Tag: poetry

Wanders in Nature

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With the assistance of my talented graphic designer in NYC (Liz Daggar), my second book of poetry and photography has been released. I have attached two reviews of Wanders in Nature (WiN) below and a link to purchase a copy. My hope is to inspire readers to step outside and notice the beauty that is out there, waiting to be found.

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/naturewanderer


By Cathy Norwood
Oct 28, 2017

This book is like the perfect cup of coffee, striking, comforting, and reminiscent of things I have felt, smelled, tasted before. The photos speak volumes on their own, some stunning and some haunting, but paired with poems that invite us right into Zac Gilbert’s heart and soul, the combination is intoxicating. He seems to capture beauty in details I might look right over and completely miss. To me, his photos are a quiet reminder to slow down and look around. I sat down to read/look at a few pages and I found myself soaking up each page to the end. These will be my coffee table books for the foreseeable future!


By Brianna Ross
Oct 29, 2017

These books are so inspiring! The pictures make you want to go outside and look at the world around you. The poems are perfectly paired with the creative pictures! Zac really knows how to turn something you normally wouldn’t notice into something amazing. I highly recommend these books if you are looking for a work of art! Each time I look at them I notice something new.

 

 

A Vine Grows

A Vine Grows

Sliding up timeworn panels
Of the old wooden fence,
A vine can be found
In places fresh life is needed,
The winding and the climbing
Do not stop

Up and up,
Toward the sky
From roots up to the ends
A vine is growing,
Keeps right on going,
On a beaten track

Z

Never Enough

Never Enough

I want all the best for you
Would give all I have to you
But, it never seems to be enough

When I think of all I’ve tried to do
Dressed you up, gave so much to you:
Money
Time
Pleasures
Treasures
They were never enough

At times, you wanted more than I had
A piggy bank with an endless tank
With tired eyes I tried to say,
“It will never be enough”

I watched you walk away today
I thought of all I want for you
And how much I do love you
Still giving what I can to you,
I just hope, someday, that you might say,
“It was always enough”


Z

 

Weeds are Pretty

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Weeds are Pretty

Weeds are pretty,
Just like any flowers
Maybe a little more wild and free,
Living where they please

The rain falls down,
Dirt settles on the ground
Not at all lacking, they’re solid,
Colorful, intact, and pure

Bees, birds, and insects
Need what they gladly share
So much to be discovered—
The splendor that is theirs

So, go right ahead, pretties
Never change, please stay this way
The whole world is your garden
Such a stunning display

Z

Lake Freezing

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Lake Freezing

Earlier, I traveled to Lake Freezing
And dared to stick in my hand
I have heard tales since I was young
Of what the waters there will do to a man:
From the tips of one’s fingers,
The paralysis begins,
Immobilizing the arm up to the shoulder blade
Within seconds, or so they say

I knelt down and took a hard look
At the soft ripples along the surface
Observing fallen leaves and my reflection,
I began to search for the waving of a fish
There was not one, from what I could see
In fact, the only creature I could find
Earlier, in the water of the lake
Was the explorer staring back at me

I extended my arm and felt
The air against my skin
The wintry temperature raised my hairs,
My fingers pointed downward
As my wrist fell fully limp
From my waist, I nudged my arm forward and
Down my hand began to sink
An icy dampness shook my hand
We held there barely long enough to blink

Like a net full of crabs, I hastily withdrew
My hand from the lake
I placed my wet hand in my dry hand
Began investigating whether or not it was awake
Into my palm, my fingers clenched and unclenched;
I could not believe my eyes:
The hand I held was still alive
I raised my fist up to the sky

Z

 

Joy Graveyard

Joy Graveyard

Welcome to Joy Graveyard
Please remove your shoes,
Leave your bag with the guard

Smiling, laughing, or looking happy
Will be punished with utter mortification;
The parts of you unwithered
Will face pure mutilation

  • No candy
  • No colors
  • No friends
  • No anything you really want, really

No use in sniveling, ’twill only
Make it worse!
By the way,
The guard stole the funds
From inside your purse

Better start unpacking
We have stamped your timecard
Make no attempt to break free
From the confines of
Joy Graveyard

Back to the Dogs

Back to the Dogs

It’s back to the dogs for me.
I’m sick of trying to fit in
at this party.
Come here, puppy, set me free,
lick my nose,
I’ll fetch your monkey.
Just the way it used to be.
Everyone, now, walk on by
while I walk a pure doggy.
It’s back to the dogs for me.

Z

Slack Guy

Slack Guy in Charge

The old man reached for the bag
a small hand swiped across paperwork
He snatched the available chips
and slammed a handful inside his mouth:
Salty, fast, and familiar

He knows the taste so well
So, no suprise, his cheeks rise
and the laugh lines deepen
on each side of his lousy lips

The slack guy in charge
takes such pride
in what he knows and he really thinks he
puts forth an effort each day
to make it all better

A splash of ice water to the face is what he needs,
far less chips and some fresh meat
Or, just retire—
What I think

Sunglasses, Please

Sunglasses, Please

Please keep the sunglasses on today
The eyes you have
Have a tendency to cause such trouble.

I can handle your bare hands—
We can go hand-in-hand down the boardwalk,
If you please.

But, please wear dark lenses,
Every time you look my way
Today.

Z