Making Lemonade

I'll take these lemons, and their sour sting
add some sugar to make it sing
maple syrup hits the spot
with that smooth brown nectar from the tap
Bring me more and I'll set up a shop
and make them into the next things hot
with the cold chill and refreshing sting
I will make these lemons sing.


©scott garrette 2009

Till nothing's hot

Till nothing's hot

excuse me if I don't stir the pot
let it all burn till nothing's hot
and the fire that started it all
is dead

there is no room for listening ears
it is all filled up with anxiety's tears
only patience can withstand the cold
that follows

we have no time
we must hurry and stop
that we may go again
even sooner still
and warm our hands
beside the fire


©scott garrette 2009

Out From Far

i can not see what is in front of me
when i always look back
yet i must be going somewhere
i must be seeing something
a memory or a dream
which could it be
i may have lived a thousand lives
and yet i still hold this one so dear

a voice calls out from far
i have not heard a more welcoming sound
from just next door
a man comes out
speaking to those who can hear
yet all is silent
and there is no one here but me

in the woods again

In the woods again

In the woods again I follow
a trail that seems to have been made for me
or for three...
so peaceful here, so colorful
I don't speak to show my gratitude
it is known and not misunderstood

© scott garrette 2009

when the earth shook

when the earth shook

as the blue sky appears
the moon dips into the clouds
just behind the mountain top
the earth shook as it came near
in the darkness of the early morning.

she closes her eyes
for a new day
lay your head down
song birds sing their greeting
as the baby of my soul awakes
a squeak and anoter toucan appears
watching and protecting the moon
the black bird and the earth shake
with a golden beak we wake

Written in Jan of 2004 in Costa Rica at a beautiful farm called Finca Ipe. It was the first and only earthquake I've felt. More of a shudder than a quake, but strange none the less. The moon was full, and everything was quiet. I remember thinking that there were wild animals running through the woods nearby, that was the sound that woke me from my sleep. We were sleeping in an open air stilted shelter made as a yoga retreat house. Oh, it also sounded like hard footsteps on the teak wood floors, but there was no one there. The serenity of the experience is what I remember most and how out of tune I am to natural happenings. I think I can tune-in... if I try.

Ginger Bread Houses

so much exchange
of self-interest
goods in excess
from foreign halls
we want it all
but make not our own bed

give me this for that
and put out your welcome
mat when a neighbor
comes by to say hello
charge him $20 for the stay

It's all commerce
the American way
building family values
with ginger bread houses
we'll eat it all
don't forget the bed
get yours before i do


I'm not sure when I wrote this, but I'm pretty sure it was 2004-ish. Luckily, many of my writings have survived all of my moves. My collections begin in 1996 while in college at Baker University and randomly cover personal thoughts, subtle observations and some social commentary.