long nails and silver rings
hands that speak a gesture
for words…
silver chains around my neck
with bracelets on my arm
a silver watch that keeps
no time
(Miss Calif. 1944)
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
Thank you for all of your love
and laughter Shirley…I am happy
you are free to party now!
I love you…
your BFF Lisa 🙂
© 2o11
BONANZA — “Cutthroat Junction” Episode 26 — Pictured: (l-r) — Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank
“Ruthless Hearts”
little by little
we learn to love
to give and take
from someone dear
then time takes over
and washes the colors away
little by little
we learn to hate
——————————
“Each Day”
each day we’re intimate with it
it caresses our hair
and face like a lover
but it’s not…
and we have to live with it
it’s called air
—————————-
“The Special Drawer”
the drawer was filled
with odd bits
parts of old theatre tickets
one stained with red wine drops
another with mini notes
time and locations and love
—————————-
“Emptiness”
life feels incomplete…
a task waiting to be done.
—————————–
“Waiting For Dark”
so I can see
how for granted
do we take eyes
for granted…
don’t take it away
don’t lose it
to the dark
86 yrs. Actress
(Miss Calif. 1944)
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
when they look at us
what do they see
besides the obvious…
maybe there’s
nothing left to see…
or they’re missing something
too much and too little
there’s old
and then there’s old
Shirley Ballard (86 yrs.)
(Actress & Miss Calif. 1944)
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
© 2011
A good laugh…
is there any other kind?
Shirley Ballard (86 yrs.)
(Actress & Miss Calif. 1944)
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
© 2011
there’s a soft silence…
on a Sunday afternoon
not counting the TV sounds
of sports and commercials…
it’s a day to do what
you want…like, nothing…
because the Sunday silence
will wrap you
like a warm blanket
(Miss Calif. 1944)
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
© 2011
reflections in windows
seeing myself
as an unknown face,
surrounded by strangers…
or are they all me?
(Miss Calif. 1944)
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
Actress/Poet/Friend
© 2011
an early morning sunrise
touching the dew
on a sleeping city
making it sparkle golden…
slowly rising from the east
until its full glory
marks midday.
crossing the sky
it makes its way west
before it shares its splendor
sinking below the ocean’s greedy arms
but not without a final gift
of intense molten gold
before vanishing
in the black sea of the west
until tomorrow.
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
(86yrs. Miss. CA. 1944, actress)
© 2011
I’ve often thought
that clouds are souls
there are so many
of both.
certainly there are enough
souls and clouds
and sky…
the universe is endless
and sky…
but life is not
not in the way we think.
the nightly stars
in a language strange
to those still Earth bound.
(Miss Calif. 1944)
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
© 2011
I fell in love
one night
in a hospital…
an instant
and a spark
was lit…
all night we sat
together
laughing
getting aquainted.
then the shift
was over
he took his guitar
said he was falling
in love and left…
so much for
love at first sight.
(Miss Calif. 1944)
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
© 2011
when we get
too close
sometimes we get
feeling confined
smothered
unable to breathe
submissive…
not a good thing
no way Ray
so back away
freedom is cool…
most of the time!
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
actress/poet/Miss Calif. 1944)
© 2010
