Todd Jernigan

See his Critical Review of Robert Frost Poetry

Roots

Where do I come from?

A search for a home lost long ago.
Am I native to America
With its amber waves of grain?

I call it home either way

I am from the old lands of Germany
Its castles tall and true.
Beer never tasted fine
So maybe that’s not true.

I am from the rolling hills of Ireland
Its colors of green and blue
Cathleen ni d’ never tricked me to war
So maybe that’s not true.

I am from the rich old England
With its precious royal jewels
The sun sets on me still however
So maybe that’s not true

Where do I come from?
A home lost long ago.
The only place I want to call home
Is the American life I know.

Construction

The work is hard.
The hands are calloused.
The backs are saturated with sweat.

The day is done.
The body is tired.
The joints ache and groan with regret.

The sleep comes fast.
The morning faster,
The day begins to soon.

The work is hard.
The pride is great.
We work until the work is done.

Price of War

The smell of battle
Powder, blood, death
Fight on soldier, Fight on.

The sounds of battle
Screams, Sobbing, death
Fight on soldier, Fight on.

The eyes of the soldier
Pain, change, death
Fight on soldier, Fight on.

Loved ones at home
Loss, pride, death
Fight on soldier, Fight on.

The defense of your country
Freedom, choice, life
Fight on soldier, Fight on.

The Powers of Venus

I have a personal Venus.
She traps me with her eyes of emerald green.
She enthralls me with her hair of chocolate brown.
I caress her skin, so soft like silk.
I kiss her lips of luscious ruby red.
She wraps me with her legs that go on forever.
My heart is hers to rule like the goddess she is.

Millikin Haiku

The Millikin Quad
Cold and silent like a tomb
Winter break is here.

Queen Reigns Supreme

Knight to King six
Are you concentrating or not

Queen takes knight
You are not winning yet.

Rook takes bishop
Check!
You don’t have a chance
You are not as good as me

Is that the best you’ve got?
Queen takes bishop

I’ve got you on the ropes
Rook takes bishop pawn

My queen takes your rook
That’s Mate!

You have made your mistake
You can’t take it back
You underestimate the queen
And she has cut you down.

Lawn Gnome

I sit in a front yard
With my pointed hat
My colors are vibrant
Yellow, red, green, white,
And flesh.
I see the children playing
I see the seasons changing
The people walk by without a glance
Perhaps they can’t see me
I am a little person
But
My angle is a good one
If a woman wears a dress

“The Letter”

Dear Mr. Frost,

I stopped the other day
At the woods on a snowy night
My car blackened the snow
However
And ruined winters might

I’ve tried to take the road not traveled
That you described in depth
I could not find the road
However
And I eventually left

I stopped once at a mending wall
When I was up in Main
No neighbor came to visit
However
And no mending was obtained

Help me Mr. Frost
It’s hard to follow you
Should I keep following your lead
However
Or am I just a fool

“Excuses”

Sorry I missed you
The check is on your door

Sorry I missed you
I was only at the store

Sorry I missed you
I have class tonight at 8

Sorry I missed you
Maybe it was fate.