at times i wonder how the old boys are doing
and the ladies i met along the way
we had our moments and our pleasures
seems like it was just the other day
there were some good times that i thought were never ending
sometimes i think just like a child
they say the nights are colder when you’re older
i guess we’ll find out in just a while
take good care of your self you’re a lot like me
take good care of yourself you’ve been good company
and when i thought it wouldn’t end
there’s nothing now like there was then
once in a while when a cold wind is blowing
i’ll ride off on some memory
i may visit you when you're sleeping
don’t mind it’s just a fantasy
the gears of time are always shifting
there’s nights i wake in dreams so real
like the tide i keep on drifting
just telling you now so you know how i feel
take good care of yourself you’re a lot like me
take good care of yourself you’ve been like family
if my life was a book too torn to mend
i’d flip back to see how it would end
and if i never see your face again
here’s wishing you only good luck until the end
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
“This morning this was sleeping all snuggly in the ground in our back yard,” she said with a comforting look. I had to give her my annoying chilled stare for that one. Although, yes, it was true, this evening we were eating the root as horseradish sauce. She made it, after watching a Youtube video for tips on the fine points of the execution of horseradish sauce; which is something not spoken of everyday - the proper execution of horseradish sauce.
Also this morning we saw Herb in the pond, our favorite frog of this summer past. And he might have a new friend living with him already.
My these are big reports of big doings. (big deal)
Also this morning we saw Herb in the pond, our favorite frog of this summer past. And he might have a new friend living with him already.
My these are big reports of big doings. (big deal)
Hershey Mine
we heard it was there and were looking for it
after a drive and long hike in the dark pine covered
Piute Mountains of the California Sierras
from a rocky ledge above we finally came upon
the remains of the old Hersey Mine
visible far below
because the rock strewn road was so steep, so bad
we could never have driven down
and expect to drive back up again
so, descending carefully on foot
we passed along the way a few abandoned
old trucks and a car that had started the
perilous ascent in the 1930’s and remained,
never to make the return
at the mine site we found mining equipment,
leaning wooden buildings, part of a locomotive,
rusty solid steel, great metal pieces laying about
everything, as if in the middle of their labors
they took a meal break and kept walking
about fifty years after they shut down
we entered the mouth of the gold mine
it was a dark hole, we were ill equiped,
and so we quickly turned around
the mine shack had tools, old dynamite boxes,
no dynamite, of course
.
the few small cabins were in shambles
we checked out those living quarters for the workers
here and there a tattered decoration,
a stained torn curtain
as in the large main building,
most furnishings were missing or destroyed
they must have carried out what they could
when they closed the place
only a few stragglers like us had
wandered there previously
it was too far back in the thick woods to easily discover
at that time we lived in a cabin in those woods,
casual day trippers wouldn’t have had
the time or the information to find the place
the dilapidated remains now sleep dust covered by time
somewhere deep in a rocky valley
up there in the Piute Mountains
after an hour of looking around we
climbed back up, that was it
and although we have spoken about
the old Hersey Mine, we never returned
after a drive and long hike in the dark pine covered
Piute Mountains of the California Sierras
from a rocky ledge above we finally came upon
the remains of the old Hersey Mine
visible far below
because the rock strewn road was so steep, so bad
we could never have driven down
and expect to drive back up again
so, descending carefully on foot
we passed along the way a few abandoned
old trucks and a car that had started the
perilous ascent in the 1930’s and remained,
never to make the return
at the mine site we found mining equipment,
leaning wooden buildings, part of a locomotive,
rusty solid steel, great metal pieces laying about
everything, as if in the middle of their labors
they took a meal break and kept walking
about fifty years after they shut down
we entered the mouth of the gold mine
it was a dark hole, we were ill equiped,
and so we quickly turned around
the mine shack had tools, old dynamite boxes,
no dynamite, of course
.
the few small cabins were in shambles
we checked out those living quarters for the workers
here and there a tattered decoration,
a stained torn curtain
as in the large main building,
most furnishings were missing or destroyed
they must have carried out what they could
when they closed the place
only a few stragglers like us had
wandered there previously
it was too far back in the thick woods to easily discover
at that time we lived in a cabin in those woods,
casual day trippers wouldn’t have had
the time or the information to find the place
the dilapidated remains now sleep dust covered by time
somewhere deep in a rocky valley
up there in the Piute Mountains
after an hour of looking around we
climbed back up, that was it
and although we have spoken about
the old Hersey Mine, we never returned
Monday, October 13, 2008
special love song
let me sing you a song of how it can be
a special love song for you and me
soft lights and flowers
we’ll spend the hours as you’d like them to be
just a little bit for you and me
here comes my tune to fill up your head
the sun and the moon flies over our bed
since time beyond ages the wisest of sages
sees life like you’d like it to be, just a little for you and me
carry on to Eldorado
by pyramids and golden bars
fly the Phoenix from the ashes
beyond the stars,
just a little for you and me
a special love song for you and me
soft lights and flowers
we’ll spend the hours as you’d like them to be
just a little bit for you and me
here comes my tune to fill up your head
the sun and the moon flies over our bed
since time beyond ages the wisest of sages
sees life like you’d like it to be, just a little for you and me
carry on to Eldorado
by pyramids and golden bars
fly the Phoenix from the ashes
beyond the stars,
just a little for you and me
Labels:
love
Sunday, October 12, 2008
house moving
when i was five i saw my friends house
moved from down the street
to the lot behind our house,
there it sat for a lifetime
then five years ago i happened to be driving by
the day they put that house on wheels again
and moved it miles away to the next town,
saw that house come, go out
my old home was torn down years ago,
house, lawn, garage
garden, trees, bushes, everything is gone
the whole thing is an asphalt drive way
stuff comes and it goes
sun goes up, sun goes down
moved from down the street
to the lot behind our house,
there it sat for a lifetime
then five years ago i happened to be driving by
the day they put that house on wheels again
and moved it miles away to the next town,
saw that house come, go out
my old home was torn down years ago,
house, lawn, garage
garden, trees, bushes, everything is gone
the whole thing is an asphalt drive way
stuff comes and it goes
sun goes up, sun goes down
Saturday, October 11, 2008
flew in fast
a bird flew in fast,
landed on a wire
and wiggled to perch there,
as the wire bounced a lot
didn’t look easy, looked dangerous
considering how high up, how far the fall
how embarrassing it would be,
I’d say that bird was skillful
and you’d say,
aw, that’s nothing.
oh, really?
well, you try it
Addendum & Errata -
Why me worry?
So, I spend time worrying if I should use three stanzas in four lines, or three stanzas in three lines. This sort of thing can use two or three hours of my time, maybe several days. Not all at once, of course. I have to worry a while, then walk around and do something else, then come back and nothing has changed so I worry some more. Hey, I do my best, take my time, and worry when it doesn't feel right. For me feeling is what it's all about.
landed on a wire
and wiggled to perch there,
as the wire bounced a lot
didn’t look easy, looked dangerous
considering how high up, how far the fall
how embarrassing it would be,
I’d say that bird was skillful
and you’d say,
aw, that’s nothing.
oh, really?
well, you try it
Addendum & Errata -
Why me worry?
So, I spend time worrying if I should use three stanzas in four lines, or three stanzas in three lines. This sort of thing can use two or three hours of my time, maybe several days. Not all at once, of course. I have to worry a while, then walk around and do something else, then come back and nothing has changed so I worry some more. Hey, I do my best, take my time, and worry when it doesn't feel right. For me feeling is what it's all about.
Friday, October 10, 2008
bury me deep
bury me deep in your heart
draw me faintly without a face
make soft lines far apart
keep me hidden without trace
use colors bright as autumn
in lighting right, no doubt
when you near completion smile easy
leave some space to sign me out
draw me faintly without a face
make soft lines far apart
keep me hidden without trace
use colors bright as autumn
in lighting right, no doubt
when you near completion smile easy
leave some space to sign me out
Thursday, October 09, 2008
have i told you
have i told you
you make me smile
in oh so many ways,
dear silly thing
from morning’s dew,
each long day through
you are the dream
of my heart
i can hold you
let me enfold you,
please, be the one,
dear love of mine
you make me smile
in oh so many ways,
dear silly thing
from morning’s dew,
each long day through
you are the dream
of my heart
i can hold you
let me enfold you,
please, be the one,
dear love of mine
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
poetry au jus
sample poetry au jus
whipped up fast and free
add a dash of rhyme
simmer all slowly
pitter-pattering like the rain
keep from dribbling down your chin
add a spoonful for your brain
remember, use your napkin
you may have to use a straw
if it starts to run too loose
above all, don’t get any on you, it makes a tasty stain
you silly goose
whipped up fast and free
add a dash of rhyme
simmer all slowly
pitter-pattering like the rain
keep from dribbling down your chin
add a spoonful for your brain
remember, use your napkin
you may have to use a straw
if it starts to run too loose
above all, don’t get any on you, it makes a tasty stain
you silly goose
Labels:
poems on poetry
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
call to the past
In an out of the way small town restaurant I noticed a fellow at another table having breakfast and when he stood up something about his long face and old jacket reminded me of Kit Carson. I’d recently seen a picture of Carson on the Internet.
Doc Holiday, then Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill, the Earps, the James, the Clantons, a whole string of names began to run through my head. I sipped coffee and looked through the window toward a field and wooded area beyond as my mind skipped along like a blowing tumbleweed.
listen to the roar of their guns
on the plains
in my head
something i know about
from something i’ve read
of the Sackets, then Gus and Cal
and the real heroes of their time
when cowboys roamed the plains,
trains ran new on the long way west,
Indians had freedom, straight arrows and power,
Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Geronimo
slow rolling wagons carried settlers over ruts
as buffalo roamed through clouds of dust,
bound by rawhide, rope and dime novels,
bittersweet on a tough line
camp fires to build, meals to fix
new trails opened, then road upon
to wherever the river or next mountain valley leads
their lonely song - a mournful lullaby
song by cowpokes, scouts and others,
names like Bowie, Boone and Crocket, Williams,
Stevens, Whitman, Tabor, Bonneville,
Sacajawea, Carson, Pike, Fremont,
Smith, Clark, Lewis, Colter, Hickok
Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane
legends
one and all
live on in memory and yarns
thanks to fine story tellers like Louis L’amour
and Larry McMurtry
along with other names on those trails,
carved in trees, scratched on stone,
spinners of the tales,
told over open fires on starry nights
weavers of the dreams
that keep them
rolling on in our minds and along through the old west
Doc Holiday, then Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill, the Earps, the James, the Clantons, a whole string of names began to run through my head. I sipped coffee and looked through the window toward a field and wooded area beyond as my mind skipped along like a blowing tumbleweed.
listen to the roar of their guns
on the plains
in my head
something i know about
from something i’ve read
of the Sackets, then Gus and Cal
and the real heroes of their time
when cowboys roamed the plains,
trains ran new on the long way west,
Indians had freedom, straight arrows and power,
Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Geronimo
slow rolling wagons carried settlers over ruts
as buffalo roamed through clouds of dust,
bound by rawhide, rope and dime novels,
bittersweet on a tough line
camp fires to build, meals to fix
new trails opened, then road upon
to wherever the river or next mountain valley leads
their lonely song - a mournful lullaby
song by cowpokes, scouts and others,
names like Bowie, Boone and Crocket, Williams,
Stevens, Whitman, Tabor, Bonneville,
Sacajawea, Carson, Pike, Fremont,
Smith, Clark, Lewis, Colter, Hickok
Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane
legends
one and all
live on in memory and yarns
thanks to fine story tellers like Louis L’amour
and Larry McMurtry
along with other names on those trails,
carved in trees, scratched on stone,
spinners of the tales,
told over open fires on starry nights
weavers of the dreams
that keep them
rolling on in our minds and along through the old west
Monday, October 06, 2008
Z. and caring
Captain Z. was in town
we left his freighter in Cleveland
and brought the Polish Captain home with us
that night we Skyped Poland,
a visual conference call with his wife and son
as we sat around the table and talked
oh, technology
first thing in the morning
October crisp day began
She’s working in the garden already, Z. said
no, I replied, this is not work for her
though it appears so and She does it everyday
it is caring, She is caring for the plants.
if there is justice in the heavens,
the plants appreciate and are loving her as well
we left his freighter in Cleveland
and brought the Polish Captain home with us
that night we Skyped Poland,
a visual conference call with his wife and son
as we sat around the table and talked
oh, technology
first thing in the morning
October crisp day began
She’s working in the garden already, Z. said
no, I replied, this is not work for her
though it appears so and She does it everyday
it is caring, She is caring for the plants.
if there is justice in the heavens,
the plants appreciate and are loving her as well
Sunday, October 05, 2008
why didn't i notice?
why is major media
biased, controlled, blind and out of mind with us?
they speak so hard,
what happened to education? what happened?
should I get a tattoo, and pierced,
wear hats backwards,
then yell kick butt,
cause we’re number one?
did i grow up around such fear,
violence hatred, stupidity and complacency?
was it because i was young and busy
that i didn’t notice us crumble?
biased, controlled, blind and out of mind with us?
they speak so hard,
what happened to education? what happened?
should I get a tattoo, and pierced,
wear hats backwards,
then yell kick butt,
cause we’re number one?
did i grow up around such fear,
violence hatred, stupidity and complacency?
was it because i was young and busy
that i didn’t notice us crumble?
Saturday, October 04, 2008
luck runs
luck runs with you or against
it follows in life’s clatter
how you take it or leave it
really doesn’t matter
at times you seem to hear it
or it comes silent on the wind
when good arrives we’re happy
the other we’d rescind
since good and bad both happen
try not to let it matter,
for it often turns to good, you see
or perhaps the latter
it follows in life’s clatter
how you take it or leave it
really doesn’t matter
at times you seem to hear it
or it comes silent on the wind
when good arrives we’re happy
the other we’d rescind
since good and bad both happen
try not to let it matter,
for it often turns to good, you see
or perhaps the latter
Friday, October 03, 2008
diamonds in her hair
one at a time,
each step she takes,
diamonds in her hair
there ought’a be
her gracious swings
for all the would-be kings,
moon light talkers on the sideline
you know there’d be
it’s sweet beings like her
that comfort dreams
for many men like me, every time
or so it seems
delicious lips
unveiled in smiles
somewhere
I want to be
each step she takes,
diamonds in her hair
there ought’a be
her gracious swings
for all the would-be kings,
moon light talkers on the sideline
you know there’d be
it’s sweet beings like her
that comfort dreams
for many men like me, every time
or so it seems
delicious lips
unveiled in smiles
somewhere
I want to be
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Canadian Geese
black and white on the field of cut corn
amid apparent disorder
they walk in circles, rest and feed a bit
some chatter among them
until well after dawn they at once rise off the ground
swiftly crossing cold morning sky, sailing strong and fine
onward flapping in V-formation,
hear their calls when they pass
overhead as large wings beat
Canadian geese on flight so grand
amid apparent disorder
they walk in circles, rest and feed a bit
some chatter among them
until well after dawn they at once rise off the ground
swiftly crossing cold morning sky, sailing strong and fine
onward flapping in V-formation,
hear their calls when they pass
overhead as large wings beat
Canadian geese on flight so grand
bailout 3
You can't convince me that Congress really knows what they are voting on.
Individuals are getting a quick explanation from someone they trust and hope it's the right thing to do.
Why can't they take more time to figure this out? Hundreds of billions is a lot of money.
Individuals are getting a quick explanation from someone they trust and hope it's the right thing to do.
Why can't they take more time to figure this out? Hundreds of billions is a lot of money.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
bailout 2nd try
Congressman Ron Paul is against the bailout.
I believe in Congressman Ron Paul.
When has anything been thought out well
in a week? Even my crappy little poetry
usually takes longer than that.
I believe in Congressman Ron Paul.
When has anything been thought out well
in a week? Even my crappy little poetry
usually takes longer than that.
protect and serve
in little towns they hide
and wait to trap
oncoming cars may flash their lights
to alert you
i thought my friend was paranoid
when he told me about it
beads of sweat on his forehead
he seemed nervous
they sit secluded day after day
in different spots
on corners, behind tall bushes
hiding low in their squad cars
you can see the top of their heads
they sit with sun glasses on
watching for you to slip up
so they can nail your ass
and maybe they ought to
you probably deserve it
and, anyway
they need the money
and wait to trap
oncoming cars may flash their lights
to alert you
i thought my friend was paranoid
when he told me about it
beads of sweat on his forehead
he seemed nervous
they sit secluded day after day
in different spots
on corners, behind tall bushes
hiding low in their squad cars
you can see the top of their heads
they sit with sun glasses on
watching for you to slip up
so they can nail your ass
and maybe they ought to
you probably deserve it
and, anyway
they need the money
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
not a dry well
it’s not a dry well.
they gathered around the hole
there was nothing much to see
so they stood around
five or six guys chatting anxiously
the women on the porch talkin’ over tea
what do you mean, not dry?, one asked
we’re only down sixty-five feet, it’s moist
it’s going to take a while
i think eighty at least before we hit water
we have to check the bit and see if it’s okay
that’s some hard rock we’re going through
the rains are gone for now
he turned his collar against the chill wind,
the dog lifted it’s chin a sniffed the air
as the drill started up again
they gathered around the hole
there was nothing much to see
so they stood around
five or six guys chatting anxiously
the women on the porch talkin’ over tea
what do you mean, not dry?, one asked
we’re only down sixty-five feet, it’s moist
it’s going to take a while
i think eighty at least before we hit water
we have to check the bit and see if it’s okay
that’s some hard rock we’re going through
the rains are gone for now
he turned his collar against the chill wind,
the dog lifted it’s chin a sniffed the air
as the drill started up again
Monday, September 29, 2008
before October
here, two days before October
dark green frog Herb sits
under the board that crosses the pond,
he’s quiet, but okay
collecting thoughts
haven’t seen him for a month
although I’ve looked every day
must be the season to lie low,
has another month before hibernation
so I think, but I don’t know
dark green frog Herb sits
under the board that crosses the pond,
he’s quiet, but okay
collecting thoughts
haven’t seen him for a month
although I’ve looked every day
must be the season to lie low,
has another month before hibernation
so I think, but I don’t know
Labels:
poems with frogs
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