"It Is What It Is..."

I’ve always said the mark of a good poem is in the thoughts you have during and after its reading - not the distractions.

 

 “It Is What It Is... “

 

Thoughts are as we have them -

some moments all you can do is …listen,

listen to the sounds of e v e r y t h I n g

and without any pause at all

it’s your life that echoes behind your eyes.

 

…thoughts…

 

Every word you hear - touches

in some way - and then relates …in another way -

emotions surface and -

and you are left having to deal

…to deal with ”nows” once past

…”thens” that become todays

…”never wills” that well - never will all over again

…and again…

And you didn’t ask

for anything

of anyone - you just …listened

listened as you always do

as THEY spoke of their moments -

their world-rending and life-cracking “moments”

and you were there, right there

breathing and paused and full of “nows” again,

“nows” left behind or whens that it was you - left …alone,

behind - to stand and breathe and somehow find a way

to stand and breathe til you can walk - away …again.

 

And another day you’re right there again

And you comment -

How you walked away from this one for a few and came back.

And that it had me thinking on static moments of life caught in headlights ...as we sit waiting for the final "BANG" to sound or pass...

"Life's complicated, it doesn't fit under yes ...or no. Hell, even a maybe isn't big enough sometimes."  Hell of a path we share ain't it?

 

And another…

 

The ties that bind are everywhere,

and the fingertips lie every night.

The tear dampened pillow doesn't hug back

- I even miss sharing my nightmares...

 

And you do realize - It IS easy to say you understand -

and yet so hard to show it unless you do …understand.

And you DO understand

- all too well and you HAVE the words within

And they cascade out - little, nothing …words…

And If another person can touch …me,

what better way to say hello back than to reach toward them?

 

 

Was a time I used to prefer commercials to most of the shows - then the same peeps started making both… The midnight cig is beat by the 2 A.M. stare at the 3 A.M. nothing until the sunrise starts the cacophony all over yet again ...and again

A good apathy is a terrible - terrible - thing to waste. Normally takes years of observed abuse and decades of non-follow-through, but sometimes we do find the "bumps" along our way and the distraction of "caring" overwhelms even the change to Daylight Savings Time - and you HAVE to KNOW how much THAT bites! Right?

I've always hated Starbuck's coffee - but loved the people and the damnedest thing is few ever look at me askance nor ask why - they just nod as if to themselves and come back the next day.  Go figure…

You ever sit out on a fire-escape

as the day's heat radiates out into the fake city night…

arms wrapped round your knees - tight

and just be …nothing…

just captured and held by it all and

drifting where it takes you?

And it's never quite quiet…

you THINK it is but when you FINALLY experience

true …quiet… you realize everafter how alone you aren't

and yet ...are?

 

I have to remember how to breathe

too often - even in the sunshine …ya know?

but

…it is what it is…

 

Chris

 

 

 

Author's Note

feel free

Reviews

[Confuser]

Yes, and No, it's lovely and flows. I have to read it again, ya know. The frankness, I so appreciated, your words are honest. thank you.

[Lyn Anderson]

This writing is bold, and expansive, and not a once through read -- none of yours are -- all the feelings cascading and tumbling, mingling, the words of others, our acquaintances, our highs, our lows -- no, tear soaked pillows don't hug back. Some of us know this all to well.

[Eve]

It's funny how often i see that phrase now, it is what is is and it can't be anything else, I used to believe that but every day I see things changing, I used to think life was not fair, but life seems abundantly and unselfishly fair it's love, love that is unfair, if it only learned to share a little more, life wouldn't get such a bad rap.
ps... there is only one kind of Starbucks coffee i am addicted to, but I know exactly what you mean about the people there, the customer service is outstanding. why do you hate Starbucks but love the people?

[Chris]

The bitter and burned flavor... and the aftertaste of oils. The customers are a mix of everyone... seeking a moment of solace and filling an inner need. The baristas are just making a living as best they can ....as circumstance allows.

As to the active dislike of the Organization - their serving staff are under-valued and under-compensated by corporate intent. The products' pricing is over-blown and gouges customers while continuing an unrealistic ad-driven attitude of supremacy and luxury - worth ANY price. Lastly the service staff for the most part seem poorly led nor particularly cared about.

I'm glad you paused and spoke AND asked... and I really hope you will return and share more moments...thoughts...insights and perceptions.

[J. J. Nightingale]

I listen to little birds chirp
But I'll never know how it feels to fly..

Coffee has been a long time companion
But it never answers back, or tells me anything..

I talk at people everyday.. and listen some too
I want to say more .. give something, be remembered maybe

Alone is quiet, then again NOT
I talk to dead people, in my night ..and whisper "love"
And ask forgiveness, and shout "Why" ?

"They" gave me coffee at 12 yrs old..
"They" took parts of me away at 4 yrs old
"They" took me in at 2 yrs.old..sigh

We share, even when no body is there..
We shout, even when no body hears
We cry, we cry..and sometimes don't even know why
God hears, they say.. but what good is hearing
If he allows us to suffer..over and over again

This morning I waited and waited for the coffee to make
Then looked over to see, I had not turned it on
Too many people/ghost in the room..worries and such
But I was alone..?

Coffee seems to always be shared
And there is no quiet, day or night
Nor enough breath to take in, or let go of
I'm dying, and so is everyone else
It's all just a matter of time and grace

I feel as if I am there with You Chris
Sharing..listening and comforting..
THAT is the affect your words have on me
You are ever a friend, in the time of need..
Thank you for sharing and listening
To me.

Jazz...♥

[Chris]

ever and always Jazz, ever and always.

[J. J. Nightingale]

........♥♥..............................

[olla]

Starbuck's.. just to the right of the entrance at Fred Meyer's Grocery Store.. almost no body really likes the coffee.. it is often scalded and barely drinkable.. but the tables are always full.. in a retirement community there are a lot of too quiet moments and echo's of never mores..