Author Henry Miller said if one believes, then miracles happen. I don’t think you have to believe; I think it is up to us to pay attention to recognize when they occur.
today as i drove from a side road
a mile down a major heavy traffic area
at forty-five miles and hour
things went my way
through a dozen green traffic lights without pause
then onto the freeway when
it occurred to me
there is a divine something
the lights changing for me
didn’t happen by chance
luck is not in my repertoire
don’t believe in accidents
it had nothing to do with diligence or hard work
i was aware it was divine intervention,
no idea why the sudden miracle, i must have been due
haven’t changed my life style for doodley
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
robin's
robins and robin’s sons
from sun to sun, year to year
and the little bird girls too
have known our ways for generations
they fear us less
cause we live here too
we’re practically furniture
to fly around
and they keep returning
the same extended family
pecking around as we pass by
they don’t startle now and fly away
worms they want
and worms they’ll find
insects too, for the little ones
breed ‘em
feed, em
keep out of the way
teach them to find their own food
it’s robin’s work
in a robin’s day
it's a robin's world
from sun to sun, year to year
and the little bird girls too
have known our ways for generations
they fear us less
cause we live here too
we’re practically furniture
to fly around
and they keep returning
the same extended family
pecking around as we pass by
they don’t startle now and fly away
worms they want
and worms they’ll find
insects too, for the little ones
breed ‘em
feed, em
keep out of the way
teach them to find their own food
it’s robin’s work
in a robin’s day
it's a robin's world
Sunday, May 24, 2009
best of both worlds
best of both worlds
it could be that way
as some perceive
as some friends say
for we spend time there
and some time here,
whether far or near
rapidly goes another year
as Romans have
a summer country home
so we do we, only ours
is in another country
it could be that way
as some perceive
as some friends say
for we spend time there
and some time here,
whether far or near
rapidly goes another year
as Romans have
a summer country home
so we do we, only ours
is in another country
quiet of the weekend
quiet of the weekend
final page of another week
turn out in comfortable clothes
stay at home chores present themselves
a pause from our regular endeavors
regroup to do it again
be thankful for what we have
mark it all down in the good
final page of another week
turn out in comfortable clothes
stay at home chores present themselves
a pause from our regular endeavors
regroup to do it again
be thankful for what we have
mark it all down in the good
Saturday, May 23, 2009
eyes down
five minutes to home
she found an odd button
that we put in the jar
for such things
her eyes to the ground
everywhere we go
oh, what she’s found
the jars are filling
she’s found money, buttons, badges,
chain, earrings, hair clips,
combs, pendants, knobs, hats, balls, t-shirts
and kittens in a tree
flying back this time
she stood up in the isle
bent down, picked up a quarter
others didn’t see
no matter where we are
don’t have to ask or remind her
whatever i need, i wait a bit,
she’ll find it
she found an odd button
that we put in the jar
for such things
her eyes to the ground
everywhere we go
oh, what she’s found
the jars are filling
she’s found money, buttons, badges,
chain, earrings, hair clips,
combs, pendants, knobs, hats, balls, t-shirts
and kittens in a tree
flying back this time
she stood up in the isle
bent down, picked up a quarter
others didn’t see
no matter where we are
don’t have to ask or remind her
whatever i need, i wait a bit,
she’ll find it
Labels:
practically science
Friday, May 22, 2009
pond again
late May turns warmer
on the verge of mosquitoes
June bugs, and dragon flies,
fat dove on the roof of my lab
observes a moment, then is gone,
very small bunny running,
eating, playing, sitting, testing his speed
then a long day working robin,
always first one up, last one down,
swoops in,
scares the bunny up to speed again
Herb the frog stays center pond
makes his noise
we repeat it,
taking in nature
from lawn chairs
on the side line
on the verge of mosquitoes
June bugs, and dragon flies,
fat dove on the roof of my lab
observes a moment, then is gone,
very small bunny running,
eating, playing, sitting, testing his speed
then a long day working robin,
always first one up, last one down,
swoops in,
scares the bunny up to speed again
Herb the frog stays center pond
makes his noise
we repeat it,
taking in nature
from lawn chairs
on the side line
Thursday, May 21, 2009
steve
Steve works on our car
has a garage down the street
always busy when i slip in there
yet calm, relaxed and competent
wiping his hands on a rag as
we chat a bit
his manner lends ease to his customers
as does his assuredness that
problems will be rectified
it is a pleasure to do business with
the man who’s smile is genuine
and his comfort contagious
i don’t mind paying
for good service
has a garage down the street
always busy when i slip in there
yet calm, relaxed and competent
wiping his hands on a rag as
we chat a bit
his manner lends ease to his customers
as does his assuredness that
problems will be rectified
it is a pleasure to do business with
the man who’s smile is genuine
and his comfort contagious
i don’t mind paying
for good service
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
your life
how you live your life
what you do with your time
is your business to work on, kid
all yours, i’ve got mine
i try to be a good example
it’s what i mean to do
show you what’s right, and hold you tight
i know you’ll make it through
i wish and hope the very best
you know, honey, i do
but it’s not me that’s living your life
it’s all yours, babe, and your life’s up to you
what you do with your time
is your business to work on, kid
all yours, i’ve got mine
i try to be a good example
it’s what i mean to do
show you what’s right, and hold you tight
i know you’ll make it through
i wish and hope the very best
you know, honey, i do
but it’s not me that’s living your life
it’s all yours, babe, and your life’s up to you
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
cheese in china
last week M said
she wanted to go to china alone
a couple of months in the outback
or whatever it’s called
away from the cities
without a tour
to see the village folk
what they do
how they dress, what they’re eating
so many of them in so much country
and when M’s sister calls to speak with her
i’ll say she’s in China
and her sister will ask,
“...What about cheese
in China?”
she wanted to go to china alone
a couple of months in the outback
or whatever it’s called
away from the cities
without a tour
to see the village folk
what they do
how they dress, what they’re eating
so many of them in so much country
and when M’s sister calls to speak with her
i’ll say she’s in China
and her sister will ask,
“...What about cheese
in China?”
Sunday, May 17, 2009
this train
nights are colder
now i’m older
it doesn’t surprise me
not a little bit
my ticket’s stamped
years ago in blue frosty snow
on a long forgotten train
when it was i can’t recall
no memories remain
i bet the wind knows
every haunting refrain
the old metal whistle blows
how much longer i ride
before my fare expires on this line
sure could use a sleeper and a diner car
the engineer’s a friend of mine
now i’m older
it doesn’t surprise me
not a little bit
my ticket’s stamped
years ago in blue frosty snow
on a long forgotten train
when it was i can’t recall
no memories remain
i bet the wind knows
every haunting refrain
the old metal whistle blows
how much longer i ride
before my fare expires on this line
sure could use a sleeper and a diner car
the engineer’s a friend of mine
the robinses
their new nest where last year's was
on the top of the trellis by a corner of our house
three eggs, one already hatched
if we walk near it disturbs the elders
mother leaves and father warms and watches
or mother waits and father picks up food for all
the hardest working birds are robins
and it’s just begun
another month and the
youngsters will be hoping in the yard
parents will instruct how to find food
kids start slowly, but they learn
on the top of the trellis by a corner of our house
three eggs, one already hatched
if we walk near it disturbs the elders
mother leaves and father warms and watches
or mother waits and father picks up food for all
the hardest working birds are robins
and it’s just begun
another month and the
youngsters will be hoping in the yard
parents will instruct how to find food
kids start slowly, but they learn
Saturday, May 16, 2009
our way
Though at times it appears that way, this is not a diary, it’s a simple poetry blog (I like simple). Here’s one from Roma.
First, a writers comment: You know, when I read my stuff, I want it to run right along. If it meanders a bit for a reason, that's okay too.
our way
down our street
not even a street
a cobblestone alley
way – call it a way
down our way thirty seconds
we’re into the nearly on the corner bar Juliano’s
jeeze he has a happy face when we come in
thirty-something, thin and fit, always in a t-shirt
he and his charming wife run the place
we took position
on the tall wooden backless bar stools
not cozy, but we weren’t moving in
we came for a couple of quick glasses of wine
well, not quick
glasses of wine in Roma aren’t quick
not now, nor have they ever been
Juliano always recommends an
Italian red something we never heard of
and we partook
under soft amber light, sipped in slow time
mulling the day, how it played
no crowd as yet, nearly dinner hour
hardly a sound
we looked around, noted every thing
including paintings on the wall
oh boy, not much there
and no rush for us
we ordered a second glass
would you like to try something different?
no, grazie, the same
and thusly an hour slid along the bar
dropped on the floor
skid out the door, it did
thusly time went by the wayside
and we followed it home
I do tell, it was swell
First, a writers comment: You know, when I read my stuff, I want it to run right along. If it meanders a bit for a reason, that's okay too.
our way
down our street
not even a street
a cobblestone alley
way – call it a way
down our way thirty seconds
we’re into the nearly on the corner bar Juliano’s
jeeze he has a happy face when we come in
thirty-something, thin and fit, always in a t-shirt
he and his charming wife run the place
we took position
on the tall wooden backless bar stools
not cozy, but we weren’t moving in
we came for a couple of quick glasses of wine
well, not quick
glasses of wine in Roma aren’t quick
not now, nor have they ever been
Juliano always recommends an
Italian red something we never heard of
and we partook
under soft amber light, sipped in slow time
mulling the day, how it played
no crowd as yet, nearly dinner hour
hardly a sound
we looked around, noted every thing
including paintings on the wall
oh boy, not much there
and no rush for us
we ordered a second glass
would you like to try something different?
no, grazie, the same
and thusly an hour slid along the bar
dropped on the floor
skid out the door, it did
thusly time went by the wayside
and we followed it home
I do tell, it was swell
Friday, May 15, 2009
gate 20
on our way to gate 20 in terminal A
we kept walking up and down
couldn’t find it
street numbers in Italy you expect to be hard to find
in some areas households choose their own number
any number they want
I’m going to call mine 007
in more orderly areas numbers run consecutively
with one side of the street independent of the other
so the 300 block could be across from the 700 block
odds on one side, even on the other, sometimes
finding a gate in the air terminal should be easy
after much looking
determining gate 20 wasn’t there,
we asked
a worker said it was not in terminal A
it was downstairs in the new terminal AA
A..A ?
in twenty years i’ve never heard an Italian stutter
there must be another malady to compensate for this lack
I’m sure it has something to do with numbering
will the next new terminal be AAA?
I’ll drink to that
or drive to it
we kept walking up and down
couldn’t find it
street numbers in Italy you expect to be hard to find
in some areas households choose their own number
any number they want
I’m going to call mine 007
in more orderly areas numbers run consecutively
with one side of the street independent of the other
so the 300 block could be across from the 700 block
odds on one side, even on the other, sometimes
finding a gate in the air terminal should be easy
after much looking
determining gate 20 wasn’t there,
we asked
a worker said it was not in terminal A
it was downstairs in the new terminal AA
A..A ?
in twenty years i’ve never heard an Italian stutter
there must be another malady to compensate for this lack
I’m sure it has something to do with numbering
will the next new terminal be AAA?
I’ll drink to that
or drive to it
second glance
Thanks to each of you for your participation in the comments section of this blog. Your words are encouragement.
The well hasn't run dry, there's more to do and say - poems, like the next hitters in the line up, are waiting on deck for a chance at the plate, but appease me a bit, today i wish to return to the core
The well hasn't run dry, there's more to do and say - poems, like the next hitters in the line up, are waiting on deck for a chance at the plate, but appease me a bit, today i wish to return to the core
Thursday, May 14, 2009
goodbye roma
goodbye roma
i’ve had it with you
and might miss you
maybe after a while
cause you bother me
abuse and take me for granted
crowd me on your buses
push in front of me every time
i get in line
treat me with no regard
and when i’ve reached my limit
then you make fresh pasta
and tasty pizza
your wine’s good too
did i say i like your cheese?
i’ve had it with you
and might miss you
maybe after a while
cause you bother me
abuse and take me for granted
crowd me on your buses
push in front of me every time
i get in line
treat me with no regard
and when i’ve reached my limit
then you make fresh pasta
and tasty pizza
your wine’s good too
did i say i like your cheese?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
one size fits all
to the airport
saw a crowd of dignitaries
military and police flood a special gate
Prince Charles came and left earlier this week
wasn’t him
tom hanks and ron howard were in town the other day
in the lounge it was me
and an old fart man
wearing a dorkhead teal mesh golf cap
as he stared into space
coughed
no, he didn’t cover his mouth
then saw me looking at him
as he sat there
with his drooling mouth hung open
I looked at him, he looked at me
just like prince Charles, we were waiting
for a plane
saw a crowd of dignitaries
military and police flood a special gate
Prince Charles came and left earlier this week
wasn’t him
tom hanks and ron howard were in town the other day
in the lounge it was me
and an old fart man
wearing a dorkhead teal mesh golf cap
as he stared into space
coughed
no, he didn’t cover his mouth
then saw me looking at him
as he sat there
with his drooling mouth hung open
I looked at him, he looked at me
just like prince Charles, we were waiting
for a plane
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
welcome to america
I.
“good evening
welcome to our flight
all passengers must be seated”
that seemed reasonable to me
then she said, “here’s how
to buckle your seat belt”
II.
i saw a guy who looked like Jonathan, my son
i told my wife, who saw
only a slight resemblance, and shrugged
i told her not to worry
it’s not like robins
i can tell one from the other
III.
i was in the supermarket thirty seconds
when a lady came within three feet of my shopping cart
with her shopping cart
and apologized
by the time i looked her way she was gone,
did she think i was packing heat?
“good evening
welcome to our flight
all passengers must be seated”
that seemed reasonable to me
then she said, “here’s how
to buckle your seat belt”
II.
i saw a guy who looked like Jonathan, my son
i told my wife, who saw
only a slight resemblance, and shrugged
i told her not to worry
it’s not like robins
i can tell one from the other
III.
i was in the supermarket thirty seconds
when a lady came within three feet of my shopping cart
with her shopping cart
and apologized
by the time i looked her way she was gone,
did she think i was packing heat?
Monday, May 11, 2009
pitiful degree
I met a man down in Hollywood
I ain't naming names
he really worked me over good
just like Jesse James
(from Poor, Poor Pitiful Me as sung by Linda Ronstadt
written by Warren Zevon)
pitiful degree
my blood is from Poland and the north since forever
normally my body is a degree or two cooler than hers
she is a touch of the Cherokee
I’ll drive the car this morning
she said it is good she’s not
riding a horse to the dentist
it would smell fear
and buck her off
I ain't naming names
he really worked me over good
just like Jesse James
(from Poor, Poor Pitiful Me as sung by Linda Ronstadt
written by Warren Zevon)
pitiful degree
my blood is from Poland and the north since forever
normally my body is a degree or two cooler than hers
she is a touch of the Cherokee
I’ll drive the car this morning
she said it is good she’s not
riding a horse to the dentist
it would smell fear
and buck her off
Sunday, May 10, 2009
ohio morning
Ohio morning rose
by it self today
i didn’t have to help
it was dark when i got up
and forgot the impending first crack of light
as slippered i listened from the porch
doves the only sound,
whatever they say, i’m sure they repeat themselves
i don’t count the way off highway hum
or the leaves rubbing together in a breath of breeze
or were they unfolding to make that noise?
i mean, trees are made compatible
yet may have to stretch and scratch when they wake
so then it was morning,
had coffee and tried in vain to consider
what the heck i’d been dreaming
that had seemed so darn important all night long
i heard Herb the frog say something
and wondered how he slept tucked in cold mud last winter
Ohio is like living in a primitive forest
without the monkeys, giant leaves and tumbling waterfalls
plus, we have a postman
i meant to say practically like living
and if you had to skip back to see what i am talking about
you’re not concentrating hard enough
wake up
and smell the frog
by it self today
i didn’t have to help
it was dark when i got up
and forgot the impending first crack of light
as slippered i listened from the porch
doves the only sound,
whatever they say, i’m sure they repeat themselves
i don’t count the way off highway hum
or the leaves rubbing together in a breath of breeze
or were they unfolding to make that noise?
i mean, trees are made compatible
yet may have to stretch and scratch when they wake
so then it was morning,
had coffee and tried in vain to consider
what the heck i’d been dreaming
that had seemed so darn important all night long
i heard Herb the frog say something
and wondered how he slept tucked in cold mud last winter
Ohio is like living in a primitive forest
without the monkeys, giant leaves and tumbling waterfalls
plus, we have a postman
i meant to say practically like living
and if you had to skip back to see what i am talking about
you’re not concentrating hard enough
wake up
and smell the frog
Saturday, May 09, 2009
four-thirty a.m.
got up to think
about whatever I was dreaming
such a good thought
but couldn’t remember
so I changed my mind
like changing socks, changing a tire
a suit of clothes, walking a wire
clothes on the line
a suit of cards
sew my clothes, trim my nails
bust my balls, change my mind
back to sleep,
suits me fine
need to think
drift the brink
let’s go , Dream Maker
deal me in
about whatever I was dreaming
such a good thought
but couldn’t remember
so I changed my mind
like changing socks, changing a tire
a suit of clothes, walking a wire
clothes on the line
a suit of cards
sew my clothes, trim my nails
bust my balls, change my mind
back to sleep,
suits me fine
need to think
drift the brink
let’s go , Dream Maker
deal me in
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