Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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.

Monday, June 27, 2011

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 

Friday, June 24, 2011

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. 



Monday, June 20, 2011

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

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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

Monday, June 13, 2011

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

Friday, June 10, 2011

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



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 



Monday, June 6, 2011

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

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

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.