Poems by Bob Boyd

I stood at her gravesite
my life over
a bouquet of flowers
in my trembling hands
the array of flowers
watered by the tears
dropping from my eyes
I cried and cried
a thousand more tears
as I mournfully wondered
why God had taken
the sweetest girl
the love of my life
away from me
just seventeen
dead in the ground
on that cold
September morning
my first love
my last love.

Bob Boyd

I listed to an Art Bell show about two
hobbyist ghost researchers
who explored haunted locations
and recorded EVPs
electronic voice phenomenon
the alleged sounds of ghosts
captured with spirit boxes
I could hear what were supposed
to be words from ghosts
and they did sound as if they were
for example, one said, “wake up”
another in a haunted prison clearly
said “help, I’m in here”
one that sounded like a child
said “I can’t see” and was
heartrending to listen to

it all was more than a bit spooky but
it got spookier when both of them
nonchalantly said they’d been
followed home by ghosts before
as if it were no big deal and
not a terrifying experience
one of them said she told
it it wasn’t wanted in her home
and it just went away
I don’t know about you, but
having a ghost follow me home
would frighten me beyond words.

Bob Boyd

Individuals and groups
seeking to capture
the voices of the dead
using spirit boxes

a word here
a phrase there
as if out of the air

but not as much
talking as when they
were alive

many doubt the validity
of the vague sounds
of the dead allegedly
speaking out of the
spirit world

the EVPs captured
in spirit boxes

alleged to be the
words of the dead.

Bob Boyd

People frozen in place
some bent over and
swaying side to side
some stumbling about
others walking slo mo
many passed out on
the concrete sidewalks
some living on them
welcome to zombie
land, Kensington,
Ave Philadelphia, PA
some are dying and
most are dead already
or soon will be dead
you’re in a god forsaken
hell of drug addicts
Kensington, Ave
Philadelphia, PA
where city leaders
allow it to happen
drug addicts living
moving like zombies
on Kensington, Ave
it’s a goddamn mess
a goddamn shame.

Bob Boyd

Fame
fortune
achievements
successes
failures
awards
holidays
presents
surprises
disappointments
perfect health
mental or
physical
health problems
perfect physiques
imperfect physiques
beauty
ugliness
rich people
poor people
true loves
untrue loves
good times
bad times
laughter
tears

all eventually
dissolve into
the impermanence.

Bob Boyd

I’ve seen stories, supposedly real,
where someone sees the ghost of a living person

it sounds so contrary that a living person could appear
as a ghost

and if it’s true, what would cause part of that living person
to separate from his body as a ghost?

it also seems the person that appeared as a ghost was
unaware of being a ghost momentarily

perhaps there’s such a thing as an astral body that some
claim leaves our bodies as we sleep

maybe there’s something as an astral slip where the
astral body leaks out of a human on a rare occasion

or maybe a person who says she saw the ghost of a living person was only seeing an illusion created by her mind

the worst would be if a living person appeared as a ghost
momentarily because he was soon going to be one.

Bob Boyd

Some people claim alien hybrids
are among us

indistinguishable from you and me
no way to detect them

it’s claimed they’re here as prototypes
of a better, less warlike human species

God knows we could use some of that
before we blow our planet to bits

with the plethora of nukes growing
all over the world

I don’t believe there are any
hybrids

looking like us and walking on
the planet

I do believe there are aliens
under the sea.

Bob Boyd

Listening to an old love song
There’s a Moon Out Tonight
in an unguarded moment
I’m there
in that song
strolling along a lake
with a beautiful woman
the moon looking on
approvingly
holding hands
the feel of her hand
beyond heavenly
exchanging loving glances
romantic declarations
a heartfelt I love you
although nighttime
my world is aglow
I’m feeling it
savoring it
reliving it
those old romantic feelings
those unbridled joys
the incomparable happiness
then like an ancient charioteer
reining in rebellious horses
I rein in those feelings
and steer my mind
back into reality
the moment extinguished
my heart and mind
at rest.

Bob Boyd

I hear a crooner singing
an old 30s song
in a YouTube video
the song’s entitled
What’s the Use of Living Without Love
he’s bemoaning the loss of a love
a woman who left him

as if it’s a real scenario
I find myself thinking
move on
forget about her
if she returns
which is doubtful
you’ll only risk
the same heartache again
move on
into the dawning of a better day
filled with rich opportunities

to experience the joys
the ecstasies of
falling in love again
with a new woman
a fresh start
the excitement of
getting to know her
and just maybe
one better suited for you
move on.

Bob Boyd

See that singing bird
happy as a lark
as if not a care?
but unseen
perhaps unknown
by most people
many predators
are lurking
are waiting
to get a
piece of him.

Bob Boyd