Gregory Bodenhamer 2006
The rarest of beauty, the right word , the right idea, charity
in it’s place, cowards backed down, courteous speech during
courtship and that cricket noise you can never find, people
converted to angles, critics need not know, lost in the sea about you
simply trying to find my way.
Your pet name written on my pad, advice from others that
never found the words, my interest in my work, preachers talking
and doctors trading their pills, the seldom compliments without
destination, i know the trouble it is to make some book, tackled it,
write an article, finished to satisfaction, slavery to the pen, i swear
to never use my heart again, always lost upon the sea.
Worth while to try, delightful play, adventurous souls, i
loved it all but wrinkles indicate the lost smile, i go to myself and
find the shade, write these words day and night, waiting for the
right word in the right place, trying to find you lost as you are.
My words are fire and they paint the scene, it’s the readers
way to find the light and welcome my words in their souls, even to
perfection i’ll never be admitted to membership, with your charm
and honesty you’ve broken my one heart, it was troublesome from
conception and was not to give birth.
The experiments of the heart, the sudden marriage of spirited
ideas, as drowned by the sea will be found years from now, some
couple of youth, discovered from the ocean bottom, our words will
be discovered and will twinkle our love back to life. Others will
read these words, not much else to say, they’ll wonder how much i
loved you and they will look upon the sea.
Gregory Bodenhamer 2006

The inspiring words, written again in pencil, by some young
couple, uplifting and enthusing their spirit, it will permit their
wonder about me and you, this bad weather must be required, not to
interrupt the flow, no ignorant words, no amateur thoughts, no spe-
cialty phrase,
no poor quality hand can ever convince her of her own value, the
conventional phrase did not work, the distinguished heart made mushy
had no effect, commoner things could not find her heart, the worlds
luxuries, tasting fruits of the earth all acquired by art, left by the angles
to eat could not move her, not from her spot.
The temptations of wealth, ice-water in the summer, trifling
matters made better could not muster even a flimsy choice, sheet music
to words, stage-coach rides through the town, spills of my heart looking
skyward i saw no great difference, the monument of our fathers, towers
of the city, factory chimney’s and fresh coffee by hand just to try again.
When i come to you, words on paper, i’ll stay and try, i cannot tell
you a lie, without luck or practice, poor and ashamed i’ll try again, the
charm of your spirit, the ways of you, the words you seldom share,
influence the entire world that’s spinning time around my world.
You, the rarest of beauty, an honorable one, the kindest and gentlest
in the world, spin me around, steer clear of the furniture, the waltz is
exhilarating and they’re is no unpromising, the extraordinary gesture
and emphasis makes the effective story, you know my words are about
you, whole-souled, words kind-hearted and tender, stormy voice calling
our names, we mix strange oaths with the gentlest of touch, you cheer
my soul , never gambling, never swearing my name even with occasion.
Gregory Bodenhamer 2006

The idea is not to be somewhere but everywhere i find you,
people try to describe, the exact speech cannot say, it’s not the
idea, it’s you that i want, there is a lack of you in the world,
witnessed greater joy, you’re the first act of every play, so
powerful two acts are never required, i ventured to you, my
dream was the entire dance, all the words and now i’m
physically exhausted, the curiosity, the polite way to say,
you’re all the stunning words walking around to capture,
there is no greater pleasure to make you this vow, i’ll write of
you as i do now, without any presence you’re always in my
heart, i vow to honor you until my last day, i vow to admire
you and take pleasure in knowing you.
You’re the far reaching Queen, no peers to follow, without
reproach in your great sweeping life you have captured me,
my words were uncalled for, the tearful long-winded words
seem to satisfy only me, sitting down to cry, nobody knows
when they come, it’s best to say yes when it’s time, you’re the
best part of this story, you don’t have to remember anything
as i’ve written down these words, our truth is the most
valuable thing, travel no longer without me, foreign countries
with their broad avenues and wholesome inn’s cannot hold a
candle to you as you voyage around my life, there is no
unhappiness in writing you after a cheerful and careless
voyage of our hearts.
This may be a gossipy volume, talking about everything, a drop here and there, a
moment in time for us both to remember, limitations of this world, maybe someday a
fireside talk, drifting around and idle for a while, for a year or so, maybe longer if we
try, stopping to touch hands, moving on to greater things, i’ve got to get ready, in a
word, to write another book, my heart filled from the start. Greg