Poetry

Seasonings

When Autumn leaves the party she has thrown for her demise

and all the colored streamers turn to gray,

it's then that winter blows through town to fill the vacant seat

and nature's children know it's time for bed.

The bruin has the routine down, it stuffed itself at Autumn's

party, ate and drank 'til he could barely move,

then crashed out on her couch to sleep the pounds away

(and set-off the latest dietary craze!)

We're up, we're down, we're howling at the moon,

we're dancing to a tune that dances us.

It's clouds and rain, then broiling in the Sun,

or bone cold chill that penguins love to swim in.

When flowers erupt like slowly bursting fireworks,

and Monarchs float like solar powered kites,

all possibilities of life and love awaken in the heart,

and water flows to turn the millers wheel again.

As dawn erodes the pitch of night,

sweet songs erupt from silent trees,

and coolness of the morn betrays a swelter after noon.

With ebb and flow, a breathing tide of mystery notes abide

upon on a cosmic string or snare in spiders lair.

We're up, we're down, we're howling at the moon,

we're dancing to a tune that dances us.

Alas, we sink or swim, unfolding from within

or breaking on a wheel of our own shaping.

The Gift Of Form

I look at these two hands,

and wonder at their mystery,

such beauty in form and function,

but do they belong to me?

I wiggle the toes at foot's end

and marvel at the perfect symmetry,

these feet that have worn out a thousand shoes,

but honestly, do they belong to me?

I call it my body, but can't account for all the bones.

I understand its' needs, and doubt that it could stand alone.

A shelter for the homeless, but who is it needs home?

In this vehicle for consciousness to strike out on its' own.

The Wiz Takes A Man

The Wizard appeared, and she said:

"I'm here to help you break this spell,

of endless noise wherein you dwell,

This ticker tape you call a brain,

disturbs us on the Cosmic Plane.

It tips the balance of the spheres,

reducing those in charge to tears.

The endless chatter in your mind

keeps our whole staff on overtime.

Of course, we have compassion, too,

the noise fest must be hard for you.

So let me offer this solution,

to help curtail noise pollution.

Just stop and sense deep life within,

thoughts will come, but ignore them,

pursue this 'til you reach the source,

let silence now direct your course."

The young man contorted,

then reported:

"I hear this bafflegab you speak,

that my bambule makes you tweak.

And though your words I can't eschew,

I hardly give one brass razoo.

You may be all Pukka Sahib,

but I'm a wide boy all for greed."

The Wizard sighed

and then replied:

"I'd hoped it wouldn't come to this,

But must now scratch you off my list.

From your disturbance to the force,

I pivot to different course.

Those earbuds pounding Kanye West,

remain in place at my behest,

until you change your errant way,

24/7 Doris Day!

Vivid

I rarely remember dreams

but last night was different:

A friend came to me,

and asked if I'd heard

the news about the

man in prison who

had once wounded

our family so deeply?

He has cancer,

and is suffering

terribly as it spreads.

Was this a moment

to say or even think

that karma had come

to collect accounts due?

In the end, the only sin

is ignorance, and how

could ignorance be a

sin?

I felt sadness.

Rattler

The journey of a thousand meters, nearly ended in a single step.

Whatever took over in that instant, it was not a contemplative mind.

Date Night

It began with a wife's invitation

to a movie I wanted to see. Good!

We each had tasks to complete

beforehand, but they were doable.

My work was physical, mostly

involving the yard, garden,

pets, and chickens, while she worked

the computer and phone, trying

to balance delicate finances.

We both looked forward to an

escape together, but we were on

different wavelengths at the appointed hour.

I was hyper and foolish of speech,

and every word then drove us further

apart, along with our tense travel up I-5.

It all reached an ugly climax as we ascended

the Medford off-ramp, where I had two seconds

to choose lane left or right. I cracked

"Fuck It! Fuck The Whole Thing!" I shouted and

took the left lane home. We sat in the driveway for

a long time, replaying our often varied perceptions

of what just happened and where we went wrong.

Instead of witnessing the invincibility of Iron Man in 3-D

I was gifted the opportunity to see

How my iron-headed willfulness had hurt my best friend.

It's not easy looking at the fool in the mirror.

I'd hoped that I'd dropped that hitchhiker off many exits ago

The Greatest Surprise

I know a man of formless form

as clear as sky is blue.

So simple in his wizened ways

that children see it too.

And yet, with roots more deeply set,

than even time can reach,

He says more in a silent glance,

than any book can teach.

I know this sounds like that old tale

we learned in Sunday Mass,

Except the one I speak of,

isn't drawn up from the past.

Here's the kicker. Are you ready?

Strip away a layer or two...

Direct into the core of Heart:

Welcome Home,

t’was ever you!

Closing Poetry Group Poem

A virtual family reunion

with friends I'd never met,

and never knew existed

until my feet were finally wet.

How strange the times we live in,

we tap dance on our keys,

Sending messages in bottles

The spirits to appease,

And instantly, the depth of hearts

are measured on a page,

our humor, hopes, and Don Quixotes,

our wonder and our rage.

I'm not the sentimental type,

I reassure myself,

so get a grip, man up,

and leave emotion

on the shelf!

But this is not a forum

to hide in thin disguise,

You’ve shared with me

so openly, there's

welling up of eyes.

The veil has slowly lifted,

cynicism out the door,

and though I'll only say this once

'I love you to the core!'