Remember
Sheltering in place
we need please to remember
those who cannot do so
homeless
travelers far from home
people alone
those without the Web
no Internet
just separation
and all whose duties
are to serve and provide
for we in lockdown
essential workers
their families and lives
second to our needs
nurses doctors
EMT teams
ICU teams
grocery store staff
farmers
truckers
UPS FedEx other drivers
Postal Service people
packers filling online orders
police officers
National Guard soldiers
cafeteria workers
food bank volunteers
all giving
so we for our protection
can be safe outwait
this silent plague
stalking our weary world
In time
we will prevail
and survive
and return with
love
stronger
for ourselves
for each other
and those
who are living
their lives
today
for us
Sheltering in place
we need please to remember
those who cannot do so
homeless
travelers far from home
people alone
those without the Web
no Internet
just separation
and all whose duties
are to serve and provide
for we in lockdown
essential workers
their families and lives
second to our needs
nurses doctors
EMT teams
ICU teams
grocery store staff
farmers
truckers
UPS FedEx other drivers
Postal Service people
packers filling online orders
police officers
National Guard soldiers
cafeteria workers
food bank volunteers
all giving
so we for our protection
can be safe outwait
this silent plague
stalking our weary world
In time
we will prevail
and survive
and return with
love
stronger
for ourselves
for each other
and those
who are living
their lives
today
for us
What I Really Want to Say
December 21, 2020
What I really want to say
Is that I don’t know
what I really want to say
Yes
I have the floor
this winter solstice late afternoon
and the mic
and you’re listening
ready waiting
waiting for me to say something
But in fact
there’s nothing that I
do want to say
right now
nothing at least
that I need to add
to the noise
of this loud troubled year
Instead what I’d like to hear
today
from myself
and others
is simply
the sound
of silence
Silence from deep inside
the silence of nothing
It’s not loneliness
or emptiness
but solitude
gentle complete peace
at home in the dark softness
of no sound
no movement
nothing
but that of my breathing
and the beating of my heart
I want to be in a place
and I invite you
to come there too
a place where we can let go
be free of the need to say
or do or become anything
other than
what and who we are
and would be
if and when we’d step off the wheel
of busyness and managing
the flow of life around us
which flow flows on
regardless
of what we think we can do
to or about it
as it pretends to respond to
our desires our noise
then keeps on going
as it will
So I’ll put down this mic
leave it here at the podium for
any of you
who want or need
to come forward and take it
I’m going outside
going to drive up the valley
in the twilight of this day
this year
walk the hill behind
my house
look out across
Garzas Canyon
silent in silhouette
as dusk settles into night
stars come out
and to the southwest
Jupiter and Saturn joining
bright and strong
a reprise of their role
the Star of Bethlehem
2,000 years ago
I’ll stand there
no sound
but the whoosh of tires
of a lone car on the road
down below
and a breeze
through the pines
in my front yard
That’s all the noise I’ll need
I’ll stand there
watch that star
shining over the canyon
oaks and chaparral
redwoods deep
in the folds of darkness
And in the comfort of this night
solitude
of silence
I’ll bow my head
close my eyes
And out loud
say what I really want to say
Say to the night
to the world
to all I love
to all who love me
Say simply
quietly
softly
What’s been lost
in the clamor of his year
A gentle benediction
brought home
Two words
“Thank you”
December 21, 2020
What I really want to say
Is that I don’t know
what I really want to say
Yes
I have the floor
this winter solstice late afternoon
and the mic
and you’re listening
ready waiting
waiting for me to say something
But in fact
there’s nothing that I
do want to say
right now
nothing at least
that I need to add
to the noise
of this loud troubled year
Instead what I’d like to hear
today
from myself
and others
is simply
the sound
of silence
Silence from deep inside
the silence of nothing
It’s not loneliness
or emptiness
but solitude
gentle complete peace
at home in the dark softness
of no sound
no movement
nothing
but that of my breathing
and the beating of my heart
I want to be in a place
and I invite you
to come there too
a place where we can let go
be free of the need to say
or do or become anything
other than
what and who we are
and would be
if and when we’d step off the wheel
of busyness and managing
the flow of life around us
which flow flows on
regardless
of what we think we can do
to or about it
as it pretends to respond to
our desires our noise
then keeps on going
as it will
So I’ll put down this mic
leave it here at the podium for
any of you
who want or need
to come forward and take it
I’m going outside
going to drive up the valley
in the twilight of this day
this year
walk the hill behind
my house
look out across
Garzas Canyon
silent in silhouette
as dusk settles into night
stars come out
and to the southwest
Jupiter and Saturn joining
bright and strong
a reprise of their role
the Star of Bethlehem
2,000 years ago
I’ll stand there
no sound
but the whoosh of tires
of a lone car on the road
down below
and a breeze
through the pines
in my front yard
That’s all the noise I’ll need
I’ll stand there
watch that star
shining over the canyon
oaks and chaparral
redwoods deep
in the folds of darkness
And in the comfort of this night
solitude
of silence
I’ll bow my head
close my eyes
And out loud
say what I really want to say
Say to the night
to the world
to all I love
to all who love me
Say simply
quietly
softly
What’s been lost
in the clamor of his year
A gentle benediction
brought home
Two words
“Thank you”
Robert Nielsen is a Carmel Valley poet, writer, and photographer, and has segued into full-time art-making after practicing law for many years. Born in Australia, with roots also in New Zealand, Denmark, the British Isles, France, and Spain, he has lived, studied, worked, and traveled in a number of countries. His art is narrative and representative in nature; reflecting his perceptions, feelings, dreams and stories, and also his worldwide experiences. His poetry has appeared in various anthologies, journals, and other publications; his award-winning photographs have been exhibited and included in public and private galleries and collections in the United States and other countries. He serves as a co-host of the Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Monthly Reading Series. His website is at www.pilgrim-arts.com