Combing The American Dream(s): Two Poems

familiar distance 

as that one tear 

welled in my chest

and the sun shone 

a morning promise; 

as memory music 

played branches 

to a breeze; 

windy leaves rustled 

a familiar melody, 

one that I know but 

have never 

heard.

Photo ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 

came revelation

along the arch of dawn 

and horizon of wind 

came revelation and 

my awakening from 

the damning sleep 

of languished reason,

bundled against the 

daily gale,

to forge solo into 

garish constructions 

of every others'

dream. 

Poems ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 

Magpie Tales Photo Prompt 80: Street Scene, There And Everywhere

Red Umbrella, Christopher Shay

Shared by Tess Kincaid

necessities

no trishaw driver,

a dampened alley 

silent, so 

he walked: 

a bag of noodles, street 

vendor fresh -  

his head sheltered 

ang pow red - 

and barber poles 

to light the fetid 

street: 

what more 

to wish for? 

Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 

Sculpture: Story Without Words

"Omagh" by Clifford Rainey 

Installation at Corning Museum Of Glass, 

Corning, NY 

the unknown mind

the human condition as 

art is not as appealing 

as the expression of the 

artist, the reeling impetus 

of his experience. 

Text ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 

Lest We Forget...

the feast of famine




in humble supplication
feet and clay are one: 


prayers for 
nourishment. 






Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker
Photo from Google Images

The Short And Winding Road

Photo ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 

summer's winding lane

can the season, please, be as lazy

as this graveled country lane? 

could a satin breeze be gentle 

and not disturb the 

leaves? 

can woven taffeta sunlight 
beyond the shaded path 

never set but 
light life's road 
just around the 
corner?

Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 

Photo taken by R. Baker near Rochester, NY, 2011.

City Scenes V: Loveliness In Unexpected Places

wall flower 


is relevance 
a necessity 
for aggrievance 
of ugliness? 


can we place
ourselves in 
emptiness and 
blossom for the 
ages, 


or for even 
a passing 
glance? 




Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo©2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo taken by R. Baker in Rochester, NY, 2011. 

Magpie Tales Photo Prompt 79: On Being Driven

sedan




with air 
thick as dust - 
the black and
white of life and 
sepia imprint 
of moments, 


what novelty 
drove us to 
laughter, or 
frivolity 


mocking the 
modernity of 
our past? 


Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo provided by Tess Kincaid