Author: Ian Hunter

I retired from the energy business in 2014 and started writing poetry. At first I shared my writing with family and friends. Then I set myself a challenge to write a poem every day for a year. After meeting that goal I just kept going and started this blog in 2021. I hope you enjoy reading my poems. Remember happiness is just a state of mind and poetry is great nourishment.

Marriage is like a flowering garden

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Marriage is like a flowering garden

It needs thoughtful planning

A sprinkling of love and attention

A few minutes of daily care

Occasionally it demands some hard work

When treated correctly it can last a lifetime

Giving you and your partner immense pleasure

Something that will be admired by others

Here are some tips to keep your marriage garden blooming

……………………………………………………………………..

Remind your partner (and yourself) that you appreciate them

Practice honesty, even when you’re ashamed

Take care of your appearance

Foster healthy relationships outside your marriage

Watch your words

Put away the jumper cables yourself

Relish the silence

Recognize the ebb-and-flow

Be kind

Share housework tasks

Maintain intimacy and passion

Buy surprise gifts

Have regular date nights

Hold hands when walking

Be tolerant

Listen

Make memories and revisit them together

Do your own laundry 

Say thank you for the little things

How do you know if you are in love with her?

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your heart skips a beat when she walks in the room

you smile when you hear her voice on the phone

you dream about her

she annoys the hell out of you but you still want to be with her

you get sad when she is sad

going for a walk is more fun when she is with you

when you are apart, even for a day, you really miss her

when she is not there you want to talk about her

her constant happiness is your goal

you both keep exploring new things together

her quirkiness is fun

you feel full of hope

she lets you feel free

everything reminds you of her

you are willing to change things about yourself for her

you are totally honest with her

she makes your favorite dish exactly how you like it

you don’t worry about the future

random thoughts of her pop into your mind

if reading this makes you think of someone special then you are in love

When I ride my bike

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When I ride my bike

I can taste the wind

The scenery is closer

Animals are all around

When I ride my bike

Passing cyclists smile

I am energized 

I feel sorry for motorists

When I ride my bike

Time goes slower

Pedestrians say hello

I love cycling

When I ride my bike

My computer talks to me

Tells me when to eat and drink

Shows me how fast I am going

When I ride my bike

Sometimes I get a puncture

But I carry tools and spares

Soon I get going again

When I ride my bike

I wear a tight cycling jersey

Its full of logos and bright colors

I pretend it helps me go faster

When I ride my bike

I have flashing lights front and back

To warn motorists of my presence

But they still try to run me over

When I ride my bike

Flies crash into my face

Occasionally I swallow one

They don’t taste good

Fear and anxiety battles

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she was gripped by fear

an overwhelming sense of mortal danger

there seemed to be no escape from it

no way to rationalize the situation

fear had locked up her ability to think

her body was in panic flight mode

racing heart and sweaty palms

she was not in any physical danger

her fear was purely psychological

suddenly there was a drop in her fear level

she seized the opportunity and started to think logically

taking slow deep breaths and calming her body

taking back control of her own mind

she had caught fear napping

it was locked outside now

she was the king of her own castle

the drawbridges were all up and the moat was full

the fear raiders were circling outside

she watched them from the parapet

they were frustrated and eager to get back in

after a while they gave up and left

it was a beautiful sunny day

she set down the drawbridge and stepped outside

the fresh air tasted so sweet

the warm sun felt good on her face

she sat down to relax and enjoy the moment

telling herself everything was going to be fine

now that fear was all gone she felt empty inside

she decided to fill herself up with happiness

positive thoughts and excitement about the future

her happiness tank was soon about two thirds full

then a huge load of anxiety rushed in to fill the last third

she did not panic at this uninvited rush of emotion

her happiness outnumbered the anxiety two to one

this was a battle she could win easily

she told anxiety to leave peacefully or suffer a painful eviction

anxiety quickly gave up without a fight

happy security guards escorted anxiety from the premises

her happiness tanks were now overflowing

Cape Cod Colosseum

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it was a warm summer day on Cape Cod

I decided to eat my chicken salad lunch outside

looking out from the porch 

the beautiful garden full of flowers attracted many butterflies

they danced in the still air with playful abandon

bunny rabbits wandered across the well manicured lawn

birds were singing their happy songs

the voices of children playing emerged from the beach below

boaters were preparing to set off for a day of fun

ospreys gracefully soaring above in the breeze

I took a deep breath and marveled at the beauty of it all

everything in perfect harmony full of peace and joy

but all was not what it seemed

an osprey went into a dive and crashed into the calm water

flying high with a wriggling fish in his talons

suddenly a blackbird gave chase to a butterfly

the brief dogfight ensued around the bushes

victorious blackbird emerging with the butterfly in his beak

a prancing fox stealthily crept towards an unsuspecting bunny

his final steps were a leap skyward landing directly on top of the little rabbit

Mr. fox strutted away to consume his lunch in private

plants could not escape these relentless attacks

insects bored into trunks and munched on leaves

creeping vines smothered growing plants

while fungi and blight attacked others

out in the bay the small fish lived in constant fear

hiding in the shallows from their hungry big neighbors

nature is a battlefield where the war never stops

everything is prey for something else

almost every meal spells death for some creature or plant

there are no ceasefires or negotiated peace agreements in nature

the food chain grinds on relentlessly

thankfully I am fortunate to live at the top of the food chain

I sat on the porch like a Roman emperor

overlooking nature’s gladiators battling in the Cape Cod Colosseum before me

watching spilled blood in the garden and in the bay

while trying to convince myself that this was all so beautiful

as I ate my supermarket bought lunch of harvested plants and animals 

it was a warm summer day on Cape Cod

Shoenanigans Part 6 Finale

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they waited until she was sleeping soundly

the boots pushed open the closet door

the flat shoes crept out silently

returning soon after with her cell phone

the smart casuals composed a text to him

I have you on video stealing my shoes

return them by mail immediately

otherwise I go to the police

do not reply to this text

after the text was sent it was deleted

the smart casuals put her phone back

the boots closed the closet door and whispered

do you think it will work

the smart casuals said confidently

he has no choice but to comply

a few days later a package arrived 

the high heels were soon back in the closet

all the shoes were ecstatic

the high heels hugged everybody for the rescue

recalling the details of her time as a hostage

his closet was a nasty mess

it was horrible being dumped in there

those guys were all drunk and belligerent

but his flip flops protected me

we slept together in the back of that closet

and then I was returned in the mail

the flat shoes made a declaration

now we can get back to our old life

no more wild parties booze or smoking weed

a few weeks later the high heels were crying

the flat shoes were very sympathetic 

its going to be fine just tell us what is worrying you

the high heels blurted out

I am pregnant

the boots were concerned

it will be hard to hide a pair of baby shoes

the smart casuals led the rallying cry

we girls can achieve anything if we stick together

a few weeks later the high heels went into labor

they all took turns looking after the babies

keeping them well hidden in the back 

they grew up into a fine pair of shoes

She found them one day declaring

I do not remember buying these

but I will wear them anyway

Shoenanigans Part 5

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the flip flops kept the ladies entertained

telling them stories about all the places he had been

exotic beaches expensive spas and luxury hotels

they hung onto every word he said

the high heels were spellbound

He is so handsome and worldly

I think I am falling in love with him

the boots were not impressed

he is just a hippie pot head 

you could do a lot better

the smart casuals disagreed

man this weed is so good

it makes his stories more interesting

the flip flops and high heels should hook up

the smart casuals took another puff of weed

peace love and Woodstock

the flat shoes were unimpressed

this used to be a nice respectful closet

now its degenerated into a drug crazed free love commune

next time the door opens I am running out of here

later that day the door opened

the shoes were surprised that it was him

now where did I leave my flip flops

he frantically rummaged through the closet 

finding them in the back snuggled up with the high heels

he took the flip flops and his bag of weed

he went to leave the room but turned round

reaching back into the closet

he grabbed the high heels

announcing they were now his hostages

the closet door closed with a bang

the flat shoes shoes spoke first

we are in big trouble now

first we lost all the guys

then we lost our hippie drug dealer

now one of us has been kidnapped

how will we ever get the high heels back

the smart casuals took control of the situation

calm down everybody

I have a plan

Shoenanigans Part 4

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he denied drinking all her booze

she accused him of being an alcoholic

the argument was intense but short

he flung open the closet doors

scooping up all his shoes in a rage

soon everything went quiet

the flat shoes started to complain

well there goes the end of our fun times with the guys

she will never bring a man home again

the smart casuals agreed

it was fun while it lasted

I am going to miss those guys

maybe she will buy some more shoes soon

the high heels were pessimistic

she is probably depressed now

she may not even go out for a long while

we will be lucky if anybody gets to leave the closet

the dancing shoes joined in

I guess her dancing days are over too

I might never see a dance floor again

the boots recalled the last time this happened

remember when she broke up with that other guy last year

we all stayed in this closet for months

she lost interest in wearing any of us

she hardly left the house at all

wandering around barefoot all day in her PJs

what is that noise in the back

it sounds like snoring

the boots went to investigate

look its his flip flops

he left them behind in the back of the closet

the flip flops woke up in a daze

hey ladies whats going on

the boots explained the situation to him

he did not seem all that bothered

those guys were all boring anyway

I am happy to stay here and chill with you ladies

the high heels giggled with excitement

I guess we can all share him

the flip flops just grinned

hey ladies I have a big surprise for you

he also left his bag of weed behind

let all get stoned

the flat shoes shook her head

Shoenanigans Part 3

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the mens shoes were noisy

all laughing and high fiving

the scuffed up cowboy boots seemed to be their spokesperson

hey guys we just hit the closet jackpot

there must be two dozen pairs of cute chick footwear in here

we gonna have ourselves a load of fun

he marched around the closet looking at all the girls

the smart casuals respond angrily

you should show more respect

we have no room for misogynistic behavior in this closest

the mens flip flops chirped in next

hey dude take it easy

lets just chill and be nice to the ladies

be respectful and friendly man

the cowboy boots sulked off to the back of the closet

the worn out mens sneakers spoke up

lets have a party to break the ice

I found some booze hidden in the back of the closet

he passed the bottle round 

somebody started singing

soon the party was in full swing

they cleared a space in the middle for dancing

the dancing shoes put on a fine display

the high heels were having a great time

oh this is so much fun

what a treat to have boys in our closet

the flat shoes were concerned

this will end badly just mark my words

the party continued all through the night

they drank all the booze

they all snuggled up and fell asleep

there was no longer a mens section in the closet

they were all scattered amongst the girls

the closet door opened in the morning

she was not amused at what she saw

blaming her man for the mess in the closet

she tidied up her shoes but left his in a pile

she picked up the empty booze bottle from the closet floor

she was furious with him

she launched a verbal assault when he entered the room

a massive argument ensued

she was waving the empty bottle in his face

the shoes all looked on in fear

Shoenanigans Part 2

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the mens shoes were gone before dawn

the high heels had a hangover

the sandals were not impressed

serves you right for partying too hard

you are a disgrace to the closet

the flip flops disagreed

leave the high heels alone

all they did was have some fun

the boots joined in the fray

this is a female closet we do not want mens shoes in here

quiet said the flat shoes she is coming over

the closet doors opened

she was holding a large black bag

she reached into the back of the closet

one by one the shoes she no longer wore went into the bag

a few times she paused with a sentimental look on her face

then unceremoniously tossed the shoes in the bag

it was all over in a few minutes

the closet door closed again

almost a third of the shoes had been culled

the new fancy shoes started to cry

we have lost a bunch of our friends 

and we only just got to know them

the sandals where staying practical and logical

look its natural that some of us have to go

she will buy new shoes to replace those we lost

the high heels were all melancholy

what will happen to the shoes in the bag

its sad to think they will never be worn again

the boots were more conciliatory 

those were all good shoes

too good to be tossed into the trash

she will either give them to friends or donate them

we will soon be making new friends with the replacements

the high heels yawned through lack of sleep

the sandals took control

look we were kept awake all night

those snoring mens shoes were a disgrace

lets all take a nap

we can dream about all the new shoes she is buying now

the shoes stopped talking and soon fell asleep

later that day the closet doors opened

she moved all her shoes to one side

leaving about a third of the closet space empty

she filled it with eleven pairs of mens shoes