List: Poems | Curated by David Dayton

Jul 13, 2024

12 stories

PoemsDuring the pandemic, I found poems I'd written 40+ years ago. I revised and published many of them in The Bus to San Simon,  available in paperback and for Kindle at https://bit.ly/3Y0afsI. Below are a few poems from the book and some that are more recent.
David Dayton
Photograph of a Suicide in the Morning PaperLike jumping
for the first time
Jul 14, 2022
2
Jul 14, 2022
2
David Dayton
Mother’s DayI’m tired of keeping my eyes
tethered to the same old roads,
seeing so much of so little of life
through a windshield.
I keep spying on my…
Jul 5, 2022
1
Jul 5, 2022
1
David Dayton
County Youth in AccidentThe story in the paper got it wrong — wasn’t how fast 
I was goin’ or the road bein’ slick from rain. 
It was that deer, crazy young buck…
Jul 5, 2022
Jul 5, 2022
David Dayton
Training for the Faith OlympicsRun in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is…
Jun 12, 2022
Jun 12, 2022
David Dayton
To the Lake Isle, and Step on ItEven as you are making up something
To tell her (to make it right),
Part of you is itching to get lost —
Jun 20, 2022
1
Jun 20, 2022
1
David Dayton
The Flight into EgyptHow can compassion, which has no defense,
Flee the slaughter, and still claim innocence?
May 30, 2022
May 30, 2022
David Dayton
SunbathingI let the breeze unfurl my towel,
kneel as it luffs to the sand,
rub in tanning oil and lie down,
ready to regress a few million years
in…
May 19, 2022
May 19, 2022
David Dayton
The House of Little SmilesMellow after a long shower
I sit down in the living room for a few minutes
before fixing dinner.
May 19, 2022
May 19, 2022
David Dayton
Birthday Poem for EmilyWinter is an Occupation — 
Fit Calling for the Soul — 
Attending the daily Funeral
Pacifies the Will — while
The stark Simplicity of View…
May 17, 2022
May 17, 2022
David Dayton
Sunny Yard, ChildcareA poem.
May 14, 2022
May 14, 2022
David Dayton
Advice to My DaughterA poem inspired by “Advice to My Son” by Peter Meinke
May 14, 2022
May 14, 2022
David Dayton
A Christmas Poem, 1980For John Lennon
May 13, 2022
May 13, 2022

Poems

During the pandemic, I found poems I'd written 40+ years ago. I revised and published many of them in The Bus to San Simon, available in paperback and for Kindle at https://bit.ly/3Y0afsI. Below are a few poems from the book and some that are more recent.

Photograph of a Suicide in the Morning Paper

Like jumping for the first time

Mother’s Day

I’m tired of keeping my eyes tethered to the same old roads, seeing so much of so little of life through a windshield. I keep spying on my…

County Youth in Accident

The story in the paper got it wrong — wasn’t how fast I was goin’ or the road bein’ slick from rain. It was that deer, crazy young buck…

Training for the Faith Olympics

Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is…

To the Lake Isle, and Step on It

Even as you are making up something To tell her (to make it right), Part of you is itching to get lost —

The Flight into Egypt

How can compassion, which has no defense, Flee the slaughter, and still claim innocence?

Sunbathing

I let the breeze unfurl my towel, kneel as it luffs to the sand, rub in tanning oil and lie down, ready to regress a few million years in…

The House of Little Smiles

Mellow after a long shower I sit down in the living room for a few minutes before fixing dinner.

Birthday Poem for Emily

Winter is an Occupation — Fit Calling for the Soul — Attending the daily Funeral Pacifies the Will — while The stark Simplicity of View…

Sunny Yard, Childcare

A poem.

Advice to My Daughter

A poem inspired by “Advice to My Son” by Peter Meinke

A Christmas Poem, 1980

For John Lennon

David Dayton