• Pause

    June Kaplan Painting - Pause
    Pause ~ 18″ x 24″ ~ acrylic on canvas
  • when

    when the painting keeps you from fainting
    paintbrush in the hand
    hand me down from mama
    and the intrepid man
    slight of hand
    onions around the lamb
    makes me feel so humble
    truth is that I can
    right the wrongs of stumble
    across the crooked land
    cook for me a summer feast
    sweet the orange yam
    counterfeit a smile
    for everything I am
    to look on till tomorrow
    for love is felt more than
    the swelter of a lie
    may helpers never die
    remembered Queenie’s apple pie
    a flaky a crust am I.

  • wondering

    moon pearl white
    hung in the depth of night
    vows lift spirit clouds
    water breaks a star is born
    shout embossed golden bevel
    heart soldered bright metal
    lost love brittle
    settle sequence salted buttery
    into tense regard subtly
    haven’t learned the pain of sorrow
    into the night I
    never knew her bliss
    is what I miss
    to honor the badge
    of tribes gone mad inside
    a weakness for pale eyes
    thoroughly wise
    her prayers into hazel skies
    I wonder where I might care
    to feel a calm will bless
    a kin to see her son
    would sense the world his happiness
    of much a thing is won
    address the best inspire him
    to greet the world with everything
    for her little boy
    toiling and triumphing
    there is gold in them there hills
    you did well all his well loved life
    in the moments you may be wondering.

  • please remain

    I love you mellow
    existential fellow
    roll down hills viridian green
    to wade brook and stream
    blown apart by windy rain
    paint portraits please remain
    when I cannot see the face
    you are so dear to give your chandelier hanging here
    round pink table
    holds my ginger-beer
    spicy soda cool clear to toast your lime corona
    rest shoulders
    in the fabric of the sofa
    blanket throws over toes to comfort her
    music soothing softens city sounds
    window blinds darken rooms and brows
    where magazines and catalogues cluster
    on coffee table square low polished to a luster
    coffee cups cream custard silver spoons
    rounded as a full moon
    pillows fluffy plump ready
    for dreams as ripe as cherries
    in the sleepy afternoon.

  • walk the way to town

    psalms soulfully suggest
    a revolution deducting lucid
    thought as willows cry distraught
    the mossy ground wet with tears soil toils not to drown,
    lift your dressing gown across the lawn, through the
    merciless mud and twig looking
    for a truth to give, please hold
    me in sustainable arms, as wings are for birds that fly and I, can’t get up
    off the ground as little flowers act as if there’s nothing wrong along
    the lonely walk the way to town.

  • willingness

    stability a mobility
    ability a mentality
    a noble cause
    chivalry not dead
    a plastic mask a rented bed
    thank God my body is still mine
    a slice of bread to mend
    mankind
    to feed a vacuous state of mind
    you lead me here instead
    with everything that you have said
    willingness to win the wars
    wellness will right the stars.

  • God peer back

    pale sky the color of champ-ale
    golden dragon pursue an ivory tail
    that bodes as well for boats
    to sail the coasts those embedded
    ruby eyes the fire roars the angels sigh to dive into seas of clouds
    not asking for a reason why the dawn
    is quick to humble hearts as swells will drench our summer hides till
    autumn-seabirds laugh take a bath
    proud to call out loud their
    fresh fish dinner catch-all is well into the
    winter where souls
    at the right hand of God peer back over the green-colored Earth
    onward upward anointed
    somewhere in summer it’s snowing
    in the rose garden of my drawing.

  • how long you’ve got?

    office building dr wherefore art thy
    really really nice guy
    Anglo-Saxon mentor sire
    in slacks rolled up sleeves tie attire
    slack in his duty? never lacks
    nor lags behind a test of time
    how long you’ve got?-never mind-
    moving
    me I barely drink a fluid
    roving ruthless tired toothless
    life sunk into a ditch
    fables fallacies fictions fantasies
    bitter into the brink
    forewarned of poisoning
    shades all thought
    lamps turn off
    on sidewalks of New York
    early morn
    morning doves yawning
    in the dawning of the dark.

  • his furrowed brow

    carry my body back to France
    if only he would sing
    or stand up on his feet the way
    he danced the night away
    vital and alive at 25
    freed from childhood dark and grim
    married his sweetheart
    from the company of the king
    draped her in mink
    taught her to drink
    baked Alaska made her sick
    on a train from New York to Mexico
    Penny beautiful naive
    Harold passionate extreme
    sports cars travel business
    2 kids and a dog best wishes
    with help to wash the dishes
    6 boxes of cigars at a time
    Macanudo
    Mouton Rothschild vintage wine
    that was a good year
    when we were 12 and 9
    and mother would cook
    her shrimp Kap-lan
    spilling in a little of her Miller
    and Queen’s southern fried chicken
    mashed potatoes and gravy
    Granny Smith apple pie and
    lemon meringue
    I was a fat little kid-still am
    The Rani June 1-2-and 3
    Driftwood Lane the cottage by the bay
    mom catching every sunrise
    with her camera, many moons flashed
    before her eyes
    and dad became quiet
    relieving doubt and strain
    to sooth his furrowed brow
    he made all our dreams possible
    i coiling ropes salute you
    on your bow
    sail on, Dyer Dow.

  • hob-nobbins

    alone away out west the plain
    you in my heart again
    seems seasons since
    such sparrows came
    may hear the angels spar and then
    whirr endangered linger on
    in a blur of colder texture
    wrapped in cloth inside a manger
    hear that sounds little stranger
    our tears fall into favor
    remain the rain reclaim the savior
    seek the fruit chilled juice to savor
    as sweet a wine to bring a truce
    envy port your sweet merlot
    as very varied berries go
    impartial to the cordial host
    call hob-nobbins and the ghosts
    to walk around your lovely town
    minimal at most.