march bites the unwary
mouth open snapping
on low turning, moving sky cotton wisps
where winging fast birds
rise from napping
appear shot from a sling
dip low then soar far
keep jacket on, cap in hand
ready to zip up and button down
for after an hour’s pleasant sun
darker grey colors of change hover
ready to toss the covers from secret hiding
and leap, riding gusts on quick padded feet
so the next patter you hear
may be cold, hard rain drops splatter near
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
rushing waters
from a hotel room by the quick river
we see and hear white ripples
rush dancing over smalls falls
in non-stop fluid symphony
all day, all the night it goes on, and on
like eternal traffic sound
without pause or change
the same liquid white noise
over and over and over
packed splashing full in moving file
never with thought or pause,
while traffic ebbs and flows
and people are behind it
rushing fast mountain river water,
is a senseless spiral bound book
with no words on the pages
it keeps turning, turning
flipping ever forward
with no beginning or end
for ages, liquid ages
we see and hear white ripples
rush dancing over smalls falls
in non-stop fluid symphony
all day, all the night it goes on, and on
like eternal traffic sound
without pause or change
the same liquid white noise
over and over and over
packed splashing full in moving file
never with thought or pause,
while traffic ebbs and flows
and people are behind it
rushing fast mountain river water,
is a senseless spiral bound book
with no words on the pages
it keeps turning, turning
flipping ever forward
with no beginning or end
for ages, liquid ages
Sunday, March 15, 2009
born a fish
it’s new and i like it
born a fish
not so bad, i don’t care
food floats by all the time
don’t have to wash or decide what to wear
home life is odd
never sleep in the same bed
and today i got rushed over a falls
i know why they call ‘em that
but i didn’t get hurt
keep swimming
they say i have to watch out for fishermen
whatever that means and such
we swim in schools
but i haven’t learned much
born a fish
not so bad, i don’t care
food floats by all the time
don’t have to wash or decide what to wear
home life is odd
never sleep in the same bed
and today i got rushed over a falls
i know why they call ‘em that
but i didn’t get hurt
keep swimming
they say i have to watch out for fishermen
whatever that means and such
we swim in schools
but i haven’t learned much
Thursday, March 12, 2009
scarpe diem
the Iranian shoe throwing Journalist
was sentenced to three years in prison,
give him, me, and the world a break
within reasonable perspective
it was an insult
not a weapon of mass destruction
had he hit Bush in the face
prosecutors would have had something to talk about
as it was, only insult was done
and that won’t be retracted by prison time
harsh injustice would be promoted
in what we envision as the civilized world
was sentenced to three years in prison,
give him, me, and the world a break
within reasonable perspective
it was an insult
not a weapon of mass destruction
had he hit Bush in the face
prosecutors would have had something to talk about
as it was, only insult was done
and that won’t be retracted by prison time
harsh injustice would be promoted
in what we envision as the civilized world
pigeon feeding
we stopped at the small corner park
never got comfortable
a woman had a twenty pound bag of feed
throwing it out
a hand full at a time
to more pigeons
than I have seen
gathered anywhere at one time
in my life
all grass was destroyed in that half of the park
when we tired and left
the woman showed no sign of slowing
although her intentions were well based
this feeding is not good
for people
or for pigeons,
look it up
two or three pigeons
are something to see
two or three hundred
is something to avoid
Please don't feed the pigeons!
* It affects their health
* It attracts vermin and is a risk to human health
* It damages buildings
* It makes pigeons dependent on people
* It deprives other birds of food
never got comfortable
a woman had a twenty pound bag of feed
throwing it out
a hand full at a time
to more pigeons
than I have seen
gathered anywhere at one time
in my life
all grass was destroyed in that half of the park
when we tired and left
the woman showed no sign of slowing
although her intentions were well based
this feeding is not good
for people
or for pigeons,
look it up
two or three pigeons
are something to see
two or three hundred
is something to avoid
Please don't feed the pigeons!
* It affects their health
* It attracts vermin and is a risk to human health
* It damages buildings
* It makes pigeons dependent on people
* It deprives other birds of food
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Calcata
this cool march morning
mid week on a stone mountain top
high up and off the beaten route to anywhere
with one way in, and one way out
pass under the arch
to enter the town
then on three sides
it’s a straight drop down
pretty as it could be and so very old
we drove there for another look
at the bohemian artsy haven of Calcata
prices there are high to live and buy
and there are few stores,
what you find for sale are
hand-made craft items for tourists,
locals seeking necessities must drive a ways
the village we saw was the real one,
out of season, worn grey, cold stone dead,
lonely, cool and needing
then this and every weekend
the curious will come
some other day, another season
even we may return
with the reason of showing friends
what ancient, remote, quaint
and wonderful can look like
mid week on a stone mountain top
high up and off the beaten route to anywhere
with one way in, and one way out
pass under the arch
to enter the town
then on three sides
it’s a straight drop down
pretty as it could be and so very old
we drove there for another look
at the bohemian artsy haven of Calcata
prices there are high to live and buy
and there are few stores,
what you find for sale are
hand-made craft items for tourists,
locals seeking necessities must drive a ways
the village we saw was the real one,
out of season, worn grey, cold stone dead,
lonely, cool and needing
then this and every weekend
the curious will come
some other day, another season
even we may return
with the reason of showing friends
what ancient, remote, quaint
and wonderful can look like
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
for the children
teachers are good people
to put up with groups of children
who are aptly regarded as a handful
we mustn’t whip education at a fever pace
until it’s homogenized, generalized,
historically meaningless to them
we can help at home by passing along
lessons learned from our past, personal stories,
events from our family elder’s lives
so what lesson do i give?,
my grandchildren are spinning so fast
they couldn’t hear me if i knew what to say
perhaps i’ve written something here for them,
or perhaps their children will read it, some other year,
they’ll figure out life's mysteries when they’re ready
when they wonder and amaze
about who they are
and what we went through to get here
before TV and computers took all of our time
when sunset and a rainbow
and music played at home was family entertainment
when the evening sky filled with brilliant stars
horsepower was hitched to a wagon
and every barn had hand tools and a saddle
when we made promises
and did our best to keep them,
while looking forward to the challenges of tomorrow
to put up with groups of children
who are aptly regarded as a handful
we mustn’t whip education at a fever pace
until it’s homogenized, generalized,
historically meaningless to them
we can help at home by passing along
lessons learned from our past, personal stories,
events from our family elder’s lives
so what lesson do i give?,
my grandchildren are spinning so fast
they couldn’t hear me if i knew what to say
perhaps i’ve written something here for them,
or perhaps their children will read it, some other year,
they’ll figure out life's mysteries when they’re ready
when they wonder and amaze
about who they are
and what we went through to get here
before TV and computers took all of our time
when sunset and a rainbow
and music played at home was family entertainment
when the evening sky filled with brilliant stars
horsepower was hitched to a wagon
and every barn had hand tools and a saddle
when we made promises
and did our best to keep them,
while looking forward to the challenges of tomorrow
Monday, March 09, 2009
weather broke
winter snapped
like an old branch
a bird tried to sit on
maybe wind kicked it
a cat licked it
or a dog dragged it
cause the stick made it’s way
down the bank
got into the river
and floated away
part of me
must have gone along
for the ride
cause I feel the change
right here
deep inside
like an old branch
a bird tried to sit on
maybe wind kicked it
a cat licked it
or a dog dragged it
cause the stick made it’s way
down the bank
got into the river
and floated away
part of me
must have gone along
for the ride
cause I feel the change
right here
deep inside
Saturday, March 07, 2009
do you want toast
do you want toast?
this is morning, the weekend
and we always have toast
both of us, and two coffees
always - as in everyday,
not only weekends
yet she asks as if it’s a new idea that
just crawled over the top rim
and dropped into the cookie jar of her mind
metaphysically speaking, no disrespect intended
of course, she wants toast,
always does,
she thinks of toast first,
every time
says she wants toast then
asks me if i want toast
and then i say yes, i'll have toast
that’s how it goes
and then i rose up and made...wait!
i didn’t rise like an ascension of angels
although i understand why you might think it
i plain got up, as from sitting is to standing
and then made a second coffee
for each of us
cause it just hit me in a flash to do that
it seemed a fine idea
albeit within the scripted and rehearsed
tangled woven bounds of the ordinary
x
this is morning, the weekend
and we always have toast
both of us, and two coffees
always - as in everyday,
not only weekends
yet she asks as if it’s a new idea that
just crawled over the top rim
and dropped into the cookie jar of her mind
metaphysically speaking, no disrespect intended
of course, she wants toast,
always does,
she thinks of toast first,
every time
says she wants toast then
asks me if i want toast
and then i say yes, i'll have toast
that’s how it goes
and then i rose up and made...wait!
i didn’t rise like an ascension of angels
although i understand why you might think it
i plain got up, as from sitting is to standing
and then made a second coffee
for each of us
cause it just hit me in a flash to do that
it seemed a fine idea
albeit within the scripted and rehearsed
tangled woven bounds of the ordinary
x
Friday, March 06, 2009
city life
city life has so many faces
walking, standing, waiting,
on and off the buses
in and out of stores
you won’t see them all
when i was just about home
heading down a narrow way
a face in the crowd startled me
it was the recognition of a friend
that had caught me off guard
a friend now deceased
uncanny the resemblance
at first glance
stopping just ahead of me,
this man had his keys out for a door
same graying hair, same smooth movements,
equally well-dressed,
and as his head turned
he first casually looked my way,
then when his glance caught me
he peered directly into my eyes
i slowed my steps
and he smiled, first in apparent recognition
then his look changed to something else
that i couldn’t read,
we exchanged nods then greetings
i thought you were someone i knew, i explained
so did i, he said, you remind me a lot of a dear friend
we used to meet for a drink at that bar near the corner
he live in this neighborhood for quite a while,
then passed away a few years ago
walking, standing, waiting,
on and off the buses
in and out of stores
you won’t see them all
when i was just about home
heading down a narrow way
a face in the crowd startled me
it was the recognition of a friend
that had caught me off guard
a friend now deceased
uncanny the resemblance
at first glance
stopping just ahead of me,
this man had his keys out for a door
same graying hair, same smooth movements,
equally well-dressed,
and as his head turned
he first casually looked my way,
then when his glance caught me
he peered directly into my eyes
i slowed my steps
and he smiled, first in apparent recognition
then his look changed to something else
that i couldn’t read,
we exchanged nods then greetings
i thought you were someone i knew, i explained
so did i, he said, you remind me a lot of a dear friend
we used to meet for a drink at that bar near the corner
he live in this neighborhood for quite a while,
then passed away a few years ago
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
how it began, went looking
checked for used cars on line
then went to a showroom,
two buses and a tram later
we were there
walked around ten minutes
looked at stickers on car windows
then went to our favorite
Indian fast food restaurant
to celebrate, hurray,
we went looking!
many long journeys begin before
you get in your car, or have one
then went to a showroom,
two buses and a tram later
we were there
walked around ten minutes
looked at stickers on car windows
then went to our favorite
Indian fast food restaurant
to celebrate, hurray,
we went looking!
many long journeys begin before
you get in your car, or have one
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
D.S. Al Fine
large and growing
the net brings change,
knowledge disseminates
for the world that will be
it is not important
flowers know
it is the sun
they wait for
the net brings change,
knowledge disseminates
for the world that will be
it is not important
flowers know
it is the sun
they wait for
Monday, March 02, 2009
fiction is stranger than truth
the one who said truth
is stranger than fiction
brought cookies, apples or flowers
to the teacher everyday
wagged his hand so much
trying to answer all the questions
that he lost blood circulation in his arm
they nearly had to amputate
always had hair evenly parted on the same side
wore a cute little red sport coat
kept it neatly buttoned
even on the playground
never believed in
monsters from space
tried to be the peacemaker when
we played cowboys and Indians
in short, was a dullard
possessed absolutely
not so much as a speck
of imagination whatsoever
ran under a tree in a thunderstorm
was struck by lightening
six times and was toast
I do so verify
is stranger than fiction
brought cookies, apples or flowers
to the teacher everyday
wagged his hand so much
trying to answer all the questions
that he lost blood circulation in his arm
they nearly had to amputate
always had hair evenly parted on the same side
wore a cute little red sport coat
kept it neatly buttoned
even on the playground
never believed in
monsters from space
tried to be the peacemaker when
we played cowboys and Indians
in short, was a dullard
possessed absolutely
not so much as a speck
of imagination whatsoever
ran under a tree in a thunderstorm
was struck by lightening
six times and was toast
I do so verify
Saturday, February 28, 2009
the best
the wellness of being,
goodness in all respects
remains a narrow line
to travel upon
to shift slightly
adjusting temperament
in kindness
and giving
in full field
out in the open, on my honor,
although it's a mess
we're all doing the best we can
I'm still working on the above. I read it again this morning and it didn't read well. It changed, or I changed. It didn't work. I changed the title and a few words and then I pushed it out the door anyway. I guess that's the best I can do today.
goodness in all respects
remains a narrow line
to travel upon
to shift slightly
adjusting temperament
in kindness
and giving
in full field
out in the open, on my honor,
although it's a mess
we're all doing the best we can
I'm still working on the above. I read it again this morning and it didn't read well. It changed, or I changed. It didn't work. I changed the title and a few words and then I pushed it out the door anyway. I guess that's the best I can do today.
Friday, February 27, 2009
four a.m.
i wake to put on neat earphones
with fresh batteries
and hear four a.m. radio
news from the BBC
fighting in the Congo, a report live from Deli
China in the headlines, corrupt leaders everywhere
staggering economies, some with more than they can use
and taking more, cities overflowing,
the world in disarray
TV pictures run in my mind
of a tired young woman with a bucket
getting water from a hole dug in the ground
somewhere on the plains in Africa
she is too thin and wears rags
a poor child stands nearby watching
all is dusty
there are no pets
there is nothing extra for them
this is their water
this is their life
while i sleep in a clean warm bed
with a comforting blanket
a refrigerator in the next room
a shower in the morning
i’ll make coffee and toast
play a digital keyboard
plugged into my computer
and know that even twisting, darting, colorful birds
under white clouds and radiant blue skies
will not turn a head
will pass unnoticed
by so many struggling each day to survive
i cannot help them directly
but i can notice
and compassion is a first step
toward resolution
admit they exist
with fresh batteries
and hear four a.m. radio
news from the BBC
fighting in the Congo, a report live from Deli
China in the headlines, corrupt leaders everywhere
staggering economies, some with more than they can use
and taking more, cities overflowing,
the world in disarray
TV pictures run in my mind
of a tired young woman with a bucket
getting water from a hole dug in the ground
somewhere on the plains in Africa
she is too thin and wears rags
a poor child stands nearby watching
all is dusty
there are no pets
there is nothing extra for them
this is their water
this is their life
while i sleep in a clean warm bed
with a comforting blanket
a refrigerator in the next room
a shower in the morning
i’ll make coffee and toast
play a digital keyboard
plugged into my computer
and know that even twisting, darting, colorful birds
under white clouds and radiant blue skies
will not turn a head
will pass unnoticed
by so many struggling each day to survive
i cannot help them directly
but i can notice
and compassion is a first step
toward resolution
admit they exist
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Franco
Franco is of indeterminate age
past mid everything, some wrinkles and thin,
of the seedy man who looks dangerous it’s difficult to say more
dull winter layers of tired clothing deceive
he fell into a coma some years ago
friend Alberto visited him in hospital
a watchful grave nurse shook her head
there was little hope afforded him
Alberto approached where the patient appeared clean and comfortable
as the nurse stepped out to leave mournful respect
the dormant Franco lifted an eye and whispered
“I’’m not gong to die, Alberto.”
and so Franco lumbers on, helping the piazza flower venders
moving things, making deliveries on stiffening legs
eyes that give him problems,
drinks too much when inclined, when he has money enough
his mumbled Roman dialect across
lips holding a burning cigarette,
looking up in apparent sneering smile over broken teeth
“sun is warm, the day is good”
past mid everything, some wrinkles and thin,
of the seedy man who looks dangerous it’s difficult to say more
dull winter layers of tired clothing deceive
he fell into a coma some years ago
friend Alberto visited him in hospital
a watchful grave nurse shook her head
there was little hope afforded him
Alberto approached where the patient appeared clean and comfortable
as the nurse stepped out to leave mournful respect
the dormant Franco lifted an eye and whispered
“I’’m not gong to die, Alberto.”
and so Franco lumbers on, helping the piazza flower venders
moving things, making deliveries on stiffening legs
eyes that give him problems,
drinks too much when inclined, when he has money enough
his mumbled Roman dialect across
lips holding a burning cigarette,
looking up in apparent sneering smile over broken teeth
“sun is warm, the day is good”
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
pond in the woodlands
carefully I trod
amid bent blue grass and weeds
on low rolling bubbles of hills
around a dark pond
peppered with wild life
rippled in fishes
who keep eyes to the surface
watching bugs circle
when touching down,
with no warning become
a snack in a snap,
a quick fish’s morsel
in this natural chalice
harvesting life
teaming with chance,
is nature’s balance
amid bent blue grass and weeds
on low rolling bubbles of hills
around a dark pond
peppered with wild life
rippled in fishes
who keep eyes to the surface
watching bugs circle
when touching down,
with no warning become
a snack in a snap,
a quick fish’s morsel
in this natural chalice
harvesting life
teaming with chance,
is nature’s balance
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
with man
times are most difficult
going through a lot
she’s working way too much these days
and always with undue stress
it takes all she’s got
so very hard her life
handling however she can
she is not with child, you see,
much worse, she married him,
she’s with man
going through a lot
she’s working way too much these days
and always with undue stress
it takes all she’s got
so very hard her life
handling however she can
she is not with child, you see,
much worse, she married him,
she’s with man
Monday, February 23, 2009
nightime thought
resembling a wad of socks
little mental rockets explode,
shoot off then drop like rocks
into the back side pockets
of my mind
many engraved with happy faces
others wrapped, still sleeping
patiently wait to be taken out
each a little frosted cake
with a prize
in the middle
little mental rockets explode,
shoot off then drop like rocks
into the back side pockets
of my mind
many engraved with happy faces
others wrapped, still sleeping
patiently wait to be taken out
each a little frosted cake
with a prize
in the middle
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