couldn’t say
for sure
don’t know
if i was sleeping
it seemed
my brain remained awake last night
working, sifting, sorting
rather like that
thusly night went by
a least that’s the impression
i held tight
when i got up this morning
Monday, December 07, 2009
Sunday, December 06, 2009
the magnitude of life
who could have imagined
dealing with the like
largesse peppered with surprises
some in joy, some in crisis
waking early with morning coffee
to find life going already, rolling steady
by warm golden window light
you know life’s a sweet package
variety you could not have conceived
and while not visible at first glance
something is going on, darling
perchance not always what it seems
growing day by day
born of dreams
hear the joy of life in bird voices
and in the patter of the rain
dealing with the like
largesse peppered with surprises
some in joy, some in crisis
waking early with morning coffee
to find life going already, rolling steady
by warm golden window light
you know life’s a sweet package
variety you could not have conceived
and while not visible at first glance
something is going on, darling
perchance not always what it seems
growing day by day
born of dreams
hear the joy of life in bird voices
and in the patter of the rain
Saturday, December 05, 2009
pigeon
here on a third floor
can’t see the sky, unless
i stick my head out the window
and look straight up
still they zip by this narrow space,
fifteen feet to the building opposite
a blur by my window
thirty miles an hour
seems fast enough
they’re been clocked at 59
and often they zip by
with a partner
good old computer
tells me how fast pigeons fly
when what i see is a streaking blur
outside going by
can’t see the sky, unless
i stick my head out the window
and look straight up
still they zip by this narrow space,
fifteen feet to the building opposite
a blur by my window
thirty miles an hour
seems fast enough
they’re been clocked at 59
and often they zip by
with a partner
good old computer
tells me how fast pigeons fly
when what i see is a streaking blur
outside going by
Friday, December 04, 2009
slip
when i slip through
a stream in the
wings of time
and don’t return
leaving nary a trace
fear not for me
understand
i’m off somewhere
having an adventure
a stream in the
wings of time
and don’t return
leaving nary a trace
fear not for me
understand
i’m off somewhere
having an adventure
Thursday, December 03, 2009
the table
with three guys at the table
didn’t know who they were
in discussion most interesting
don’t recall what was said
some time had passed when i looked to the clock
it was difficult to read the red glowing numbers
had to lean forward
to a sitting position
i was lying in bed, there was no table
there were not three others
so with whom did i speak with
in this vivid dream
didn’t know who they were
in discussion most interesting
don’t recall what was said
some time had passed when i looked to the clock
it was difficult to read the red glowing numbers
had to lean forward
to a sitting position
i was lying in bed, there was no table
there were not three others
so with whom did i speak with
in this vivid dream
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
the wash
over there
pulled up a chair
talking to the laundry
the washer then the dryer
Obama sending thirty thousand more troops
to Afghanistan
the left is yelling
why’s he doing that?
well he is a politician that got elected
what do you expect
Ron Paul was laughed at like ufos
he wanted to bring them all home
from all around the world
no more policemen for the world
why guard our borders in peace
money, money money can be made with war
play the game you get elected
you want to bring troops home
you’re not making dough for the money people
makes the world go round you know
grease those wheels
pull the strings
you want to play
you’ve got to pay
it’s flowing in now
someone makes guns
buys the bullets
fantastic tanks
nice boots
sends turkeys to the troops for the holidays
pass me the haliburton, will ya?
back and forth, costs a lot
tax payers pay the money players
talking to the spinning dryer
who else will listen?
wave the flag
want a medal don’t you?
a picture of your boy in uniform
that’s him on the mantel
rate me fifty on foldin’ clothes
I’m just saying
heaven knows
pulled up a chair
talking to the laundry
the washer then the dryer
Obama sending thirty thousand more troops
to Afghanistan
the left is yelling
why’s he doing that?
well he is a politician that got elected
what do you expect
Ron Paul was laughed at like ufos
he wanted to bring them all home
from all around the world
no more policemen for the world
why guard our borders in peace
money, money money can be made with war
play the game you get elected
you want to bring troops home
you’re not making dough for the money people
makes the world go round you know
grease those wheels
pull the strings
you want to play
you’ve got to pay
it’s flowing in now
someone makes guns
buys the bullets
fantastic tanks
nice boots
sends turkeys to the troops for the holidays
pass me the haliburton, will ya?
back and forth, costs a lot
tax payers pay the money players
talking to the spinning dryer
who else will listen?
wave the flag
want a medal don’t you?
a picture of your boy in uniform
that’s him on the mantel
rate me fifty on foldin’ clothes
I’m just saying
heaven knows
ciao ciao
spoke to an italian friend on the phone
he was born in Tunisia
we speak mostly in English
says he has to practice
he’s my friend, that’s okay with me
when you close a phone call
you always say ciao ciao
it is a commonly used form of bye-bye,
or talk to you later, always used on the phone
as i closed the phone call i said choo- choo
i didn’t mean to
it just came out
i’ll pretend he didn’t hear it
and he’ll think he imagined it
choo -choo?
he was born in Tunisia
we speak mostly in English
says he has to practice
he’s my friend, that’s okay with me
when you close a phone call
you always say ciao ciao
it is a commonly used form of bye-bye,
or talk to you later, always used on the phone
as i closed the phone call i said choo- choo
i didn’t mean to
it just came out
i’ll pretend he didn’t hear it
and he’ll think he imagined it
choo -choo?
Monday, November 30, 2009
driving
held up stopped at a red light
by a red light for nearly a breathalyzer,
til he decided coffee in a dark glass jug
is not always moonshine
they are doing a jig saw jig
on the square, guys holding steel poles
where a bob cat’s running
tearing sidewalk
was called Mud Brook Creek there
now it’s just Mud Brook
when they put in a golf course
they removed the redundancy
pretty fancy
what a few bucks
and a bob cat
can do
not giving you the eye
i’m in line behind you, nightingale
you see, the light is green
that’s why I’m honking
by a red light for nearly a breathalyzer,
til he decided coffee in a dark glass jug
is not always moonshine
they are doing a jig saw jig
on the square, guys holding steel poles
where a bob cat’s running
tearing sidewalk
was called Mud Brook Creek there
now it’s just Mud Brook
when they put in a golf course
they removed the redundancy
pretty fancy
what a few bucks
and a bob cat
can do
not giving you the eye
i’m in line behind you, nightingale
you see, the light is green
that’s why I’m honking
Sunday, November 29, 2009
national health care
i heard American Indians
have national health care
out there
somewhere
it is said to be lousy
does that surprise?
this is a poor example
for the system
isn’t lousy
the way
we’ve always
treated Indians?
if it were for the wife
of a politician
you know the same system
would work well
have national health care
out there
somewhere
it is said to be lousy
does that surprise?
this is a poor example
for the system
isn’t lousy
the way
we’ve always
treated Indians?
if it were for the wife
of a politician
you know the same system
would work well
Saturday, November 28, 2009
noon late november
sky blue noon late November, jacket open
as i crossed the new Ponte Sisto
a replacement for Pons Aurelius. 300 A.D.
renamed for Pope Sixtus IV , 772 A.D.
this new stone foot bridge was built 1473-‘79
on the middle of the span
a guy sleeping on one side
three guys begging on the other
haphazard semi -skilled professionals,
raggity lousy beggars really, too intimidating
real poor people don’t often enter Roma’s heart
saw Alex when i crossed to Piazza Trilussa
out posting flyers for his music school,
footwork keeping his dream a reality
one well- placed notice at a time
then, sat outside at San Callisto coffee car
near the main piazza, Santa Maria in Trestevere
had a latte and cornetto with James,
off booze five years ago
he’s planning to open a school for children
bought a vegetable sandwich for 1.60 euro
pizza bread, tomatoes, cheese, some greens,
costs 4 euro on the other side of the river
back across the bridge, flashing blue lights
on an emergency van
they took away that sleeping man
didn’t run the siren when they left
the blue flashing lights were off
a some body that won’t need rushing
Friday, November 27, 2009
fusion
i missed fusion the first time
like missing an exploding dinosaur
unless you were kin,
in the kitchen with it when it happened,
or it owed you money
it’s nothing to regret
outside the apple of the witch
with castle lights across the river
amid heavy traffic and exhaust
under flying clouds and half moon
running, as from a dog
Giacomo picked me up, took me to the Auditorium,
Rome’s fantastic new home of concerts
to hear his nephew with five others doing fusion
music on speed and steroids
melted glass frozen and shattered
then dark and mysterious
growing into a tyrannosaurus spitting bits of pterodactyl
morphing into a runaway locomotive
a turbulent nightmare
expect a giant Schwarzenegger Terminator to rip
through the walls
have a nice day
oh, and look both ways
like missing an exploding dinosaur
unless you were kin,
in the kitchen with it when it happened,
or it owed you money
it’s nothing to regret
outside the apple of the witch
with castle lights across the river
amid heavy traffic and exhaust
under flying clouds and half moon
running, as from a dog
Giacomo picked me up, took me to the Auditorium,
Rome’s fantastic new home of concerts
to hear his nephew with five others doing fusion
music on speed and steroids
melted glass frozen and shattered
then dark and mysterious
growing into a tyrannosaurus spitting bits of pterodactyl
morphing into a runaway locomotive
a turbulent nightmare
expect a giant Schwarzenegger Terminator to rip
through the walls
have a nice day
oh, and look both ways
Thursday, November 26, 2009
armed and to the point
so elderly neighbor lady
sees M. outside
leaves house of disease
and saunters over
fumbling with her hands,
asks sotto voce
after checking both ways
if we’ll be leaving soon for Italy
then nods as if helping
with the anticipated answer.
M. says The Man has left
while she’ll go in another week
neighbor lady sagely nods again,
considers, and says
uh, call if there’s any problem
a long pause
M. leans on the rake,
waiting her out
under long blue November skies
until at last neighbor lady,
fearing for M’s safety
clears her throat ,
quite serious now, glances askance
then looks earthward
to humbly explain
that if M. calls
uh, her husband,
the grumpy mid-octogenarian
will run right over
in the middle of the night (chuckle)
as he’s licensed to carry a loaded weapon. (OMG!)
this is the groundskeeper who mows
three times a day
with various loud riding mowers
because six of our vagrant leaves
have carried deftly his way
on the prevailing
autumn light winds
sees M. outside
leaves house of disease
and saunters over
fumbling with her hands,
asks sotto voce
after checking both ways
if we’ll be leaving soon for Italy
then nods as if helping
with the anticipated answer.
M. says The Man has left
while she’ll go in another week
neighbor lady sagely nods again,
considers, and says
uh, call if there’s any problem
a long pause
M. leans on the rake,
waiting her out
under long blue November skies
until at last neighbor lady,
fearing for M’s safety
clears her throat ,
quite serious now, glances askance
then looks earthward
to humbly explain
that if M. calls
uh, her husband,
the grumpy mid-octogenarian
will run right over
in the middle of the night (chuckle)
as he’s licensed to carry a loaded weapon. (OMG!)
this is the groundskeeper who mows
three times a day
with various loud riding mowers
because six of our vagrant leaves
have carried deftly his way
on the prevailing
autumn light winds
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
the field of flowers
Campo dei Fiori means field of flowers
that was yesterdays vision of the area
today in 2009 i had to stop and look both ways
to cross through the center of the field of flowers
i wore my heavy jacket
others had on t-shirts
from our third floor dungeon window
i have to lean far out only to see the sky
the market is jumping in full flavor and scents
traffic, food stalls, fruits and vegetables, pots and pans
musicians, tourists, workers and locals of every venue
and yes, three stands that sell flowers
living nearby i woke out of dream to a persistent car alarm
and thought of the keystone cops in silent movies
running, clamoring, bumping into each other in comic confusion
in silent films the words flash on the screen. this says - alarm
only no one ran today, nothing unusual happened
no one laughed
for an hour the persistent, clear-voiced, changing squeal sang,
echoed along stone buildings and cobblestone streets
i awoke after twelve hours sleep
now a week has passed since i flew here
groggy yet, my body’s clock
is wound but not set
the cannon on the hill fired the noon shot as i left our apartment
to rid myself of the alarm
better to enter the field of flowers
and look both ways
that was yesterdays vision of the area
today in 2009 i had to stop and look both ways
to cross through the center of the field of flowers
i wore my heavy jacket
others had on t-shirts
from our third floor dungeon window
i have to lean far out only to see the sky
the market is jumping in full flavor and scents
traffic, food stalls, fruits and vegetables, pots and pans
musicians, tourists, workers and locals of every venue
and yes, three stands that sell flowers
living nearby i woke out of dream to a persistent car alarm
and thought of the keystone cops in silent movies
running, clamoring, bumping into each other in comic confusion
in silent films the words flash on the screen. this says - alarm
only no one ran today, nothing unusual happened
no one laughed
for an hour the persistent, clear-voiced, changing squeal sang,
echoed along stone buildings and cobblestone streets
i awoke after twelve hours sleep
now a week has passed since i flew here
groggy yet, my body’s clock
is wound but not set
the cannon on the hill fired the noon shot as i left our apartment
to rid myself of the alarm
better to enter the field of flowers
and look both ways
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
now and tomorrow
met up with an old friend on the street
said he was working with a friend who yesterday
was sitting in a chair calmly talking with his wife
and then died quite unexpectedly
i continued on my way to the Laundromat
the door was wide open when i got there
the fire department chopped it open
to get to the flames the night before
walking back home i stopped to see a friend
of my friend who last year had a stroke
on a cruise ship to Italy
was robbed when he got here
had planned to visit his cousin in Switzerland
she died the day before he boarded the train
not the family visit he expected
he arrived in time for a funeral
but i stopped to see a friend of that friend
i pass that store on my way home
they said she didn’t work there anymore
her last day was yesterday
it’s true for all of us
the last day we had was yesterday
generally we don’t think of it that way
what’s our concern is now and tomorrow
said he was working with a friend who yesterday
was sitting in a chair calmly talking with his wife
and then died quite unexpectedly
i continued on my way to the Laundromat
the door was wide open when i got there
the fire department chopped it open
to get to the flames the night before
walking back home i stopped to see a friend
of my friend who last year had a stroke
on a cruise ship to Italy
was robbed when he got here
had planned to visit his cousin in Switzerland
she died the day before he boarded the train
not the family visit he expected
he arrived in time for a funeral
but i stopped to see a friend of that friend
i pass that store on my way home
they said she didn’t work there anymore
her last day was yesterday
it’s true for all of us
the last day we had was yesterday
generally we don’t think of it that way
what’s our concern is now and tomorrow
Monday, November 23, 2009
dusk on the way home
dusk on the way home
saw Alberto at Porta Blu
afternoon classes underway
seekers of art ability
drawing circles, mixing color
perusing modern ways
walking back in evening’s cool air
on a narrow way into Piazza Navona
i pass the minister of the interior
a glint of recognition in his eye
in dusk darkness and alley shadow
i see him only when we are face to face
he lives around the corner from me
usually his guards are in formation
and then it is easier to see him coming
leaving the piazza i was distracted
and forgot to look again at the beauty
passing earlier today i paused a while
in the sight and scent of that grand piazza
to admire Bernini’s work again
the two smaller fountains with mythical characters
the larger splashing waters in the center
tribute to four great rivers
topped by an Egyptian obelisk
reaching above all
tomorrow i may look again
now it’s to home
too cool without a jacket anyway
a few paces before Campo dei Fiori
the tune Autumn Leaves from the familiar sax
of a group urging coins from tourists
floats in the air, ricochets off cold stone
where, as years pass changes are small steps taken
seems that autumns are reluctant to come and go
saw Alberto at Porta Blu
afternoon classes underway
seekers of art ability
drawing circles, mixing color
perusing modern ways
walking back in evening’s cool air
on a narrow way into Piazza Navona
i pass the minister of the interior
a glint of recognition in his eye
in dusk darkness and alley shadow
i see him only when we are face to face
he lives around the corner from me
usually his guards are in formation
and then it is easier to see him coming
leaving the piazza i was distracted
and forgot to look again at the beauty
passing earlier today i paused a while
in the sight and scent of that grand piazza
to admire Bernini’s work again
the two smaller fountains with mythical characters
the larger splashing waters in the center
tribute to four great rivers
topped by an Egyptian obelisk
reaching above all
tomorrow i may look again
now it’s to home
too cool without a jacket anyway
a few paces before Campo dei Fiori
the tune Autumn Leaves from the familiar sax
of a group urging coins from tourists
floats in the air, ricochets off cold stone
where, as years pass changes are small steps taken
seems that autumns are reluctant to come and go
Sunday, November 22, 2009
your call
your call
will be answered
in the order
in which it was received
i called once
how much order is one call?
was I out of order before I called
or as soon as?
why can’t it be said in English
like, wait your turn on hold
until a human is available
or, is that like difficult?
will be answered
in the order
in which it was received
i called once
how much order is one call?
was I out of order before I called
or as soon as?
why can’t it be said in English
like, wait your turn on hold
until a human is available
or, is that like difficult?
Saturday, November 21, 2009
the mail man
the mail man is gone
don’t mean he left his truck
hasn’t walked away
tossed his hat in the bushes
but he is gone, way gone
into a thousand points of light
unlike the evaporated pony express rider
this one still has a job, delivering advertisements
now he or she has become
21st Century’s - Postal Worker
look around, who’s next for renaming
Christmas Person?
ho ho ho
wash you mouth
don’t mean he left his truck
hasn’t walked away
tossed his hat in the bushes
but he is gone, way gone
into a thousand points of light
unlike the evaporated pony express rider
this one still has a job, delivering advertisements
now he or she has become
21st Century’s - Postal Worker
look around, who’s next for renaming
Christmas Person?
ho ho ho
wash you mouth
Friday, November 20, 2009
jet laggg
rushed out of the airport
jumped in a cab
went seventy-five feet
the guy slammed on the brakes
wasn’t a taxi, picked up his mother
made me get out
i know mama liked me
as he squealed off, she waved goodbye
jumped in a cab
went seventy-five feet
the guy slammed on the brakes
wasn’t a taxi, picked up his mother
made me get out
i know mama liked me
as he squealed off, she waved goodbye
at forty thousand feet
at forty thousand feet
the cabin is warm beyond comfort
four people on this flight
are earning negative karma
aggression 2009 is growing
healthier than financial systems
two hours to Roma
i’m lighter than air
the cabin is warm beyond comfort
four people on this flight
are earning negative karma
aggression 2009 is growing
healthier than financial systems
two hours to Roma
i’m lighter than air
Thursday, November 19, 2009
the leader
followed by his dad
a kid waddled by,
young enough
that you’d still tell his age in months
ask him anything
but don’t expect an answer
for although he talks incessantly
what he says is indecipherable
if encouraged to develop this skill,
smiles well and stands tall
this child could grow to be
a formidable leader of inestimable value
a kid waddled by,
young enough
that you’d still tell his age in months
ask him anything
but don’t expect an answer
for although he talks incessantly
what he says is indecipherable
if encouraged to develop this skill,
smiles well and stands tall
this child could grow to be
a formidable leader of inestimable value
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