long handle wooden spoons
stands over an empty large metal can.
has learned Morse code
and is writing.
quiet, listen.
dit, dah, dit,
dit, dah, dit, dit
ahh, it’s an audio ebook.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, March 07, 2011
return of the love meter
love test - completely accurate short version
question one
has he ever told you
that he’s finished watching
either live or televised sports
and would rather be
shoe shopping at the mall
with you?
question two
if the answer to question one is yes -
did you know he was lying?
question three
what’s for dinner?
Saturday, September 26, 2009
TomC said...
I have only attempted that ploy when maneuvering for more Harley chrome goodies. Emphasis on "attempted"...
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Julie said...
Ha! Ha! I love the poem! What's up with dragging hubby along? I've never understood why women do that.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Annie K said...
What's for dinner? Frozen lasagna. If hubby can help you make the salads, he passes the test!
question one
has he ever told you
that he’s finished watching
either live or televised sports
and would rather be
shoe shopping at the mall
with you?
question two
if the answer to question one is yes -
did you know he was lying?
question three
what’s for dinner?
Saturday, September 26, 2009
TomC said...
I have only attempted that ploy when maneuvering for more Harley chrome goodies. Emphasis on "attempted"...
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Julie said...
Ha! Ha! I love the poem! What's up with dragging hubby along? I've never understood why women do that.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Annie K said...
What's for dinner? Frozen lasagna. If hubby can help you make the salads, he passes the test!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Reprise - from feb 09
if i write stories
they won’t be scary
only fuzzy animals in mine
all of them will wink and smile
my happy birds will fly and sing,
joy they’ll carry near and far,
my creatures won’t eat people.
Steven King, wait in the car
they won’t be scary
only fuzzy animals in mine
all of them will wink and smile
my happy birds will fly and sing,
joy they’ll carry near and far,
my creatures won’t eat people.
Steven King, wait in the car
Friday, February 18, 2011
saw Nico
saw Nico, told me
he is sad
yet always laughing
sees only shadows
lives alone, has
friends to visit
nearly ninty-eight,
walks like fifty,
talks like thirty-five.
he thinks of the big mysteries
that are not in our hands.
says he's sure all life is poetry.
he is sad
yet always laughing
sees only shadows
lives alone, has
friends to visit
nearly ninty-eight,
walks like fifty,
talks like thirty-five.
he thinks of the big mysteries
that are not in our hands.
says he's sure all life is poetry.
Friday, February 11, 2011
full day when 65
woke up at nine, i did
shower and dress, coffee and out the door
no one in the building but we
lock it up, catch a bus
wait 45 minutes cause i’m early and prompt
or he’s late, no one knows for sure,
neither of us care
one dental stitch removed in two minutes
walk two clocks and back
for a dental x-ray
full mouth, with empty mouth
so short guy comes in, tells me stand up
and stand still
sticks plastic in my mouth for me to bite
like a bit for a Rex the Wonder Horse
then he is gone, the short guy
i close my eyes
whirring noise
i know what is happening
being completely conscious
this is when entire life zips by
i am playing sand lot ball and swimming
pledge allegiance, practice piano
graduate, get married
they tell me go out and wait
then i get the xray
walk it back to the dentist
two blocks is nothing on a sunny day
other dentist is returning from lunch
i give x-ray to him
saves myself a flight up walk
everyone happy, he was going there anyway
then bus to Pasquali’s
do i want amatriciana or white
with speck and zucca, that’s bacon and squash
son and cook sister convince me to go white
quarto of red wine
pasta is very good
M. had an oh-hum salad with tuna
and effervescent water in a plastic cup
take a small bus home
the driver is whistling
killing me softly with his song
with headphones on
and we’re home again
by three p.m.
mark it down as a full day
when you are 65
shower and dress, coffee and out the door
no one in the building but we
lock it up, catch a bus
wait 45 minutes cause i’m early and prompt
or he’s late, no one knows for sure,
neither of us care
one dental stitch removed in two minutes
walk two clocks and back
for a dental x-ray
full mouth, with empty mouth
so short guy comes in, tells me stand up
and stand still
sticks plastic in my mouth for me to bite
like a bit for a Rex the Wonder Horse
then he is gone, the short guy
i close my eyes
whirring noise
i know what is happening
being completely conscious
this is when entire life zips by
i am playing sand lot ball and swimming
pledge allegiance, practice piano
graduate, get married
they tell me go out and wait
then i get the xray
walk it back to the dentist
two blocks is nothing on a sunny day
other dentist is returning from lunch
i give x-ray to him
saves myself a flight up walk
everyone happy, he was going there anyway
then bus to Pasquali’s
do i want amatriciana or white
with speck and zucca, that’s bacon and squash
son and cook sister convince me to go white
quarto of red wine
pasta is very good
M. had an oh-hum salad with tuna
and effervescent water in a plastic cup
take a small bus home
the driver is whistling
killing me softly with his song
with headphones on
and we’re home again
by three p.m.
mark it down as a full day
when you are 65
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
on the marble steps
at Chiesa Nuova
1:30 in the sun
afternoon begun
we get away
in roar and soft speak
voices, buses, motorinos erupt city air
between buildings there
on Corso Vittorio
faraway together
Rome February fair weather
taking it in
our vitamin D
then at once the ragazzi start
to depart the sun
leaving the heart
of the city
this pretty mid week
mid day some hug
touch cheeks wave
or simply smile away
Chiesa Nuova means new church, a few hundred years old
mottorini - are motor scooters
Corso Vittorio is a main street through the center of Rome
Ragazzi - means young people
1:30 in the sun
afternoon begun
we get away
in roar and soft speak
voices, buses, motorinos erupt city air
between buildings there
on Corso Vittorio
faraway together
Rome February fair weather
taking it in
our vitamin D
then at once the ragazzi start
to depart the sun
leaving the heart
of the city
this pretty mid week
mid day some hug
touch cheeks wave
or simply smile away
Chiesa Nuova means new church, a few hundred years old
mottorini - are motor scooters
Corso Vittorio is a main street through the center of Rome
Ragazzi - means young people
Saturday, January 29, 2011
explosion of good time
still in bed
woke to worker’s
voices in the hall.
amid the banter
one called softly, “Jack”
the voice of my dad
only it wasn’t, or was it.
who can tell
though it was enough
to make me smile,
remember and feel warm
somewhere deep
b.
the two guys from Romania
are quiet good workers
the kid, twenty
is a Bugie
in Italian, our common language, i question.
he’s from Bulgaria, they respond
as if that explained his immaturity,
and being consistently noisy.
c.
explosion of good time
we left home
packed for shopping
off in a rush
Esquilino Market they serve
fast with plastic bags,
paper and crowds, trucks unloading,
wooden crates, moving faces and sales
a background of green leaves, no music,
light talk humming like chicadas.
had coffee and a sweet roll
coffee man and his wife recognized us
red egg yoke lady
in good tune
spoke to M. about how to
make a tasty frappe for Carnevale
got two large plantains at another stall
not bananas you know, she said
i hope not, i replied
i'm going to fry one with an egg
a call to alert - make way
for a box-loaded hand cart
a small man
pushing metal on wheels through
many greens, hand cut minestrone,
hot peppers and nuts we bag away
a moray eel we saw but
did not take one home
moves like a city ghost
rides like a bumpy carriage
over cobblestones
our practically private bus
cause our car has found parking
too sweet to vacate
alberto has re attached a side mirror
for some other to scrape off again
and Friday the soggiorno went well
all persons helpful for us to live here
call them kind
Roma loves us again
woke to worker’s
voices in the hall.
amid the banter
one called softly, “Jack”
the voice of my dad
only it wasn’t, or was it.
who can tell
though it was enough
to make me smile,
remember and feel warm
somewhere deep
b.
the two guys from Romania
are quiet good workers
the kid, twenty
is a Bugie
in Italian, our common language, i question.
he’s from Bulgaria, they respond
as if that explained his immaturity,
and being consistently noisy.
c.
explosion of good time
we left home
packed for shopping
off in a rush
Esquilino Market they serve
fast with plastic bags,
paper and crowds, trucks unloading,
wooden crates, moving faces and sales
a background of green leaves, no music,
light talk humming like chicadas.
had coffee and a sweet roll
coffee man and his wife recognized us
red egg yoke lady
in good tune
spoke to M. about how to
make a tasty frappe for Carnevale
got two large plantains at another stall
not bananas you know, she said
i hope not, i replied
i'm going to fry one with an egg
a call to alert - make way
for a box-loaded hand cart
a small man
pushing metal on wheels through
many greens, hand cut minestrone,
hot peppers and nuts we bag away
a moray eel we saw but
did not take one home
moves like a city ghost
rides like a bumpy carriage
over cobblestones
our practically private bus
cause our car has found parking
too sweet to vacate
alberto has re attached a side mirror
for some other to scrape off again
and Friday the soggiorno went well
all persons helpful for us to live here
call them kind
Roma loves us again
Friday, January 28, 2011
to better swerve
traffic cops in Rome have special uniforms.
high leather equestrian boots,
white tall helmets like dessert legionnaires.
one stopped our bus in the center of Rome
hopped aboard to hitch a ride
up three stops on Via del Corso.
he was knocking off early,
or had hot shopping to do.
anyway,
viva the good guys.
may they hop a bus
anytime.
high leather equestrian boots,
white tall helmets like dessert legionnaires.
one stopped our bus in the center of Rome
hopped aboard to hitch a ride
up three stops on Via del Corso.
he was knocking off early,
or had hot shopping to do.
anyway,
viva the good guys.
may they hop a bus
anytime.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
to joseph no apostrophe s
an intercity eatery found
when the old worn mechanic
pointed, there’s where to go,
enjoy a buffet spread long and fair
among good people working
it was an honor, a delight mid-day
care taken in particulars,
choose desires well prepared
with no haste, to taste time
and a glass of red wine
can this be Rome
seems like coming home
when the old worn mechanic
pointed, there’s where to go,
enjoy a buffet spread long and fair
among good people working
it was an honor, a delight mid-day
care taken in particulars,
choose desires well prepared
with no haste, to taste time
and a glass of red wine
can this be Rome
seems like coming home
meant to so verify
morning laundry and coffee
with Texas Bill in attendance.
43 years as a freelance embassy chef.
you’d think he’d have learned his lesson.
now he’s growing a beard
for a Shakespeare play he’s in.
i know he has 18 lines,
he told me 29 times.
we’ll see an early
show if we can stay
up that late hope
they talk fast
hey, so-called every day stuff
also happens in Rome, you know.
but life is a poem anywhere you look
at it skewed with jelly on as i do
with Texas Bill in attendance.
43 years as a freelance embassy chef.
you’d think he’d have learned his lesson.
now he’s growing a beard
for a Shakespeare play he’s in.
i know he has 18 lines,
he told me 29 times.
we’ll see an early
show if we can stay
up that late hope
they talk fast
hey, so-called every day stuff
also happens in Rome, you know.
but life is a poem anywhere you look
at it skewed with jelly on as i do
pay only
3 euro a week ,
to any Tim phone,
call 'em often,
talk long as you want.
Giacomo changed to Vodafone
so he’s made my list
of whom to call
less often.
to any Tim phone,
call 'em often,
talk long as you want.
Giacomo changed to Vodafone
so he’s made my list
of whom to call
less often.
i left 44
where 62 was next
at the other post office.
now 73 is up at this one
and my number is 97.
28 potential
customers are waiting.
with 11 windows,
6 are open, more or less.
at the other post office.
now 73 is up at this one
and my number is 97.
28 potential
customers are waiting.
with 11 windows,
6 are open, more or less.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
it was 1890
it was 1890 when Bill was here
traveling Europe by train.
Naples, Rome, then Florence
with horses, Indians and Annie Oakley.
too many large stones and rubble,
and he had wanted to do the
wild west show in the Colosseum.
so they decided to perform right outside.
i know he had a drink at the bar on Via Condotti
on that corner by the Spanish steps,
cause 121 years later i walked over there
and saw the photographic proof
taken there that day in all his glory,
and is still on the wall.
even 12l years ago they called Mr.Cody the name
we know him by - he was Buffalo Bill.
traveling Europe by train.
Naples, Rome, then Florence
with horses, Indians and Annie Oakley.
too many large stones and rubble,
and he had wanted to do the
wild west show in the Colosseum.
so they decided to perform right outside.
i know he had a drink at the bar on Via Condotti
on that corner by the Spanish steps,
cause 121 years later i walked over there
and saw the photographic proof
taken there that day in all his glory,
and is still on the wall.
even 12l years ago they called Mr.Cody the name
we know him by - he was Buffalo Bill.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
deep searching
m. is reading about
a deep mine in England where
scientists search for dark matter.
world over they are looking.
they need a space
where gamma rays
and cosmic rays won’t penetrate,
kinda like my closet.
i asked her what they are going to make
out of this dark matter
when they finally find it.
she said, “shoes”.
a deep mine in England where
scientists search for dark matter.
world over they are looking.
they need a space
where gamma rays
and cosmic rays won’t penetrate,
kinda like my closet.
i asked her what they are going to make
out of this dark matter
when they finally find it.
she said, “shoes”.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
feeling not seeing
this morning thinking of them
from half a world away
i am faraway observer
recollecting now
those come and gone
friends, accomplices, on this earth
linked, liked, loved and endured
is it even necessary to recall
one's loved best of all
and so many, many others
come and oftimes vanished
pieces in the puzzle
apparently we didn’t put it together
just found ourselves here
tap-dancing the boards to the rhythms
in this game called life
from half a world away
i am faraway observer
recollecting now
those come and gone
friends, accomplices, on this earth
linked, liked, loved and endured
is it even necessary to recall
one's loved best of all
and so many, many others
come and oftimes vanished
pieces in the puzzle
apparently we didn’t put it together
just found ourselves here
tap-dancing the boards to the rhythms
in this game called life
Saturday, January 08, 2011
pillows you dream on
please don’t send me
any more pillows
that you dream on.
especially not C.O.D.
as it is, the house and car
are full up with pillows,
in fact, it’s getting hard
to make a right turn.
if you send more pillows
i’ll have to rent
a storage space. anyway,
i think i’m being watched.
any more pillows
that you dream on.
especially not C.O.D.
as it is, the house and car
are full up with pillows,
in fact, it’s getting hard
to make a right turn.
if you send more pillows
i’ll have to rent
a storage space. anyway,
i think i’m being watched.
Friday, January 07, 2011
fish and water
fish and water
get along,
and better they stay
where they oughter.
don’wanna catch ‘em
one morning
laughing together
on my back porch.
get along,
and better they stay
where they oughter.
don’wanna catch ‘em
one morning
laughing together
on my back porch.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
eclipse
off to see James in the morning
when on a walk toward the tram
Mirella passes and says an eclipse will be
in five minutes by her watch
i suggest there will not be much change
as she went eyes skyward upon her way
when two minutes later from
the opposite direction came her husband
and i told Roberto good
day there will be an eclipse
in a moment but do not
expect much change
i will mention the eclipse then
to James when
i see him
and ask then if he noticed
when on a walk toward the tram
Mirella passes and says an eclipse will be
in five minutes by her watch
i suggest there will not be much change
as she went eyes skyward upon her way
when two minutes later from
the opposite direction came her husband
and i told Roberto good
day there will be an eclipse
in a moment but do not
expect much change
i will mention the eclipse then
to James when
i see him
and ask then if he noticed
Friday, December 31, 2010
2010 - the end
to mom and dad,
uncles and aunts
neighbors Phil and Rosey,
the kids i grew up with,
the women i've loved,
to my kids and theirs.
stack ‘em up,
all the way down.
to creeks jumped
and those fallen into.
bridges crossed,
those ducked under.
to all frogs and the fish,
the birds and the clouds,
rain in the forest,
over brambles, through fields,
and down long highways.
in sun, snow and heavy sea,
flowers, weeds and vegatebles - this is it:
a salute to the finish
of the first decade,
in this twenty-first Century.
for bygones well done,
the best to you from me.
uncles and aunts
neighbors Phil and Rosey,
the kids i grew up with,
the women i've loved,
to my kids and theirs.
stack ‘em up,
all the way down.
to creeks jumped
and those fallen into.
bridges crossed,
those ducked under.
to all frogs and the fish,
the birds and the clouds,
rain in the forest,
over brambles, through fields,
and down long highways.
in sun, snow and heavy sea,
flowers, weeds and vegatebles - this is it:
a salute to the finish
of the first decade,
in this twenty-first Century.
for bygones well done,
the best to you from me.
Monday, December 27, 2010
postcard from Rome
postcard from Rome
also to Rome
if like say you live here and I’m
sending this to you. but don’t kid yourself.
i am sandwiched like peanut butter and whatever,
between languages and cultures,
an example of contradiction and/or combination,
that, more or less, function, even thrive
or seem to, in this chaotic basket of the active world.
not an angle, not a corner.
a catch-trapping thing,
like a basket.
a walk over the bridge Ponte Sisto before noon.
where one can see the Vatican.
or two can see the same thing.
ponte means bridge, none the less.
less is more? by the way,
whoever said that should go back to school.
perform penance by subtraction, and quit
making up esoteric sayings like that.
when i cross (the bridge again)
the Japanese accordion guy will be on the bridge.
i will drop un euro into his case,
then go straight ahead toward Fontana Trilusa
then on into Trastevere and lunch.
Chinese food with our friend Maria.
it’s our usual Sunday in Rome, or call it Roma
if you’re Italian or if like say you live here.
you know, they call this city Roma,
and the Roma are the people from Romania,
who are also called the Gypsies,
but are on the wrap-around periphery of this poem.
and did I ever tell you
the Chinese lady who runs the restaurant
is also called Maria, and she picked that name herself
because her Chinese name is unpronounceable for Italians.
oh, i never say an euro, it’s always un euro.
cause i’m not speaking English
when i’m talking euro. hai capito?
who can blame me?
well there you have it, now mark the bridge
with an X on the picture postcard,
and write – “we are here”
that pretty much tells the story and should do just fine.
also to Rome
if like say you live here and I’m
sending this to you. but don’t kid yourself.
i am sandwiched like peanut butter and whatever,
between languages and cultures,
an example of contradiction and/or combination,
that, more or less, function, even thrive
or seem to, in this chaotic basket of the active world.
not an angle, not a corner.
a catch-trapping thing,
like a basket.
a walk over the bridge Ponte Sisto before noon.
where one can see the Vatican.
or two can see the same thing.
ponte means bridge, none the less.
less is more? by the way,
whoever said that should go back to school.
perform penance by subtraction, and quit
making up esoteric sayings like that.
when i cross (the bridge again)
the Japanese accordion guy will be on the bridge.
i will drop un euro into his case,
then go straight ahead toward Fontana Trilusa
then on into Trastevere and lunch.
Chinese food with our friend Maria.
it’s our usual Sunday in Rome, or call it Roma
if you’re Italian or if like say you live here.
you know, they call this city Roma,
and the Roma are the people from Romania,
who are also called the Gypsies,
but are on the wrap-around periphery of this poem.
and did I ever tell you
the Chinese lady who runs the restaurant
is also called Maria, and she picked that name herself
because her Chinese name is unpronounceable for Italians.
oh, i never say an euro, it’s always un euro.
cause i’m not speaking English
when i’m talking euro. hai capito?
who can blame me?
well there you have it, now mark the bridge
with an X on the picture postcard,
and write – “we are here”
that pretty much tells the story and should do just fine.
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