These poems cover a wide variety of subjects and are written for enjoyment. Some of the poetry describes personal events in my life, and discoveries I have made surviving through these events. I work in Los Angeles and have a long commute. During my commute I need to stay occupied. One of my favorite things to do on the train is to write poetry. All of these poems were written on my commute.
Traveling through Rhyme
Poems written during my commuteBy Eva McDonoughAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2009 Eva McDonough
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4490-2934-0Contents
Section 1 - Commuting..........................................xiSection 2 - Memories...........................................13Section 3 - My Soldier.........................................45Section 4 - Being Grateful For What I Have.....................55Section 5 - Nature.............................................73Section 6 - Explaining Scientifically..........................93Section 7 - Highlighters.......................................101Section 8 - True Friendship....................................109Section 9 - A Limerick And Other Thoughts......................124
Chapter One
Section 1 - Commuting Getting to work - Haiku
Getting to work Stressful commute on the road Relaxing time on the rail
Metro link - Haiku
Metrolink Work, station, get on board, conversation, friend, station Home.
Why I ride I have ridden on the train For many years And I do it gladly Even among the fears Of pedestrians, car, trucks, Or shopping carts For all the passengers I have learned to know Have won my heart Traveling Buy a ticket, get on board Find a seat and rest Soon the train doors will shut close And we all are headed west. You are on the Metrolink On your way to work Think about the day ahead Where your co-worker is a jerk And the conversation starts Just around your seat Talks of sport scores, current news Family events and the heat. You share candy and pictures And tell of your life You listen intently About the passenger's wife And while you still travel Slowly on the rail You find you are among friends And your life is really swell. Sharon Intelligent, well dressed Educated, all the best Funny smart and kind Never know what's on her mind. Conversations are fun Her imagination runs Different things are said What Sharon says she might dread. She tries to stay quiet But soon her voice rings riot Laughter all around Sharon again made a sound Truths told about her son Other things she may have done Then there is a story Interpretation Glory! Once again the train ride Has shown us Sharon's true side As something was said And Sharon's face turns bright red. Stinky Feet On a Metrolink train we do not care If you have frizzy hair or stinky feet You can have tattoos or even piercing As long as your feet are not on your seat Your ticket is for a place for your butt The table needs to be shared by all four But only two lap tops fit comfortable With cooperation I have seen more Every now and then some one has too much The luggage is way too big and must stay Out in the aisle or in front of them And it seems to be in every one's way. To travel with a lunch pail and paper The quarters are cramp and the seats fit tight A jacket and a hot cup of coffee That's about all you can have to fit right. So if you have stinky feet please beware That not only do we share the small train But we have to sit close, tight and breathe air So wear shoes and socks so we won't complain. Laughter There is always time for friends and laughter On the Riverside Metrolink train ride Sometimes we all laugh so hard and so long That we wind up with a pain in our side. Some jokes are told and retold yet again Some jokes told make absolutely no sense Some jokes have a beginning but no end That's how Isabel kept us in suspense. There's the McDonald hamburger story When new people sit in our car we share We talk about the phase 4 train project Oh, some things are funny beyond compare. Sometimes we are just laughing about us We've know each other for so many years We are short, we are wild, we are too loud Some are funny as soon as a cop nears. We forget each other's names, or do we Richard and Joseph sound really the same There is Kermit Junior, and tiny Tim And Lucy, who knows every bodies name. Sometimes we deal in serious matters Listening intently as others expound On bad illegal fraud deceit and theft From the train he is taken to impound. So take the train ride, sit back and enjoy All in all if in the morning or night Even if Jose sleeps this whole ride through Laughter on the train always seems so right Runners Ding, Ding, Ding Last call "doors will be closing" Run, Run, Run Passengers arriving late Wait, Wait, Wait We see runners approaching Go, Go, Go Let the runners meet their fate Stop, Stop, Stop The conductor opens up In, In, In The later passenger comes in Close, Close, Close We finally move forward Move, Move, Move Our train ride can begin. "The most embarrassing items that a Metrolink search might find" On any given day I carry with me A variety of odd things to work I pack it all in my suitcase and bag Some people really think I am berserk Banana guard, puzzles, pens and paper Pop tarts, soda pop, crackers and cream cheese An umbrella or two, or maybe three My several rings of work, play, home, and car keys Emergency things I also carry You never can tell when we will be stuck Extra medication, aspirin, cough drops Don't want to be unprepared; press my luck A fold away screwdriver, pliers, knife But the most embarrassing thing they'll find In a pocket zippered and well hidden Is where I left the rest of my small mind Gas Prices Billions of reported profits Are earned each and every year By the major gas companies Filling us with despair and fear They constantly raise gas prices They continue to have the gall They flaunt their absolute power Never to let gas prices fall Commuter Commuters are a strange breed when they say they are on their way to work Thatcouldmeanthattheyaresleeping,reading,ormaybeeatingtheirdessert. They could be writing poetry which of course is a favorite of mine Or they could be text-ting hundreds of people, tying up their phone lines. They could be chatting to their neighbor or eventually to themselves Christmas time they could be on the train all dressed as a Santa elf There is no limit to what public transportation commuters can do With the extra time he could dream sweet dreams, tell tall tales, or use the loo Commuting is different and exhausting and one must do it just right You wake up very early in the morning and get home late at night. You might be a train rider if ... You might be a train rider if You know all your first friend first name but not their last. You might be a train rider if You know what freeway exits leads to the next train station incase you are running late to work. You might be a train rider if You have a mobile office in your purse in case you run into a 3 hour delay. You might be a train rider if To schedule a doctor's appointment, you consult the train schedule instead of your spouse. You might be a train rider if Your idea of punching in to work is validating your ticket. You might be a train rider if When you drive anyone in the car you announce, "Doors closing, stand clear." You might be a train rider if You identify people by their station stops and not their names. You might be a train rider if You change your bank account to the bank nearest to your train station. You might be a train rider if You don't know what freeway you need to drive to work. You might be a train rider if Your idea of a war story is telling about the times the train hit something. You might be a train rider if Shopping carts scare you, and make you think about delays. You might be a train rider if All the Christmas gifts you receive are portable, battery operated and come with ear buds. You might be a train rider if You know that the "City of Industry" shuffle is not a dance. You might be a train rider if You go to metrolinktrain.com to find out what's going on in the news. You might be a train rider if You laugh at traffic reports You might be a train rider if You have a 64 ounce coffee mug. You might be a train rider if You found any of these statements funny.
Chapter Two
Section 2 - Memories
Memories Memories are experiences tempered with time They can be triggered by a smell, a picture or a line. Some memories are harsh, some not so pleasant Some memories explain where you are in the present. But some memories bring a smile from ear to ear The ones we bring to the surface every year To keep us focused in the good things in our past The memories that we want in our lifetime to last. Opa What is there to say What is there still to know? One thing I remember most Is the way you make things grow. So planted in my garden Plants to remind me of you, I planted some Pansy Centers of gold, edges of blue. I planted some daisies, Yellow centers like the sun And angel white pedals That makes the winters run I planted a fichus Because I remember when You unbraided the one that died Planted all three, made them alive again I still have the chicken and hens We found walking in Anaheim They have multiplied and moved with me So I still walk with you all the time I planted bulbs of crocus And this year when they broke ground There was no one to call Because you were not around Upon your death a year ago I planted daffodil, iris too Gift of flowers from my friends Help brighten my day and remember you I planted tiger lilies Sweet Williams, strawberries too I remember when you used to eat While outside, just a few I planted marsh red grapefruit Peach tree and apricot tree There are oranges and a fig bush So much fruit for you to see Aloe Vera, freesia Grass in the front and back And I owe it all to you That I water them, that's a fact. I love you Opa, Papie, friend As my plants outside thrive I enjoy and love my garden I am keeping your memory alive. Monika At thirty seven you lost the battle Against a brutal form of breast cancer You were such a beautiful strong adult A frail child, a lovely jazz dancer You lived your shortened life to the fullest And gave wonderful life to three children You traveled to many different countries It's amazing all the places you've been You lived in LA, New York, New Hampshire Pennsylvania and Texas you lived too You drove cross country, east, west, many times North and south in the Mustang colored blue. So many new things you wanted to see As you lived and traveled far and wide The best part of many of your adventures I was privileged to be by your side Miss you Monika, I miss you a lot And when my time comes I'll see you someday The cancer inside you will be all gone When I get to heaven together we'll stay. Year 2007 This year I reflect on all that is past There have been changes from this year to last True to His promise, Jesus Christ, my Lord Has kept me safe with His powerful sword To explain this year, I would have to write Grandchildren filled my thoughts every night They stayed with us February to May Because with their parents they couldn't stay Our daughter was deployed to Belize twice To give first aid care and hygiene advice Our son-in-law training he did receive At West Point New York for most of the year And during the time my husband did stay At home with the children during the day And while outside the two children did play With bikes and the dog till the last sun ray Our other grandchild, Qualeb would come To play games with Ane and AJ some Together they would spend all their day Thinking of new exciting ways to play Our backyard by Robert was finished great Basketball court, shed and McDonough Lake Hills of dirt transformed to a garden green He worked hard to turn the yard to a dream All the while I was working the day long The children missing their parents seemed wrong I was rewarded with laughter and smiles When I returned home and gazed in their eyes. The grandchildren next to Fresno did go The other grandparents to get to know Tragedy stuck and a young man did die Quickly everyone to Fresno did fly. Our son-in-laws brother, so young was dead A man who in December was to be wed. His brother while at a party was shot This senseless violence in Fresno must stop We gathered in Colorado this year For Thanksgiving and early Christmas cheer Fun board games we played late into the night This week we spent together seemed so right. So now the year draws slowly to a close In my front yard blooms a yellow peace rose Our daughter is going back to Iraq I will pray daily until she comes back. This holiday season I wish you best Happiness, joy, peace, and vacation rest Your families all the greatest love so dear To carry you safely through the New Year Boxed Candies The choice of movies and boxed candies Was always a Saturday night treat We had a theater with only one screen Chocolate, raisins, mints we were to eat. What to see was never the question The town's people made sure it was tame Jujubes, Junior mints, Raisinettes I had to choose quick or go insane With four other siblings and parents I'm sure my choice would help me trade Passing the box candy back and forth I was eating a flavor arcade. Change As a small child I was so cute The world revolved around my twin and me Together we played and shared our days The world was a happy place to be. And then it changed. Off to school each day we went Learning rules, arithmetic and reading Our time of play was limited to evenings and week ends Chores were added, laundry and weeding. And then it changed. My college years were far from home My twin and I were now living apart Soon our paths took different directions Both of us found men to share our hearts And then it changed. Along came children to divide our time She had a son and daughter, and I had a daughter and a son On different coast we live in our houses Calling every time our children played and won And then it changed Our children are grown and off on their own Alone with our husbands we both live We look back at photos from the past We think about all the wonderful things life to us give. Now we wait for change. Johanna The picture is beautiful A young bride to take a man A turning point to eternity Hearts to meld as only marriage can A blossoming woman Ready to face the world Her eyes shimmering in hope Her hair so slightly curled What a gift from God Who knows her heart is sincere A loving mate to find One who through the years will call her dear Yes, she is a picture of beauty And as time will etch her face Add to it lines of experience And hone her elegant grace Nothing will deter her From loving her spouse true A marriage is built on love And love will see her through. Running "Don't run," my mother always said to us "You will all get there in time and soon enough" But certainly she didn't care how fast Young hippy streakers were running in the buff. "Don't run," the words still linger in the air I've said it often enough to my daughter When we were in a mall of grocery store Or by the pool edge too close to the water. "Don't run," I always tell my grandchildren For I don't want them to fall and scrape their knees But I never mind when I come home They come running to give me a big squeeze. "Don't run," the doctors now admonish me I am to leave early and make it on time To plan out my tasks to save precious steps As if my rushing around were now a crime. Oh, but I run fast every chance I get I do not want to waste a minute And when my daughter returns from Iraq I will run arms out to hug her you can bet. Grandchildren I received a picture of my grandchildren by e-mail They were standing by a wall The sun was glistening on AJ's hair And Ane is getting so tall I wanted to stop and hug then both right there and then I miss them both so much But the picture was cropped and placed in a frame My grandchildren I can not touch So I write this poem to my AJ and Ane To let them know today Their grandparents here in Banning Still love them in every way. Sizzle! New Years Eve, when I was so young The family stayed close together We celebrated with customs In the brutal winter weather After midnight, the last year gone The first thing we all ate was fish My mother prepared pickled herring And some other fish with beet dish But then the moment soon arrived And we gathered around the stove Going to foretell the future By melting the past treasure trove Our treasure trove was from last year To be melted on the flame My mother was superstitious To us young ones this was a game Used lead pipe, broken in pieces We selected each a small bit And adding to our last years cast Both pieces on the spoon we'd fit. In age order we took our turns Father took our pieces of lead In a spoon that could take the heat The pieces on the spoon were fed The spoon held over the fire My Father did all the smelting The flames licking from beneath The lead pieces he was melting When the lead bits turn to liquid The lead pieces would shrink and fall The rust and dirt rising to the top Beneath laid the hot silver ball Sizzle! The hot lead poured in the water And what do you suppose we'd find? But a lump of lead shaped unique Our future hopes entwined. Birthday Today is my birthday I am getting older And in so many ways I am getting bolder I know who I am And I know whose I am I'm saved child of The Father of the lamb As I age and witness The wondrous world around My spirit praises God Blessings in Him abound Today is my birthday Really it's every day In Christ I am reborn In Christ's name I will pray And as my mortal flesh From this earth world will leave In the fold of my Lord I in heaven will cleave. (Continues...)
Excerpted from Traveling through Rhymeby Eva McDonough Copyright © 2009 by Eva McDonough. Excerpted by permission.
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