Jim Yerman Poems

He began to write before his diagnosis…sometimes he wrote…sometimes he drew.
He didn't need a doctor to tell him…something he already knew.

He would close his eyes for a moment and search back in his mind…then write a story or draw a picture of any memory he might find.
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When I was young…working with crayons…no matter the design…
my teacher was adamant…when it came to coloring…one must stay within the lines.

And I tried to color her way…the way she comprehended…
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On his 100th birthday celebration surrounded by his family…
he was asked, ‘what is the secret to your longevity? '

He was silent for a moment…they thought, perhaps, he was too weak…
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He gently touched his cheek to hers…
at a time when sadness interrupted their nights
and spread throughout their days…
and the moment their tears blended into one…
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Isn't it amazing how love can make your courage soar…
how it can make you braver than than you've ever been before.
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Couples fight about money, about communication and control.
But an unsung cause of trouble in a marriage is the toilet paper roll.
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They say the corner bookstore as an institution is a dying breed
For people now use the internet or E-books when they read.

I was one of those people...as I walked by I would frown
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We have this cute little bird house we keep on our patio
We didn't know who would use it, perhaps a chickadee or a crow

It's too small for a pelican or an eagle to make a den
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What if our planet…the mountains, the oceans, the rivers, the trees the animals…the land…has developed its own language…a language we have yet to understand.

What if they communicate with one another…to make right anything that goes wrong?
What if this is the reason they've survived on Earth so long.
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A light rain began falling this morning and when I looked up much to my surprise I saw a small cloud just above me with tears falling from her eyes.

"What's the matter little cloud? " I asked as she floated in the sky.
"On a beautiful morning such as this…what could make you cry? "
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