can we sleep with spring
melt changing to a blizzard?
well it's this afternoon.
three days they've been saying.
oh, yes it's Grandma's birthday.
i'm the last celebrating.
i'll ask my daughter the record keeper
which one i'm celebrating
poetry - jack sender - all of my life
can we sleep with spring
melt changing to a blizzard?
well it's this afternoon.
three days they've been saying.
oh, yes it's Grandma's birthday.
i'm the last celebrating.
i'll ask my daughter the record keeper
which one i'm celebrating
that's enough to get us worried.
foot of rain then a foot of snow
how'd they get pictures
hasn't even happen ed yet.
old black and whites blurry
how they swung the camera a round.
titles, not names like bob and maria.
examples include: mailman
captain, that's a title for you.
be wary, what's hard to rhyme.
takes time. mr i mean.
where are we heading?
Into a week filled with snow.
let's take it easy this winter day.
imaagine warmth and the scent of
burning man pungent cedar wood.
light and quiet on an afternoon.
we can take a quiet day
going to tip it open
unzip the weather package.
see what comes to fruition.
ripen away lads and lasses.
sunshine now will you, please.
i must be nuts, it has been snowing all day.
little flakes continue persistently.
the month has proven itself
flakes falling
suddenly thick over a heavy red cardinal.
other birds fly low over rooftops
through bare bushes.
the cardinal finds shelter in a near tree.
snow lightens, i'm writing
as the birds flutter by.
when now snow is heavy again
birds get out of sight.
i see deep in the thick branches of a of green giant arborvitae
the cardinal sits tucked in
waiting out the winter fury.
Thuga.
snow filled the town yesterday
both sides and down the middle.
a helpful warning came from the weatherman.
he sung it out and it sure came down.
forget about it now until next time.
it's 41 degrees this afternoon.
then going down to 12 tonight.
Scary promises. wrap tight.
more to the east
here at least is plenty.
a surprise to see in the morning.
be around this week they say
it's staying cold, not melting.
a January pelting. how winter's sypposed to be.
i ran a few notes together,
maybe six.
was ready to write a melody
went to bed instead.
thought a while about what I'd write
woke up spending today
reading weather threats,
snow is coming in a huge way.
we have been warned.
we're in harm's way.
well, on the edge of it.
pretend we're on a boat and sing a chanty.
i've a quick ride
whether i take my time or not.
hardly the other side.
a few hundred yard6s i've got.
ridding in a light wind
i'll watch the tide.
the sun is right again.
weather is right most any day in Sausalito.
drink coffee, sure; and there's more :
been eating candy canes
small and plenty. that is the
last confession i'll ever make.
oh yes, i brush every night.
clock work practically.
my dentist has
been good to me
and i want to do my part.
still this afternoon and fortunately
absolute quiet blends in this
neighborhood like mustard and onions
on a foot-long baseball dog.
today even birds are taking the day off.
20 degrees, going down to 12 tonight.
Sunshine runs through giant clouds.
laying on the wall.
4:30 or so on an otherwise peaceful morning
... i laughed once out loud ... loud.
i was sleeping when i woke up to laugh.
what i was dreaming escapes me,
but it sure must have been funny.
i do a night time laugh about twice a year.
not sad to report.
the day could be special.
i just thought of Ethel Swanbeck
our long term representative in the state's House of Representatives
lived in our little town, House member for eleven consecutive terms
from 1955 to 1972.
she was a fine lady.
Her grandson Ray and i were at
the state House one afternoon and
we're introduced before
the assembly. remembering Ethel
made the day special.
the Mid-Twentieth Century,
and our time was special.
she made it so.
Monday the third, yesterday ... that's the easy part.
on that lot no one's forgotten, the workers are back in a giant yellow truck.
they're going to begin digging a crawling space
below a house that is yet to be built.
a mouse can stay there for now.
a house will be built over the hole later.
i've seen the workers do it before;
once they get started there's no stopping them.
They are six hundred meters from my window. I can't tell if any of the three workers are women.
At this distance they are green pants, green shirts and hoodies ... right, green.
They look tough. There are no subtle curves.
and you're right, Monday was yesterday and yesterday's gone.
The first day of the month
Why doesn't the first day always occur on a Tuesday or Wednesday?
The tale of the week seems infeeb led to begin a month on wrap it up day.
Goes to show you how unimportant the way we analyze has effect on the real world.
We can glide into important decisions and have no power at all.
Have a fit. Have a ball.
my powerless wish has the effect of a stall.
stand in the hall.
being built across the street,
has taken a month.
sure is neat.
however it's way white; that's too bright.
and not a window on the east side. nada.
they'll never watch a sun rise.
probably won't be raising chickens.
Mat'll show up, come in a truck.
to continue his work
remodeling our bathroom.
He has pipe and wall cutting to do
so Meri is going to park our
Car out of the way, across the street;
on the street. i just heard the car start.
now she is walking back. comes in,
hands me a mask. Yesterday 16 k cases
cases a day then 20k. where I can't say
too many figures thrown at us
every day. buddy holly, we remember you.
every day. going faster than a roller coaster
you still need a coat
but it is near spring temps.
scratch that. baby, it's cold outside.
what do you know. i'll stay in and
sip my coffee. Old news.
To wake this morning was easy.
we heard pounding drops of rain
On the roof this a.m.
sounded , heavy, persistent.
now a weekend of football on TV.
A couple of degrees over freezing.
well i can talk about it.
Cleveland lost a game.
my sweet daughter called. so did Dona.
now it is still out.
I'm going to walk up the drive.
Eighty feet up then turn around.
Exercise hey. Good for ya.
it shakes down on all of us
in smoke and candles, music, colors, candy;
family and friends. celebrate the best you can.
in your mind and all together.
words we've hurled in good intention
for the rest of us, all the best to us.
let us mention ... around snowflakes and in hymns -
bring joy to the world.
scratching down a few words,
a warm day could be savored.
toast and coffee favored.
arrows for my quiver.
fish come up the river
seagulls flying over ...
shake it off and wait a while.
something will come by, make me smile.
when solitary, quiet night designs cover me;
drifting in ... got to be ... sets me free. one two three.
what about and how to write a poem.
find it. passing birds on the wing.
when i wake
creative thoughts have traveled on.
all is gone.
leaving me to begin not knowing where to head.
how to start;
a blank paper is how to begin
where thoughts are thin in the margin.
with the sun shining on the wall or through a window nearby.
sun in view or on me.1
works every time.
a worker is in the house grinding, pounding
and making as much noise as i can possibly stand.
today i am looking at the clock wondering
how soon will he go home and will he c
lean up the mess he made before he packs up his tools and gets out of here.
i have bee9 n very nice to him all day.
snow isn't seen. Yet.
we could do with some.
i didn't say that we needed snow.
have to finish the year first;
that's not demanding much.
seems how winter usually begins.
with stretches on the calendar, regular.
so now is getting into the season.
it will get here.
the kettle's on the boil now
the sun shot Its last ray
snow is on the way.
Yeah, It's here.
Measure of time.
The days seem fine.
Mark them off
yours and mine.
We're clipping
Along, you know.
And there I stumbled to fill the gap
don my cap ... got here quick, like thunder...
can't call it heavy, didn't weigh it. Just let it blow.
keep out of the way.
southern U.S. caught terrible destruction.
here, up North, we got away.
we could hear, it wailing ... making the rounds.
got my attention.
now yesterday is gone; all is calm again.
let the new day develop.
following order
what should be, across the river,
where geese fly low.
I look over my shoulder left and right ...
what are we working out? when I read what others have written how they found direction in their lives I realize my direction flowed out from under me.
i did my work and went where life's river took me.
could i have been more kind ...
worked harder? i don't think so.
I only had the brain I took along.
Okay? What do you say?
Another point, are there soup balls in the freezer?
no wonder the weather wins attention.
It's winding up, getting ready.
so mention November; how it went fast.
marching past. Yeah, yeah.
adorable remains the memory.
holding on while leaves orange and rust
all be gone.
we watched the month go a day at a time.
now it's on my mind to write
concerning snow and sweet words of love
swirling in peace as we view a last glowing ember.
rolling notion. secure lotion. what's the potion?
a dash of cold now,
the real winter is ahead.
it will take until January to arrive.
there is no rush.
today starts December as unassuming
and as unannounced as possible.