Blog Posts - View From a Bob

Wine

2/1/2019

.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 …

Emily's Hymn

6/7/2018

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

My Pen

6/2/2018

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.

Not Quite Myself

5/17/2018

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 …

BANG

5/10/2018

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

Being

5/7/2018

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

Your Wish

5/3/2018

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

You

4/20/2018

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

Rapt

4/12/2018

Ode to Ketchup

4/5/2018

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!