Thursday, April 03, 2014

4. queen here




didn't get here yesterday
arrived today noon-thirty
in pretty violet hat and dress;
for in rome it's springtime.

met president napolitano first,
then to vatican to see pope francis
after lunch.
flies out this afternoon.
bunching activities into her day
i always say, and that's the way
good queens travel.

we waited to see her
at chiesa nuova and catch some sun.
bill was there, and rosemary too
who hasn't seen her since her  coronation.

nothing happened, all was glum
then suddenly sirens filled the air,
motorcycles sped, here they come.
the entourage appeared right here.

moving stately, rolling by,
the dark, flagged limo with the queen;
we saw her looking out at us, and we waved;
she waved at us as she went on.

it was quick and we were ready,
proud to be there and prepared
to see the queen, we surely did.
all went well, and it was good.

in and out in 4 hours.
meets  the president and the pope
home for dinner
that's how to visit rome


Wednesday, April 02, 2014

3. queens's eve



in rome on the morrow
sans popcorn and streamers
will pass her motorcade.
hurrah,  the sun will shine

reflecting on events . . .

the girl crowned june '53
on the black and white round screen
of our first TV,  
i  was eight.

texas bill, eleven
ambled prairie grass
to view at a neighbor's;
his uncle said remember.

parliament square, london,
felicitous rosemary, 15
in new dress and first stockings
with mother and tickets

sat covered,  
protected from light rain
as the select paraded
into westminster abbey

and bill said,

last time in rome 2000
her hairdresser used an english dryer
and blew out the electricity
in the quirinale, the president's palace

didn't lose it everyday, all searched
for the circuit box, hidden
behind a portrait, there are many
no one could remember which one

Tuesday, April 01, 2014

2. queen again



march 5, 1983 queen waved at me
in san francisco i was on the corner
at union square happening by
with about 7,200 other people
and so was she

maybe that's why she
did that queen wave thing
you know the one
it's the rage

so this week
31 years and a week later
her vision and mine have gone downhill
but i'll be around
when she drives by
and see if she remembers me
i'll know her, she'll be the one
in the white box hat

Monday, March 31, 2014

1. queen comes to town




mark it down
queen comes to town
on thursday;
we'll see her go by.
circling helicopters and
legions of motorcycling police
will be a reminder; 
and,  no need for we,
the head count,  to put on our dancing shoes
or dress for the occasion.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

five second rule




best recent news i heard.
a scientist said - and that's
the good part so you don't have to worry -
cause a scientist said -

"If you drop food
you have five seconds to pick it up
and eat it, no worry."
that's final.

if you're slow
you're in big trouble.
maybe a goner -
and that's real final.

Monday, March 24, 2014

if born a bird



if born a bird                
parents will feed you,
keep you and the nest clean.

the few notes you sing
is all the music you ever need.
there is no drummer.

lift your shoulders when it rains.
to go a long way
fly with the group.

look around, a mate comes along one day.
by example pass on what you know.
social networking is survival.

beware of enemies.
read the sun and the stars.
there is no other journalism.

the few notes you sing
is all the music you ever need.
there is no drummer.

Friday, March 21, 2014

kumbaya - an appeal to god



speaking from the sea of thought
where we are
take the news and shove it
the world is crying, lord

we don't need war
or to get to the stars
we must undo  our mess
and deal with the trash

Saturday, March 15, 2014

albeit truthful



open your eyes
rising in the morning
is sufficient initial accomplishment.
take it easy

carefully enter  the new day
without undo struggle
welcome events 
complete what is necessary first

naturally choices appear
what to wear, how to prepare
events approach magically
on first light of the sun.

follow through on your commitments
manage your resources
there are always choices
obligations will move you

Thursday, March 13, 2014



when long skies open wide 
for puffy caramel colored animal-shaped clouds to roll by,
it’s fine time to mellow and consider 
whatever you want 
 . . . whatever.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

under the bunk



this morning
headline says
a guy was released
from prison in Louisiana
after thirty years on death row
new evidence was found

Sunday, March 09, 2014

wind whipper

long wind whipper in green
bird holder and ring maker
always standing and patient
every time i come to see you
you are still there, watching
with no eyes
hearing with no ears
one tall finger bent on the wind

Monday, March 03, 2014

morning



woke up thought
of oatmeal, did
ride to trionfale market
no one on the full bus

thinking academy awards
that ended a few hours ago
the brightest stars are twinkled out
a quarter way around the earth

Saturday, March 01, 2014

mr. safety town



mr. safety town i am
let her drive anyway
put my arm out for additional signal
had fun riding bare feet on the dash

skeptical





turned on the radio
heard someone giving me advice
wants to put me on a regiment
maybe in a regiment

was talking fast with assurance
mentioned drugs i should take
i only know this person
as a voice on the radio

i could believe this authority
but sensibly retained skepticism.
shook my head, sipped my coffee,
turned off the radio.

ain't got no stinking badges just gratitude to you my fiend



thanks to you for my
birthday wishes
during this my
birthday year of celebration

the month is over
but the year of joy
is underway
now let's ride along

it is going to be a good one
or maybe it will rain everyday
doesn't matter
we can take it all

with love and joy
and cookies and ice cream
if wishes were horses
we'd all ride leaping


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

people soup




people soup
like assorted vegetables
in turning halls,
the designated waiting area.
of nineteen, half accompany the sickly,
only three are under sixty,
three or four walking by are staff.

for hours a crying young woman is present
there are no children
an old woman yells out in aggravation
periodically

an ambulance stops outside
doors open as a man is wheeled in
the thumping is a nurse
pounding on his chest

the disheveled drunk
semi-conscious on the floor
curls against the wall

a disoriented man in his thirties
badly scratched on face, neck,
hands, all visible skin, moaning,
someone places a motorcycle helmet
next to him on the gurney

intermittently a woman loudly coughs,
low voices murmur in waves
occasionally there is movement
most everyone remains seated
in winter jackets buttoned

the entire hospital is slow
with the main computer down.
there is never music or TV
amid infrequent quiet talking

ambulance workers wheel out a closed
metal box the size of a coffin

an attendant wheels a gurney through
and again the same obstinate, old woman oblivious
must be assisted out of the way
some patients are called in for attention

who knows what germs are air born
what psychological ingredients abound
a screech is heard behind closed doors
no one knows if it is a patient
or metal door in need of grease

cutbacks and overcrowding
there is no cafeteria only
two exact change machines port junk food

after several hours
faces become familiar
some go out for a smoke
thus sunday passes

Monday, February 24, 2014

crossover days



goodbye season of  furnace high
long, cold nights.
winter succumbs
releases its grip

these crossover days, winter to spring.
big coats are put away
along with scarves, gloves and heavy hats
to be packed in a chest for a well needed rest.

short dark days are lessening
in the cusp of warm
that will be soon
drawing our attention.

visible in the birds and trees,
in  bright young grass growing,
in the cracks in the sidewalks,
here is the advent of spring.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Monte Carlo Pizza



first in for lunch
at monte carlo pizza
two pastas we chose were so so,
served on metal plates, not charming.

the boss now 20 years later
is wider, heavy, worn. 
the house soon packed as always.
a waiter remembered us, and we him.

memories of the white-walled place
stirred a taste of long ago,
nearly forgotten good time evenings,
perhaps nevermore to re-kindle.

Monday, February 10, 2014

what i' d like to do



what i'd like to do -
can that be a poem?
and when i think of you  
i might include that too 

could be partially amusing.
if it weren't confusing.
isn't that a fine
how do you do?

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

woke at three




woke at three
got up to pee
then slept again
dreamed hills and trees

woke again at 115.
someone had kindly
put time back
on my clock