The Poems of J. Todd Keller

My earliest desires were to be a husband, a dad, and a poet.  This blog represents a bit of my work.  I write to capture moments and study characters who have become special or interesting to me.  Some poems are fictional.  Some are real.  In them, you’ll read a bit of reality, exaggeration, pain, thrill, regret, trouble, and wonder.  If there is a general theme, it is simply a basic curiosity about people and human behavior.  I trust there will be growth from the first to the last, growth in my regard for others, empathy, adaptability, character, holiness and love.

Feel free to follow my blog or simply scroll through from time to time.  This work matters no more or less than any one person’s view.  I am only one person.

-JTK

706

Olmin runs a tight ship

But no one likes him

He gets the product

He’s looking for

But not what he

Is the most desperate for

Sure, he’ll get clean

The peace that clean brings

But truth be told

He could get that alone

The presence of the others

Is the real gift, of course,

But he’s so hungry

For His own tranquility

And peace of mind

That he’d rather push

And pout and resent

And judge and condemn

Than fully open his heart

To any of them

In the end

He’ll be just fine alone

When he’s free of them

And things will be clean

705

Didn’t even notice

Got to miss the dead ring

Is there a luckier soul?

Is there a lovelier thing?

Didn’t hear nothin’

No stabbin’ – no bang

Is there a luckier soul?

Is there a lovelier thing?

What clack? What chatter?

What heartbeat? What mean?

Is there a luckier soul?

Is there a lovelier thing?

704

Take the grey one

Carry it with you

It won’t melt in the sun

Or crack in the cold

You’ll smile some

And live in whimsy too

But in your pocket it will be

To carry on unseen

You’ll most likely

Never be rid of it

It’s probably simply

A fixed feature of you

With you and with you

And with you and with you

Wherever, whenever

703

Things can deepen

World after world

As one sees mountains

Panoramic, in full bloom

We need not settle

For ash or sediment

But awaken the dreamer

And resurrect the gasp

Wave hardily to the traveler

Turn the heat down and receive

702

Planets are brilliant – always

Since said – said

Someone mastered that

And the world agrees

A man and his son stargaze

Since said – said

Banter and yes

Smart – joined – small

701

Medicine Man

Faithful

Is there anything you can do

Anything at all

Anything you can do for me

‘Cause all the air is gone

And I’m looking at the dark side of the room

Medicine Man

Faithful

I know you still know my name here

You still know me here

You know me here – inside and out

Can’t hear you or feel you

But I know you are for me and that you know

Medicine Man

Faithful

I’m good at waiting in dark rooms

Waiting in the dark

Waiting for time to pass me by

‘Cause moons fall and suns rise

And I’ll call you now and I’ll call you then too

Medicine Man

Faithful

700

I will sleep on this

As a stopped road

Not an inch farther

Or a far-off gaze

Will let the leaver linger

And not death or dying

Can rest in the title

Or the final line

The tap don’t even drip

It’s done – it’s past – it’s dry

699

Back then

Yellow – Brown – Orange – Green

All made me sick to my stomach

Though the rainbow of the day

It felt dirty to me

Who can say

Back then

Scruffy and unshaved

Scratchy and blind

Talented but reckless and raw

I couldn’t find my wonder

Who can say

Back then

Clear lines of like and loathe

Why so leery – Why so shy

You’re in or you’re out – clearly

I simply noticed without landing

Who can say

698

A gallery tour

Wall to wall to wall

All the exhibits

And you are not there

Yet I’m told you are key

I scan the valley

I explore the sky

Behind and ahead

And you are not there

Yet I’m told you are key

Insignificant

Such a missing piece

My mind yells roll call

And you are not there

Yet I’m told you are key

Under the big top

In the day-to-day

On the ocean floor

And you are not there

Yet I’m told you are key

697

You were an important pillar
As it turns out
I needed you more than I knew
As it turns out

Friendship like shade
Friendship like shade

See you really hurt me a lot
As it turns out
And I’m still so angry with you
As it turns out

Friendship like shade
Friendship like shade

I hear you know that you blew it
As it turns out
We all see that pretty clearly
As it turns out

Friendship like shade
Friendship like shade

Not thinking about you at all
As it turns out
Is what I’m looking forward to
As it turns out

Friendship like shade
Friendship like shade

Can’t afford to wish you the best
As it turns out
‘Cause you drained my benevolence
As it turns out

Friendship like shade
Friendship like shade

Summer won’t follow this winter
As it turns out
These ashes can’t be swept away
As it turns out

Friendship like shade
Friendship like shade

No cooler and no coverage
As it turns out
No easy escape from the rain
As it turns out

Friendship like shade
Friendship like shade