Who's The Fairest Of Them All? Two Views On Aging

road trip 

self image - no - 

not that mental 

one, 

the real one, in 

the mirror 

loathes 

the reflection's 

origin 

life's taunting 

toll  

paid for at 

the booth of 

youth.

mental image 




oh yes, 
let me snap 
this. 
let me 
commit to 
memory that 
Grimm reminder 
in the looking 
glass:  Snow White 


I may not be 
but damn, 
don't question 
that 
reflection. 




Poems ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Self reflection photo taken by R. Baker 
at Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY.

Magpie Tales Photo Prompt 71: First Meeting

Photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

introductions

into the stratum

of color and flow 

we hung stunning 

in our particular 

pose: 

posturing and 

perspective 

gave relevance 

to our pairing, 

each colorful 

word hanging 

by a thread. 

Poem © 2011 R. Burnett Baker 

open wound




he cried 
jackal tears 
then begged 
her forgiveness, 
not knowing 
or caring 
how the gut wrench
opened her heart
to bare all.


she exploded 
in rage 
as the door 
slammed: 


his car became 
small on the 
street's horizon
driving the image 
of their lives 
to earth's 
edge. 




Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo taken by R. Baker of glass 
sculpture by designer/studio artist 
Ann Wolff (German, b.1937). 
Berlin, 1999 Antique sheet glass,
enameled; steel frame. 
Displayed at the Corning Museum of 
Glass, Corning, New York. 

Magpie Tales Photo Prompt 70: Photographic Memory

the price 


if only the past 
were as idyllic 
as an artist's 
vision, and if only
now we had one: 


the price of 
forgetting 
is greater than
the value of 
remembering. 


Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

Another Night: Rochester International Jazz Festival

if lips were ivory




a once 
thrusting tusk 
of energy, 


and melody 
strikes air - 


strokes hearts 
of tears fingering
keys: 


if lips 
were ivory,
how softly 
would you 
fetter my 
song? 




Poem © 2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Drawing © Stephanie Cox

Magpie Tales Photo Prompt 69: Listening To The Past

shadows of your ocean




for that future 
our house was 
built


a painted 
foundation
to move with
time 
and now - 


and now I 
hold a 
shell of memory
to my ear 
and hear - 


and hear 
shadows of 
your ocean. 




Poem © 2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

Night One: Rochester International Jazz Festival

And yes, she sang this song tonight.  With her Dad. 

I had hoped that she would sing this number in 

concert tonight at the Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY. 

And she did.  The screen dropped down quietly, and 

there was Nat King Cole, backing up his daughter 

Natalie Cole.  This duet absolutely brought big 

tears to my eyes.   

Nat King Cole has been one of my all-time favorites 

since I was a kid.  Natalie Cole was the Eastman's 

first concert for the 10th Rochester International Jazz Festival. 

Miss Cole walked elegantly onto the stage, and began 

singing nonstop.  I have to say that Miss Cole is smooth 

like velvet.  No.  Smoother.  I could have sat for two more 

hours and listened to her sing.  Classy, classy lady, and 

a performance of perfection. 

So tonight, with my mother, cousin, her husband and 

daughter all here from Texas, 

 I watched and listened to a wonderful concert, 

and saw Nat and Natalie sing "Unforgettable" together. 

And. Yes. It. Was! 

Rick Baker

Rochester, NY 

June 10, 2011 

Inspiration: A Morning Drive To Work

Photo © elswatchoboracho

carrion call

highway graveyards 

of deer leaping into traffic: 

carrion call of species' clashing

nature cannot compete with 

man-the-beast

between crow and vulture 

who can say for certain 

that death is inevitable 

as rubber meets pavement, 

a never ending

machination of movement? 

Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 

New Post On Baker'sTake™

I've added a short post on my other blog, Baker'sTake™.  Stop over and have a read of my latest rant.  I hope to be back in the poetry groove soon, but busy preparing for my mother's and other family members' visit from Texas later this week.  We will be spending a week at the Rochester International Jazz Festival, starting with a Natalie Cole concert this coming Friday.  Can't wait!  I'm sure I'll be sharing more about that later.

Wishing all my bloggy friends a wonderful week and I'll be checking in soon!  Best to everyone!

Rick

How Some News Travels

as time binds us 

oddly in a wavering hand, I turned pages of 30 years 

to question whether it was truly your corpse 

photographed in a pure white suit mourning 

the voice that graced millions...

while our lives crossed and hesitated for a 

short moment back then, it matters nothing that 

we hadn't stayed in touch over decades; 

it matters only that one of my tree-ring measures 

has shed circles to permanent winter as my 

seasons bind and release me. 

but for how long? 

mortality reminds us of these 

borrowed sheddings.

as time binds us,

how did I come to know of your milestone 

after so many lives between our eyes, 

after so many eyes between those living 

and passed? 

Poem © 2011 R. Burnett Baker 

Photo borrowed from Google Images. 

With thoughts and prayers to the 

friends and family of  YL.