I see you there, my Dear, I have observed,
I watched, I listened, also analyzed,
I know your quirks, both blatant and reserved,
And through it all, I loved and sympathized,
 
I see your plight, I fought that front-line war,
The back, the forth, the struggle for control,
The fruitless tree takes all and drains your store,
Then leaves you stranded bare on sandy shoal,
 
You asked me for advice, so here I go,
Take stock of what is real, and count it twice,
Let go what helps you not; excess cargo,
Is what you cannot take… at any price,
 
My Dear, ‘tis dark today but could be worse,
Please find your freedom here in simple verse.
​
- Scott Alexander McKenzie

My Love, these covers are so soft and warm,
So too your flannel jammies ‘gainst my skin,
Let’s hide out here and shelter from this storm,
Says he, first ser’ous, then with knowing grin,

Stay here in bed with me and let’s pretend,
The world is gone and now it’s down to we,
As last two living souls in this godsend,
You be Eve and I’ll be ‘neath fig tree,

With fervent dedication, we’ll begin,
In earnest on this monumental call,
‘Tis journey of a thousand steps therein,
Here’s one; let’s try five more before nightfall,

Me and you, my Dear, let’s always be, 
E’er in love’s embrace; please stay with me.

- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Of all my wishes, the most ardent one,
Is: Could I please escape His rightful laws,
Just once, with clear permission from His Son,
In service of a just and noble cause?

For if I could, I’d travel back in time,
And find you, Dear, in that precar’ous state,
I'd seek that troubled girl in glor’ous prime,
And intervene before she changed her fate,

I’d take her hand and ask her for her trust,
Convince her that she’s making a mistake,
I’d pull her free, we’d run like brill’ant gust,
To peaceful spot aside some tranquil lake,

Alone, I’d tell her all about today, 
I’d hug you, Dear, and tell you it’s okay.

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie

The journey began when son became man,
And daughter had found her own way,
Dust had befallen that old frying pan,
Sad pall of sad mother’s d’pressing dismay,

What’s this? No hand wave ‘mid confetti rain,
No chest leaning sprint through finish line tape,
Just dark denouement through chaotic pain,
That cannot be dulled by Chardonnay grape?

She set on grand quest to find her reward,
Golden object for years she’d been earning,
‘Twas stunning surprise, the more she explored,
With each step ‘long this journey she’s learning,

No endings exist; she could wander the Earth,
Just freedom, beginnings, and hope of rebirth.

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Repos d'amour on balmy afternoon,
Her glowing leaf floats gently back to bed,
Where sated eyes find vision of her swoon,
His leaf still drifting somewhere ‘bove this spread,

Content is she who studies this man’s face,
With features like a living billet-doux,
She reads his lines at sultry lover’s pace,
The bard of this midsummer rendezvous,

Now lost in love but grateful for this place,
She’s found by eyes returning longing stares,
With moments spent in visual embrace,
She beams and then, in quiet tones, declares,

“I’m not the same as when you first knew me,”
“My Dear,” says he, “You’re better; I love thee.”

- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Sharp hoe and rake disturb the settled soil,
While shears, when used, will cleanly cut that limb,
And spade shall uproot weed as mortal foil,
Could tending life in gardens be more grim?

Disturb, uproot, and cut, ‘tis what we must,
When vibrant, happy flowers we intend,
Yes, courage to let go takes faith and trust,
Yet vital if ye seek thee to transcend,

True too with human gardens, don’t you see?
Tho merciless and callous it may seem,
To pull up roots and cut that bond from thee,
‘Tis oft the only way; thy soul to beam,

My Dear, I know it’s painful, but you’ll see,
Disturb your life and soon you’ll have your glee.

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie

I see your lips move; I can’t hear a sound,
‘Cept the buzz ‘midst the fog and the ringing,
In this mind, thousands of questions abound,
Dark news from you, doctor, still stinging,

Tho’ tears: they shall be not wasted on thee,
For my husband, my sister, my friends,
And faith in the Lord bring comfort to me,
While this cancer, from me, will be cleansed,

I’ve found that objects don’t matter, you see,
Ev’ry sunrise in morning brings bliss,
Fam’ly and gardens shall feed my esprit,
And rescue my soul from this darkened abyss,

Know this, before you would label me "ill,"
That God, for me, has a Grand Purpose still.

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Be still! My eyes have opened; I spy thee,
E’en as I dream you’re there, but now I know,
My answered prayer: you’re here in bed with me,
Your youthful glow now ‘rousing this blood flow,

Vinous lips and Venus hips; they move me,
And too, thin errant lock ‘cross silken cheek,
Lazing love, thy vision: ‘tis my glee,
Exquisité du physique angelique,

Night is gone, but Hypnos has you still; while,
Temptation… he is urging me to kiss,
In hopes to 'waken thee with eager smile,
Nocturnal curtains better drawn with bliss.

E’en as I ponder, you begin to stir,
Love stretches; then, like kitten, 'gins to purr.

- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Wee lass in deep blue dress and soft white lace,
When only small, did find her lifelong call,
‘Twas carry water; share her love and grace,
To nurture blooms, while hers, she could forestall,

Young wife in deep blue pain and hard white face,
Through gritted teeth and scream, brought forth new life,
‘Twas months she carried water in her vase,
Now puddled there as symbol of that strife,

Tired mum in deep blue strain and fine white ‘bode,
Served rhubarb pies, while kitchen table cries,
‘Came river of regret; ‘twas fastly flowed,
To raging sea, replete with blackened skies.

Tempest gone; she’s stranded on this isle alone,
To ponder deep blue sea and soft white foam.

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Burnt and bloody broken board; this is our war,
Where misplaced trust became this gun… that bomb,
As denouement to dark jet fighter roar,
America, she fell like old V'etnam,

Foul fortnight now passed since I saw you last,
At great expense, ‘tis ye I’ve come to see,
But crumpled note makes fast my weary ghast,
And sets me on this treach’rous quest for thee,

I will not cease; I will not sleep, my dear,
Through rain of lead by crosshaired eyes, I’ll race,
'Hind checkpoint drear shall e’er I grow near’r,
To thy grace… the unending root of my pace,

Until, by God’s Will, I find that one place,
Where thine heart beats near mine in one long embrace.

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Be with me now, calls tender vi’let flùr,
Come hither heathen, as ye’r wont to been,
Tho as ye do, beware my thorny skew’r,
Wha' ha’e na care for simple suitor skin,

Lo, as ye fail to see, I fail to warn,
And injury to thee, you’ll lastly see,
For burden be to thee and by thee borne,
To seek the con-vo-lu-ted needs of me,

For I am Scot, so know this now or then,
I winna bend to pet ye wheengin’ saul,
So take your time, and try your luck again,
But this time: more finesse and less banal,

Nae, if you want to spend with me these years,
Bring your thick skin and your heid... or find your tears.

- Scott Alexander McKenzie

“We’ll fight in France,” was resolutely spoke,
In fields, in streets and hills; on to the end,
For in harsh war ‘tis courage meant to stoke,
In thee; and, to our foe: we’ll ne’er surrend’,

But that is war where, 'tis said, "All's fair,"
So too in love, but here connection ends,
For lovers, in the heat of it, may flare,
Tho true love never fails to make amends,

Nay, love is patient; love is kind, you see,
Ye give and ye receive; it is not war,
Surrender is the path to victory,
For two who, in each other, do adore,

My dear, my heart; it makes this solemn plea,
Surrender to this love I hold for thee.

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie

‘Tis calm we feel when bloodied baby born,
For in the past is pain of labor gone,
Hind gnash-ed teeth and tight white-knuckle scorn,
Is found the peace of pure blue mountain dawn,

What dawn without the rage of vi’lent sun?
What sprout without the mire of filthy soil?
From dark springs light; from death comes new life sprung,
And peace we need... conceived through great turmoil,

But this, we’ve always known; what cause, malaise?
Forgetfulness of hopeful heart, it seems,
In need of renewed view in God’s grand ways,
Which are immune to human timing schemes,

So breathe, my dear, have patience in this pain,
For soon, your calm will come... like gentle rain.

- Scott Alexander McKenzie

I saw you there, gently twisting your hair,
As if to wring dull despair from your mind,
I came to you and I asked you to share,
And lo! Two thin vines became intertwined,

As yellowed love letter, you gently unfold,
We find a small seed sequestered in there,
‘Neath layers of years in darkness untold,
'Twas wrapped in regret and starv-ed for air,

We breathed; and fortune, it started to bloom,
By light from these panes we placed in that wall,
Now here's a nurs’ry that once was a tomb,
Glorious sun to replace darkened pall,

My friend, I’m here for your gardening needs,
Call me whenever; I’ll help you pull weeds.

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Here now, we are much stronger from these years,
A tribute to this overflowing love,
Precious time, so full of mirth and cheers,
Provide my soul with blessings from above.

You bring me joy; I love thee more each day,
Before ye wake, I thank Him for His Grace,
In gift of thee, my scented rose bouquet,
Red ribbon wrapped ‘round gilded crystal vase,

Together, let us be forever more,
Helping, happy hearts that beat as one,
Devoted as we are, I do implore,
And seek thy ‘proving eyes like warming sun,

Your special day is nigh, my Dear, it’s true,
Babe, have a happy birthday!  I love you!

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Silver snow silently settles on thee,
Who stepped outside to this irenic scene,
Ye ponder yonder laden limb of tree,
And marvel at such grace in strength unseen,

The silence of this place, it comforts thee,
‘Cept hush of crystal breath or creak of boot,
The world is mute, e’en burdened cedar tree,
Too, smoke from cabin flue in hea’en pursuit,

As coil unwinds, the lightness finds ye there,
To loosen lines in now unfurrowed brow, 
Ye mull return to warmth of cottage lair,
To arms of he who whispered solemn vow.

When call of mine does reach thy ruddled ear,
Ye turn and smile; the peace you need is here.

- Scott Alexander McKenzie

Carolina highlands, I love thee so,
Where, from mine humble forest perch, I spy,
The colors of thy quilt in vivid show,
And gentle woman seemingly awry,

Free with flight, I glide to nearby twig,
To find despondent pose and heavy sighs,
Appearing as poor widowed goddess, Frigg,
With song, I ask, “What reason for these cries?”

“I see you there,” she says, “Do not mind me,
I’m merely seeking peace from troubled ways,
I fear my only option is to flee, 
As one and only cure for this malaise.”

“I see,” say I, with ruffled feather preen,
"For now, I gladly sit with thee, my queen."

​- Scott Alexander McKenzie