dawn

pink dawn breaks the sky
shifting clouds speak to the wind
where is the rain

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-26-11

a river of stones day 20

rain sputters downward
hopeful grass joyfully waves
it seems now ... good-bye

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7/20/11

I'm Adding This to My "I Can't Make This Shit Up" List

I'm Adding This to My "I Can't Make This Shit Up" List

They arrested another "illegal today,
been working the same job for 10 years, same pay.
Say he's a terrorist with bombs to display.

How can being a human being be illegal?

Another "illegal" shot dead in the street.
Crime - just wanted something to eat.
Food or no food, he just found defeat.

Now hunger we punish by death.

They're rounding up "illegals in front of the store.
Lock them in jails, we'll see them no more!
Isn't that what our jails are for?

Look at the dope-dealers laughing!

I can't make this shit up, it really is true!
Don't laugh to hard now, next one could be YOU!
Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-19-11

A RIVER OF STONES ...(The Holocaust)

A RIVER OF STONES
(The Holocaust)

You cannot touch my Spirit -
you cannot touch my Spirit!
Torture my body, there's nothing in it;
upon this river's stones is not where I sit.
My Spirit soars!
You cannot touch my Spirit.

My Voice you cannot silence -
my Voice you cannot silence.
If you gag me it makes no sense,
I won't be quiet for you gents.
My Voice roars!
My Voice you cannot silence.

My Story will be told -
my Story will be told.
I will be brave, I will be bold
even if I've died and my heart is cold.
My Story is yours!
My Story will be told.

My Spirit will be free -
my Spirit will be free!
I'll float this river lightly
These stones once cast won't bury Me.
My Spirit soars!
My Spirit will be free!


Michelle Balletto-Wooten
©7-15-11

a river of stones day 17 #1

curling brown edges
magnolia and gardenia
sun-dried beauties

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-17-11

TÚ Y TU LUZ

TÚ Y TU LUZ

Reina de la noche
con luz nacarada
y cara brillante
veme en mi soledad,
Tenme un poco de piedad.

Protectora de mis sueños
guardando silencio
cuidando secretos
escúchame cuando lloro,
acompáñame en mi canto.

Ángel del cielo
con alas cortadas
bailando entre estrellas
llévame esta noche contigo -
soñando, siempre te sigo.

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-14-11

magic

magic

swift wave of thin wand
in an instant all is gone
then ... only wonder

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-14-11

a river of stones day 14 #1

simply holding hands
strolling through summer morning
testament to love

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-14-11

a river of stones day 13 # 1

early morning heat
green grass glitters in the sun
while dew still lingers

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-13-11

a river of stones day 7

shimmer through the trees
weaving through branches
tapestry of light

Michelle Balletto Wooten
© 7-7-11

images, nothing more

images, nothing more


your eyes closed

rhythmic and deep your breath

today ... still a dream

.

sleep evades

eyes open to the light

body... carries on

.

lines upon your hands

fingers grasp at the unseen

what is it you seek?

.

pen scratches paper

lines appear from emptiness

birth of a poem.

.

.

Michelle Balletto-Wooten

© 7-2-11

.

summer images

SUMMER IMAGES



millions of yellow

petals upon green vines

bee's invitation



mound of loose dirt

hints of activity

fire underground



heat waves in distance

salutation to the day

moon hides her face



heavy-bottomed clouds

pregnant with a future rain

today, no birth



searching for watter

small bowl becomes an ocean

if filled



if you listen

crackin ground has a chant

water me water me



leaves once green

now backed in Summer's oven

float brown and lifeless

gentle summer breezes

provide no resurrection





Michelle Balletto-Wooten

© 7-2-11

a river of stones day 6 #1

out on a limb
curiosity and nuts
squirrel feasts alone

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-6-11

a river of stones day 5 #1

Pine needles rest, woven into a tapestry from Earth,
become the soil that soon will give to seeds birth.
Threads of life, fallen from the weavers grasp
delicate pattern on the path for eyes to clasp.
Pine needles once green, now red as babies hair
tossed gently upon the wind, for the one who's waitin ... somewhere.

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-5-11

JUST BREATHE

JUST BREATHE

Fireworks exploding
a sensation of imploding
senses reeling
loss of feeling
one spark to ignite
turn dark to light
Why do I
continue to fight?

Touch me, I'm burning
swirling and churning
mind in a daze
walking a maze
one flash to sheathe
then crash! Let me seethe
I'd be ok
if i would just breathe..

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-5-11

OLD MAN'S GATE

OLD MAN'S GATE

Flowers grow a bit wild now.
He's killed the hog and sold the sow
Winter winds, they don't abate,
They just blow by the old man's gate.

Life got bad a year a go -
Lost his wife in a winter snow.
Never recovered from love's cruel blow.
She's buried by the old man's gate.

Spring may come again they say;
Flowers bloom another day.
All we can do is hope and pray
For fairer breezes through the old man's gate.

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-5-11

a river of stones day 4 #1

coiled telephone line
speaks from the past
the distant future
its stones has not cast
coiled telephone line
says nothing will last

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-4-11

a river of stones day 3 #1

papers in a pile
pieces of life forgotten
waiting to be found
...
Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-3-11

a river of stones day 2 #2

squeak goes the fan
as it sways and spins
harmony to another
that hums from within
gentle background
for deeper sleep
again

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-2-11

WHAT I SEE

WHAT I SEE

Sometimes my eyes glase as I look,
horizon seems so far away,
straight road seems to have a crook
that was not there just yesterday.

Sometimes my eyes just open wide
to all the wonder that I find.
Amazed, I can't keep it inside,
the force of it would leave me blind.

Open-eyed then, I view my world
to gaze past now to what might be,
intently watching what has swirled
from every side, to what I see.

I see with heart and mind and Soul;
I see us One, Complete, and Whole.

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-2-11

a river of stones day 2 #1

Hair caught between lips
body's rude awakening
will sleep return

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-2-11

a river of stones day 1 #3

Marching ants
cover the counter
marching ants
wanting water
marching ants
march to their slaughter
they just continue
to march

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-1-11

a river of stones day 1 #2

endless chirping mixes with hum of silent speakers
hum blends with rustle of paper on walls
silence exists
only in the space between life

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-1-11

a river of stones day 1

Birthday hat hangs on the wall
flowers and stars send out a call
one lone streamer dances in air
reminds me live without care

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-1-11