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Poetry by Eddie Wilcoxen

Cheshire Moon

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Tonight the crescent moon lay sideways in the sky,
like a silver Cheshire smile.

And as all the stars came out to play,
the world hung suspended for a while!

The shadows danced around, like drunken Elvin sprites,
intoxicated with the dreamy glow of the shimmering golden light.

It was a night of mystery, it was a night of magic,
yet tinged with the mist of ancient feuds, a feeling of the tragic.

Once long ago, the moon hung thus in a long forgotten sky,
and in a land far, far away, the night was passing by.

It was a night, just like tonight, and the moonlight lit the miles,
and the countryside lay captured by a silver Cheshire smile!

By Eddie D. Wilcoxen
From Oklahoma Proud! A Centennial Book of Poems,
Used with permission of the author.

Hunting Truth

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I am trying to write a thing,
but it will not come out,
and around my feet, like bones of bleach
crumpled papers are scattered about.

I tug and I pull, I cajole and I plead.
I ask this thought, "What is it that I need?
What is there that I can do
to make you join us, shiny new?"

No answers do I get, just a stubborn silence.
So, once more I pry. Again my thoughts commence.
Finally, I realize that truth has gone to bay,
that deep within his den, he won't come out today.

So reluctantly, I let my quarry go.
I move on to other tasks.
And as I start to move away,
he says, "What is it that you ask?"

Instantly, I'm back and my pen is poised to kill!
If for one instant he will show himself, I surely, surely will!
But it was just a teasing moment, no real truth was found -
only thoughts already dead and skinned upon the ground!

New meat I need, fresh and sweet -
upon you I can feed!
"Well, if that's your way" Truth said,
"I'm glad I stayed in here. Very glad indeed!"

So, still starving for the truth,
I make my weary way,
always ready, poised to strike.
He must come out some day!

By Eddie D. Wilcoxen
From Diamond Rhymes,
Used with permission of the author.