Witness

As God as my witness, photo by jontintinjordan, from Flickr

Witness

As God as my witness

I have reason to be afraid

As God as my witness

My debt is paid

As God as my witness

My hope is stayed

© March 12, 2013, Robbie Pruitt

Witness

Reflection, photo by Balaji.B, from Flickr

Witness

You saw me there

Pounding keys

In the night air

My reflection

Off your glass

As words amass

You saw me

As hours would pass

You knew—My reflection

It came through to you

© March 12, 2013, Robbie Pruitt

Apart at the Seams

Falling Apart at the Seams, photo by Jocey K, from Flickr

Apart at the Seams

Pulling apart

At the seams

Pulling covers

Fight to sleep

Fight the dream

Fight self

Loss of steam

Pull it together

Stitched up tight

Wrapped in

Love tonight

Lay like feather

Hold dream

Together

© April 2012, Robbie Pruitt

Birthing Dreams

Lucid Dream, photo by AlicePopkorn, from Flickr

Birthing Dreams

Dreams are not crafted.

Dreams are born.

In a specific place

Where impossibility

And reality are torn,

So come with me

To where dreams are born.

© February 20, 2013, Robbie Pruitt

Wind II

Flowers in the Wind, photo by photophilde, from Flickr

Wind II

Silently

Drifting

In the moonlight

The wind shifting

Whispering

The silence

You are fading

Into the stillness

Your breeze

Carried me

© April 25, 2014, Robbie Pruitt

Wind

 Blue Wind, photo by AlicePopkorn, from Flickr

Wind

Thought I felt you

And you slipped away

Your breeze carried me

Into the new day

You whispered

Silently

And faded—Stay

Again you blow

The stillness you know

Howling at night

Drifting

In the moonlight

And gone again

© December 11, 2012, Robbie Pruitt

Poetry on the Sly

Timer photo by r.nial.bradshaw, from Flickr

Poetry on the Sly

I am late for poetry;

beyond time for words,

rhythm and rhyme.

This verse is beyond me.

I am late for poetry.

Take the point as it is,

without the symmetry.


© March 22, 2013, Robbie Pruitt

Beauty

The birth of consciousness, photo by kevin dooley, from Flickr

Beauty

Beauty awakes

And finds you there,

Gazing into her eyes

And stroking her hair.

© April 2012, Robbie Pruitt

The Spin

Spinning, photo by josef.stuefer, from Flickr

The Spin

It sells—

The spin

Bad news

Comes daily

Again and again

Let’s start over

Re-spin me your

Beginnings—

Stop the downward

Spiral—spinning

© March 12, 2013, Robbie Pruitt

Unfold

 The Grave Was Empty, photo by Steve Snodgrass, from Flickr

“Unfold my life to a new beginning.” –Ted Loder

Unfold

Unfold my life

From the tomb

Fill my empty room

© March 30, 2013, Robbie Pruitt

Life, A Poem By My Father

 (Bill Pruitt) William Pruitt Jr.'s high school Sr. Picture

“Who knows nothing base, fears nothing known.” — Owen Meredith

My father died April 20, 1998. He suffered most of his life with health issues surrounding a heart condition, which fought him at every turn. My dad was one of the most loving and personable men I have ever known. He left a legacy of perseverance in suffering and selfless love for his family and friends. He was, as his grave marker reads, “A loving father of three grateful children.”

My dad loved life and he loved his family, and while I did not know him well, I treasure what I do know about him and what he has taught me. After his death, the following poem, “Life,” was found in his personal belongings. I was made aware of this poem well after my love of poetry had developed and well after I had started writing poetry myself. I cannot help but believe I have received this love of poetry, and the ability to craft poetry, from my father.

Another treasure that I found in my dad’s Sr. yearbook was a quote by Owen Meredith beside his picture. This quote simply states, “Who knows nothing base, fears nothing known.” My dad’s courage, zeal for life and rejection of fear in the face of his own illness and hardships inspire me in the face of my own fears, insecurities and uncertainties. I treasure these gifts that my father has given me, even after his death. Discovering these treasures has been a continuation of knowing my father and growing in my relationship with him until I see him again in paradise.

Life

He was hit!

He suffered

He wept inside

He died.

He never gave up.

Although he cried

He is man.


“Courage is afforded at a high cost but the reward is great.”


© William Pruitt

 William Pruitt Jr.'s (Bill's) college graduation photo

"Sir William Pruitt Jr.", photo by Uncle Charles H Burroughs Jr.

Dad on the front porch at 1216 Shirley Street in Columbia, SC

Me and Dad at my High School Graduation in 1995

William Pruitt Jr.'s Obituary from April 1998