BIG TREES by Ray Whitaker

Umay Isik

BIG TREES

There are so few of them

the Ents guarding the great, green forests have failed

chainsaws grind with impunity

whenever, wherever we foolish humans decide.

One has to travel to find any a’tall

a blue horse can carry you

a few still stand

and grow even taller, bigger, where

two humans cannot get their arms around them.

These found in the great verdant swales, 

also mountain coves too hard to reach

in the Alps 

or the Blue Ridge

perhaps in the Rocky Mountains

the journey difficult

loose grey and white stones are on rocky paths.

That is where The Bone Strikers make their stand

Battle-painted Kiowa military warriors

will fight the saws to the death.

They fight for the Earth. They fight for all of us.

© Ray Whitaker

Enjoy other posts by Ray Whitaker HERE.

Ray Whitaker

Ray has four books published and two chapbooks. His work has been published in eleven different countries. Ray was a Delegate to the 2024 Writers’ International Panorama Festival. He participates regularly in several Zoom poetic events worldwide. Among them, he has been spotlighted on a US National Poetry broadcast from Quintessential Listening Poetry Online Radio in 2024, and also an International Poetry Recital hosted by The Fertile Minds out of India.  In July 2025, he was the featured poet in David Leo Sirois’s

Spoken World Online, which is associated with Spoken Word Paris.

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IN DREAMS by Ray Whitaker

Wendelin Jacober

IN DREAMS

I

Long and dusty

a road leading to somewhere else

this, a place unspoiled

by human waste

road leading both in and out

in that place of God’s embrace,

then loosely configured rooms

with no definitive order or placement

of furniture, cabinets, chairs and sofas

time passing

every piece moved from one day to the next

yet there was purpose

in the definition of the room,

a dream sat in a blue overstuffed chair, 

just there, pouting, 

while the dream wanted to be remembered

even so, memory being fallacious

akin to some sort of blood-brain barrier

inhibiting passage of the traces.

II

Different dogs, some blue, some yellow

smiling dogs, happy

on mountain trails at elevation

a wristwatch appears on a giant arm

index finger on opposite hand

tapping it, notifying times-a-wasting,

dogs on a leash, pulling

topping a rise

seeing the valley below

a tranquil white house beside the bluest alpine lake

under a cloudless sky

a sunset just starting to the east

noticing a porch-light coming on

we hurry down the downward switchbacks

towards a quiet interlude with yellows and reds.

remembered in the morn

frowning, this would never be, dreaming.

© Ray Whitaker

Enjoy other posts by Ray Whitaker HERE.

Ray Whitaker

Ray has four books published and two chapbooks. His work has been published in eleven different countries. Ray was a Delegate to the 2024 Writers’ International Panorama Festival. He participates regularly in several Zoom poetic events worldwide. Among them, he has been spotlighted on a US National Poetry broadcast from Quintessential Listening Poetry Online Radio in 2024, and also an International Poetry Recital hosted by The Fertile Minds out of India.  In July 2025, he was the featured poet in David Leo Sirois’s

Spoken World Online, which is associated with Spoken Word Paris.

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ARRAYED by Ray Whitaker

 

Stephane Hurbe

ARRAYED

As still as death

no movement in this dark place

no chest rise and fall

no stars, the dark sky belying a spark

well hidden, as if

under a thick layer of leaves

the forest at dusk.

Sometimes the light finds us

penetrating, a rare occurrence

through the underlayment of dark’s cold blanket

and the wolves… 

the wolves, even as cognizant entities, spiritual

arrayed in a fan on the utmost slope

looking down at us

show some respect, 

giving us our new respect.

not the deference of black fear,  for our ability to protect ourselves.

© Ray Whitaker

Enjoy other posts by Ray Whitaker HERE.

Ray Whitaker

Ray has four books published and two chapbooks. His work has been published in eleven different countries. Ray was a Delegate to the 2024 Writers’ International Panorama Festival. He participates regularly in several Zoom poetic events worldwide. Among them, he has been spotlighted on a US National Poetry broadcast from Quintessential Listening Poetry Online Radio in 2024, and also an International Poetry Recital hosted by The Fertile Minds out of India.  In July 2025, he was the featured poet in David Leo Sirois’s

Spoken World Online, which is associated with Spoken Word Paris.

Follow Feed the Holy

STORM IN THE DISTANCE by Ray Whitaker

 

Dziana Hasanbekava

STORM IN THE DISTANCE

She walks intently forward

unafraid of grey’s lack of definition

fearing, respecting only the flickering red

not minding the temporary, wavering oranges

disregarding the black...

knowing there is still something green somewhere.

Even tho something is burning

out there

perhaps in a county far away

where strife makes humanity cry.

White snow refreshes everything.

© Ray Whitaker

Enjoy other posts by Ray Whitaker HERE.

Ray Whitaker

Ray has four books published and two chapbooks. His work has been published in eleven different countries. Ray was a Delegate to the 2024 Writers’ International Panorama Festival. He participates regularly in several Zoom poetic events worldwide. Among them, he has been spotlighted on a US National Poetry broadcast from Quintessential Listening Poetry Online Radio in 2024, and also an International Poetry Recital hosted by The Fertile Minds out of India.  In July 2025, he was the featured poet in David Leo Sirois’s

Spoken World Online, which is associated with Spoken Word Paris.

Follow Feed the Holy

Warrior Loves a Dog by Ray Whitaker

Kanashi

WARRIOR LOVES A DOG

 

The fighter pilot remembers

a sleek steel eagle flown so many times

no yelping, barking, just speed incarnate

dropping from inside clouds

strafing enemies there on the ground.

Now his eyes closed slightly, to memories serve

his hand rests lightly on Rough Collie fur

he and his dog sense

they could be, just perhaps

are but one in the present

and also in the past,

bridging a Love so absent
in those red enemy skies.   

Previously published 04/25 in the Book: ANIMALS

© Ray Whitaker

Enjoy other posts by Ray Whitaker HERE.

Ray Whitaker

Ray has four books published and two chapbooks. His work has been published in eleven different countries. Ray was a Delegate to the 2024 Writers’ International Panorama Festival. He participates regularly in several Zoom poetic events worldwide. Among them, he has been spotlighted on a US National Poetry broadcast from Quintessential Listening Poetry Online Radio in 2024, and also an International Poetry Recital hosted by The Fertile Minds out of India.  In July 2025, he was the featured poet in David Leo Sirois’s

Spoken World Online, which is associated with Spoken Word Paris.

Follow Feed the Holy