Gentle Touches

Gentle touches and soft light hair

oft wondering “if only you were there”,

my mind is lost with a will of it’s own

in mid-evil times I’d surely be stoned.

My thoughts of fantasy leave me

floating on the wind,

if I were Catholic I’d spend my life

saying “I have sinned”.

Gary R. Cramer

December 12, 1991

Friends

Of the friends we have

we often say,

it’s so good to see you

but we can’t stay.

It occurs to me

as I just watched you go,

ours is different

and tears start to flow.

In the past when you came

and stayed a few days,

we all had some fun

but we were annoyed in some ways.

Your wife is like a sister

and your kids are as my own,

if ever you had a need

our friendship would be known.

So why is it so…

we don’t make the time,

to spend with each other

and say you’re a friend of mine.

You’re more than a friend

like a partner of the soul,

minutes spent with you

lift my spirits from their hole.

Gary R. Cramer

April 27, 1983

Drifting

Drifting along

all through life,

dodging the pains

the hurt and strife.

Surely in the beginning

happiness and joy,

in becoming a man

what became of the boy.

He had a family

mother and dad

of that I’m sure

he must have been glad.

He even had one

he called brother,

his one and only

but not another.

In the beginning

so young and naïve,

with no concept

of how to grieve.

There were pets

various dog and cat,

they made him laugh

nothing wrong with that.

There was love

surely it must be,

but little witnessed

and less to see.

Without a choice

only a silent vote,

thrust into school

such a shocking jolt.

With each year

more things to learn,

not knowing about dreams

or what to yearn.

There were losses

family and friend,

the hardest were those

that death did end.

Then came the war

acting like a drone,

missing his country

in Vietnam all alone.

Surviving with scars

apparent and hidden,

glad to be alive

while feeling guilt ridden.

Now a solitary man

trying to find his way

but something’s wrong

he’s no longer gay.

So lost but on he went

at last finding love,

that special woman

they fit like a glove.

But that too

was taken away,

alone once again

and he lost his way.

Now so aimless

lacking any direction,

simply surviving

using little discretion.

On the outside

he laughed and joked,

while the inner him

died and choked.

Now he’s much older

lost hopes and dreams,

wondering what’s wrong

nothing quite as is seems.

Slowly he must learn

to make the right motions,

to allow himself to

feel all the hidden emotions.

Drifting along

all through life,

dodging pains

hurt and strife.

Gary R. Cramer

September 20, 2019