They came from the seas.
At first just a few fleeting sightings
that vanished when confronted
by aircraft.

With the years they keep increasing,
as if emboldened.

A few close calls with aircraft from
Russia and the US until a US jet
fired upon one with no effect.

When the world was on the brink
of a nuclear war, their numbers increased.

With rays that flashed and hummed,
they disabled all the nukes in the world
in a millisecond.

They made their presence known
to the world after that.

An advanced, underwater civilization,
ancient Atlantis.

Bob Boyd

It began with not so subtle sarcasms
chop chop

Then the sarcasms increased and became wearing
chop chop

hacking away at him annoyingly
chop chop

until he blew up at her
and for a while the chopping ceased

but as often is the case with time
and bad behaviors rearising

her not so subtle sarcasms began again
chop chop

in the end he did the chopping
by ridding himself of her

chop chop chop
and she had to pack her bags and leave

Bob Boyd

I’m hearing a song about a moon out tonight
and a guy walking hand in hand with his girlfriend

and I’m remembering those days and how
good they felt walking hand in hand with you

and I’m remembering how sweet your perfume smelled
and how good you felt in my arms

but tonight I can’t even see the moon
and don’t remember much about you

except that the moon hid behind the clouds
and wept when you cheated on me back in 62

and now it’s 2025 and I’m old and wondering why
my first love couldn’t have been my last love

instead of so many lesser loves that like you
are long gone now

most by my own choice due to none of them
being as good as you were back then

but that’s love and life that some win in
and most lose in when it comes to lasting love

so now I’m thinking maybe none of it matters anyway
when the lid closes on my coffin at the end of the day

and I won’t remember you or care about lasting love
because my restless heart will be peacefully obliterated.

Bob Boyd

Why do arguments have to
interfere with true love?
Why do tensions have
to come with the bliss?
When I was a teenager
and knew less about
romantic matters,
I felt true love
would be hassle free.
I never imagined
sometimes it would
involve these contrary
emotions.
I never imagined
sometimes true love
would be untrue.

Bob Boyd

She was a nice lady
more than pretty enough
prettier on the inside
which mattered more
we had a nice date together
it seemed we could have had
a loving romantic relationship
but she felt we were incompatible
because I didn’t play golf
so in other words batting balls
around the ground
was more important than
the multiple benefits
of a heart to heart
soul to soul connection
I was grateful for that insight
into her character
and felt no sorrow
or disappointment
from her superficial
batting balls around
the ground rejection

Bob Boyd

Walking down Elm Street, Greensboro
many years ago

I spotted a man who looked like Santa Claus
standing behind a stand

I cannot remember his name

I only remember he stood out

Instead of giving Christmas Gifts
to passers by

He was a poet offering his finely crafted poems
to the world

as good as getting longed for Christmans gifts
on Christmas morn.

Bob Boyd

Her beauty was incomparable.
Flowers faded by comparison.
Painters could never capture it.
Poets could not put it in words.
To the despair of legions of men.
She never gave her love to them.
She surrendered her heart to God.
Became Sister Angelica instead.

Bob Boyd

While reading Du Fu’s poems and feeling such peace, I pause and think about how this serenity could be shattered by another that’s supposed to love me.

An argument the night before, an unkind word, a caustic remark,
my peace assaulted, my patience strained.

Though in rare, lonely times I pine for a caring, supportive female companion, at other more sobering times, I realize the insertion of another into my solitude could sabotage my serenity, compromise my peaceful life.

My occasional romanticization of an idealized other devoid of drama, free of tensions, love without friction, enduring forever, is as unrealistic as believing in Saint Nick bearing Christmas gifts.

Bob Boyd

September 29th, 2025. Today the weather
has finally gotten cooler.

It’s been like summer up till now.

Temperatures as high as 80, like a
sweltering fall

instead of invigorating cool winds
and lower temperatures.

You might be a summer person.
You might bask in the hot summer sun.

Me, I like the cooler weather and
dislike the heated rays of that hotter season.

Maybe because I’m at an age with the sun
can be like an enemy to an older person’s skin,
the ever present threat of skin cancer.

Or maybe it’s because I’m originally from a
much colder climate than where I live now.

Whatever the reason, I’m basking in the fall
winds and enjoying the refreshing, colder weather.

Bob Boyd

Despite claims of levitation from different quarters,
I just do not believe any human has ever levitated.

The evidence I’ve read seems more like hearsay
and embellished legends.

Were levitation attainable, I’d think we’d have
scientific, observable proof by now.

I’ve read some Catholic saints have levitated,
but those claims could easily be embellished,

or the alleged writings of saints making such
claims could have been altered

to make the faithful think those dedicated to God
were granted supernatural powers.

I also don’t believe because many claims of
supernatural abilities have been easily debunked.

And I believe in the quote “extraordinary claims
require extraordinary evidence.”

Bob Boyd