10 past 3 

I desire sleep without waking 

in the night to pee 

or look at the clock and see 

that it's 10 past 3.       again. 

the same as many other nights. 

10 past 3's an annoying comfort, though.

lightless joy knowing 

nothing will stalk me 

while night/morning 

suffers my 

fears. 

Poem © 2007 by R. Burnett  Baker. 

Photo © 2009 by R. Burnett Baker. 

the entrepreneur

I dreamt of us. 

you had plans for me. 

I awakened 

consumed. 

Poem © 2009 by R. Burnett Baker 

Photo © 2008 by R. Burnett Baker

The Livin' Is Easy

Summertime.  The livin' is easy.  

Well, I suppose not so easy if you're living in Texas this summer.  But finally we've had some summer weather here in New York.  You know, 80℉ and a bit of humidity.  I've actually turned a little fan on in my bedroom!  

And one little luxury in summer is slipping into a bed with clean cotton sheets then sliding your legs and feet around, searching for those cool cotton patches under the covers.  Much easier than chopping cotton at harvest time in heat and dust.  

A fan in summer and cool cotton sheets:  Now THAT's livin' easy! 

Rick Baker 

Rochester, NY 

July 29,2009 

cool skin 

sultry summer 

evenings 

standing before a fan: 

cool skin, 

soothing wind. 

Poem © 2008 by R. Burnett Baker 

Photo © 2009 by R. Burnett Baker 

cotton patch

on bedsheets 

in summer heat 

legs seek 

a cool 

cotton patch. 

Poem © 2006 by R. Burnett Baker

 

gentle kiss 

one 

gentle kiss 

upon your naked shoulder 

paints a thousand words of love 

on the canvas flesh of 

one gentle 

kiss. 

Poem © 2005 by R. Burnett Baker

Poem from 2005 chapbook "Souliloquy" by R. Baker.

lake shore 

tonight I walked Ontario's south lake shore 

as did we the evening previous. 

smooth round red rocks       whispered 

of time's violent eons. 

patterned driftwood              spoke 

to cycles of birth, life, and dying, 

held between touching fingers. 

an sherbet orange sunset sky 

melded horizon to water, 

rock to wood,

 

the stories of our lives 

to waves beneath our 

feet. 

Poem © 2007 by R. Burnett Baker 

Photo © 2008 by R. Burnett Baker 

Photo taken by R. Baker at  Durand Eastman beach, Lake Ontario, Rochester, NY 2008.

before sunset drowns me 

on

a rugged beach 

sipping the lake, 

a final blast 

of color 

rounded the shore, 

my feet darkened 

gray upon 

driftwood and stones; 

let me leave 

before sunset 

drowns me 

with sounds 

of water, night, 

and seagulls 

sounding an 

alarm. 

Poem © 2009 by R. Burnett Baker 

Photo © 2009 by R. Burnett Baker 

Photo of Lake Ontario , Greece, NY  taken by R. Baker, July 17, 2009. 

distance between

what is 

the distance between

love and indifference? 

the time spent thinking 

of someone other 

than yourself? 

or the length 

of raindrops 

streaking down 

a window? 

Poem © 2009 by R. Burnett Baker 

Photo © 2009 by R. Burnett Baker