old clock man was here
brought the metal guts
didn’t have to take
the heavy wooden case
just the grandmother works,
we talked of factories and parts
in America and Europe
how things have changed
of old cars, collectors, estate sales
and the time he opened
someone’s old dead clock
to find an equally dead
rattlesnake wound inside,
when he tried to get it out
it went back to nature
returned to dust
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Friday, September 04, 2009
future talks
two more automakers are thinking
of launching an electric car
that was the promotional word – launching
it must be better if it sounds like a boat
and from here, a few days into the centu…
okay, actually a nine years into the
next thousand years
electric cars are the future
how’s that if you’re looking back?
and yes, I’ll take questions, go ahead
you there, the little one with the uh, . . .go ahead . . . -
why, no, I never knew the Earp brothers
was that kid kidding
or is the future that far ahead
that you forget
exactly where the past is?
of launching an electric car
that was the promotional word – launching
it must be better if it sounds like a boat
and from here, a few days into the centu…
okay, actually a nine years into the
next thousand years
electric cars are the future
how’s that if you’re looking back?
and yes, I’ll take questions, go ahead
you there, the little one with the uh, . . .go ahead . . . -
why, no, I never knew the Earp brothers
was that kid kidding
or is the future that far ahead
that you forget
exactly where the past is?
Thursday, September 03, 2009
apple cake
from a peg on the wall she took up
her worn canvas bag by the shoulder strap
said come on, we’re going to pick apples
near the corner across the street in the empty lot
there’s a neglected, half dragging to the ground,
poorly shaped, unremarkable old tree
not worth a glance,
and loaded with apples
we ate one to sample
half red, half yellow, a little strange to look at
but fresh off the tree
it was some old variety
forgotten, unattended and delicious apples
she filled the sack with a dozen or so
when she said she had enough,
we walked home
late that afternoon, after other tasks
by September sun streaming into the kitchen
she made an apple upside down
augmenting a vintage recipe found on the Internet
an hour after dinner
we each had a piece
of the best apple cake
i ever had tasted in my life
It would be too easy for M. and I to eat the whole thing, so I took the rest to my brother’s family. For us, there is always tomorrow.
her worn canvas bag by the shoulder strap
said come on, we’re going to pick apples
near the corner across the street in the empty lot
there’s a neglected, half dragging to the ground,
poorly shaped, unremarkable old tree
not worth a glance,
and loaded with apples
we ate one to sample
half red, half yellow, a little strange to look at
but fresh off the tree
it was some old variety
forgotten, unattended and delicious apples
she filled the sack with a dozen or so
when she said she had enough,
we walked home
late that afternoon, after other tasks
by September sun streaming into the kitchen
she made an apple upside down
augmenting a vintage recipe found on the Internet
an hour after dinner
we each had a piece
of the best apple cake
i ever had tasted in my life
It would be too easy for M. and I to eat the whole thing, so I took the rest to my brother’s family. For us, there is always tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
look around
look around, you’ll see
old rock musicians
like politicians,
have taught us
if you stick around
long enough
you can always
make a comeback
old rock musicians
like politicians,
have taught us
if you stick around
long enough
you can always
make a comeback
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
an afternoon out
taking a slow walking pace
a few hours into the hills
easy now, said to the horse
reined up content
took a look around
into the advent of fall
the weather is kind
warm another time
leaves are dry
the autumn sun rounds the hills
at a lower angle in the sky
now winter’s just ahead
another change underway
trees will turn
geese will fly
come on boy
that’s enough, say goodbye,
we’re going home now
a few hours into the hills
easy now, said to the horse
reined up content
took a look around
into the advent of fall
the weather is kind
warm another time
leaves are dry
the autumn sun rounds the hills
at a lower angle in the sky
now winter’s just ahead
another change underway
trees will turn
geese will fly
come on boy
that’s enough, say goodbye,
we’re going home now
orderly salad order
Memorize this important catchy little salad poem and teach it to your children.
Ohhh, America eats it first
Europe eats it last
to lose weight fast
they say, then hey
vinegar, as in salad,
curbs desire for sugar,
as in desert
don’t you know?
eat salad last some say
can you believe it? don’t rush me now,
salad after main course aids digestion
it also blocks digestion when eaten first
but eat it first and it’s a palette cleaner
salad first curbs appetite to eat less overall
The contents of the stomach are released slowly
into the upper intestine, 1 or 2 teaspoons per minute
in summation: eat salad in the middle
or avoid it altogether, then again,
when they first came to America
the boat ride made everybody sick and confused anyway
final tip for orderly salad eating
use a fork and not you fingers
unless you’re a monkey, then no problem
you won’t eat salad anyway except bananas
Ohhh, America eats it first
Europe eats it last
to lose weight fast
they say, then hey
vinegar, as in salad,
curbs desire for sugar,
as in desert
don’t you know?
eat salad last some say
can you believe it? don’t rush me now,
salad after main course aids digestion
it also blocks digestion when eaten first
but eat it first and it’s a palette cleaner
salad first curbs appetite to eat less overall
The contents of the stomach are released slowly
into the upper intestine, 1 or 2 teaspoons per minute
in summation: eat salad in the middle
or avoid it altogether, then again,
when they first came to America
the boat ride made everybody sick and confused anyway
final tip for orderly salad eating
use a fork and not you fingers
unless you’re a monkey, then no problem
you won’t eat salad anyway except bananas
Monday, August 31, 2009
robins gone
it's the last day of august
change is building in the air
worms are safe, robins gone
new bird children learned well enough
to wing away with the adults
in a few weeks they’ll return
to hop and peck around
for a few days of substanance
before the family flies south for the winter
free as a bird, means no luggage, to pack or carry
change is building in the air
worms are safe, robins gone
new bird children learned well enough
to wing away with the adults
in a few weeks they’ll return
to hop and peck around
for a few days of substanance
before the family flies south for the winter
free as a bird, means no luggage, to pack or carry
Sunday, August 30, 2009
wisp
get a thought
take it with you
ride away on it
you won’t fall off
a soft puffy cloud
that will evaporate
before you do
possibly
take it with you
ride away on it
you won’t fall off
a soft puffy cloud
that will evaporate
before you do
possibly
Saturday, August 29, 2009
when they were young
in the mid 60’s my buddy bill got
tickets to Mershon Auditorium
in Columbus, Ohio, a night
twenty-five hundred people packed in
we were the two white guys in the crowd
to see Gary U.S. Bond, Major Lance, the Drifters
the Temptations, The Ronettes, The Supremes
and Ray Charles
one after another
these great performers
huffed and puffed
and blew the house away
i remember when Ray was going into the falsetto
turnaround on Georgia on My Mind
there is a tiny pause at that point
the audience was silent in anticipation
a woman screamed out – Oh, sing it Ray, baby
Ray chuckled, the audience smiled and he did it
they all did it
knocked ‘em down
one after another
for everybody
all together
this night of music and love
tickets to Mershon Auditorium
in Columbus, Ohio, a night
twenty-five hundred people packed in
we were the two white guys in the crowd
to see Gary U.S. Bond, Major Lance, the Drifters
the Temptations, The Ronettes, The Supremes
and Ray Charles
one after another
these great performers
huffed and puffed
and blew the house away
i remember when Ray was going into the falsetto
turnaround on Georgia on My Mind
there is a tiny pause at that point
the audience was silent in anticipation
a woman screamed out – Oh, sing it Ray, baby
Ray chuckled, the audience smiled and he did it
they all did it
knocked ‘em down
one after another
for everybody
all together
this night of music and love
Friday, August 28, 2009
back to the dentist
back to the dentist
maybe i should rent a bed there
find some second hand equipment
and do it myself, then again
the government checking itself for corruption
is like me checking myself for a bad tooth
cause even if i find one
i’m not going to do an extraction
today the dentist was doing my back upper
and used a little mirror to see
seemed rather tricky to me
he had to pause for a few seconds for something to dry
both he and his assistant did a habitual freeze, waiting
playing statues, like a comedy routine,
i laughed, my mouth was full of equipment,
so i couldn’t explain to them what was so funny
and they looked at me
like what is wrong with this guy?
and I’m the one in the chair with my mouth open
with their equipment and hands in my mouth
maybe i should rent a bed there
find some second hand equipment
and do it myself, then again
the government checking itself for corruption
is like me checking myself for a bad tooth
cause even if i find one
i’m not going to do an extraction
today the dentist was doing my back upper
and used a little mirror to see
seemed rather tricky to me
he had to pause for a few seconds for something to dry
both he and his assistant did a habitual freeze, waiting
playing statues, like a comedy routine,
i laughed, my mouth was full of equipment,
so i couldn’t explain to them what was so funny
and they looked at me
like what is wrong with this guy?
and I’m the one in the chair with my mouth open
with their equipment and hands in my mouth
Thursday, August 27, 2009
drove to the college town
a half hour drive away
we had coffee and a scone
where young students were about
more life than we usually see
there was traffic and people walking
as we passed several houses for sale
nothing in particular for us
though we tried to like what was there
the town wasn't special today
it was fine, but didn’t have our names on it
up and down the streets looking
then a while later we drove back home
when you see it you’ll know it
that’s what we hear all the time
and although we desire a change
so far its gone out of its way to avoid us
we had coffee and a scone
where young students were about
more life than we usually see
there was traffic and people walking
as we passed several houses for sale
nothing in particular for us
though we tried to like what was there
the town wasn't special today
it was fine, but didn’t have our names on it
up and down the streets looking
then a while later we drove back home
when you see it you’ll know it
that’s what we hear all the time
and although we desire a change
so far its gone out of its way to avoid us
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
middle of the night
middle of the night
had an idea for a poem
didn’t turn on the light
didn’t write it down
i got up and walked around
didn’t smoke, didn’t drank
just thank, like thinking
cause it was last night
it’s all past tense
in the darkness
and i wasn’t tense
i rested well, i can tell
makes sense, i’m just saying
the idea escaped me
came in, went by
leaving nothing to hang it on
got away completely
like clothes on the line in high wind
that first flaps, then blows
whap - took wing and flew away
another case of talking in my dream
about some poem, to some people
it’s what they said, or so i thought
and then they all got up and left at once
the whole flock thought took to the air transparent
gone, before i wrote something down
it got by me and went away
past tense
had an idea for a poem
didn’t turn on the light
didn’t write it down
i got up and walked around
didn’t smoke, didn’t drank
just thank, like thinking
cause it was last night
it’s all past tense
in the darkness
and i wasn’t tense
i rested well, i can tell
makes sense, i’m just saying
the idea escaped me
came in, went by
leaving nothing to hang it on
got away completely
like clothes on the line in high wind
that first flaps, then blows
whap - took wing and flew away
another case of talking in my dream
about some poem, to some people
it’s what they said, or so i thought
and then they all got up and left at once
the whole flock thought took to the air transparent
gone, before i wrote something down
it got by me and went away
past tense
Monday, August 24, 2009
a dark figure
from the front step i saw
in the stillness of heavy dusk
a lone dark figure
amble my way down the street
perhaps it’s that bushy headed cute girl
with the cheery hello, who lives next door
that always sings walking her kitty
and has a happy word for everyone
i waited a moment
as the figure drew near i saw it was Rollo
the waddling ancient groundskeeper
from the local cemetery, tugging his little dog
and who rides the loudest riding mower in creation
always yells in your face, is irritating and grumpy,
with a chill in my spine i slipped into silent shadows,
maybe next time i'll say hi
in the stillness of heavy dusk
a lone dark figure
amble my way down the street
perhaps it’s that bushy headed cute girl
with the cheery hello, who lives next door
that always sings walking her kitty
and has a happy word for everyone
i waited a moment
as the figure drew near i saw it was Rollo
the waddling ancient groundskeeper
from the local cemetery, tugging his little dog
and who rides the loudest riding mower in creation
always yells in your face, is irritating and grumpy,
with a chill in my spine i slipped into silent shadows,
maybe next time i'll say hi
Sunday, August 23, 2009
dareson
i dareson give long sets of words
your time is tight
it might not be the right venue
to traffic in long verse
better to give a little now,
save the other thoughts
for some distant time
when i am not so terse
your time is tight
it might not be the right venue
to traffic in long verse
better to give a little now,
save the other thoughts
for some distant time
when i am not so terse
Saturday, August 22, 2009
summer gone
dark hard rain and coolness
how soon summer turned away
still another week before august ends
so quickly warm days have gone astray
just picked raspberries
it’s not time for apples
we’re not ready for pumpkins
corn and tomatoes are yet to ripen fully
how can days lounging at the beach be over
there are short sleeves and sun hats to wear
it isn’t time to put them away
need i collar up against chill wind?
where have they gone - the kids on bicycles?
even the mail man is bundled up
and sits longer in his truck
brutal quick summer why have you departed?
you’re the season we want to last
and went on by like no other has
so quickly you have passed
how soon summer turned away
still another week before august ends
so quickly warm days have gone astray
just picked raspberries
it’s not time for apples
we’re not ready for pumpkins
corn and tomatoes are yet to ripen fully
how can days lounging at the beach be over
there are short sleeves and sun hats to wear
it isn’t time to put them away
need i collar up against chill wind?
where have they gone - the kids on bicycles?
even the mail man is bundled up
and sits longer in his truck
brutal quick summer why have you departed?
you’re the season we want to last
and went on by like no other has
so quickly you have passed
Friday, August 21, 2009
jungle country vacation
when he was ten
and I was the age of lightning, long hair and magic
my son and i journeyed to Belize
to swim eat explore, and we did
returning through Mexico
border guards were hesitant alert
as we were afoot toting light luggage
but took a chance and let us enter their country
that overnight dirt road through jungle toward the north star
hobbling potholes packed on a tired rusty dull blue bus
amid ripe fruit, peasants, potions and shamans
my son secure and asleep, i fell into dream in some rear seat
awaken by rays of yellow dawn light, my head resting
on the breast of a congenial country woman.
we departed the bus later that morning
all waved to us, she was still smiling
and I was the age of lightning, long hair and magic
my son and i journeyed to Belize
to swim eat explore, and we did
returning through Mexico
border guards were hesitant alert
as we were afoot toting light luggage
but took a chance and let us enter their country
that overnight dirt road through jungle toward the north star
hobbling potholes packed on a tired rusty dull blue bus
amid ripe fruit, peasants, potions and shamans
my son secure and asleep, i fell into dream in some rear seat
awaken by rays of yellow dawn light, my head resting
on the breast of a congenial country woman.
we departed the bus later that morning
all waved to us, she was still smiling
Thursday, August 20, 2009
oldies
heard songs on a oldies station at the dentist
made me cringe, tell you way,
Buddy Holly, Peggy Sue,
get this: fifty years ago it was an oldie
it was recorded fifty-one years ago
i remember it the first time,
and they all sound different to me now
the individual instruments can be heard
how i process them in my mind
how they sound technically, remixed
the space between the notes
the sound with decent speakers
now reproduced in stereo
add my own playing, knowledge, abilities
all the sounds of the passing years
packed in my head
a half century of music
enough oldies, plenty, i mean it,
i’m full, where’s sophistication?
time to turn the musical corner
made me cringe, tell you way,
Buddy Holly, Peggy Sue,
get this: fifty years ago it was an oldie
it was recorded fifty-one years ago
i remember it the first time,
and they all sound different to me now
the individual instruments can be heard
how i process them in my mind
how they sound technically, remixed
the space between the notes
the sound with decent speakers
now reproduced in stereo
add my own playing, knowledge, abilities
all the sounds of the passing years
packed in my head
a half century of music
enough oldies, plenty, i mean it,
i’m full, where’s sophistication?
time to turn the musical corner
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
vacuum space time
The top paper among physicists in meeting Belgiam 2009
was presented by Nassim Haramein.
vacuum space time
warp space time
zero, zero, zero, zero, point one percent
of all space is material
way down, down
to the other end
into molecules
is infinite space
was presented by Nassim Haramein.
vacuum space time
warp space time
zero, zero, zero, zero, point one percent
of all space is material
way down, down
to the other end
into molecules
is infinite space
half
half is woman
Afghanistan is voting
the world is waiting
they are hoping
they can do
half are women
wake up
we are in
this world together
Afghanistan is voting
the world is waiting
they are hoping
they can do
half are women
wake up
we are in
this world together
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
the Commander
the Commander is flaps down
on approach to the final tarmac
wrapping up his mission
Pa is on the way out
or maybe in
depending how you read it
a few years ago he drove us
back from Tony’s Restaurant
in an Arizona hill town
as he sped hard to pass a truck
i commented, “so you miss
flying those WWII PBY’s, Tom”
we all laughed
and to tears will laugh again
saluting the Commander
on approach to the final tarmac
wrapping up his mission
Pa is on the way out
or maybe in
depending how you read it
a few years ago he drove us
back from Tony’s Restaurant
in an Arizona hill town
as he sped hard to pass a truck
i commented, “so you miss
flying those WWII PBY’s, Tom”
we all laughed
and to tears will laugh again
saluting the Commander
Monday, August 17, 2009
counsel
keeping my distance
working on other things
well, on the porch sipping coffee
while she does garden cleanup
the trash man is coming
i tell her it will be 90 today
interrupting drinking and heavy thinking
she calls me to help
as she attempts to stuff
a seventy pound glump of zucchini plants
into a thirty pound capacity bag,
providing counsel i advise
i can’t be done, won’t be done
and she does it anyway
then lugs all
to the curb for pickup
instead of yard work
perhaps i could convince her
to collect postage stamps,
they’re easier to lift
working on other things
well, on the porch sipping coffee
while she does garden cleanup
the trash man is coming
i tell her it will be 90 today
interrupting drinking and heavy thinking
she calls me to help
as she attempts to stuff
a seventy pound glump of zucchini plants
into a thirty pound capacity bag,
providing counsel i advise
i can’t be done, won’t be done
and she does it anyway
then lugs all
to the curb for pickup
instead of yard work
perhaps i could convince her
to collect postage stamps,
they’re easier to lift
Sunday, August 16, 2009
market watch
with real time quotes
I can watch it all
second by second
keeping a tight hand
today i set all in place
had my coffee
did other things
often reviewing
checked often,
after two and a half hours
i realized it is Sunday,
the market is closed
I can watch it all
second by second
keeping a tight hand
today i set all in place
had my coffee
did other things
often reviewing
checked often,
after two and a half hours
i realized it is Sunday,
the market is closed
Saturday, August 15, 2009
thunder blue
thunder blue
are you true
had to write that true line cause it sounds
like a mid twentieth century torch song
in a night club with burgundy velvet drapery
the clinking of glasses, voices and laughter
and a lot of smoking going on
this table, please
i want to be close to the band stand
lets put rain beating against the windows
and Bogart and Bacall hats down walking in the rain
this is where the thunder comes in
hey, there’s Gene Kelly
he wants to dance in the downpour
holly mackerel, it’s a musical
no wonder i got up early
i didn’t want to miss anything
spare a quarter, spare a quarter
you win some and you lose a few
there’s the line by the church
they feed indigents breakfast
that looks like your mother
and it’s you she’s carrying
how’s your cards look now
little smarty pants
are you true
had to write that true line cause it sounds
like a mid twentieth century torch song
in a night club with burgundy velvet drapery
the clinking of glasses, voices and laughter
and a lot of smoking going on
this table, please
i want to be close to the band stand
lets put rain beating against the windows
and Bogart and Bacall hats down walking in the rain
this is where the thunder comes in
hey, there’s Gene Kelly
he wants to dance in the downpour
holly mackerel, it’s a musical
no wonder i got up early
i didn’t want to miss anything
spare a quarter, spare a quarter
you win some and you lose a few
there’s the line by the church
they feed indigents breakfast
that looks like your mother
and it’s you she’s carrying
how’s your cards look now
little smarty pants
Friday, August 14, 2009
my son was here
now to put away in my head that my son was here
with his wife and two young daughters
children and grandchildren, ours for a week
they’ve gone back home
m. and i must reassemble,
meals once again quiet and simple
in the old house silent
where already clocks tick louder
we’ll drive fewer miles
with no one to show,
the heavy and hard to reach special chores will be undone
without assistance from the skilled, able younger man
and no one will thrill looking hard for berries, frogs or eagles
the happy calliope of the ice cream truck will pass barely noticed
soon leaves will dry crisp and golden unseen by them
as the flapping wings and honks of wild geese soar low overhead
seasons turn rolling like clouds on the wind
the lake will grow wild and thrash
then grey lie calm still, iced over
without their attention
while great joy lingers
there is also sadness in the wake
for all great moments are not all game winning seconds
the first and the fastest and the farthest and the medals
sometimes the joys are quiet
as were moments seated on the back porch
at night in low voice talking
saying nothing in particular
life is a trade of joys and sorrows
here’s a toast to them
warm toast and butter to the joys
with homemade jelly smeared all over it
with his wife and two young daughters
children and grandchildren, ours for a week
they’ve gone back home
m. and i must reassemble,
meals once again quiet and simple
in the old house silent
where already clocks tick louder
we’ll drive fewer miles
with no one to show,
the heavy and hard to reach special chores will be undone
without assistance from the skilled, able younger man
and no one will thrill looking hard for berries, frogs or eagles
the happy calliope of the ice cream truck will pass barely noticed
soon leaves will dry crisp and golden unseen by them
as the flapping wings and honks of wild geese soar low overhead
seasons turn rolling like clouds on the wind
the lake will grow wild and thrash
then grey lie calm still, iced over
without their attention
while great joy lingers
there is also sadness in the wake
for all great moments are not all game winning seconds
the first and the fastest and the farthest and the medals
sometimes the joys are quiet
as were moments seated on the back porch
at night in low voice talking
saying nothing in particular
life is a trade of joys and sorrows
here’s a toast to them
warm toast and butter to the joys
with homemade jelly smeared all over it
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
lincoln train
I found accounts that showed it came near the village of New London, Ohio, only a few miles from here. The year was 1865.
cool for April, spring came late that year
somber groups dispersed along the track
as far as the eye could see, neighbors in the night
reduced to profiles in the darkness
by the hour all were really tired
nervous in anticipation, wishing it’d arrive
3:25 in the morning, there about
there was a spot of wavering light in the distance
the same instant a voice cried out
then young Earl spotted it
“it’s coming” his wavering shout rang like a shot
over the now silent multitude assembled
some sobbing could be heard
as the lumbering of the locomotive slowly passed
the dark shadow of the funeral train
carrying the body of their fallen leader.
Monday, August 10, 2009
another season
i heard a frog voice last night at three
once every thirty seconds
old Herb did every fifteen
but that was a month ago
another month,
another season,
another frog?
you could spell the frog’s name Herb,
but what he said was erb
guess that’s herb with a small H
maybe frogs
have trouble
with their h’s.
once every thirty seconds
old Herb did every fifteen
but that was a month ago
another month,
another season,
another frog?
you could spell the frog’s name Herb,
but what he said was erb
guess that’s herb with a small H
maybe frogs
have trouble
with their h’s.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
spell
hands over apple carts
heels stomping knaves
strapped on a barrel
pearls hidden in caves
after line thimbles
knotted in haste
stumble and dribble
cookies to paste
orange, blue and pink
everything beckons
don’t even think
of askin’ for seconds
oh, i lost it
I did, more or less
t’was casting a spell,
least, that’d be my guess
heels stomping knaves
strapped on a barrel
pearls hidden in caves
after line thimbles
knotted in haste
stumble and dribble
cookies to paste
orange, blue and pink
everything beckons
don’t even think
of askin’ for seconds
oh, i lost it
I did, more or less
t’was casting a spell,
least, that’d be my guess
Saturday, August 08, 2009
where do i park it
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?
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?
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