these hips are big hips
they need space to
move around in.
they don’t fit into little
petty places. these hips
are free hips.
they don’t like to be held back.
these hips have never been enslaved,
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them
to put a spell on a man and
spin him like a top!
-Lucille Clifton
Source: Family Friend Poems
I have to live with myself and so
I want to be fit for myself to know.
I want to be able as days go by,
always to look myself straight in the eye; I don’t want to stand with the setting sun
and hate myself for the things I have done.
I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf
a lot of secrets about myself
and fool myself as I come and go
into thinking no one else will ever know
the kind of person I really am,
I don’t want to dress up myself in sham.
I want to go out with my head erect
I want to deserve all men’s respect;
but here in the struggle for fame and wealth
I want to be able to like myself.
I don’t want to look at myself and know that
I am bluster and bluff and empty show.
I never can hide myself from me;
I see what others may never see;
I know what others may never know,
I never can fool myself and so,
whatever happens I want to be
self respecting and conscience free.
-Edgar A. Guest
Source: Inspirational Words of Wisdom
Before you speak, listen.
Before you write, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you invest, investigate.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.
Before you retire, save.
Before you die, give.
-William Arthur Ward
Source: Inspirational Words of Wisdom
Send a drop of kindness,
And see a happy face.
A drop of kindness goes real far,
It may even reach outer space.
Send a drop of love,
And feel a loving embrace.
It feels so good to feel like,
You are in the right place.
Send a drop of hope,
But be that shinning star.
Hope is wonderful to have,
But sometimes you can’t sit away so far.
Send a drop of faith,
With a single prayer.
And God will show the way,
As faith is always there.
– Julie Herbert
Source: Inspirational Words of Wisdom
You look for an angel
Beautiful and stunning
You look for a goddess
Mysterious and cunning
You look for amazement
Perfection all around
Beauty bewitching
Lyric unsound
You wonder in stupidity
Across the world and ocean blue
Not seeing that your perfect girl
Is standing right in front of you
-Katie Rose Waechter
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
– Mother Teresa
Source: Be Happy Zone
A garden of flowers
Trees and plants
Cigarette buds and litter
But only at first glance
A common place
For folk to enjoy free time
Smoke and eat seeds
Or drink some wine
A garden with life
Laughter and tears
A garden with friendship
Shared food and shared fears
A place many go
To talk to everyday
A common meeting ground
After being away
Where people stop by
To make plans for the eve
But always come back
After their goal was achieved
Always at least one
With a cig or a toke
Always in the garden
Are the Garden Folk
–Katie Rose Waechter
This poem is dedicated to the memory of Brian (Monty). I will always miss you. I will always miss San Francisco.
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
– Langston Hughes
Source: Family Friend Poems
Rain
prittle prattle, prittle prattle
On the roof top above
Creates the sensation of a drowsy membrane
Or maybe it
tittle tattles, tittle tattles
As it hits the window
and waters the flowers on my window pane
My cat
purr, purr, purrs
Demanding my attention
Biting the pen I use to write
Meowing at me all the same
Breathe
in and out, in and out
My eyelids grow heavy
Perhaps ill sleep while it rains
–Katie Rose Waechter
Water dancing on
Sand and rock, sand dancing on
Sand dunes, wind dance too
–Katie Rose Waechter
