Though at times it appears that way, this is not a diary, it’s a simple poetry blog (I like simple). Here’s one from Roma.
First, a writers comment: You know, when I read my stuff, I want it to run right along. If it meanders a bit for a reason, that's okay too.
our way
down our street
not even a street
a cobblestone alley
way – call it a way
down our way thirty seconds
we’re into the nearly on the corner bar Juliano’s
jeeze he has a happy face when we come in
thirty-something, thin and fit, always in a t-shirt
he and his charming wife run the place
we took position
on the tall wooden backless bar stools
not cozy, but we weren’t moving in
we came for a couple of quick glasses of wine
well, not quick
glasses of wine in Roma aren’t quick
not now, nor have they ever been
Juliano always recommends an
Italian red something we never heard of
and we partook
under soft amber light, sipped in slow time
mulling the day, how it played
no crowd as yet, nearly dinner hour
hardly a sound
we looked around, noted every thing
including paintings on the wall
oh boy, not much there
and no rush for us
we ordered a second glass
would you like to try something different?
no, grazie, the same
and thusly an hour slid along the bar
dropped on the floor
skid out the door, it did
thusly time went by the wayside
and we followed it home
I do tell, it was swell
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
gate 20
on our way to gate 20 in terminal A
we kept walking up and down
couldn’t find it
street numbers in Italy you expect to be hard to find
in some areas households choose their own number
any number they want
I’m going to call mine 007
in more orderly areas numbers run consecutively
with one side of the street independent of the other
so the 300 block could be across from the 700 block
odds on one side, even on the other, sometimes
finding a gate in the air terminal should be easy
after much looking
determining gate 20 wasn’t there,
we asked
a worker said it was not in terminal A
it was downstairs in the new terminal AA
A..A ?
in twenty years i’ve never heard an Italian stutter
there must be another malady to compensate for this lack
I’m sure it has something to do with numbering
will the next new terminal be AAA?
I’ll drink to that
or drive to it
we kept walking up and down
couldn’t find it
street numbers in Italy you expect to be hard to find
in some areas households choose their own number
any number they want
I’m going to call mine 007
in more orderly areas numbers run consecutively
with one side of the street independent of the other
so the 300 block could be across from the 700 block
odds on one side, even on the other, sometimes
finding a gate in the air terminal should be easy
after much looking
determining gate 20 wasn’t there,
we asked
a worker said it was not in terminal A
it was downstairs in the new terminal AA
A..A ?
in twenty years i’ve never heard an Italian stutter
there must be another malady to compensate for this lack
I’m sure it has something to do with numbering
will the next new terminal be AAA?
I’ll drink to that
or drive to it
second glance
Thanks to each of you for your participation in the comments section of this blog. Your words are encouragement.
The well hasn't run dry, there's more to do and say - poems, like the next hitters in the line up, are waiting on deck for a chance at the plate, but appease me a bit, today i wish to return to the core
The well hasn't run dry, there's more to do and say - poems, like the next hitters in the line up, are waiting on deck for a chance at the plate, but appease me a bit, today i wish to return to the core
Thursday, May 14, 2009
goodbye roma
goodbye roma
i’ve had it with you
and might miss you
maybe after a while
cause you bother me
abuse and take me for granted
crowd me on your buses
push in front of me every time
i get in line
treat me with no regard
and when i’ve reached my limit
then you make fresh pasta
and tasty pizza
your wine’s good too
did i say i like your cheese?
i’ve had it with you
and might miss you
maybe after a while
cause you bother me
abuse and take me for granted
crowd me on your buses
push in front of me every time
i get in line
treat me with no regard
and when i’ve reached my limit
then you make fresh pasta
and tasty pizza
your wine’s good too
did i say i like your cheese?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
one size fits all
to the airport
saw a crowd of dignitaries
military and police flood a special gate
Prince Charles came and left earlier this week
wasn’t him
tom hanks and ron howard were in town the other day
in the lounge it was me
and an old fart man
wearing a dorkhead teal mesh golf cap
as he stared into space
coughed
no, he didn’t cover his mouth
then saw me looking at him
as he sat there
with his drooling mouth hung open
I looked at him, he looked at me
just like prince Charles, we were waiting
for a plane
saw a crowd of dignitaries
military and police flood a special gate
Prince Charles came and left earlier this week
wasn’t him
tom hanks and ron howard were in town the other day
in the lounge it was me
and an old fart man
wearing a dorkhead teal mesh golf cap
as he stared into space
coughed
no, he didn’t cover his mouth
then saw me looking at him
as he sat there
with his drooling mouth hung open
I looked at him, he looked at me
just like prince Charles, we were waiting
for a plane
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
welcome to america
I.
“good evening
welcome to our flight
all passengers must be seated”
that seemed reasonable to me
then she said, “here’s how
to buckle your seat belt”
II.
i saw a guy who looked like Jonathan, my son
i told my wife, who saw
only a slight resemblance, and shrugged
i told her not to worry
it’s not like robins
i can tell one from the other
III.
i was in the supermarket thirty seconds
when a lady came within three feet of my shopping cart
with her shopping cart
and apologized
by the time i looked her way she was gone,
did she think i was packing heat?
“good evening
welcome to our flight
all passengers must be seated”
that seemed reasonable to me
then she said, “here’s how
to buckle your seat belt”
II.
i saw a guy who looked like Jonathan, my son
i told my wife, who saw
only a slight resemblance, and shrugged
i told her not to worry
it’s not like robins
i can tell one from the other
III.
i was in the supermarket thirty seconds
when a lady came within three feet of my shopping cart
with her shopping cart
and apologized
by the time i looked her way she was gone,
did she think i was packing heat?
Monday, May 11, 2009
pitiful degree
I met a man down in Hollywood
I ain't naming names
he really worked me over good
just like Jesse James
(from Poor, Poor Pitiful Me as sung by Linda Ronstadt
written by Warren Zevon)
pitiful degree
my blood is from Poland and the north since forever
normally my body is a degree or two cooler than hers
she is a touch of the Cherokee
I’ll drive the car this morning
she said it is good she’s not
riding a horse to the dentist
it would smell fear
and buck her off
I ain't naming names
he really worked me over good
just like Jesse James
(from Poor, Poor Pitiful Me as sung by Linda Ronstadt
written by Warren Zevon)
pitiful degree
my blood is from Poland and the north since forever
normally my body is a degree or two cooler than hers
she is a touch of the Cherokee
I’ll drive the car this morning
she said it is good she’s not
riding a horse to the dentist
it would smell fear
and buck her off
Sunday, May 10, 2009
ohio morning
Ohio morning rose
by it self today
i didn’t have to help
it was dark when i got up
and forgot the impending first crack of light
as slippered i listened from the porch
doves the only sound,
whatever they say, i’m sure they repeat themselves
i don’t count the way off highway hum
or the leaves rubbing together in a breath of breeze
or were they unfolding to make that noise?
i mean, trees are made compatible
yet may have to stretch and scratch when they wake
so then it was morning,
had coffee and tried in vain to consider
what the heck i’d been dreaming
that had seemed so darn important all night long
i heard Herb the frog say something
and wondered how he slept tucked in cold mud last winter
Ohio is like living in a primitive forest
without the monkeys, giant leaves and tumbling waterfalls
plus, we have a postman
i meant to say practically like living
and if you had to skip back to see what i am talking about
you’re not concentrating hard enough
wake up
and smell the frog
by it self today
i didn’t have to help
it was dark when i got up
and forgot the impending first crack of light
as slippered i listened from the porch
doves the only sound,
whatever they say, i’m sure they repeat themselves
i don’t count the way off highway hum
or the leaves rubbing together in a breath of breeze
or were they unfolding to make that noise?
i mean, trees are made compatible
yet may have to stretch and scratch when they wake
so then it was morning,
had coffee and tried in vain to consider
what the heck i’d been dreaming
that had seemed so darn important all night long
i heard Herb the frog say something
and wondered how he slept tucked in cold mud last winter
Ohio is like living in a primitive forest
without the monkeys, giant leaves and tumbling waterfalls
plus, we have a postman
i meant to say practically like living
and if you had to skip back to see what i am talking about
you’re not concentrating hard enough
wake up
and smell the frog
Saturday, May 09, 2009
four-thirty a.m.
got up to think
about whatever I was dreaming
such a good thought
but couldn’t remember
so I changed my mind
like changing socks, changing a tire
a suit of clothes, walking a wire
clothes on the line
a suit of cards
sew my clothes, trim my nails
bust my balls, change my mind
back to sleep,
suits me fine
need to think
drift the brink
let’s go , Dream Maker
deal me in
about whatever I was dreaming
such a good thought
but couldn’t remember
so I changed my mind
like changing socks, changing a tire
a suit of clothes, walking a wire
clothes on the line
a suit of cards
sew my clothes, trim my nails
bust my balls, change my mind
back to sleep,
suits me fine
need to think
drift the brink
let’s go , Dream Maker
deal me in
Friday, May 08, 2009
dark flight
the first hours of a nine hour flight this day
were shaded from the light
It worked out that way
lamps down, shades drawn
made the flight a transition
like diving
beginning with trepidation, anticipation
then splash enter
another world
hold your breath, swim a few strokes
more than familiar,
it became comfortable
m. is in the row ahead of me
center section of the plane
the middle of three seats
a good speed for the engines
flight very smooth
for the first time I use her earplugs
that deaden the sound
put on my slippers
and turn on an overhead lamp
the entire experience in the half empty
smooth riding jet became
like reading comfortably in my living room
only I’m speeding ahead seven hundred mph
and not watching where we're going
were shaded from the light
It worked out that way
lamps down, shades drawn
made the flight a transition
like diving
beginning with trepidation, anticipation
then splash enter
another world
hold your breath, swim a few strokes
more than familiar,
it became comfortable
m. is in the row ahead of me
center section of the plane
the middle of three seats
a good speed for the engines
flight very smooth
for the first time I use her earplugs
that deaden the sound
put on my slippers
and turn on an overhead lamp
the entire experience in the half empty
smooth riding jet became
like reading comfortably in my living room
only I’m speeding ahead seven hundred mph
and not watching where we're going
Thursday, May 07, 2009
rings
I.
in an old bog,
still and hidden in the woods
a twig falls into the waters
concentric circles that no one sees
run away
II.
by the sea or from a hill
follow the west bound
yellow sun go orange, to red,
to purple, going down
we spin
it rings
and comes up again
thank god it remains
III.
I stumbled on it
twice today
just walking
she saw it roll
and picked it up
a ring
in an old bog,
still and hidden in the woods
a twig falls into the waters
concentric circles that no one sees
run away
II.
by the sea or from a hill
follow the west bound
yellow sun go orange, to red,
to purple, going down
we spin
it rings
and comes up again
thank god it remains
III.
I stumbled on it
twice today
just walking
she saw it roll
and picked it up
a ring
time to return
Birds do it, bees do it. It must be good for you or at least a lot of fun. Yes it is fun. This isn’t about knock your socks off sex. This is migration.
First there were signs of a change in the weather when I quit wearing my heavy coat. Then my jacket was put aside. Yesterday I wore just a t-shirt. Tomorrow we fly from our winter Rome to summer Ohio.
nearly summer
time to return
this morning as i prepared hard
to get my things in order,
well, thinking about it,
she said to me,
i know how you’ll pack
a bunch balled up in a suitcase
with wires sticking out
okay,
so,
i wasn’t angry with her
in fact i laughed inside, hah, like that
because of my ability to recognize love
in it’s many forms
and know i have warm feelings for
wires and stuff like that
and then made a sandwich
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
a Rome tourist
for a few hours
walked around and questioned
a new tourist friend
capable and active
did you see . . . . . . . . .
yes, yes, and more yes
more than many, enough in a week
to digest a long while
every one soaks it up at their own pace
some leave and run
for new grounds
i came back for more
twenty years later
here i am still sorting it out,
soaking it in, and
not quite sure what to make of it
walked around and questioned
a new tourist friend
capable and active
did you see . . . . . . . . .
yes, yes, and more yes
more than many, enough in a week
to digest a long while
every one soaks it up at their own pace
some leave and run
for new grounds
i came back for more
twenty years later
here i am still sorting it out,
soaking it in, and
not quite sure what to make of it
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
blog nature
the second nature of the blog
is like that of a marsh mellow
sugar frosted, and plump
lance it on a stick, over an open fire
it’s exciting, it’s fun, it shines,
flashes into flame
burns, sags, dips and crashes
what a finish, what a shame
is like that of a marsh mellow
sugar frosted, and plump
lance it on a stick, over an open fire
it’s exciting, it’s fun, it shines,
flashes into flame
burns, sags, dips and crashes
what a finish, what a shame
Monday, May 04, 2009
did laundry
did laundry at nine
at Luciano’s across the wild busy street
found a hole, didn’t get hit
always meet Luigi the chef there
had coffee and talked
to pass our weekly wash hour
he does embassy parties
today another recap
an embassy place wealthy over the top tacky
impossibly thick marble table
gaudy claw handle chairs
a cardinal and three others
had four bottles of wine with dinner
two bottles of white and two of brunello di Montalcino
at fifty euros a pop
it’s good to be the king
it was my last Monday until the fall
i’ll miss the stories and the chaos of Roma
we walked back talking across the busy Corso
between speeding buses, taxis, autos and motorcycles
to the other side without pause in our steps
it was easy cause we’re well practiced
and didn’t get hit
at Luciano’s across the wild busy street
found a hole, didn’t get hit
always meet Luigi the chef there
had coffee and talked
to pass our weekly wash hour
he does embassy parties
today another recap
an embassy place wealthy over the top tacky
impossibly thick marble table
gaudy claw handle chairs
a cardinal and three others
had four bottles of wine with dinner
two bottles of white and two of brunello di Montalcino
at fifty euros a pop
it’s good to be the king
it was my last Monday until the fall
i’ll miss the stories and the chaos of Roma
we walked back talking across the busy Corso
between speeding buses, taxis, autos and motorcycles
to the other side without pause in our steps
it was easy cause we’re well practiced
and didn’t get hit
i depend
i depend
on the people around me
even ones i know only by sight
to be there, familiar
every now and then to pass by
so i remember that
we are all different parts
of this same soup
on the people around me
even ones i know only by sight
to be there, familiar
every now and then to pass by
so i remember that
we are all different parts
of this same soup
Labels:
practically science
Sunday, May 03, 2009
ideas
walking down the grey street
i think about when i was
lying in bed and remember
waking at four with ideas
hitting me in the head
like dropping golf balls
in a porcelain bathtub
blam, blam, blam
and i duck to no avail
deal with them later
and wonder how, holy cow
would an open umbrella help
Plink, plink what do you think
What do you say, but the golf balls
dropping bam, blam, bam, ping, ping, ideas
hitting me and I write ‘em down as they fall
work them over, rush them out,
i’m in clover,
then fall back asleep
until morning comes, when all is quiet
dawn as it ought to be
so was i walking
down the street
i think
was i
i think about when i was
lying in bed and remember
waking at four with ideas
hitting me in the head
like dropping golf balls
in a porcelain bathtub
blam, blam, blam
and i duck to no avail
deal with them later
and wonder how, holy cow
would an open umbrella help
Plink, plink what do you think
What do you say, but the golf balls
dropping bam, blam, bam, ping, ping, ideas
hitting me and I write ‘em down as they fall
work them over, rush them out,
i’m in clover,
then fall back asleep
until morning comes, when all is quiet
dawn as it ought to be
so was i walking
down the street
i think
was i
Saturday, May 02, 2009
longer light
look about here
the longer hours of light
bring bounty
as toppled in plenty
the already green spring sprouts
flag farmed fields in rows
and wave where wind blown
fragrant scents of new flowers
dash with insects and birds
bolting over this earth proving ground,
all hearts wish good weather
for crops, for running children
and beckon impending summer
to slip in
quiet as the moon
the longer hours of light
bring bounty
as toppled in plenty
the already green spring sprouts
flag farmed fields in rows
and wave where wind blown
fragrant scents of new flowers
dash with insects and birds
bolting over this earth proving ground,
all hearts wish good weather
for crops, for running children
and beckon impending summer
to slip in
quiet as the moon
Friday, May 01, 2009
Vegan
she’s a vegan
a vegetarian
i’m happy
she’s not saying
she's a person
from the
star Vega
a vegetarian
i’m happy
she’s not saying
she's a person
from the
star Vega
Labels:
practically science
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