dbaker

Member since December 19, 2006

Member for 19 years, 5 months

Premium advocate member

35 Poems

153 Comments

0 Followers

Most recent

Phoenicia, SC

Posted Dec 30, 2009 · 60 lines · 5 critiques

In my neighborhood
I hear sounds of
Industrious chainsaws

On an afternoon of
Golden light
With an atmosphere

More water than
Air

Workmen carry cleared brush
Upon their sweating backs
Looking as if some green

Legend come to life

I have been a spiritual
Companion

Read the rest of the poem Show less

To their work

Their exertions
Cut…rake…lift

Falling into that Zen state
Of non-existence
In heat and rhythm

Where they loose
Themselves

To this waking world
Traveling mental corridors
While...

Sub-conscious portals gape
To ancient shores
Where Phoenician
Traders sail

Digging deep into reserves of
Muscle and sinew

Freeing bronze age anchor
They are echoes of
an echo

Of past effort

Knowing at some mental level
When aquamarine waters
Part...

With the last load of brush loaded

They will be
Free from labor
Having lost themselves

In salt flavored breathing

Finishing their
double exposed tasks
Only to have traveled

Back where they started

In a sweat stained
Suburban yard
With little more than

Sunburned necks

Marking their travels
With fence line
Free

From green growth

As Cedar dappled shores of Sidon
Mix with sunset colored shadows
Of a Live Oak by the
Back gate

DS Baker

dbaker’s timeline

December 2021
18 Sat

Anniversary
15 years of membership
December 2016
18 Sun

Anniversary
10 years of membership
December 2011
18 Sun

Anniversary
5 years of membership
February 2010
22 Mon

Received a critique
on Phoenicia, SC from @mark
"Sounds like maybe they left in a hurry with all that cedar around hehe j/k tree workers rarely if ever carry blowers lol must have been kind of pretty actually. Been way too long,Dave, Mark "I do not walk the earth and…"
January 2010
26 Tue

Received a critique
on Phoenicia, SC from @Candlewitch
"my favorite lines: Having lost themselves In salt flavored breathing I very much liked this poem and found it refreshing. My Dad worked in sodding and landscaping. Your poem reminded me of the times I was allowed to go…"
15 Fri

Received a critique
on Phoenicia, SC from @infinite_dwarf
"I felt like I was right there listening to all the logging sounds. I was especially drawm to the title, because we have a Phoenicia here, too. In an interesting comparison, there's no logging, and no machinery type soun…"
December 2009
30 Wed

Received a critique
on Phoenicia, SC from @mark
"Dave, I worked trees for years. Roadside, private, municipalities, utility and after a day of it one is left with the feeling the end of your poem leaves me with. Technically it would go - cut, lift and rake. Cleanup co…"
30 Wed

Posted a poem
Phoenicia, SC
"In my neighborhood"
Open thread 60 lines
30 Wed

Critiqued
"Vagabond" by @infinite_dwarf
"Jess! What an excellent use of words! Very sparse and yet at the same time amazingly stuffed full with images! I think this is my new favorite! Happy New Year! DS Baker"
13 Sun

Critiqued
"Orion's Daughter" by @Candlewitch
"As my Irish friends would say, "What a soft sad writing." Gorgeous piece Slainte! All the best Kat! DS Baker"
November 2009
26 Thu

Critiqued
"Bukowski Pissed In My Cornflakes " by @infinite_dwarf
"I admit that a little cathartic cussing does the body poetic good! I really liked this piece a lot! I don't have any negative comments just keep the creative juices going! I promise I will write more soonest! Happy Than…"
September 2009
19 Sat

Received a critique
on Big River from @Candlewitch
"I was just thinking about you and wondering how you are doing. Don't take too long of a break, 'cause we miss ya! Always, Cat"
08 Tue

Received a critique
on Basso Profundo from @Bosscombat
"awesome write mate. i look forward to reading more of your work BossCombat"
08 Tue

Critiqued
"Reaper's Promise" by @Candlewitch
"Cat, Dear heart, lovely piece of work. I really enjoyed this piece a great deal. Fear ye not… ‘tis nothing personal as, sooner or later, we all must make the long crossing over the river of midnight black. That is the s…"
July 2009
26 Sun

Received a critique
on Big River from @infinite_dwarf
""her banks/oxidized shapes/undulate/in currents/beneath her" - I especially liked these lines here. Clever way of formatting so that the write is made to resemble a lazily flowing river. Nice work. I've nothing to add a…"
26 Sun

Critiqued
"Swimming Ducks" by @poewriter58
"I have never seen such downpouring of waters as I have witnessed here in South Carolina. As I am a born and raised desert rat, seeing copious water falling from the sky is truly fascinating to me. I have actually witnes…"
26 Sun

Critiqued
"A Basilisk's Prolixity (final product)" by @infinite_dwarf
"Wow! I think that I would have to seriously consider the consequences of pissing you off. In ancient Ireland, warrior were known to kill themselves rather than suffer the slings and arrows of a satirist. (Kinsella's tra…"
26 Sun

Critiqued
"Better Days..." by @Eduardo Cruz
"I liked this piece. It is the first of yours that I have read. You definitely have your own style. Although, it sounds like you might be inspired by Lorca or Paz. In anycase, I think it is a brilliant piece. All my abso…"
26 Sun

Critiqued
"Tap~Dancer On A Midnight Keyboard" by @Candlewitch
"On first blush I thought this a "pretty" piece. My second and third readings, it had a much deeper meaning. Everyone has a heart code. All of us have that signal that needs to be heard. Thank You for posting this piece…"
26 Sun

Received a critique
on Big River from @Candlewitch
"This poem is simply scintillating in content and structure. Love the references to the moon. The title and pacing are good. Language use is dazzling. Always, Cat"
26 Sun

Posted a poem
Big River
"   Aspen leaves"
Open thread 77 lines
04 Sat

Posted a poem
Promises Kept
"In secret gardens of stone"
Open thread 19 lines
June 2009
13 Sat

Posted a poem
Basso Profundo
"A single note stretches through"
Open thread 16 lines
June 2008
30 Mon

Posted a poem
"Garments"
" "
Open thread 20 lines
May 2008
04 Sun

Posted a poem
"Henry Lawson's Flag"
"Clickety clack the heated rails sing"
Open thread 46 lines
April 2008
25 Fri

Posted a poem
Northumberland Tears
"Ships are burning"
Open thread 26 lines
24 Thu

Most-discussed work
Bonneville Salt Flats

12 critiques to date.
24 Thu

Posted a poem
Bonneville Salt Flats
"I wake to the same old face"
Open thread 37 lines
15 Tue

Posted a poem
Sacrifice in the hills
"Dead Sheep  "
Open thread 12 lines
12 Sat

Posted a poem
Ghost Whispers
"I have broken my back in palaces of inequity and greed"
Open thread 48 lines
08 Tue

Posted a poem
Spaces between Spaces
"How can I speak of your greatness to me"
Open thread 15 lines
February 2008
27 Wed

Posted a poem
"Death by Bureau of Land Management."
""Death by Bureau of Land Management.""
Open thread 26 lines
December 2007
18 Tue

Anniversary
One year of membership
June 2007
15 Fri

Highest posting month
June 2007 — 10 poems
January 2007
04 Thu

First critique offered
on "diesel breathing" by @andrew
December 2006
20 Wed

First publication
The night Santa had to wear waders.
18 Mon

Joined Neopoet
Membership begins

First poem published 1 days later.

About Me

About me

One of the original founding members of Neopoet. I have been in a deep hiatus and I am slowly coming back to the world of poetry.

15 years of membership

10 years of membership

5 years of membership

on Phoenicia, SC from @mark

on Phoenicia, SC from @Candlewitch

on Phoenicia, SC from @infinite_dwarf

on Phoenicia, SC from @mark

"Vagabond" by @infinite_dwarf

"Orion's Daughter" by @Candlewitch

"Bukowski Pissed In My Cornflakes " by @infinite_dwarf

on Big River from @Candlewitch

on Basso Profundo from @Bosscombat

"Reaper's Promise" by @Candlewitch

on Big River from @infinite_dwarf

"Swimming Ducks" by @poewriter58

"A Basilisk's Prolixity (final product)" by @infinite_dwarf

"Better Days..." by @Eduardo Cruz

"Tap~Dancer On A Midnight Keyboard" by @Candlewitch

on Big River from @Candlewitch

One year of membership

June 2007 — 10 poems

on "diesel breathing" by @andrew

Membership begins

About Me

Recent Work

Contest Wins

Workshops

Followed By