Driven

That lightheaded feeling as my heart beats faster
Taking deep breaths to try and calm my nerves
Keeping my hands busy so I stop trembling
My eyes lighting up whenever I see you
The way your smile makes everything alright
How your touch is so gentle yet powerful
Knowing I'm a better person because of you
Things for which I will never stop searching

B. Alan Hart, 12-28-2013

I will fall in love again. If I only have one resolution for the upcoming year, that is it.

Winter Day

How beautiful the snow
As it flutters to the ground
Covering the earth in white
Muffling many a sound
How beautiful your smile
Filled with joy at play
Spreading inner warmth
This cold winter day
How gentle is your touch
As you take my hand
Walking on together
Through snow capped land
Here we journey as one
While these sights astound
How beautiful the snow
As it flutters to the ground

Written 12-25-2013

It's been snowing on and off for two days, and while some are intolerant of it, I am loving its silent beauty.
Merry Christmas.

Finding the Way

Not long ago I had no direction
No idea where my life should go
I'd been beaten, betrayed and down
So up was the only goal I had
I've come to the plateau at last
To where and what I was before
After a brief time of satisfaction
I look for new goals and challenges
Reaching the next peak in my life
Shouldn't really be a solo journey
A friendship for us to build upon
Since you've been here all along
Though not sure where I'm headed
Give me strength and come with me

Written 12-22-2013

A Winter Dream

Written 12-8-2013 Photograph taken 12-18-2012

Questions

Why did I choose to stop feeling
Holding everything inside?
How did I befriend emptiness and sorrow
Taking it all in stride?
When did I decide to stifle the laughter
Instead embracing saddened eyes
Where was I when I looked in the mirror
To wave myself goodbye?
What made me think it would be better
In the darkest thoughts to hide?
Who would ever be able to show me
A view of myself from the outside?
B. Alan Hart
Written January 17th, 2011
Looking back, this was nothing more than a cry for help from someone who had no idea (at the time) how to ask for it.

Struggle

Not really a poem, more an attempt to put into words what it's like to suffer from depression.

Photograph taken September 7th, 2013.

A Woodland Sonance

The persistent beat
Of leaves crunching at my feet
Serves as introduction to the piece
Hear wind gently playing
It gets the branches swaying
Creating mood to set oneself at ease

The tinkling of my keys
Echoes on the breeze
Inspiration starts a cardinal singing
These instruments come alive
As if they're hep to the jive
And very soon the woods are swinging

My pace begins to slow
Bringing the volume low
Pushed along by the beating in my chest
Keys held in my hand
We sadly reach the end
As my feet finally come to rest

B. Alan Hart
Written 11-3-2013

Passion Dance

Candlelight is dancing
Encouraging a night of sweet release
The soft glow it's giving
Leaves us feeling as one, at peace

Soothing music plays
Enveloping us as we embrace
Sharing a smile
Enjoying the evening, a slower pace

Quietly we speak
Unaware of the passage of time
Lost in each other
Sipping the last of the summer wine

This sweet romance
Warms the first night of fall
Together as one
Our shadows dance on the wall

B. Alan Hart
Written 10-27-2013

Not Without a Fight

Written 10-6-2013
Photograph taken 10-1-2013

Autumn Morning

Poem written and photograph taken 10-4-2013.

Sometimes

Written 9-27-2013
Photograph taken 9-21-2013

To One Far Away

Respectfully dedicated to the loved ones of our men and women serving in the military.

Written 9-22-2013
Photograph taken 8-19-2013

Another Path

Written 9-21-2013
Photograph taken 9-28-2012

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Only when we step outside of our comfort zone can we truly take on a challenge. Taking another path can be challenging, but that's what sweetens success.

The Promise

At times it's such a struggle
But I swear I won't give up
I don't know when it will happen
I will recognize it when it does
The smile will be unmistakable
When our eyes finally meet
So I swear I won't stop looking
Until the day I find you

B. Alan Hart
9-12-2013

Reality Check

Written 9-1-2013
Photograph taken 7-13-2013

Closing In

Once there was life here
With love and friendships
A future looking brighter
More secure each day
Yet that security was fleeting
As was the love once here
That future now looks dim
Little time is left to change it

Written 8-25-2013

Tragic Flaws

Written 8-25-2013
Photograph taken 9-29-2012

We all have days when we really see only what we do wrong. This was written on that kind of a day. Sometimes the truth is a bitter pill to swallow.

Speechless

You say kind words yet they're suspect
Their real meaning left all too clear
The duality of your statement burns
Serving only to torment my soul

Speechless I stand in frustration
Fists clenched in silent rage
You'll neither understand who I am
Nor who I long to be in the end

B. Alan Hart
Written 8-15-2013

It's a shame when someone close to you thinks they not only know you, but know what's best for you as well. It's even worse when they put you down while at the same time trying to "help".

Once More

Once more I'm thinking
About all I've done wrong
Wishing that I hadn't been
Unkind and so headstrong

Once more I'm going over
All the choices I have made
If I could have one back
Just which one would I trade?

Once more I have to laugh
At my foolish thoughtful ways
Left with only lonely nights
Because I've wasted all the days

Once more I'm left hoping
For just another chance
To let my heart do the thinking
So my feet may simply dance

B. Alan Hart
8-10-2013

Turnaround

Not so very long ago
A world shrouded in darkness
Hope was foreign
Happiness an elusive dream
Life became a struggle
Just to clear the hurdle
From one day to the next

One day hands reached out
With kind words and smiles
Hope was all around
Happiness grew from within
Life became a pleasure
While looking eagerly forward
From one day to the next

B. Alan Hart
Written 7-27-2013

Hide

When you look at me
I feel you're trying to solve
The mysteries of my soul
As if there are unknown depths
Secret facets that I hide

When I look at you
I feel a warmth so deep
The honesty of your soul
As if there are no secrets
Or feelings that you hide

When we look at each other
We feel emotion so pure
Two souls entwined
A bond without measure
No earthly reason to hide

B. Alan Hart
7-27-2013

Date Night

Fancy restaurants are all well and good
We need a place that's much more low-key
Ambiance is here in this neighborhood
Dinner, music, wine - we'll be fine - you'll see

Dinner for two, let's make it a surprise
Something savory with just the right spice
Though we thrive on the twinkling in our eyes
Still kisses for starters sound very nice

This night, what a perfect end to our day
Dancing, romancing like lovers should be
The entree is that we're both here to stay
For dessert we'll have some morning coffee

B. Alan Hart
July 26, 2013

Originally this began life as "Morning Coffee" written on February 9, 2009. The only part of the original still in this version is lines 5-8. Everything else I felt was clumsy (including the title), so I thought a rewrite was in order. I'm also much more happy with it's new title.

The Way Back

I don't know where to begin
But I do know how this will end
I can see where I want to be
Still it's so hard to begin again

Time is short but the road is long
So many steps along the way
It'd be so easy to just give in
But I look forward to the final day

Filled with the fear that I may fail
I try harder to reach my goal
Leave it behind go where I need to be
Heal the hurt within my soul

One day soon I'll awake and be
In our hometown close to you again
I don't know where to begin
But I do know how this will end

Written 7-13-2013
For Neal and Evan

Longing for the Fire

Was musing on things that I feel have been missing in my life the past two years and scribbled some random thoughts down. Some of those formed different parts of this poem. This is the most difficult it has ever been for me to structure something I've written, but I'm pleased with the result.

Written 6-30-2013.
Photograph taken 2-23-2013.

Petrichor

Written 6-29-2013.
Photograph taken 5-26-2013.

Not written with a specific person in mind, more an amalgamation of memories and people. It's that idea of romance that inspired me.

Outlook

I walk this path to the future
Not really knowing where it leads
Sometimes changing direction is easy
At others it's a difficult choice
My route may change by influence
From either friends or circumstances
At times I seem to stand still
Or even travel back along my path
No matter which direction I go
I travel to my unknown future
Happy to have this destination to reach
Smiling because I know I'm not alone

B. Alan Hart
Written 6-26-2013

Deluge

She

Dedicated to my sister as she battles a very curable form of cancer. Her positive outlook is always an inspiration to me.

Written 5-27-2013

Twilight Sky

It's a long time since we last met
Our time together now over and done
Still, driving through your hometown
Brings you to mind as I glimpse at the sun
They say things happen for a reason
I wouldn't change what we once shared
We may never meet again in our lives
But I hope you know that I truly cared
So now we travel on separate paths
No way of knowing where our destinies lie
Yet I find myself thinking of you
As I look up at the twilight sky

Written 6-8-2013
B. Alan Hart
Photograph taken 6-8-2013

I was driving to pick up my youngest son and took the scenic route. Went through her hometown and thought about her. When I took the photograph I thought about her again, and here we are.

Like the River

Written May 17, 2013.

Photograph taken September 28, 2012.

It's hard to put into words how I feel when I take my daily walk, but I gave it a try.

Footprints

Written September 9th, 2012.

Photograph taken May 16th, 2013.

In the journey through life, many people like to be able to look back and see where they've been. Others want a new start and leave the past behind.

First Light

 air so still
a world in silence
fresh coffee brews
aroma fills the house
make the bed
woke alone again
the window view
shows first cars appear
quiet house stirs
young voices fill the air
the world arises
i mourn the quiets passing
lay out clothes
where i woke alone
first light breaks
my thoughts turn to you

 

Written January 3rd, 2009.

One of those cold January mornings, before the kids woke up, I found myself thinking about my first love.

Shadow and Ghost

Written August 13th, 2007.

Photograph taken September 29th, 2012.

Sometimes things in our lives change, and although we try to be strong, it can be very hard to let go and move on.

Blind

Written April 20, 2013.

Photograph taken April 20, 2013.

I was going to take a photo of something in my room, and accidentally took this shot of my reflection in a painting on the wall. Strange things can cause inspiration, indeed.

Frost

Written on April 14, 2013.

Photograph taken March 28, 2012.

A friend mentioned that I needed a creative outlet, and that started me writing again after too long a time.

Chasing Sunset

Written formally on May 12th, 2013, although the inspiration and the title hit me on the drive home from Milwaukee the night before.