your way

look  where you want,

keep an attentive eye,  

dally where you may.

along your way make important

what you will;

enjoy the colors,

smell the scents,

as wind blows,

as life runs on ahead

don't let it get away,

keep up with it.

caught

caught a frog on the fence

just the first rung

he was looking for a way -

he was on his way.

i approached easily and carried him back to the pond.

though the month is right for him to leave,

it was dry out there, rough brush to cross;

he can go safer when it rains.  that night it did and he did.

he was as limp as a warm, fish filet as i gently held im,

like jello in a thin, pliable, plastic bag.  he knew it was me.

no fight or resistance when i carried him back to the pond.

i've watched for years, but never expected frogs to be so soft.

dawn poem

 

near june dawn
one damp
brown leather foot
after another
crept through the woods
to a lake and canoe
where two
set off as few would do
to pursue the climbing amber sun
 not yet in view
and jumping swimming fish
 deep in the blue
the deer and bear and birds

what they saw
no one knew

a walk to piazza Navona

a walk to piazza Navona

sun is shining on the carnival crowd

regulars and newbies free long  last;

rush about without sense or purpose

without the very cold and rain

snow too we’ve seen

quite enough,  for this is Roma

imperial city of old

worn and tattered

repair the holes in the street again

though not until they’re too large to walk around

oh, the sky is clear blue and bright this time

buy  a piece of this place for a lot of loot,

then rent it out

parents will pay so their children can

drink and party the nights away

and we’ll come back again

be it in sun and rain or moon

to see  the fountains and work of countless artisans

from and for ages beyond measure

three m's and me in city life

dear reader i want to help you.

there are three m’s in this story

my m,  friend maria and chinese maria3

there.  you’re ready.   simple as can be.

seated  in  our Chinese restaurant

m. can immerse to a point

she tells me as I wonder

what point is that?

maria arrived moving slowly

we greet as she sits gingerly

having fallen in the shower last week

and whacked well  her ribs for real.

maria 3 came to hear

about the mishap, pen in hand,

and to take our orders, no mystery there,

for us it is the usual.

at this point i mentioned the man

who lives on folded cardboard boxes

down in front of the pharmacy

on busy Corso  Vittorio

saw him watering  the tiny plants

springing up in the cracks on the sidewalk.

this is the city, where you tend your garden

 where  you find it.  

we talk, ate and depart.

then gather on  the outside.

to the man selling umbrellas

we show him ours,  as all notice rain had passed.

                                 

that’s 3 m’s, lunch and me

and briefly raining weather

no confusion,  call it a Sunday

wrapped and packed together

i've painted so many

i’ve painted so many

Ohio wants boats and light houses

Roma likes loose abstraction

while i’ve maintained post impressionism

leaning away in style

cause i am free and growing

reaching with my brushes

seeking to find

consistent in my stretch

for another thing

even i never knew

and may not get to

a summer festival banner weekend

a summer festival  banner weekend

for small farmer apple town Ohio

when curious regular folk and their cousins neighbors

turn out, see ‘em,  lining up and down the way.

have a meal, spin the wheel,

try a share of homemade pie , amid the chattering.

an sample some of yesterday,  here today.

and be sure to view  old tractors on parade,

rolling clean and well buffed like everyone.

she pours me a bit of homemade  lemonade.

go ahead sun, shine, while kids crank that ice cream ready,

and, life, we’ve  got it made. oh, yes,  we’ve got it made.

doing something well takes time

to do well may be easy

but always takes time

do a thousand times

with care and attention

that ’ll learn ya

and might get some mention