Amateur Poetry

She flew with a rhythm

and grace with no equal.

She flew from a union

of a GOD blessed people.

Raised to a height

from which to be seen,

she is a site,

a majestic queen.

Who could imagine

her ever falling from Grace?

Not one' who loved her,

not one from this place.

So if you knew her

you'd know her story.

And you too would refer

to her as "Old Glory".

...

Michael Wayne Feddersen

I was thinking of today, July 4th, 2010 and thinking of how lucky we are for the men and women who have served in this nations armed forces and I was thinking of the Flag and for which she stands... I know the better poems are already written but I wanted to write a poem today so here it is. I heard on the radio yesterday that Irving Berlin wrote "God Bless America" during World War I but it wasn't released until World War II yet it became an instantaneous hit, and it is still sung all the time. That would be great to leave a mark on this world like that.

Wishful dreaming of childhood crushes,

an afternoons snooze romance blushes.

Unexpected visit of love once thought of,

the same but older. Where'd she come from?

Smooth and silky, hair and skin,

strange but familiar, my heartbeats quicken.

Sounds of marriage but still on the moon,

tender embrace, hearts a swoon.

Her long soft kiss I can't remember

Awakened, thus doused this romantic ember.

At bedtime I tried to retrace each step

but at that work I proved myself inept.

Oh cruel sleep to give a mere taste

of a longed for love removed posthaste.

But off to sleep I drift again

to see a Love I might yet win.

Michael Wayne Feddersen

The above poem was written because of the following true story.
I took an afternoon nap a few days ago and for whatever reason a girl from my childhood in Estherville was part of the dream. The dream started with my business partner(Ron D.) (Ron's not really in business with me but he called me on the phone and he left a message about wanting or needing a business partner the night before so that's where that came from.) Anyway we were at a funeral for some guru of sorts(probably for making money) and I had went looking for a bathroom to get rid of some coffee and there were these two men that I had evidently known from somewhere and they were sort of business rivals for me and my business partner. They were real arrogant douchebags but I evidently deserved some of it. Well after a mild verbal altercation in the parking lot I parked the vehicle I was using darn near on top of their suburban. I think I tore their passenger mirror off. Then we got into it again when they jumped in a portajohn that I was waiting to go in. So I locked them in but the darn thing had an escape door and they got out too easy. They acted like it was no big deal and left for the viewing.
Well after that I was talking to my wife but while she sounded like my wife's verbage it was not her voice and she looked like this Paula girl I had last seen (?) maybe in college 81-82 or at "The Rolls Royce Bar" that I frequented too frequently while in college. So other than a few photos I saw of her from another childhood friend that's all I can gather why I might have her in this dream.
Anyway I did have a crush on her in junior high but it never went anywhere... it takes two as they say.
Well we were talking about the idiots in the dream and she was defending their behavior saying that my business partner and I were just like them when it came to sharing secrets or inside scoops. By now we were in an apartment and I realized the voice and the look was different, I couldn't wait to see if we were indeed married. I held her in my arms and we kissed but it wasn't a kiss I remembered, and right before I woke up she said, "How can I be sure you taste good?" (Dreams... go figure.)

She's hard to catch
and harder to hold.
She has no match.
She's oh so bold.

She wont hold still,
always moving.
Sometimes the thrill
can be unnerving.

She's your friend
and your foe.
Who just wont bend
of this I know.

Mysterious creature
that's so desired.
But try to reach her
only makes you tired.

So who is she
worthy of rhyme?
Tick, tock, ticky
she is "Time."

Michael Wayne Feddersen

I play the odds time after time,
wishing that God's favor might reach mine.
It seems foolish when you look back,
but even a bad wish at the time seems on track.
So now I ponder the future of my plays,
with expectant wonder for any further delays.
Maybe tomorrow or the following week,
before any sorrow for the prize I seek.
One more gamble, one more try,
surely it's ample for the apple of my eye.

Michael Wayne Feddersen

I don't know how to start
playing the old fogey part.
I'm not even sure
of playing mature.

How do you put a lid
on a grownup kid?
I'm twice their ages,
according to my birth pages.

Yet I'm still a young man
on the edge of his prime,
but they call me Dad
because I'm not from their time.
If there's fun to be had,
call the guy they call Dad.
Michael Wayne Feddersen

Who is this gentle soul?
Or is gentle too restricting?
Are they into 'Rock n' Roll?
Or handling snakes' constricting?

Right-wingers with a soft side?
Liberals with seeds to sow?
A wannabe Bonnie lookin' for her Clyde?
The child looking out the window?

Plumbers cleaning a grease trap?
Expectant mothers?
Sailor's without a map?
Passionate lovers?

Snowbirds heading north?
A farmer amidst the dew?
Soldiers marching forth?
Anyone, everyone and they are You.
*
Michael Wayne Feddersen

Perfect tense
of our emotions
that best describe
each heartfelt notions.

What does it matter
if I make,
meaningful words
for rhymings sake?

I read others
well shaped verses,
but my lines
suffer curses.

My words toil
for perfect meter,
when it works
nothings sweeter!

Who loses...
what are their names?
Who wins...
these rhyming games?

Michael Wayne Feddersen

You hardly notice the old guy's driving.
In fact you might think, "The geezer's hiding."
Easy on the pedal, overly quick to stop.
He's never put the hammer to the metal or cussed out a cop.
You think you know all that you need.
To know that ol' boy ain't ever seen speed!
Yes, you are sure. Yes, you holler,
"The only thing he pressed was the iron on his collar!"
If your speed is blessed, take a lesson from a peer.
Someday you might see that old geezer.
Lookin' back from your mirror.
.
Michael Wayne Feddersen

Lives' spent empty with a trace of envy.
We tried for years and we cried our tears.
All of our hoping and our get-by-coping
seemed in vain like a cold winter rain.
We prayed and pleaded and wished and needed,
but all our wants seemed like useless stunts.
Then their trouble came like a flash and burst our bubble.
How could you ever guess what HE would create of their mess?
We thought we'd been passed by till HE brought us the little guy.
Now we feel like members of 'the rank-and-file',
Who would guess Gods' delays aren't Gods' denial?

Michael Wayne Feddersen

What would I say,
if I knew you would hear me now?
Would it be words of love,
of loneliness, of anger, or of grief?

Yes, what would I say
to you now,
if only for a moment,
I thought you'd hear, somehow?

Words of adoration?
Or those of condemnation?
Maybe of inspiration?
Or just plain ol' frustration?

What would I say?
What would I say?
Michael Wayne Feddersen