in my head I still have
my 52 Chevy pickup truck
that i sold fourteen years ago
was the same make and model
as Phil’s who had the gas station
across the street when i was a kid
where we used to play
while he worked on cars
and i rode in the back when he took
his son and i out to the family farm
i found an old truck like it, loved it
got it back like old and new
it ticked, ticked, ticked
so now where do i park it
in my mind?
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Friday, August 07, 2009
leaping leapers - good fortune
i fell, what the hell
washing the car
didn’t fall far
and i rolled
like Batman Senior. jumping out of an airplane
my feet didn’t tangle in the parachute
wasn’t about to break anything on the landing
not with a bucket in the way, not this time
lying on my back wet in driveway water
staying put, looking at the sky, like i oughter
knew i learned my lesson the last time
and that was the - way last time
i figured a clean front fender
wasn’t worth a month in a cast, not again
man, i was computin’ fast
tuck and roll, tuck and roll
now i have to call my friends
tell all the good fortune i’ve captured
or maybe just take a nap instead,
either way, i’m smiling, unfractured
washing the car
didn’t fall far
and i rolled
like Batman Senior. jumping out of an airplane
my feet didn’t tangle in the parachute
wasn’t about to break anything on the landing
not with a bucket in the way, not this time
lying on my back wet in driveway water
staying put, looking at the sky, like i oughter
knew i learned my lesson the last time
and that was the - way last time
i figured a clean front fender
wasn’t worth a month in a cast, not again
man, i was computin’ fast
tuck and roll, tuck and roll
now i have to call my friends
tell all the good fortune i’ve captured
or maybe just take a nap instead,
either way, i’m smiling, unfractured
Thursday, August 06, 2009
direct, indirect
being a direct descendant
of one hundred fifty ten thousand years
off the Polish isles near the bleak Russian tundra
i hugged a widdle blankie over my shoulder
my french/scotch/irish/cherokee bride
on the other hand, spurned all covers
as one born in the boileroom of the boiler making plant
generates her own heat and some for the city of Minneapolis
and for Pittsburgh
of one hundred fifty ten thousand years
off the Polish isles near the bleak Russian tundra
i hugged a widdle blankie over my shoulder
my french/scotch/irish/cherokee bride
on the other hand, spurned all covers
as one born in the boileroom of the boiler making plant
generates her own heat and some for the city of Minneapolis
and for Pittsburgh
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
special on the board
on the board two, scrambled with cheese
get the signal, shake off a menu
heavy hitter Nicky takes my order
try to see the newspaper
down the pipe, over the shoulder of
the guy at the table in front of me
on the board it's three for, two opposed,
the ayes have it, no rain today
on deck, waiting my order, making notes
off the board it’s two flips and a tuck
did a flip back and curl into reality
tasted good, grease is good
I like bacon, sipped coffee,
left a buck ride on the table
am I fit to drive?
get the signal, shake off a menu
heavy hitter Nicky takes my order
try to see the newspaper
down the pipe, over the shoulder of
the guy at the table in front of me
on the board it's three for, two opposed,
the ayes have it, no rain today
on deck, waiting my order, making notes
off the board it’s two flips and a tuck
did a flip back and curl into reality
tasted good, grease is good
I like bacon, sipped coffee,
left a buck ride on the table
am I fit to drive?
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
winky and blinky
winky and blinky out at night
by light of a cheddar moon
laughed til they cried and hung on tight
as they pranced to every tune
hop a diddle they could
crisp and doodle might
doing what they really should
and thusly passed the night
see the hours fly on by
wrapped to the skin in fest
spinning, swimming eye to eye
of course you know the rest
planted on a quiet hill
on the road to the hereafter
some say sometimes when nights are still
you can hear bits of their laughter
by light of a cheddar moon
laughed til they cried and hung on tight
as they pranced to every tune
hop a diddle they could
crisp and doodle might
doing what they really should
and thusly passed the night
see the hours fly on by
wrapped to the skin in fest
spinning, swimming eye to eye
of course you know the rest
planted on a quiet hill
on the road to the hereafter
some say sometimes when nights are still
you can hear bits of their laughter
Monday, August 03, 2009
poetry masters
oh yes, we’ve poetry masters
like America’s Walt Whitman
who thump covered a lot of bases
green waving fields, lightening flashes
blood red and dead gray fallen soldiers
bubbles of crystal clear rippling streams
by farmer’s long faces and torches
on the global sphere mystery and chants
for ten thousand of thousands of years
forward and back leaping
know how times have changed
for all of us
for in all of his words
of roots, songs, joys, and power,
of fury, nomads, nations, legions, submission,
banners, fires burning, pageants
and frost-mellowed berries
in those cherished times of olde
some lonely dim shadowed snowy eve
with walking staff and collar up
Walt never mentioned
stopping on his way home
to pick up a lotto ticket,
pizza with his favorite topping
or a movie
if here now, today
maybe stop for a pizza and a beer
i don't know, don't think he'd own a TV
and, stewards of the earth,
where'd the clear water go
like America’s Walt Whitman
who thump covered a lot of bases
green waving fields, lightening flashes
blood red and dead gray fallen soldiers
bubbles of crystal clear rippling streams
by farmer’s long faces and torches
on the global sphere mystery and chants
for ten thousand of thousands of years
forward and back leaping
know how times have changed
for all of us
for in all of his words
of roots, songs, joys, and power,
of fury, nomads, nations, legions, submission,
banners, fires burning, pageants
and frost-mellowed berries
in those cherished times of olde
some lonely dim shadowed snowy eve
with walking staff and collar up
Walt never mentioned
stopping on his way home
to pick up a lotto ticket,
pizza with his favorite topping
or a movie
if here now, today
maybe stop for a pizza and a beer
i don't know, don't think he'd own a TV
and, stewards of the earth,
where'd the clear water go
Sunday, August 02, 2009
ain't got money
even though we ain’t got money
i’m so in love with you honey
Kenny loggins wrote that near forty years ago
today i heard the anne murray recording
over the speakers at the festival
where the clock seems wound back years
in the heights
a small Ohio town
that managed to stay that way
this morning to the fire station for pancakes
this afternoon a short block walk
from the single village stop light
to a barbeque downtown
like it was
so it remains
small talk
happy voices
familiar faces
a peaceful village
god bless the little towns
i’m so in love with you honey
Kenny loggins wrote that near forty years ago
today i heard the anne murray recording
over the speakers at the festival
where the clock seems wound back years
in the heights
a small Ohio town
that managed to stay that way
this morning to the fire station for pancakes
this afternoon a short block walk
from the single village stop light
to a barbeque downtown
like it was
so it remains
small talk
happy voices
familiar faces
a peaceful village
god bless the little towns
Saturday, August 01, 2009
where'd de go?
no mosquitoes okay
but where’s the lightning bugs
or fireflies, as some say,
but that’s in other parts
not here in humid hot hell
take a breath and sweat
stick to the chair summer
winged beetleful ohio
where’d de go?
gimmie da glow
i wanna know
those delightful iridescent call 'em yellow lightning bugs
but where’s the lightning bugs
or fireflies, as some say,
but that’s in other parts
not here in humid hot hell
take a breath and sweat
stick to the chair summer
winged beetleful ohio
where’d de go?
gimmie da glow
i wanna know
those delightful iridescent call 'em yellow lightning bugs
Thursday, July 30, 2009
da filthy rich
yeah, buddy? you say
you got a million bucks
well that’s just fine
now take a step back in line there, son
we gots us some real money folk comin in
you noticed the world making money
and stealin’ what they have to
well, only out’a necessity, that’s all
i’m telling you, kid
they don’t mean nuthin’ by it
what chew called there?
yeah, you. . . .
oh, that’s fine, now like i say
the rich gets richer
while the rest of you Head Count
is not needed for much of nuthin’
unless is for being
good foot soldiers
we need those, you see
they pick up things on the parade grounds
and i don’t mean jes communicable diseases
hah, hah, pieces of paper and shit like that
an' they can walk in a straight line
an' everything
an' look fine for when
the real important people,
the important people, make their speeches
ya hear me? - don’t chew see?
now step a little closer,
crowd in here,
that’s it
so’s i donze haz ta yell
you got a million bucks
well that’s just fine
now take a step back in line there, son
we gots us some real money folk comin in
you noticed the world making money
and stealin’ what they have to
well, only out’a necessity, that’s all
i’m telling you, kid
they don’t mean nuthin’ by it
what chew called there?
yeah, you. . . .
oh, that’s fine, now like i say
the rich gets richer
while the rest of you Head Count
is not needed for much of nuthin’
unless is for being
good foot soldiers
we need those, you see
they pick up things on the parade grounds
and i don’t mean jes communicable diseases
hah, hah, pieces of paper and shit like that
an' they can walk in a straight line
an' everything
an' look fine for when
the real important people,
the important people, make their speeches
ya hear me? - don’t chew see?
now step a little closer,
crowd in here,
that’s it
so’s i donze haz ta yell
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
nightmare
i know you were renting,
well, your home is our house now
you see, we are going to buy it
would you move out please
wait, what i said last week
forget about it
yeah, cancel the movers
we changed our mind
see if you can get
your deposit back on the new place
oh, and here, this stuff
was in your mailbox
i guess it’s yours again,
most of it’s junk mail anyway
hope you don’t mind,
i clipped out all the coupons
well, your home is our house now
you see, we are going to buy it
would you move out please
wait, what i said last week
forget about it
yeah, cancel the movers
we changed our mind
see if you can get
your deposit back on the new place
oh, and here, this stuff
was in your mailbox
i guess it’s yours again,
most of it’s junk mail anyway
hope you don’t mind,
i clipped out all the coupons
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
when i'm flying
often we pass a certain high tension pole
supporting large power lines
that run for miles over the rolling country side
in mornings, large birds called turkey vultures or buzzards
set on the metal branches with wings partially spread
to dry them from nightly dew
one of the most skilled aviary flyers in the Americas,
these giants have been seen to soar
as long as six hours
without flapping their wings
today on the pinnacle of the tall vertical metal tower
a bird perched, wings fully extended
in it’s full six foot span
gallant as an eagle on an American emblem
seeing that bird atop all, in golden morning light
my wife put words in that wild creature’s beak
when she said,
“this is what i look like when i’m flying.”
at the same time
he whispered to me
“i can soar higher, longer, faster
than you can ever dream.”
supporting large power lines
that run for miles over the rolling country side
in mornings, large birds called turkey vultures or buzzards
set on the metal branches with wings partially spread
to dry them from nightly dew
one of the most skilled aviary flyers in the Americas,
these giants have been seen to soar
as long as six hours
without flapping their wings
today on the pinnacle of the tall vertical metal tower
a bird perched, wings fully extended
in it’s full six foot span
gallant as an eagle on an American emblem
seeing that bird atop all, in golden morning light
my wife put words in that wild creature’s beak
when she said,
“this is what i look like when i’m flying.”
at the same time
he whispered to me
“i can soar higher, longer, faster
than you can ever dream.”
Monday, July 27, 2009
tend your still
words on a note
i know i wrote
cause it was on a piece of paper
in my pocket
couldn’t figure why
i asked her and yes, she said it
that’s why i wrote it down
tend your still
nice words together
i asked what it means
she said it’s what you do
in West Virginia
i know i wrote
cause it was on a piece of paper
in my pocket
couldn’t figure why
i asked her and yes, she said it
that’s why i wrote it down
tend your still
nice words together
i asked what it means
she said it’s what you do
in West Virginia
Sunday, July 26, 2009
three steps
needed house front steps,
didn’t want wood,
in our town it’s normal to call a cement contractor
that’s a guy who has a truck and pours cement
not a problem, i’d call a guy, then another and another
the job to pour three steps was too small to be bothered with
they had big jobs, long driveways to keep them from tiny steps
so i thought and thought - and thought of stone
at the stone quarry they said they could do it,
cut Indiana Blue Sandstone i selected, and deliver it,
set the stone down one , two, three
all i had to do was provide the dimensions for three blocks
three weeks i planned. the first time i measured i thought i had it
a few days later i checked my figures and they were wrong,
so i did it again, three blocks, one, two, three on top of each other
it was many days to get it right.
i had to prepare the ground, no one else would do it,
so I raked, then measured the first block, the second had to fit
back under the wood of the door, and the third
had to be even with the inside floor. one, two, three
on and on i figured stone dimensions, and finally had it right.
the bottom block was largest,
the second and third were equally smaller.
it all would fit, everything tight.
the day they delivered the stone in a large truck with a crane,
they had one block cut wrong by two inches on one side.
I recalculated and told them put them down. one, two, three
in a half hour i had them down and perfect,
you can’t tell they made a cutting error.
now we have our three stone steps
the bottom, the second recessed under the Georgian doorway
the third level with the inside wood floor
come back in two hundred years, you’ll see
the house may be gone,
but the steps will be there
one, two, three
didn’t want wood,
in our town it’s normal to call a cement contractor
that’s a guy who has a truck and pours cement
not a problem, i’d call a guy, then another and another
the job to pour three steps was too small to be bothered with
they had big jobs, long driveways to keep them from tiny steps
so i thought and thought - and thought of stone
at the stone quarry they said they could do it,
cut Indiana Blue Sandstone i selected, and deliver it,
set the stone down one , two, three
all i had to do was provide the dimensions for three blocks
three weeks i planned. the first time i measured i thought i had it
a few days later i checked my figures and they were wrong,
so i did it again, three blocks, one, two, three on top of each other
it was many days to get it right.
i had to prepare the ground, no one else would do it,
so I raked, then measured the first block, the second had to fit
back under the wood of the door, and the third
had to be even with the inside floor. one, two, three
on and on i figured stone dimensions, and finally had it right.
the bottom block was largest,
the second and third were equally smaller.
it all would fit, everything tight.
the day they delivered the stone in a large truck with a crane,
they had one block cut wrong by two inches on one side.
I recalculated and told them put them down. one, two, three
in a half hour i had them down and perfect,
you can’t tell they made a cutting error.
now we have our three stone steps
the bottom, the second recessed under the Georgian doorway
the third level with the inside wood floor
come back in two hundred years, you’ll see
the house may be gone,
but the steps will be there
one, two, three
Saturday, July 25, 2009
dry my tears
dry my tears
in my dreams
i'm in my world
you are you
i may yell
but don’t cry often
hug my fears
then they soften
in my dreams
i'm in my world
you are you
i may yell
but don’t cry often
hug my fears
then they soften
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
M. is going shopping
M. is going shopping at trader joe’s
it’s an hour away
she’s taking me along
and will drop me off at a friend’s
who wants to show me his new bookcase - wow
that’ll take about a minute
so she told me to start now
to write down as many questions
about bookcases
that I can think of
it’s an hour away
she’s taking me along
and will drop me off at a friend’s
who wants to show me his new bookcase - wow
that’ll take about a minute
so she told me to start now
to write down as many questions
about bookcases
that I can think of
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
4:09 a.m.
when I wake
in the middle of the night
as I often do,
should I listen with headphones
to radio reports on the BBC
or listen instead to the silence
and think my own thoughts?
in the middle of the night
as I often do,
should I listen with headphones
to radio reports on the BBC
or listen instead to the silence
and think my own thoughts?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
check out time
quite a morning breeze
that knocked down
her favorite dark red hollyhocks
while she was looking
out the kitchen window
then she saw it leap
through the flowers
in blowing rain and heavy winds
that came for hours and hours
one more frog followed the exit sign
one more for the road
leaving only a pair
out there
a boy frog
and his girlfrog friend
loving right down
to the very end
that knocked down
her favorite dark red hollyhocks
while she was looking
out the kitchen window
then she saw it leap
through the flowers
in blowing rain and heavy winds
that came for hours and hours
one more frog followed the exit sign
one more for the road
leaving only a pair
out there
a boy frog
and his girlfrog friend
loving right down
to the very end
Sunday, July 19, 2009
as luck would have it
as luck would have it
an expression that grew because others
recognized it, picked it up and rolled with it,
it became a part of the vernacular
so, as luck did have it, seven old friends
happened together for an afternoon
to laugh and compare
review and declare
five friends stopped by our home
fifty years ago five of us were in that summer,
that particular time of our young lives,
before our first year of high school began
if we could have fed our friends
and wrapped them in blankets
they would have stayed all night
however, on improvisation we did okay
mark it as a day well done
in light drink, snacks, long talk and laughter
pile this onto our stack of pleasant memories
of life worth living - good fortune for us
an expression that grew because others
recognized it, picked it up and rolled with it,
it became a part of the vernacular
so, as luck did have it, seven old friends
happened together for an afternoon
to laugh and compare
review and declare
five friends stopped by our home
fifty years ago five of us were in that summer,
that particular time of our young lives,
before our first year of high school began
if we could have fed our friends
and wrapped them in blankets
they would have stayed all night
however, on improvisation we did okay
mark it as a day well done
in light drink, snacks, long talk and laughter
pile this onto our stack of pleasant memories
of life worth living - good fortune for us
Saturday, July 18, 2009
the whittler
sun shines on a small diner
built a century past
on what is still a quiet off street
in the little town
we enter, take a table
the business is slow
two quiet women are at one table
three happy workers lunch at the counter
they are having a good old time
we hear the youngest tells the others
he is going to whittle this weekend
then shows his new large very sharp pocket knife
they all marvel
then the older says what ever you do
be sure you don’t cut off your thumb
of course not, the younger says, but why say that?
cause the guy says, you’re going to need it
to pick up your finger
much laughter filled the room
built a century past
on what is still a quiet off street
in the little town
we enter, take a table
the business is slow
two quiet women are at one table
three happy workers lunch at the counter
they are having a good old time
we hear the youngest tells the others
he is going to whittle this weekend
then shows his new large very sharp pocket knife
they all marvel
then the older says what ever you do
be sure you don’t cut off your thumb
of course not, the younger says, but why say that?
cause the guy says, you’re going to need it
to pick up your finger
much laughter filled the room
Friday, July 17, 2009
Mexican food
Mexican food at a roadside diner
with a chic-latin name in Somewhere’sville, Ohio
the stucco outside painted red and blue, looks right
with food prepared by Mexicans
from ingredients,
though available locally,
were probably frozen and trucked
across long American highways from anywhere
pleasant low volume music was authentic
as I imagine were the workers immigration cards
I ordered three enchiladas stuffed with
some kind of white cheese - gooey
in a sauce once based on tomatoes
currently based on grease and memories
of how it could be somewhere
the beans and rice were good, so was the coffee
the cost reasonable, the food wasn’t terrible,
it also had precious little to do with Mexico
hey, you want good Mexican food
better go to California
with a chic-latin name in Somewhere’sville, Ohio
the stucco outside painted red and blue, looks right
with food prepared by Mexicans
from ingredients,
though available locally,
were probably frozen and trucked
across long American highways from anywhere
pleasant low volume music was authentic
as I imagine were the workers immigration cards
I ordered three enchiladas stuffed with
some kind of white cheese - gooey
in a sauce once based on tomatoes
currently based on grease and memories
of how it could be somewhere
the beans and rice were good, so was the coffee
the cost reasonable, the food wasn’t terrible,
it also had precious little to do with Mexico
hey, you want good Mexican food
better go to California
Thursday, July 16, 2009
the shallow cove
the shallow cove narrows
by brushes and thickets
our old row boat sparkles
under sunned running waters
when spring floods the low lands
all return and rebuild
for memories run deeper
than fat fish go up stream
by brushes and thickets
our old row boat sparkles
under sunned running waters
when spring floods the low lands
all return and rebuild
for memories run deeper
than fat fish go up stream
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
papoon
papoon, the Iroquois called it
when they gave it to settlers
along the Susquehanna river
around 1779
knee high by the fourth of july. we say
the Indians probably had a version
or made a motion with their hand
it was special for them also
it’s planted in fields prepared and well tended
now an American tradition
seeded in good long rows
they’ve got the procedure down pat
and hope for rain
the sun does the rest
tall and green with wispy tassels on the stalks
then pick it at the peak
old timers made pipes from the cobs,
you clean the golden vegetable, cook it
every one runs to devour the feast
sure tastes good
add butter and salt the way you like
I sure do, since I was a kid
means it’s really summer
sweet corn
when they gave it to settlers
along the Susquehanna river
around 1779
knee high by the fourth of july. we say
the Indians probably had a version
or made a motion with their hand
it was special for them also
it’s planted in fields prepared and well tended
now an American tradition
seeded in good long rows
they’ve got the procedure down pat
and hope for rain
the sun does the rest
tall and green with wispy tassels on the stalks
then pick it at the peak
old timers made pipes from the cobs,
you clean the golden vegetable, cook it
every one runs to devour the feast
sure tastes good
add butter and salt the way you like
I sure do, since I was a kid
means it’s really summer
sweet corn
Monday, July 13, 2009
sunday my brother
Sunday my brother
now an old fisherman
took us in his boat
up brown river
through turns and trees
years fell away in ripples
as in seasons long ago
when humid air was still
turtles, fish, mossy fallen painted signs
by snags from leaning, half sunken trees
a heron tall in the branches watching
the river course changes
from flood and growth
always changing
water up and water down
a golf course where a farm used to be
now many new houses
old shacks fallen
a corner where we camped
another where we fished
duck blind in the marsh
a spot we had ventured to
paddling a canoe up mud brook creek
by jumping fish, sleeping deer and water birds
some sweet summer ago
now an old fisherman
took us in his boat
up brown river
through turns and trees
years fell away in ripples
as in seasons long ago
when humid air was still
turtles, fish, mossy fallen painted signs
by snags from leaning, half sunken trees
a heron tall in the branches watching
the river course changes
from flood and growth
always changing
water up and water down
a golf course where a farm used to be
now many new houses
old shacks fallen
a corner where we camped
another where we fished
duck blind in the marsh
a spot we had ventured to
paddling a canoe up mud brook creek
by jumping fish, sleeping deer and water birds
some sweet summer ago
Sunday, July 12, 2009
river fest
this morning
while meandering quietly at the piano
i paused and heard the patter out side
not raindrops this time
it was runners in a something k event
we went out to see them go by
then later came youngsters in a little k
only last night from the front door we saw
fireworks boom over the river
and launch high golden,
red, flashes sparkles blue dripping fire
booms to shatter the evening sky
filling the night for revelers
to open hearts
hello the neighbors
hear the music
today the boom was thunder
a real corker, rain in buckets
seemingly a never ender
that finished in the nick of time
for the start of the parade
sunshine for the floats, the twirlers,
fire truck and the marching band
then off to the firehouse for a barbeque,
and the library for the book sale
tonight it's bands again
rides and games
food booths and fun
for children of all ages
make some noise
hold some events
and the town will turn out
to unify and enjoy
another fine summer weekend
while meandering quietly at the piano
i paused and heard the patter out side
not raindrops this time
it was runners in a something k event
we went out to see them go by
then later came youngsters in a little k
only last night from the front door we saw
fireworks boom over the river
and launch high golden,
red, flashes sparkles blue dripping fire
booms to shatter the evening sky
filling the night for revelers
to open hearts
hello the neighbors
hear the music
today the boom was thunder
a real corker, rain in buckets
seemingly a never ender
that finished in the nick of time
for the start of the parade
sunshine for the floats, the twirlers,
fire truck and the marching band
then off to the firehouse for a barbeque,
and the library for the book sale
tonight it's bands again
rides and games
food booths and fun
for children of all ages
make some noise
hold some events
and the town will turn out
to unify and enjoy
another fine summer weekend
Friday, July 10, 2009
face lift for an old village
a bed and breakfast
all decked out, not moving
like a ship in dry dock
the owner’s husband split
so she dressed the place like a dollhouse
lacked only a key to wind it up
my wife liked it, but does more shopping than I
not into pastels and ruffles myself
ok, little wrapped chocolates in a dish
no oil lamps I understand, electricity is fine
but I missed the manly respect to history in detail
give me a hammer, saw, raw wood and cigar smoke
let me walk old boards not puffy carpet
on the street I hum obscure half melodies
watch stylish girls window shop
and startle to the loud music booms
from SUV’s cruising slowly by
an old town in new times
caught twix and tween
undecided which way to go
leaving tourists to wander
all decked out, not moving
like a ship in dry dock
the owner’s husband split
so she dressed the place like a dollhouse
lacked only a key to wind it up
my wife liked it, but does more shopping than I
not into pastels and ruffles myself
ok, little wrapped chocolates in a dish
no oil lamps I understand, electricity is fine
but I missed the manly respect to history in detail
give me a hammer, saw, raw wood and cigar smoke
let me walk old boards not puffy carpet
on the street I hum obscure half melodies
watch stylish girls window shop
and startle to the loud music booms
from SUV’s cruising slowly by
an old town in new times
caught twix and tween
undecided which way to go
leaving tourists to wander
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
pond '09
the day before spring really began,
five or six feet tall when stretching,
the long neck, long winged blue heron
got twenty of our fish
tore heck out of the pond in his frenzy
a neighbor saw it on our roof, damn invader
Big Red and Reddy-Whitey gone, among others
for ten years they’d been here,ours to enjoy
the pond now runs anew,
with the remaining nine,
the fortunate few
that made the cut
Frank, the angry bluegill, record size for sure,
and fifteen, or so, inch-long tiny baby fish are hiding
in the moss usually, occasionally swimming round
and around in the summer sun, and growing,
a small water snake will go
when I can get him,
hopefully soon, before he’s any larger
let’s call him Slither
then the good surprise, baby frogs
two I saw yesterday, smaller than I would have imagined,
only a half-finger’s length each, arms and legs,
with eyes, protruding dark spheres, tiny above the water
the small pond is teaming growth, new associations
water bugs - many, but don’t count
cause they’re too varied, small and quick
to tell apart and name them
woodpeckers, black birds, sparrows,
wrens, orioles, robins, of course,
and others, dash around for a drink
or a splash in the small falls,
giant bright red and pale orange blossoms
of the lily, with pads that cover
two-thirds of the water’s surface,
like the book says they should
as guardian for this while,
I’m checking on it
pour in some biological sauce now and then,
mostly leave it be, keeping peace
while M. gardens around,
an eye out for the serpent
and as if there isn’t enough for them to eat,
she feeds the fish, but they like it
we’re caretakers,
for this dot of time,
on this lovely tiny plot
tucked back, in what was the center of he old village,
behind our home built in the 1830’s
where the preacher lived over forty-two years,
and then he died, then she did too
as the earth spins
some things end
others begin
sun goes up
sun goes down,
hey, it’s nice to be around
come on, summer
give it your best shot
five or six feet tall when stretching,
the long neck, long winged blue heron
got twenty of our fish
tore heck out of the pond in his frenzy
a neighbor saw it on our roof, damn invader
Big Red and Reddy-Whitey gone, among others
for ten years they’d been here,ours to enjoy
the pond now runs anew,
with the remaining nine,
the fortunate few
that made the cut
Frank, the angry bluegill, record size for sure,
and fifteen, or so, inch-long tiny baby fish are hiding
in the moss usually, occasionally swimming round
and around in the summer sun, and growing,
a small water snake will go
when I can get him,
hopefully soon, before he’s any larger
let’s call him Slither
then the good surprise, baby frogs
two I saw yesterday, smaller than I would have imagined,
only a half-finger’s length each, arms and legs,
with eyes, protruding dark spheres, tiny above the water
the small pond is teaming growth, new associations
water bugs - many, but don’t count
cause they’re too varied, small and quick
to tell apart and name them
woodpeckers, black birds, sparrows,
wrens, orioles, robins, of course,
and others, dash around for a drink
or a splash in the small falls,
giant bright red and pale orange blossoms
of the lily, with pads that cover
two-thirds of the water’s surface,
like the book says they should
as guardian for this while,
I’m checking on it
pour in some biological sauce now and then,
mostly leave it be, keeping peace
while M. gardens around,
an eye out for the serpent
and as if there isn’t enough for them to eat,
she feeds the fish, but they like it
we’re caretakers,
for this dot of time,
on this lovely tiny plot
tucked back, in what was the center of he old village,
behind our home built in the 1830’s
where the preacher lived over forty-two years,
and then he died, then she did too
as the earth spins
some things end
others begin
sun goes up
sun goes down,
hey, it’s nice to be around
come on, summer
give it your best shot
Labels:
pond
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
a descended larynx
a descended larynx
is why you speak
and your dog can only try
sadness, though, is more common
many animals can cry
is why you speak
and your dog can only try
sadness, though, is more common
many animals can cry
Labels:
practically science
Monday, July 06, 2009
highway 80
on highway 80 across Pennsylvania we saw deer
not houses, barns, towns, people, cows or barking dogs
occasionally in the distance a town
rooftops and a steeple in the woods, jammed under trees
incredible, and true, passing through
there is only green leaf wilderness to be seen
roll on trees on rolling green in morning dew
hill after hill, rolling green and on
highway not filled with greyhound buses
their time gone in the passing lane
where large 18 wheelers pulling three
and private vehicles, SUV’s, roll on
early in the morn heard portions
of three songs on the radio, only three
get down, get down, cocaine, ho, ho, hosanna and
from a half century ago jerry lee lewis - great balls of fire
radio off then, we rolled on with the rest of them
up and down long hills, in silence, and on through green
road hum the beat and the accompaniment, and on
they could have called it treesylvania
open to the passionate long green and misty air
mysteries under leaves by summer deer
hills, rivers and long cloud sky abound
once indians, then pioneers, first walked this way
not houses, barns, towns, people, cows or barking dogs
occasionally in the distance a town
rooftops and a steeple in the woods, jammed under trees
incredible, and true, passing through
there is only green leaf wilderness to be seen
roll on trees on rolling green in morning dew
hill after hill, rolling green and on
highway not filled with greyhound buses
their time gone in the passing lane
where large 18 wheelers pulling three
and private vehicles, SUV’s, roll on
early in the morn heard portions
of three songs on the radio, only three
get down, get down, cocaine, ho, ho, hosanna and
from a half century ago jerry lee lewis - great balls of fire
radio off then, we rolled on with the rest of them
up and down long hills, in silence, and on through green
road hum the beat and the accompaniment, and on
they could have called it treesylvania
open to the passionate long green and misty air
mysteries under leaves by summer deer
hills, rivers and long cloud sky abound
once indians, then pioneers, first walked this way
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