all night out of phase
waves broke air bubbles
that cracked and crunched
i thought it was shore rocks
sliding in and out
in the morning i saw few rocks, mostly sand
it was the power of water
of air grinding, popping
let’s harness that power
poetry - jack sender - all of my life
on our way training down
south of roma, south of napoli
the pearl of the med
to get sand in our shoes
a sleepy place with nothing going on
after three days we’ll be friends with the guy who drives the local bus to town where the pizza is good
we’ll be there
with no net, no kidding, and too cold to swim
but the hotel remembers us
not actually, of course, unless they have chips
this one doesn’t even have rice crispies
something for the kids of the future to look forward to
chips implanted in hotels so it remembers you
“Oh, not you again, you little...”
back in this time warp
we like carolina, she’s the polish worker
she will be the only one there
the old lady has something with the bones in her foot
can’t get shoes on and won’t be there
we’ll be the only guests
our terrace is large
right on the beach
nothing to do
a tv in the lobby, hardly on
only the lapping of the mediterranean
on and on, rolling back and forth
dragging rocks on the shore
space to read, write, draw and observe
then while walking the shore
looking far off, out to sea or toward the clouds
i’ll think of you
if we could stuff basketballs
soar way over the rim and drop it in
we’d make millions on a two year contract
pose for picture so countless others
could hang it on their wall
sign an autograph if we had to
have a driver take us around
get the best seats everywhere
and get all the drugs we need before we have to
leave our place in the sun for a few days to testify
1952 audrey hepburn and gregory peck filmed roman holiday
that was good, however
mary kate and ashley olsen's movie
when in rome , filmed in 2002
was meridith's international film debut
they shot a scene on our street, via dei cappellari
where the girls walked by
at the same time meri stuck her head out of our window
to see what was going on down there
and is clearly seen for one second in the film
she did it in one take
without a rehearsal or makeup
and they didn't even have to ask her to look out the window
when they send the first million
we'll split it with you
(you notice i've got my hand on it already)
day starts quickly
without hesitation
the orange ball is up, on its way
for another loop through the heavens
i rapid shower and dress
my wet hair’s a mess
an hour swiftly passed, no more
coffee down, i’m out the door
silent-trance bus riders
in blank, unblinking stare
look ahead, deep, slow eyed and unseeing
haunting with their faces
seated facing me was one of those
of the impermeable, inpenetrable void
not knowing
just there
set in icy stone
an uncaring, unforgiving dead grim gaze
born of fear and oppression
passed by generations
that witnessed gladiators fight to the death
sons turn cold
and heretics burn at the stake
a locked down scowl that will out wait hell
refuses happiness exists, or hope a possibility
moments before her stop
she mysteriously transported herself
from the dark ages to the modern era
having readjusted her face, she left the bus
a ball of rubbish
the size of texas
is floating in the sea
it’s not science fiction
who’s cleaning this up?
not you, not me
the little woman is telling me
a writer’s life’s too narrow
sighted only on what he can see
i see it like a winged sparrow
while the powerful princess whacks away
i’ve got to write my own, you see
let’s lift our hats to the writers work
without the mcmurtrys where would we be
the saga ends all to soon
give me the great stories and actors to play
winter’s gone, it’s nearly june
be content writers know what to say
the words fly on like a wounded sparrow
as thought lines soar, rush and dart
nearly downed by the random arrow
coming to rest, so near the heart
i’ll labor on long as i am able
the ship goes down while runs the rat
i hear her say, “supper’s on the table”
now tell me, how’d she do that?
the first saturday of the month the italian senate is open for visitors
we waited in line forty-five minutes in light rain
this former residence where the government works
is palazzo madama
built upon the ancient baths of nero
the palace was completed in 1505 for the medici family
two medici cardinals who later became popes lived here
the painter caravaggio worked and lived here for five years
the large stone structure was redone again in 1650
four stories with hundreds of rooms
the enterior is elaborate, ornately decorated in the period and splendid
both government houses meet and many have their offices here
the corridors are long, the ceilings high and ornate
impressive is the large chamber where the senate convenes
we saw it from above in the audience gallery
that chamber is on the tv news every week
it was a nice change of pace to be in the seat of the government
all we had to do was wait patiently in a light rain
what i mean is
talking with egos
nearly the same, isn’t it
to review (and avoid confusion)
eggos were some artificial egg food
leggos are toys to build with
and egos are yet to be determined as to function
although i am quite sure it has
something to do with artificial intelligence
the paris metro to charles de gaulle
packed like i’ve never seen
barely had space to stand
ibid.a.
we got on the metro
just barely cause it was packed
i don’t like to say, but it’s true
we were that old expression
packed like canned fish
it was rush hour and we were rushing
to the airport
those poor people who do it everyday
are at their limit
there are too many of us
at the airport we got in easily
ibid.b.
saw a couple of old farts
standing outside smoking
before entering the terminal
don’t they know better?
how in the hell do they
expect to live forever?
our flight was delayed
the number of people in the waiting area
was more than i’ve ever, ever seen
i went down to the restroom
entered the air france first class lounge
had a fine coffee
pocketed a set off cookies to share with meri
took off late
sat by the window and heard people ooohh
when we flew over the alps
the lady in front of me took about
eight flash photos into the sun
before she turned off the flash
i then saw the L-like where land went west to france and south to italy and roma
coming in we circled around roma
the vatican stood up like an ice cream cone
then we swung over the turquoise med
came in and landed
this morning at nine we left for the airport in paris
at five p.m. we were in our roma apartment
it took nine hours for a less than two hour flight
the eagle has landed
and will sleep in his own bed tonight
a lot to see
style and art abounds in this city paris
from the top of the arc de triomphe there is quite a view
i’m dipping my morning toast in coffee
thinking about it
initial plans were sketchy but we happened to be
there on the street when the taxi showed up with
my one-time little kid now with a family of his own
everyone has grown
saw, walked, laughed and talked for a couple of days
we flew in, we fly out
they go on their way
while time is always flying
happened so fast
down some city street
a lady hurridly walking by
dropped her reading glasses
seemed to throw them nearly at my feet
as she quickly stopped
bent and reached to retrieve them
she kicked them a little
so they skidded a few feet
back up then kneeling a second time to pick them up
noticing i saw it all
she looked toward me
and half-smiled self consciously
at the impromptu comedy of errors
leisurely viewing the city
coming back from versailles
the bus stopped several times
some people left, while some arrived
still others scampered to change seats
moving like mice in a maze
until all were satisfied
what we had this morning
was a scenic nice ride
two young daughters
charged for travel
kept up with four adults
or we kept up with them
through the d’Orsay museum
yes, the art is great
but so is the most interesting building
then to sacre coeur, mont martre
up and down the metro stairs
so many times, how did they do it?
i know we climbed
three eiffel towers worth
not a whimper, conflict or complaint all day
but unaccustomed to minding the store
the quiet little voices burnt our candles at both ends
one for each of them
back at six p.m.
to take a nap, that’s us
while mom and dad hold the fort
the kids are still going strong
got up early
slowly taking our time
decided not to rush
we’re here, all is fine
after breakfast we began to search for what means paris
out there
larger than we knew
got into it, walked, bused
and the city kept up with us, kept sprawling
so clean, elegant and alive
it does move along
like the rapid seine goes through it
with not buses enough
or artists enough
to paint the whole collage
stately, fluid in motion
needed a mime like marcel marceau
to interpret a bit
how paris is
depends which table you get
if the sun’s in you eyes
or the towers at your back
flew to paris today
under two hours from roma
took longer to and from the airports
missed lucky lindy by eighty-one years
well, didn’t miss him
never knew the guy
lindy was years ahead
but wait, i’m still checking it out
for sure the world is big
when checking the maps
or traveling around you see
there are places on our globe
for everybody
the net and the news and the information
makes it smaller
with more than we need to know
more than anyone can ingest
as exponentially it expands
the good side is that if we each do
our little tiny part to make it better
that good also grows exponentially
there was a time
people dressed for ball games
women in dresses and hats
men wore suits and ties
i was a kid when i saw ted williams
step to the plate at cleveland stadium
that game it was the first pitch he slammed
giving that ball a good-bye ride
uncle pat ran the beer concession
dad took me to see uncle pat
the brits were in roma today for a big soccer game
walking the streets drinking beer
dressed as if for a sleep over
or cleaning the basement
not like it was
the way we do
as times change
we do too
a new flavor in the market today
call it near spring
sun at mid day divides the piazza
leaving something for everyone
with winter run away
warmer air
brings new modes of dress
flowers and vegetables gleam
to outshine each other
new faces, as always
“ciao, jack”
and the regular venders
“ciao pio.”
it’s new air to breathe
“marcella, stai bene?”
a new day, a great day
“tut’okay”
she smiled
“va bene”
va molto bene
five minutes before my appointment
i slip into my shoes and walk over
that’s something positive about living in the inner city
perky dentist helper has been cleaning teeth for fifteen years
does it well
firm, delicate, yet no holds barred
she says do i want gas
talking to me, of course
maybe she was talking to herself
but i heard her plain as day
sure, fill me up
and this rubber scorpion from a sci-fi movie
was plugged over my face
after a while i claimed no affect
and got her to turn up the juice
suddenly dentist appears
fools around doing this and that
then before i know it
he got ready to do a cavity, mine
then pulled out an extra long needle
waved it around and warned this is going to hurt
that’s too bad for someone i thought
then looking around i knew he was talking to me
cause the dentist helper wasn’t there anymore
and i let him drive that thing through my gums
into the dark recesses of my now vibrating skull
the more i develop through life experience
the scarier it gets, i visualize too much
because i see tiny errors in judgment, chinks
in good guys in white hats and white masks armor
the dentist speaks five languages
is known as very skilled
however, as we spoke i suggested
and admittedly knowing nothing about dentistry
perhaps, perhaps, perhaps it would be keen
if he said x per cent of the patients
find the needle into the gums uncomfortable
instead of scaring the shit out ‘a me
by telling me it was “liable to be really painful”
two seconds before ahab rams the harpoon into my skull
no wonder he wears a mask
when i wake these days
for the first moments i’m
definitely cautious with my movements
it’s only mid march
not yet spring, got my socks on now
the last of winter’s holding on, it seems
still dark
when i start
the coffee and computer
there’s a chill in my bones
as i glance toward the window from my chair
to observe the colors of progressing dawn
calmly i’m working on getting up to speed
will get underway soon as i can, but tell me,
it’s frigid these days in the early hours, isn’t it?
and either this year’s colder
or it’s merely another effect
of getting older
terrible times
endless pain, not now
just thinking about
the dentist
whacka, whacka,
whirrr, grrr
a carpenter in my mouth
i'd have to say hi
and i'd get used to it
after a while, i suppose
and talk him out of it
blood everywhere
extraction
it's his secretary confirming the appointment
i heard laughter hidden in her voice
they must know i'm thinking bout it
except for tormenting wind, spattering rain,
foreboding clouds, horrible chill
and a forecast for more
some entries i want to stay out front
the buffalo i wrote 45 years ago and it stands today
it was posted jan 21 on my blog
here is a link to peppy grillo's blog
listen to the words of robert kennedy linked on his blog
note how politics and visions have changed
it didn't use to be money
not when i was a kid
oh, money was the thing for some
not as widely pursued as now
the mothers stayed home
the fathers went to work
we had other things
we had love and family
and stuff we liked to do
other than watching the tv
and the golden rule
you remember that don't you?
do on to others
as you want them to do unto you
old folks kept us in line with a glance
and we respected them
that's how we were taught
and it wasn't bad
we got along
we used to be in this thing
together
hey, i'm just saying
she is worried about my cognitive ability
because i can’t read a menu
i haven’t been able to read a menu for thirty years
ever since john belushi on saturday night live
did that hamburger, cheeseburger, pepsi skit
when i get a menu i want one choice
take it or leave it
i don’t want to sit and read atlas shrugged
if i want something special
i’ll ask for it
“could you give my onions to the cat, please?”
the kiss principle- keep it simple, stupid
let’s remember that
i go to restaurants to eat
when i want to read i’ll go to the library
What is the pope doing playing politics? I understand politics within the church to get elected, but end it there. He’s not a politician on the international scene. In the U.S. there is some kind of division between church and state and I think it should be that way.
Captain Z. is a sea captain, but he doesn’t make hints to Tiger Woods how to putt the ball.
This blob was going to be all poetry and i am crossing the line. Until I get a firm direction I will continue to wander. I am thinking about another blog site for poems, one for art and one for tips on wiping your butt. What am I doing here?
z & company on the road
is quite a show
now you’ve been told
picked us up in bari
took us back to monopoli
a little town on the adriatic
our apartment building was very old
just down the street from z and iwona
the ceilings i estimate as eighteen feet high
tall windows and period furniture were the highlight
narrow stone streets
great vegetables in the outdoor market
the old port was one alley over
quiet as it should be
and full of the local fishing boats
of all kinds and shapes
the italian monterrey was among them
most boats were painted the
traditional blue and white
the nice stone walk around the port
was flat and smooth as the rest of the town
this place has been cared for
we saw it with the locals still there
before the money speculators arrived
friday evening before a big religious ceremony
i stopped at a market
though we are 98 percent vegetarian i
broke our food tradition
bought a ham and cheese sandwich
a chance to enjoy the local cuisine
and was eating it when z. and company arrived
they reminded me it was good friday
as we walked toward the cathedral
to see the local event of the season
i stayed in the back of the group
and ate quickly
stuffing it with both hand
like a squirrel eating a nut
meri walked up front with the group
acting like the sandwich was all my idea
thus assuring her place in the good heaven
i licked my fingers only to rid mayonnaise traces
meri always says
"quit licking your fingers"
but she is not the one with honey
dripping all over
let me clear that up
not all over really
just all over my fingers
and for this
i think my hand is lickable
the soonerable, the betterable
or the honey will be floorable
so, jellylovers
my advice is this
like it or not
lick it or else
i have to be careful now
cause that one i wrote yesterday
had a line that sounded like it came from hallmark
and i almost puked
see i wrote them for a job once forty years ago
wanted to be their poet
they wrote back and said they had one already
must have been the guys mother
(and don’t comment to this blog
that jellylovers is two words and not one
cause i like it that way or i’ll to put
you on my list to)
captain z. and iwona are in italy
drove 20 hours from poland
then called tuesday from bari
where filip’s in school
his phone out of range, end of that tact
after i emailed both he and his son
nothing happened, were we done?
then to the termini
found the trains full
flights too expensive
bus seats were nil
easter week came early this year
we thought we’d spend time
near the adriatic sea, but it fell through
that idea is not going to float
plans mean more than good intentions
this we again learned, again the hard way
meri checked now and found a lower flight fare
made arrangements to leave in the morning by air
so these daily lines i create will pause
be assured it’s for a very good cause
for friends may come, friends may go
it’s better when you see them though
when you get to heaven
you’ll never wait in line
smiles greet you everywhere
all you do is fine
you’ll dress in style, lead the pack
score the winning mark
the family will be filled with amazing joy
always sunday in the park
you can sleep in every morning
of that there is do doubt
mealtime means seconds of everything
and they don’t have sour kraut
(be sure to thank god for that)
whle i was talking on the phone
meri made me a hot drink in a large cup
i thought it was tea
terrible tea
too strong
lousy taste
after the phone call finished
i got up to put honey in it
she said, “don’t” it was coffee, not tea
ninety percent of the time we drink italian coffee
this was american style coffee
hey, the cup was big and it looked dark
just like strong tea
what a revelation
how powerfully the mind imagines
it was the worst, strongest tea ever
but it was fine coffee
i had it again ten hours later
and it was still good coffee
how can i be old and still be learning?
now i'll learned to pay attention to her
while i'm talking on the phone to someone else
the trash is piling up
it's floating in the sea
clean fresh water is running out
we need clean water to drink
the world population has
doubled in my lifetime
do we care about our children
media doesn't speak all of the truths
money is leading globalization
we think what is lost
depends what it costs
the weather is close to perfect
the runners say it’s a great way to see the city
non-stop tv coverage for the three hour event
features spectacular helicopter views
we go out to yell encouragement to the runners
then watch the rest on tv
the day before we saw roma our favorite way
on a bus ride, and while passing piazza del popolo
crowds of kilted scotch fans were walking along
drinking beer in preparation for a big rugby match
as we crossed a bridge over the tevere i mentioned,
"I've been here on my motorino."
there was a pause
my dear one was surprised and perplexed
"What? You've been hearing your motorino?
In your sleep, or can you hear it now?
Like a ringing in your ears?”
that was a frightening thought
since i had gotten rid of my motorino a few years ago
"No, I said, I've been here, on my motorino."