Potential

Potential 

Too easily

the head rolls

to the valleys,

below the wind,

to stick

in the bog,

unable to dodge

the eyes

glowing in the thickness.

But sometimes,

climb,

store energy,

see the world 

above the fog,

and listen

to the languages

that we seek

but are not yet spoken.

Robert L. Jackson III

This was written for the Poets United blog midweek motif on energy.

110415

I turn two score old today, but in Mars years I am somewhere between 21 and 22.

Anyway, here is a brand new poem wriitten for the Poets United Midweek Motif on tranquility ( http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/ ). I may get in trouble for righting a poem about thermodynamics, because I do not teach it.

110415

Thermodynamics

states that with age,

we will all become uniform,

equal, and tranquil,

with no differences 

in our heights or color.

Boundaries no longer exist

and nothing is marked,

with no migration of refugees

from one system

to another, 

once perceived green 

from prosperity.

No water or mineral

is traded

because they are worthless

without individuals.

-Robert L. Jackson III

Return

Return

Metal blades

cut through the sky

wetting on the tears

caught in the clouds.

The glimmering destination 

signals from the ground, 

and gravity pulls the engines 

toward rest and fuel.

Robert L. Jackson III

This poem is in the new book 'Evolutionary Landscapes' that is available here:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/robert-jackson/evolutionary-landscapes/paperback/product-22364099.html

States

States

The oceans, land and air, 

have always stirred the storms, 

heating our substance, 

to rise and fall, 

but the continents change slowly, 

and beyond our time.

Yet the celestial motion,

deviates, 

even more slowly, 

so let's keep 

our eyes on the stars, 

feet on the land, 

hands in the water, 

and ears in the wind. 

-Robert L. Jackson III

This is in my new self published book that I'll be promoting at the East Alabama Book Festival on Sunday:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/robert-jackson/evolutionary-landscapes/paperback/product-22364099.html

Jar Lid

Jar Lid

The blackberry jam jar

sat alone on the shelf

from a forgotten batch.

Sealed by the years

of rotten hard pulp

my sweaty grip

could not rotate the threads,

so I tapped it

on the marble counter,

trying to free

the dented tin ceiling,

but still it was static,

and then my grip 

failed,

and the enclosure

shattered,

releasing the foul 

parts of my deep innards.

-Robert L. Jackson III 

It's not a rotten jar, but this is a well fermented sippy cup...

Open

Open

The German clouds

want to rain

but just slide by.

Then bells 

from a modern steeple 

emit an ancient sound, 

warding off thunder 

and bringing the sun 

to glimmer on the river,

contained in stone walls. 

The willows 

still reach down

toward the common center 

of our worlds,

as they always will,

but now they are green.

-Robert L. Jackson III

Here is a link to a video of the bells that inspired this:

http://youtu.be/xlVgB--Lo-w

Aquatic Visual

Aquatic Visual

Where do we want to swim?

The clarity

of the South Pacific reef

is only matched 

by the artificial pool

contained in protective concrete, 

and the cold spring,

permeating up 

from the stone, 

while the predators 

hide in the murky mix 

of the storm churned ocean 

and the rolling mud river 

waiting to gaff 

and pull us together 

from the surface; 

a savior with teeth 

releasing us 

from the boundaries of flesh.

-Robert L. Jackson III