
now every time I hear the tune  
the organ played that day  
I know thoughts purified with song  
can live past mortal way

0 Comments

My Pen

6/2/2018

0 Comments

 
by Bob Dougherty 
 

Compelled to tell of my life so unfair,
mangled by memories my pen I’d grab
and into my harrowed heart deeply stab.
A pen can drain pain raining feigned despair
and smear teary blood blots for all to share
weeping woeful words of my life so drab.
Yet, why plunge a pen through a crusty scab,
when all wear wounds of their own craving care? 


I'll caress my pen with my mind and heart
and its ink, like blood will bear words alive.
My fate is mortal, my pen transcends time
and freed from my grasp my thoughts will impart
beyond mortal limits where they can thrive
speaking to searchers seeking lines sublime.


0 Comments

Not Quite Myself

5/17/2018

0 Comments

 
by Bob Dougherty
 
There’s a fresh breeze blowing through
the trees and by the selection of leaves
I know it’s a lovely spring day. 
I sense the presence of two people.
Turning, one smiles and says,
“Hi Dad, good to see you again.” 
He’s older since the last time;
so, I quickly update and say,
“It’s good to see you; you look well.”
 
The second one looks up from
a device he’s holding and says,
“Grandpa, you look just like I remember.”
I only had one grandson;
so, I quickly update, and say,   
“Of course, how are you?” 
 
The three of us talk about family stuff,
and it’s amazing what I can remember. 
Then my grandson asks me
about several poems I wrote. 
I recite each perfectly from memory  
and discuss each one’s meaning. 
He’s interested in poetry and I can
access any knowledge base to help him. 
We could talk all day, but then
my grandson reaches to turn off the
VR app …


0 Comments

BANG

5/10/2018

0 Comments

 
By Bob Dougherty
 

and the ego exists to suppress the id
but the id always has its way

and civilization suppresses chaos
but chaos always has its day

and order always devolves to disorder
as entropy’s the innate state

and the universe contains black holes
to recreate a pristine slate


0 Comments

Being

5/7/2018

0 Comments

 
by Bob Dougherty
 
common masses wrest
with their aging lives unknown
as young stand with honor
on stages veiled   then shown
 
once mortal   now immortal
never again   forever
legends   rest in stone
now age and time sever
 
memory fills love’s void
though slowly the quick forget
inspiration welds our will
while tears transcend death's debt

 
 
Inspired by:  Peter Wang, Student, age 15
                       Marjory Stoneman High School
                       and West Point, Class of 2025
0 Comments

Your Wish

5/3/2018

0 Comments

 
by Bob Dougherty 

your wish becomes my search
I sense your every stirring
your nearness soothes my mind
we feel without our touching
your look can tell me all
I know you by your scent
yet you are my heart’s terror
when your storm clouds are rent


0 Comments

You

4/20/2018

0 Comments

 
by Bob Dougherty
 
you are a guest within this house
welcome choose any door
many have come ahead of you  
there will be many more
 
seek a chamber open and wide  
make sure it has sunlight  
free your thoughts   release your mind
weigh new with those held tight  
 
think minutes   days   days into years
step back   widen your view
each hallway may be curved or straight  
seek options   more than two
 
doors will appear both false and true  
the best doors need no force  
your thoughts will fill in naturally  
behind each door   more doors  

0 Comments

Rapt

4/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
0 Comments

Ode to Ketchup

4/5/2018

0 Comments

 
by Bob Dougherty
 
Rested,
on the morning of day eight
God was hungry
and God chose the humble
potato for nourishment.   
However, God found
its taste unpleasant,
so, God cast it to the ground. 
When God casts something,
it doesn’t stop easily;   
and the potato passed through
Earth’s hot core and out the other side,
in shreds and fried.
 
Still hungry, yet forgiving,
God reached down and gathered up
the shredded fried potato to eat,
but God still found its taste lacking. 
God, being omnipotent, then said,
“Let there be a condiment that gives
common food heavenly taste.”
And God created
 
ketchup.
 
And it came to pass on day eight,
God ate,
and, lo, with eyebrows like golden arches,
God was elated.
Then great joy poured forth from all living beings
for they came to know the pleasure of taste.
 
Pleased, God created

Idaho!

0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>
    Writer
    Bob Dougherty is a poet and writer living in Tiburon, CA 

    Archives

    January 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    July 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.