Having read “Let Me Sing You a Lullaby” by the talented and beautiful Californian poetess, Annabel – wherein she recounts an appreciation of kindness, love and guidance, as received through the song of an angel – I was inspired to write this poem…
Like a message in a bottle
Sealed with a kiss and set adrift
Words flow from your heart, so lovely
– poetic bliss, shared as a gift
© 2022 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photos from unsplash.com: one, two
After reading “Burn Brightly” by the talented and lovely Arizonian poetess, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein her inspirational poetic prose speaks to self-confidence, aspirations, and to make hay while the sun shines – I wrote this short poem…
She arose, this desert rose
As the sun in silhouette
Bridging space with song, in dance
Center stage, without regret
© 2022 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.
“Listen to the Music” – by The Doobie Brothers (1972) / see lyrics
Having read “Amanhã Talvez” (Portuguese, meaning “Maybe Tomorrow”), written by a talented writer, lovely woman and good friend hailing from Lisbon, Carla Milho – wherein she contemplates meaningful expressions of emotion, aspiring to the present (carpe diem) rather than tomorrow – I was inspired to write this poem…
It’s what she has
Inside her heart
That makes mine skip a beat
Her good nature
And precious soul
Accentuate the sweet
She’s the one who warms my heart
And the light by which I see
What it means to be alive
Here and now, and yet to be
Green eyes serene, her pair is nice
– a golden slice of paradise
To make it four and evermore
Two happy hearts, to underscore
I pen these words
With hope she’ll read
This message of the heart
That if someday
We ever meet
In love, we’ll never part
© 2022 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.
Having read “To the Oak Tree“, penned by the lovely and talented poetess, Annabel, a dear friend and frequent source of my inspiration – wherein she speaks of nature, love and loyalty – I wrote this poem in response…
Together, through roots and shoots
Sharing seasons in the sun
Majestic beauty unfolds
With each ring, we grow as one
© 2022 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.
↱ You can read the lyrics here ↴
Creativity may be expressed in content which is cultivated, or that which is spontaneous, including through conversation…as follows.
Flashback September 25, 2021
I had just finished reading “Heart Beats on a City Street“, written by Michele Lee Sefton – a lovely author and poetess hailing from the Sonoran Desert of Arizona – when I saw a picture of her taking a photograph at night in the city.
Having observed images posted on her site, Michele looks wonderful wearing blue jeans! I alluded to such in my comments responding to her cited writing, above, to which she noted, “Maybe Levi’s will endorse my site.”
Her remark inspired me to write this storyline for a hypothetical Levi Strauss blue jeans commercial, subsequently pitched to the company:
Imagine…it’s nighttime on a poorly lit street, with a steady pulse of background sounds from the city and steam wafting from manhole covers. The camera pans left, stopping to focus on the shadowy silhouette of a beautiful blonde woman wearing a cowgirl hat and boots, black top, and, yes, a pair of well-fitting Levi’s. She slowly saunters forward under a dim streetlight, when suddenly – the crashing sound of a metal trash can lid hitting the pavement! She makes a quick quarter-turn, drawing her DSLR camera as if it were a gun from a holster, and snaps a shot of a cat racing away with fish bones clenched in its teeth. The camera zooms in for a close-up scene of her face, as she remarks, “Here’s looking at you, cat”. She raises her camera, winks to the TV camera, and, resembling a gun having been fired, blows the smoke away from her lens. Then, Levi’s runs their slogan on-screen, perhaps in conjunction with the camera maker.
© 2021 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photos from unsplash.com – jeans & street (Phoenix sidewalk at night).
Once more, as before
Her beauty draws pen to hand
Déjà vu haiku
© 2022 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.
There are times I feel I should refrain
From the sounds that drum as rhyme
Yet, your beauty shines through poetry
Like your smile, your words sublime
Having read “Twilight’s First Blush“, written by a lovely poetess and friend from the Valley of the Sun, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein she conveys a romantic recollection at dawn & shares her welcomed sense of humor – I was inspired to write this poem in response…
On a late night cruise
To a rendezvous
Just seventeen miles or so
It’s the magic hour
When night fades to day
And the cock begins to crow
In romantic waves
Rhythm fills the air
Glances cast amorously
Soon, a warm embrace
On the edge of love
Two hearts sing in rhapsody
Til the morning draws
Colors peach to blue
As faint starlight blinks farewell
Cheers, to drift once more
On this desert sea
Over sand and under spell
© 2022 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.
After reading “By Chance” (translated: por un acaso), posted by a dear friend and wonderful writer from Portugal, Carla Milho – wherein she shares reasons for changing her nickname, formerly Red Warrior – I was inspired to write this poem in response…
In a land known as Lisbon
Across the sea, set apart
Hails a cute girl named Carla
– a beautiful work of art
Her skin, golden tan
Her eyes, lovely green
Her smile warms my heart
…you know what I mean
Like a school-kid with a crush
Poems of love that never end
Yet, I know she’s spoken for
And extend my hand as friend
© 2022 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.
Digital collage artwork of melting musical compact disks, with grunge effects and abstract typographic overlay. You can visit these galleries for great products:
Haiku
CD’s in the sun
Melting songs some sang for fun
Digitally spun
© 2022 Phil Perkins
Music and Design
Songs that I’m listening to this morning while working with photography and/or creating designs…
Regarding lawn care, homeowners commonly experience procrastination. And that’s understandable, after all, as hours on the weekend represent more valuable time. By the same token, it’s also true that most people are happier with the appearance of well cared for yards.
So, I’ve come up with a nifty solution for this dilemma by inventing a new product, which combines the technology of a metal detector with a weed whipper. This way, I can keep my lawn looking good and at the same time make some spare change on the side!
© 2022 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from pexels.com.
Her lovely smile has the power to compel poetry. At an age 17 years younger, she’s Mukti Masih – a published poetess, author and successful content writer from India. After a recent exchange, I wrote this poem as I drifted into a daydream…
Every time I see her smile Heaven shines a light on me Happy heart in sweet delight Chasing dreams of what could be On the rhythm of waves Rang a sound from her heart Where the waters of love Know no end, only start On a ship under sail Without map, simply stars And a warm summer breeze With acoustic guitars On a course to the east Currents carry and flow Is this only a dream? Perhaps, yes, I think so Were it not for many miles And the years, so far apart Both day and night - time to share Grand adventures of the heart
© 2022 Phil Perkins
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.
NOTE: this poem uses the Preformatted Block, which allows for indentation of text exactly as pasted. However, in so doing, a monospace font is used.
Time is Precious
Time is precious
It’s of the essence
It’s here, then gone
From adolescence
The time you have
And the time you take
The things you’ve done
And the plans you make
The sights you’ve seen
Now a memory
And what’s to come
Yet a fantasy
Time marches on
Though nary a sound
Hands on the wall
Each day spin around
Time is fleeting
Take note and behold
Lessons in life
With age, growing old
Make your time count
To be a good friend
Share happiness
And love to the end
© 2022 Phil Perkins
You might also enjoy reading another poem I wrote about time, entitled “A Distant Time“. It was published on July 12, 2021.
PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.
Phil Perkins · Photography 