To Write

To write is to grasp
at the greatest of fantasies
and to hold them firmly in the hand.
To dream the greatest of dreams
and to capture them in words.
To seize upon the most
illusive of thoughts,
to harness them for a moment,
and then in time,
let them too run free.
To reflect, to acknowledge,
to propose, to wonder,
to me, to write is to be.
©Peter Bray, 1994
All rights reserved

Dear Writer

And suppose there was not
a single soul in your audience.
Would you write any more
or any less?
Would you write any better
or any worse?
Or would you write
despite the fact
that no one heard
a single word?
Yes, I believe
that write you will,
and write you must,
whether you fly
or turn to dust
too soon –
Such is the nature
of the gift to write.
©Peter Bray, 1994
All rights reserved

Something to Write About

There will always be
something to write about
so long as our reason
and our passion
are kept alive within us.
It’s only when we settle
for the superficial,
that writing will cease
to serve a purpose.
©Peter Bray, 1994
All rights reserved
Them What Writes

Them what writes
maybe shouldn’t ought,
for some is good,
and some is not.
But if them what writes
never left a note,
who’d be knowing
the load they tote?
©Peter Bray, 1994
All rights reserved

Writing Poems

Rube Goldberg, Nash,
and Johnny Cash,
and Diamond, Neil
the way I feel.
And Orson Welles
and Sherlock Holmes,
and Boots our cat,
and writing poems.
And skies are gray,
and skies are cold,
and days as these,
I’m none too bold.
But will there be
a better day?
Bet your boots,
but not today.
Today we’ll cancel,
and go home,
I’d sure be rather
writing poems.
©Peter Bray, 1994
All rights reserved

Every Hardware Store

Every hardware store
Knows a guy like me
Who brought as much
To Berkeley
As he took away –
Who knows a 1/4-20 thread
From a drill-driver’s charger,
A stirring paint stick
From a 2×4,
A checkbook from
A Starbucks card,
Palatino type
From New Times Roman,
And a prose poem
From a snarky line
Added to a Facebook page.
If not, call or e-mail me,
I have friends and
Several associates,
Both amigas y amigos.
©Peter Bray 8/10/2017
All rights up my sleeve

Peter Bray will be portraying Benton Fremont, the husband of famed syndicated Hearst columnist– and former Benicia native– Elsie Robinson in a special event at the Capitol on Sept. 17. (Courtesy of Peter Bray)

Peter Bray lives, works and writes in Benicia
and has written this column since 2008.

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