happiness – Phil Perkins Photography

Poem in Response

After reading “Uma hipótese num bilião” (Portuguese, meaning A Hypothesis in a Billion) by Carla Milho – a lovely lady, wonderful writer and dear friend from Lisbon, Portugal – I was inspired to write this poem in response…

When once I asked
Please marry me
You said, not now
- with time, maybe

   But that was then
   And this is now
   And what will be, will be

   And so, once more
   I'll ask again
   - I wish you'd marry me

Togetherness
Unto the years
We'll weather every storm

True hearts as one
In happiness
Our love, forever warm

PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

Miracles, by Jefferson Starship (1975) – see lyrics here.

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.

March 4, 2023

Poem for a Friend

This poem was written as a birthday gift for my dearest friend, Carla Milho, a beautiful lady and talented writer hailing from Lisbon, Portugal. Please visit her web site to wish her a Happy Birthday on this special day – thanks very much!

Frost the cake and add a candle to the dish
It’s time to make a wish
Another year is here

Sing the song we know with joy and warm delight
We celebrate tonight
Toasting you with good cheer

47!!!

Happy Birthday, Carla
Let the good times flow
Fun and friends who love you, don’t you know

Happiness, forever
When you share a smile
Days ahead grow brighter, all the while

PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)
by Van Morrison (1972)
• see lyrics here •

January 29, 2023

Poem in Response

After reading “The Best Gift“, written by the talented and beautiful poetess, Annabel – wherein she shares finding happiness through love and faith along her journey from home – I was inspired to write this poem…

The gift of self love
To make oneself whole
Will reap great rewards
Enliven your soul

PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

What You Won’t Do for Love, by Bobby Caldwell (1978) – see lyrics here.

December 5, 2022

Poem: Fields of Green

When once we played in fields of green
Grand meadows and summer sun
In Chuck Taylors with torn blue jeans
Climbing trees and having fun

   Street hockey on a vacant lot
   Sailing frisbees through the air
   Building sand castles near the lake
   Living life without a care

Now, days are short and time precious
Yet the child inside still plays
Drifting on dreams of yesteryear
To the spring of happy days

PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

Reelin’ In The Years by Steely Dan (1972) – see lyrics here.

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.

November 12, 2022

Song for Today

PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

September 11, 2022

Poem: Her Lovely Smile

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

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.

July 1, 2022

Poem

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

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.

June 24, 2022

Morning Fishermen

This black and white photograph of three fishermen was taken in the morning, some distance downstream from Norris Dam, along the Clinch River in Tennessee. It’s now available on prints in my gallery, so cast your line and reel-in something nice for an empty wall in your home, office…anywhere. Thanks!

February 13, 2022

Poem for a Friend

Happy Birthday Carla Milho 🥳🎂🎁

A lovely lady from Lisbon, Portugal, Carla is a wonderful writer and a dear friend. Please visit her site to wish her a Happy Birthday 👋🏻

The time has come to celebrate
Share gifts and cake and love
Wishing all the best for Carla
With blessings from above

At forty-six and in your stride
The world at your command
The time is now, to seize the day
Pursue your dreams as planned

So eat your cake, and smile and laugh
This day belongs to you
And share good times with all your friends
Some old, and some brand new

Poem in Response

Carla is often a source of inspiration for me, to which, having read her writing yesterday entitled, “Ballerina“, I offer this poem in response…

So beautiful your words
As the heart from which they flow
Your precious spirit true
Dancing eyes of green aglow

PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

January 29, 2022

Poem: Inside a Dream

I started this poem early last evening, later finishing it in the dream of a beautiful woman I know…

I stepped inside a dream, intense
Night dark, to slip away
To hold her near
Beneath the stars
And love her as she lay

Asleep, then not, and back again
We tossed across the sand
On moonlit beach
Wet in the waves
Two hearts, one love at hand

The rapture of a thousand stars
Cast bright, forevermore
Warm sky aglow
To welcome back
Our meeting at the shore

PHOTO CREDIT: this is a modified photo from unsplash.com.

December 24, 2021

Song For Today

PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

August 4, 2021

Song For Today

PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

August 1, 2021

Poem

A Distant Time

Before I go
I’ll skip a stone
Rings counted in the wake

Look back and smile
Before I go
Reflections on the lake

The time has come
Beyond the fields
My journey starts today

No wish to wait
The time has come
Forthwith and underway…

A house of clouds
Above the hill
Its door propped open wide

I say my prayers
Then cross my heart
Up stairs, to step inside

PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

July 12, 2021

Shredded Stripes

Retro five color graphic design with added noise, a shredded distortion effect and typographic overlay using the text: happiness, sharing, kindness, joy, care, peace, love, relationships, selflessness and commitment.

Available through my shops at Society 6, Redbubble and Pixels.