Verse by Verse

 

I never received 

a card of acknowledgment

no thank you

nothing

when I sent you a book of my poems

but now I think

that was for the best

as it makes me practice

imagining glorious scenes

of you in rapture

sitting in your window seat

reading my poems and left speechless

while marveling at the beauty and sadness 

of the world you have been missing

just outside your window

and how I tried 

to captured it for you

verse by verse.

So it is now my wish

that when you are finished 

with my attempts at documenting

the human experience

you will join me in hoping 

that all this leads

to more and better poems

unlike this one.

Ken Owen December 2024 Van Niddy Press

You've Got Four Years

 

Dear Friends: 

If I may suggest...

Today

take a long walk

preferably at your favorite 

park, beach, or mountain trail 

and assuage your grief

by practicing gratitude 

for the privilege of being able

to surround yourself 

with the beauty of nature 

whenever you need her.

Tonight

go to your favorite 

quiet spot in your home

take out your journal and write down 

all your thoughts and feelings

sign and date the passage

and close the book.

Tomorrow

embrace the new day

pour your morning drink

and start making plans

to shape your future

so this never happens again.

You’ve got four years.

Ken Owen November 6, 2024

Van Niddy Press

Poems for Dad: One Year Later

 Evening Journal

I was talking to your portrait this morning

I never imagined myself as that type of person 

Things I mentioned to you came to pass later that day 

I will be more careful now that I know you are listening

11/20/23

You don't call anymore 

but we still talk most days

I can feel your answers as I sift through the history 

of all the things you held dear

12/06/23

I have yet to hang your portrait 

the one where your smile gives comfort 

and your eyes say you know my intent 

It seems I am delaying the final act of memorial

04/7/24

They asked if I missed you on Father's Day

I stumbled with my reply when I realized 

it was the same as the day you left 

and would be from now on

07/01/24

You came by in another late night dream

to pick up your mail and some clean shirts 

As I sat on the edge of your bed I knew

I could never take your place but would have to try

09/02/24

Books that once held little interest for me 

seem to fascinate me now

I wonder if I am reading them for you 

or you are reading them for me 

09/15/24

Committed to Memory

It seems

she remembers 

everything.

Me

not so much.

I am not sure

when I began

to look right at the movie actors

and hear the bell of memory

ringing off in the distance

just far enough away

to make the sound of their name

undecipherable

(It was Eli Wallach

and she knew it instantly.)

My memory now operates independently 

judging the importance of names and events

regardless of my efforts

but there have been moments

when I knew immediately

I had witnessed the unforgettable 

like when I told my father 

that she was sick

his very last words to me were

“Well, tell her I’m thinking about her.”

I am fairly certain

I’ll remember that 

forever.

March 2023

Ken Owen    October 25, 2024

Van Niddy Press

 

The Flying Salvias: Record Release Concert

Kathleen and Henry Salvia, aka The Flying Salvias, have recently completed their two latest projects (musical, not home improvement): ‘Henry’s Hideaway’ and ‘Amerikinda’, with original songs by The Salvias, Maurice Tani, and co-writes with Deb Grabien and yours truly. Both projects contain great performances by an incredible list of Bay Area musicians too long to list here.

They are having a Records (remember those?) Release Event this Saturday at The Pacifica Center for the Arts which promises to be a fine evening of entertainment with a full cast of your favorite musical performers. Tickets and information are available here:  

https://pacificaperformances.org/the-flying-salvias-2/

…and The Flying Salvias website is here:  

http://flyingsalvias.com

It is with great pride that I add my contributions to their fine work to my discography: 

https://kenowenondrums.com/discography/

We hope to see you this Saturday!

-KO

The Grove

 

She arranges

flowers, feathers, and stones

for offerings of love and remembrance

in a grove full of memories

He writes

observing which trees

sway and sing their mournful hymns

and which hold fast in respectful silence

They experience

the respite of nature on sacred ground 

rich with energy past and present

honoring all who attend

KO and AdC

National AIDS Memorial Grove

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA

Ken Owen    August 2024

Van Niddy Press

On This Blustery Day

On this blustery day 
a leaf fell dancing
on the name of Frank Robinson IV

as a butterfly of purple and gold

passed overhead to enjoy the performance

and when the dance was done

a crowd of leaves scattered on the wind

but the dancing leaf stayed 

to honor Frank Robinson IV

on his transformation

into a butterfly of purple and gold

on this blustery day

National AIDS Memorial Grove

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
July 2024

The Town Doctor

You can take the pulse of a town

at the local thrift store 

by examining the shoppers and goods 

and how much the place smells 

like grandma’s basement.

You can take the blood pressure of a town 

by counting the number 

of rock and roll band stickers 

you find on the back of stop signs

and assessing how long they’ve been there.

You can estimate the life expectancy of a town 

by counting the number 

of empty store fronts on Main Street 

and asking the concerned locals

“Well, is she a fighter?”

Ken Owen

Van Niddy Press