* * *
110121
DIABETES AND YOU (for Jaime)
Diabetes comes from DNA
and from the way you work and play.
Diabetes comes from what you eat,
especially food too fat or sweet.
Diabetes makes you drink and pee,
plus, it affects how well you see.
It makes you tired, it numbs your feet.
Let's make this sickness obsolete.
Do not be a diabete!
[ASIDE: Jaime made a presentation on diabetes
and footcare to our Lions Club.]
110120
COFFEE PRE-JUNKIE (for Lizzie)
Medicate your head?
Why do what you will rue
and later struggle to undo?
Meditate instead.
110119
PLEASE EXPLAIN
Who is this person who,
in photos and in mirrors,
looks pillowy, marshmallowy,
and billowy, but who,
inside, feels willowy?
110118
THE EVERYDAY VARIETY
For better or for worse,
I make and fill my own thirst;
when I want a poem, I write a verse,
and—best of all—get to read it first!
DEMISE SURPRISE (for Sargent)
Someone just died
at age ninety-five.
People keep dying
not known still alive.
110117
WINTER WAKING
Winter-haze tonal grays
can make moon-sky
bright as noon-sky
and early wakers wonder
whether morning
is coming or glowing.
110116
DRAFT HORSE
I’m workin’ on
a long, long pome;
plowin’ long and steady.
It’s gonna be
a hard, hard pome;
I’m tired of it already.
A BOUT
Clouds out-crowd.
Clouds attack.
Sun’s uncowed by bully clouds—
through a crack, it slips back.
Then it puts those clouds to rout.
Sun is back.
Sun is out.
How does this come about?
Sun, no doubt, has more clout.
110115
EMBRACING THE SHADOW
[ASIDE: Under construction. This long poem
will take a while to complete and edit.]
110114
PROGRESSION
Winter is kind,
and ever more bright;
as she suspends heat,
she extends light.
OFFSPRING
You greased it, eased it,
cursed, birthed, and nursed it.
You raised it, praised it,
groomed it, pruned it.
You composed, concocted,
and spun it;
and it looks so easy
once you've done it.
110113
WHEN?
Bundled up
one way or another
season after season
people are waiting
people are holding in;
bundled up
one way or another
season after season
bundled up as babies
people are holding on
looking to each other
each waiting for the other
waiting for release
bundled up and waiting
waiting for a reason
or just for an excuse.
110112
WINTER BLISS (for Connie)
Perfectly
simple serenity:
me on bed
in sunlight spotlight;
cat on me.
110111
BLIND REFLECTIONS
Emma dear, Emma wise—
what’s inside those Emma eyes?
I see, in them, myself reflected
but mine are not, to you, a mirror.
I see in yours myself reflecting
why mine are not, for you, a mirror.
Emma dear, Emma wise—
what’s inside your Emma eyes?
110110
POETRY
Not the words but the way;
no specific thing you say.
It’s the truth told by the lie,
the do not know that answers why.
110109
BEAUTY MARKS
A few of the nuns
(let's not say which ones)
had—let us say—
facial blemishes
which, in any case,
they bore with good grace,
helping us know
what God cherishes.
MOMENTOUS
In this now,
my struggle’s
through.
World, …I am
at peace with you.
OBIT
Poet:
probed deeply,
wrote long,
reportedly died of
stub wounds.
WEB OF DECEIT
E-linked, business-network friends
keep recommending further friends,
but to claim these, one must state
form of relationship to date.
For the terms sites recommend
(classmate/colleague/client/friend),
how to answer is hard to guess—
there’s no sort of, just no or yes—
and these implied acquaintanceships
foster false pre-lationships.
110108
SLEEP-IN
I wake today
when the birds untree
and rise to flock.
I wake to the sun
and not to the clock.
BRIEF SANCTUARY
They’re our cats
but we root for the mice,
one of which
was discovered today
dried and flattened
under an out-of-the-way rug.
Poor baby is now a mummy.
110107
ISP’S
Once the computer
was an extension of us;
now that’s vice versa…
and it keeps getting
wersa and wersa.
110106
GOOD DAY
Up, groom, eat,
then out the door.
Drive, arrive, work, drive,
and eat some more.
Catch the mail.
Write a pome.
Good day:
good away, good at home.
110105
FLURRY OF HURRY
Flit-flit-flit;
I’m in a tizzy—
not a state of zen!
But it’s nice
to be so busy—
every now and then!
110104
COOL CATS
Winter cold gives no pause
when outdoor freedom beats cold paws;
“Let us out!” our cats insist.
Icy blasts don’t deter
those brisk excursions they prefer
(and, in truth, cannot resist).
110103
HOW I SEES IT
Once agin, I awake
to butt of cat in my face.
Cat don’t mean to offend.
Naw, an' mine's the “livin’ end!”
110102
APPLICANT (for Hermann)
With a wink,
I will state
if I’m asked:
I can think,
I can wait,
I can fast.
[ASIDE: Siddhartha's résumé.]
* * *
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Winter Mix
* * *
110101
NEW YEAR’S DAY
This day—
ostensibly about time,
but falling as it does
on a date of no particular
astronomic significance—
should serve as a reminder
that names of things
and ideas about things
often obscure the
nature of things.
101231
STAY OF EXECUTION
Leaves are dancing
up from the ditches
this warm December day,
resurrected by swirling
winds of protestation;
the year, apparently,
is not ready to die.
101230
LEFTOVERS
Those both old and bereft
cling all the tighter
to what is left.
101229
PROBLEM PEOPLE
Why are they
so difficult; so stubborn;
so unwilling to capitulate
to our superior wisdom—
and why,
when we visit their houses,
must we suffer the meagerness
of their offerings?
101228
CURE-ATOR
God,
have you any therapy
for the pain of being,
and of being me?
Such therapy is yours alone,
for the pain you’re feeling
you create and own.
When you think as I,
pain will go away:
“I’m okay. You’re okay.”
___________
Today I found this poem note,
dated 091025:
wind
shepherds
leaves
across
road
101227
TO YOUR HEALTH
Happiness
involves a task
and, no, it isn’t drinking;
before you think
a thought again—ask,
“Is that thought
worth thinking?”
101226
UPWARD PATH
“Guide my way,”
I again consent.
To renew ascent,
I renew assent.
101225
THE GIFT OF THE PRESENT
No matter, hopes of Christmas Future
or joys of Christmas Past;
we are Guests of Christmas Present,
which can hardly be surpassed.
101224
PAMPERED
My sweetie makes me coffee.
He brings me toast and jam.
He claims that I’m his honey
and makes me glad I am.
101223
DESIGNER
TOUCH
Life is kinder
than we think
or can think;
when we notice,
we call this
serendipity.
101222
COMING APART
AT THE SEEMS
All I know I know
is how things seem to me,
including this self-same me
that seems to seem to be.
101221
SEASON GREETING
Ah! My favorite time of year
when I enjoy—and wish for you—
a very and most-merry,
thrilling, dance-enhancing,
whoppingly exciting,
gleeful, cheerful new debut
of joyous Christmas shopping.
101220
RELIEF IS ON
THE WAY
A nightmare
is a lie you keep
until you rouse
your self from sleep.
Suspect there are
(to be let go)
“truths” you know
that are not so.
101219
EXASPERATION
Emma has been banished
from the bed
in hopes she’ll use a
proper pee-place instead.
101218
WHAT I LIKE
I like to go, I like to do,
I like to think and write, and then
I like to go and do it all again.
101217
DIS-BANDED
What is a ring to a marriage?
I lost mine yesterday,
trying to keep it safe.
My hand
mourns like an orphan;
my heart grieves like a waif.
What is a ring to a marriage?
I lost mine yesterday,
trying to play it safe.
[ASIDE: As instructed, I put all my jewelry in my pocket
before touring a food-processing plant. Several events later,
my wedding ring was the only item that had somehow escaped.
The loss prompted thoughts about priorities, spouses, possessions, etc.]
101216
NO GOOD CHOICE
Setting the alarm for five
wakes you up at four.
But if you didn’t set it,
at six you’d be a-snore.
101215
INTIMIDATIONS
OF MORTALITY
My cat puts his face
near mine each night,
then (sometime later)
his rear—
which means
that I begin each day
knowing the end is near.
101214
OLD AGE BENEFITS
I'm old—trust me—
but young enough to thrill
to a birthday card from my mom
with a twenty-dollar bill.
101213
DECISIONS,
DECISIONS
Colon or semi?
I haven’t a clue.
Maybe a dash
or comma will do.
If you think prose
is hard, well—foo!
just try poems;
they’ll try you.
* * *
110101
NEW YEAR’S DAY
This day—
ostensibly about time,
but falling as it does
on a date of no particular
astronomic significance—
should serve as a reminder
that names of things
and ideas about things
often obscure the
nature of things.
101231
STAY OF EXECUTION
Leaves are dancing
up from the ditches
this warm December day,
resurrected by swirling
winds of protestation;
the year, apparently,
is not ready to die.
101230
LEFTOVERS
Those both old and bereft
cling all the tighter
to what is left.
101229
PROBLEM PEOPLE
Why are they
so difficult; so stubborn;
so unwilling to capitulate
to our superior wisdom—
and why,
when we visit their houses,
must we suffer the meagerness
of their offerings?
101228
CURE-ATOR
God,
have you any therapy
for the pain of being,
and of being me?
Such therapy is yours alone,
for the pain you’re feeling
you create and own.
When you think as I,
pain will go away:
“I’m okay. You’re okay.”
___________
Today I found this poem note,
dated 091025:
wind
shepherds
leaves
across
road
101227
TO YOUR HEALTH
Happiness
involves a task
and, no, it isn’t drinking;
before you think
a thought again—ask,
“Is that thought
worth thinking?”
101226
UPWARD PATH
“Guide my way,”
I again consent.
To renew ascent,
I renew assent.
101225
THE GIFT OF THE PRESENT
No matter, hopes of Christmas Future
or joys of Christmas Past;
we are Guests of Christmas Present,
which can hardly be surpassed.
101224
PAMPERED
My sweetie makes me coffee.
He brings me toast and jam.
He claims that I’m his honey
and makes me glad I am.
101223
DESIGNER
TOUCH
Life is kinder
than we think
or can think;
when we notice,
we call this
serendipity.
101222
COMING APART
AT THE SEEMS
All I know I know
is how things seem to me,
including this self-same me
that seems to seem to be.
101221
SEASON GREETING
Ah! My favorite time of year
when I enjoy—and wish for you—
a very and most-merry,
thrilling, dance-enhancing,
whoppingly exciting,
gleeful, cheerful new debut
of joyous Christmas shopping.
101220
RELIEF IS ON
THE WAY
A nightmare
is a lie you keep
until you rouse
your self from sleep.
Suspect there are
(to be let go)
“truths” you know
that are not so.
101219
EXASPERATION
Emma has been banished
from the bed
in hopes she’ll use a
proper pee-place instead.
101218
WHAT I LIKE
I like to go, I like to do,
I like to think and write, and then
I like to go and do it all again.
101217
DIS-BANDED
What is a ring to a marriage?
I lost mine yesterday,
trying to keep it safe.
My hand
mourns like an orphan;
my heart grieves like a waif.
What is a ring to a marriage?
I lost mine yesterday,
trying to play it safe.
[ASIDE: As instructed, I put all my jewelry in my pocket
before touring a food-processing plant. Several events later,
my wedding ring was the only item that had somehow escaped.
The loss prompted thoughts about priorities, spouses, possessions, etc.]
101216
NO GOOD CHOICE
Setting the alarm for five
wakes you up at four.
But if you didn’t set it,
at six you’d be a-snore.
101215
INTIMIDATIONS
OF MORTALITY
My cat puts his face
near mine each night,
then (sometime later)
his rear—
which means
that I begin each day
knowing the end is near.
101214
OLD AGE BENEFITS
I'm old—trust me—
but young enough to thrill
to a birthday card from my mom
with a twenty-dollar bill.
101213
DECISIONS,
DECISIONS
Colon or semi?
I haven’t a clue.
Maybe a dash
or comma will do.
If you think prose
is hard, well—foo!
just try poems;
they’ll try you.
* * *
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