geese nap

semi-gray day, a few smears of blue
seen through parting dark clouds in the sky.
heater on, windows up.
road dry, 15 degrees.
pass 25 random spots in a field like dark plastic bags;
look again, one or two are moving. it's geese lying there.
their idea of a good place for a nap
is different from mine.

yes, there is steel in the winds ...
enough to test you.

taste it cold and ...
in skies alive that have come down around you.

while thinking Rome, at home
in the snow drift called winter

in a straight-back, lightly-cushioned chair
in the front room, in the sun,
i can spend the noon hour
thinking of how time has run.

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challenge

waitress poured me a coffee
so high in the cup
to make it a challenge to balance a sip.

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It's written there -
Seven, the year of it … how grand.
from dull white into passing age's smoke,
the breath of shouts, fires, and exhaust.
vapors on weathered alabaster turned the chalky blanched monument
the tone of parched and dirty fog.
worn, pocked,portions missing, others in danger of falling ...
this solemn icon known the world over:
The Colosseum

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Borghese

A camera man setting up,
sun is bright, the day cool.
an hour to go.
fractions of quiet words in many languages
...
all wearing 21st century casual,
there are no dresses.
a few flash haircuts, to the scalp on one side.
the parade passes in masses, then thinner
by the start of the hour to begin
into the Borghese

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it is tough

it is tough being a guy
when you get to the age
women are smarter.

this park

this park at the end of the street
that changes names to get here
where i have a bench in the sun
on such a good afternoon for warmth
in city stillness as can be expected;
a balance of all i appreciate.
there is a statue of a man sitting
hand over his face. years ago i drew this.
nothing has changed but the day, me
and the sun.

October skies

take some steel and winds
not great, but easy.
color them rolling,
skies alive.

lost power

lost power, didn't take a big hit,
enough to set clocks a blinking
that's it.
oh, and the lights on the stove flashing,
maybe there are other indicators.
time will tell, hah.
for sure the day has been interupted.
a change of plans has occured.
so we put it back together
and see wat else we can find.
surprise flys on wings called disturbance
... anytime ... stay ready

find the tea that appeals
sip it and wonder

got my

oh, baby doll ...
got my new frames heated,
twisted, they fit snugger ... more snug.
so many words in my heart.

two hours later i am still wearing
my new glasses.
recently toasted,
they not me.




wanna draw for high card?
(i'm thinking about this one.).

bees wipe their feet
before entering the hive.
scientists will tell you
even they have more to learn.

do i

always let me help you,
do i ... do i.
words, that word
to say the things that pile all over,
i see, i know.
now i said "things", another non-word
i use as yes as i can, or faster.
the beat text is happening like a rogue wave.
do keep eyes shut when water splashes
just a blink, you see, of course
and off course.
make a melody ... a melody.
hum a melody, go ahead.
softly.

.

nuts are for

nuts are for picking
then doing with
like cooking, baking,
donuts or making of a pie.
so: we pick 'em or the squirrel gets 'em
when the tree leaves nuts.

donuts sounds extreme, i know.



.

The games will be played
in the last good weather of the season.
The boys of summer will wrap it up
and our team, after many years without,
shall come out rated number one


.`.

season

yesterday's warm's a memory,
now a change of scene;
from no socks to long socks,
there is no in between


.

help us

you know these giant bombers
the USA builds,
why not build one less
and put the money, an estimated 606 million for one,
towards helping disabled children.
that's a lot of money.
Now, tell me again, which political party
is the one that works for the people?


.

for the people

you know these giant bombers
the USA builds them;
why not build one less
and put the money
towards helping disabled children.
that's a lot of money.
Now, which political party
is the one that works for the people?


.

poetry is

to say it
neat and clean
is poetry.


.

dear october

here near october,
with only a couple days to go,
it feels like july again,
i mean now ... so hot and dry,
wow, holy cow, rolling fat clouds crowd the sky.
they are nice.

it is so hot you seek relief
in the shade, under a big tree;
where you've got fat leaves
in a thin breeze,
watch them clouds ... slowly rolling by.
i mean it.


.

on tv

on TV: an architectural program
featuring ten wonderful homes to see.
i clicked it off accidentally
then spent an hour trying to find it.
i did not find it again.


.

ten

leaning toward October
night wind can make it cool;
no need for jackets yet, however
month ten is on the way.


.

near june

near june dawn
one damp
brown leather foot
after another
crept the woods
to a lake and canoe
where two
set off as few would do
to pursue the climbing amber sun
(not yet in view)
and jumping swimming fish
(deep in the blue)
the deer and bear and birds

what they saw
no one knew




This dawn poem is here already ... i brought it back to post again ... just because.

grow trees

... we'll grow trees
cut them into poles, and
string 'em with wires
all over the world.
until we think of something better





.

myanmar

she read the morning news
told me as we drove
thirty easy going miles on straight blacktop.
it was 66 degrees 85 later ...
don't have a watch, Enough ...
to a slow down, hometown breakfast ... shop ...
an establishment ...

families walking with all they had,
escaping so they would not be shot.

here the restaurant is open this holiday, labor day -
whatever that means.

women and children and old walked.
the men are all dead
a woman carried a cooking pot,
another a solar panel.

in the corner restaurant
having an omelet with toast and fried potatoes
the lady kept bringing more coffee
i thought about the people walking.
what a world.



.

water cover

jesus criminy,
birds float in the air,
boats are there to share,
they are helping out;
Texas has flooded.
more area than i can imagine.





.

that much

put your hand out shoulder high
that's how much poetry sweet talk i need
that deep in flowers and thistles
rocks and birds and running water




.

color up

color up, autumn, do it for me.
dress yourself carefully, will ya?
a mess of us are ready ...
so what's it going to be?
how about pizza and a beer
watching those Indians play ball?
to the wire, when they wrap it up,
those boys of the fall ...
and summer. of course.
we spent a lot of time with them.
god we cheered.
from beginning to seasons end;
and after snows we'll do it again, don't you know.




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winding out

winding out of august,
nearly hits 100 in kentucky;
come home to feel summer running,
going to cool and color soon.



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