tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44192208857731253662024-03-04T20:40:28.286-08:00Everyday PoetJo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-79021307653819185222013-07-02T15:18:00.000-07:002013-07-02T15:23:36.639-07:00FarewellBecause of recent difficulties logging in to this blog, I have decided to discontinue it.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Please connect with me at: <a href="http://www.jolightfoot.com/">www.jolightfoot.com</a>. </h3>
<br />
Thanks.<br />
<br />
* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-91127111041824434012013-06-25T15:00:00.000-07:002013-06-25T15:00:19.474-07:00Update* * *<br />
<br />
This is just a quick hello. <br /><br />I'm still alive and still writing . . . and I'm reviewing how and where to share that.<br />
<br />
* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-40644586310686621202011-07-31T12:00:00.000-07:002011-07-31T12:00:41.634-07:00Thinking About It...* * *<br />
<br />
Some fellow poets <br />
recently encouraged me to enter <br />
poetry contests, which I did. <br />
<br />
Some contests will not accept <br />
previously published poems, <br />
but the definition of "published" <br />
varies widely. <br />
Some say it means merely <br />
having appeared on a blog!<br />
Until I learn the repercussions,<br />
I am suspending blog entries. <br />
<br />
Opinions?<br />
<br />
* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-10740350404267320992011-05-09T09:24:00.000-07:002011-05-09T09:28:16.394-07:00What Changes, What Doesn't* * *<br />
<br />
<br />
110430<br />
<br />
CHANGE OF <br />
RESIDENT<br />
<br />
default,<br />
foreclosure<br />
and eviction<br />
portend<br />
<br />
soon <br />
I will leave<br />
this home<br />
<br />
in the interim,<br />
it must be honored <br />
and lovingly tended<br />
<br />
the architect<br />
deserves as much<br />
<br />
he is, <br />
even now,<br />
preparing me to dwell <br />
in another of his <br />
many mansions<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: after leaving here.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110429<br />
<br />
ODE TO SPIRIT<br />
<br />
inner light<br />
<br />
guiding,<br />
bright<br />
<br />
words <br />
will hardly do<br />
<br />
I must live<br />
<br />
my ode to you<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: ode.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110428<br />
<br />
WITHOUT DUE CONSIDERATION<br />
<br />
For years we took—let's be blunt—<br />
while other beings took the brunt.<br />
Life used to be a treasure hunt<br />
and we were always out in front.<br />
We had privilege. We had clout.<br />
<br />
Now there's come a turnabout.<br />
Today we groan and whine and pout<br />
because we have to do without;<br />
we're bewildered and unsure;<br />
we think we’re sick and seek a cure.<br />
<br />
But mostly we are immature<br />
and mushroom growth is our manure.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: the world without something (besides myself).]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110427<br />
<br />
IN THE COMPANY OF POETS<br />
<br />
In the eye of the artist,<br />
in the eye of the wise,<br />
it takes the merest moment<br />
to spy and recognize—<br />
<br />
paradise,<br />
and all it implies.<br />
<br />
In the eyes of the poets<br />
(with whom I ally),<br />
it’s done<br />
in the wink, <br />
in the blink,<br />
in the twinkling of an eye.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: in the _____ of _____.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110426<br />
<br />
YOU FOLLOW?<br />
<br />
Every time I drive through Oklahoma<br />
on I-40 and go past Lake Eufala,<br />
I think of Robert Shaw as crime boss <br />
playing against Robert Redford as con man<br />
in the movie, <em>The Sting.</em> “Ya follah?”<br />
<br />
I also think of non-confident story tellers<br />
repeatedly checking in with their audiences,<br />
“You follah?”<br />
<br />
Say, for instance, I’m not sure if you’re<br />
acquainted with Oklahoma town names.<br />
Instead of the classic four-town version<br />
of names-as-sentence, I might go for five:<br />
“Sallisaw Henryetta Waggoner Bowlegs,<br />
Eufala?”<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: leader or follower.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110425<br />
<br />
A HOME REPAIR NO-BRAINER <span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>(for Mike) </em></span><br />
<br />
It only takes a second or two <br />
to fall from a ladder,<br />
which allows for a surprising <br />
amount of thinking.<br />
<br />
My brother said his thoughts, <br />
as he plunged toward <br />
a rock sidewalk and curb, <br />
included which part <br />
of his body to sacrifice.<br />
<br />
He saved his head.<br />
<br />
OSHA can tell you <br />
how often this is NOT the case<br />
(at least in business) and how important <br />
ladder safety training is.<br />
<br />
Plus, using your head.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: falling.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110424<br />
<br />
NEEDLESS<br />
SUFFERING<br />
<br />
…as opposed<br />
to needful?<br />
<br />
<br />
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE<br />
<br />
May each person find their joy—<br />
and find that joy to be their practice.<br />
<br />
May each person find their practice—<br />
and find that practice to be their service.<br />
<br />
May each person find their service—<br />
and find that service to be their therapy.<br />
<br />
May each therapist<br />
inspire others to be well and wise.<br />
<br />
And may each poet <br />
find their therapy to be<br />
the joyful practice of their poetry.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: prayer.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110423<br />
<br />
QUITE QUIT<br />
<br />
I was primed to go<br />
and would have gone<br />
(without a goad)<br />
until I dropped.<br />
<br />
But it's end of rhyme<br />
and road and line;<br />
when prompted to,<br />
I promptly stopped.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: quit doing something.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110422<br />
<br />
ONE OF THOSE DAYS<br />
<br />
As he prepares to unload his cart,<br />
the next shopper in line notices<br />
that it is mostly empty;<br />
two dozen cans of catfood<br />
and a bag of peanuts<br />
don’t take up much space.<br />
<br />
“You go there,” she says,<br />
pointing to an express lane<br />
several aisles over.<br />
<br />
“I’m easy,” he thinks,<br />
“I have time.”<br />
<br />
To the express lane checker he remarks, <br />
“Ever have one of those days?”<br />
<br />
“Nope.”<br />
<br />
<br />
SISTERS<br />
<br />
It could have been a dress<br />
or a job or a man.<br />
<br />
Neither recalls who noticed it first,<br />
gleaming in the grass—a ring.<br />
Both wanted it,<br />
but both wanted to share.<br />
For awhile, they took turns wearing it.<br />
<br />
When life (and a suitor) proposed <br />
that they split apart to separate towns,<br />
they visited the local jeweler<br />
and told their story. <br />
<br />
“Can you make a duplicate?”<br />
<br />
“Yes,” he said, smiling.<br />
“I <em>can </em>get a similar blue stone <br />
and wax-cast the band and setting.<br />
You could not tell the new ring<br />
from the old.“<br />
<br />
“But, no, I <em>will</em> not do that.<br />
This ring was hand-made <br />
by an exceptional craftsman. <br />
This ring was found and shared by you. <br />
This ring is a testament to your <br />
sisterhood and friendship. <br />
None of that can be duplicated.”<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: only one in the world.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-91279805623305212092011-05-09T09:02:00.000-07:002011-05-09T09:07:15.477-07:00Love, Like, Life* * *<br />
<br />
<br />
110421<br />
<br />
DOUBLE-TAKE<br />
<br />
“Odd,” he said.<br />
He was the passenger in my car,<br />
so I wanted to know.<br />
<br />
“Well, when I was younger,<br />
I used to think of Death<br />
as some entity I would occasionally<br />
glance at in my rear-view mirror<br />
as I zoomed down life’s highway,<br />
so to speak.”<br />
<br />
Okay, a little odd.<br />
<br />
“Anyway, today it hit me:<br />
‘Objects in mirror may be <br />
closer than they appear.’”<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: second thoughts.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110420<br />
<br />
MESSAGE<br />
IN A BOTTLE<br />
<br />
Hello<br />
to a fellow<br />
castaway,<br />
from myself<br />
on this beach.<br />
<br />
Today<br />
(who knows why?)<br />
this bottle <br />
dropped<br />
from a hazy<br />
sky.<br />
<br />
What can I say?<br />
<br />
The gods<br />
must be crazy.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: message in a bottle.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110419<br />
<br />
LOVE IS KIND<br />
<br />
I called to love.<br />
<br />
It didn't come.<br />
I haven't known it yet.<br />
Not yet.<br />
<br />
Love <br />
doesn't mind.<br />
<br />
So if you come to me <br />
for love,<br />
here is what you'll get—<br />
<br />
my efforts to be kind.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: love or anti-love poem.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
THIS IS LOVE?<br />
<br />
Why can’t a spouse<br />
be considerate?<br />
Or at least consider it?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: love or anti-love poem.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110418<br />
<br />
LIKE: A HOW-TO <br />
<br />
like like new <br />
under sun—<br />
<br />
like like life<br />
just begun—<br />
<br />
like like coo<br />
of turtledove—<br />
<br />
like like you—<br />
like like love<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: like _____.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110417<br />
<br />
'TIS! 'TISN'T!<br />
<br />
nothing <br />
is bigger <br />
than <br />
everything<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: big picture.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110416<br />
<br />
SHOCKING DEVELOPMENTS<br />
<br />
Cameras may take snapshots, <br />
but snapshots don’t take cameras.<br />
<br />
Case in point:<br />
this abruptly encountered <br />
rural Oklahoma scene—<br />
stoppedvehicles,blueflashinglights,<br />
policecruiser,brokenfence,wanderingbulls, <br />
highbluff,enormouswhitewindturbines.<br />
<br />
The shock of any shock<br />
is its snap back to ordinary—<br />
in this case, Oklahoma redefined.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: snapshot.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
TWO-LANE TRIP<br />
<br />
I didn't take a camera<br />
to Oklahoma,<br />
but I got a snapshot:<br />
<br />
police car lights, broken fence,<br />
escaped bulls, bluff just beyond<br />
crowned by a row of white wind turbines<br />
<br />
Not the Oklahoma I remembered.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Our trip lasted from 5:30am to 11:30pm. Thankfully, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>I got the poem prompt at an OKC Starbucks. The poem has already </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>morphed but this is the pre-midnight version.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110415<br />
<br />
UN PROFIL “CLASSIQUE”<br />
<br />
<em>Nom:</em> Hercule-Savinien<br />
<em>Pseudo:</em> Dartagnan<br />
<em>Date de Naissance:</em> Mars 6<br />
<em>Résidence:</em> Près de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne, Paris<br />
<em>Education:</em> Collège de Beauvais<br />
<br />
<em>Profession: </em><br />
Musicien; écrivain; scientifique; mathematician; <br />
cavalier; et l'auteur de la littérature, la "science-<br />
fiction," et la poésie<br />
<br />
<em>Favoris:</em><br />
- Restaurant: Rageuneau Patisserie<br />
- Alimentation: Raisins, macarons<br />
- Pièces de Théâtre: La Clorise, Roméo et Juliette<br />
- Musique: Les ballads<br />
<br />
<em>Je Déteste: </em><br />
Les mensonges, les préjugés, la lâcheté, la bêtise, <br />
et de compromise<br />
<br />
<em>J’Aime: </em><br />
L'intégrité, l'esprit, l'impétuosité, le courage,<br />
et la gloire (et, bien sûr, Roxane)<br />
<br />
<em>Signe Particulier: </em><br />
Mon nez, ce qui est "Magnifique!"<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: a profile.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110414<br />
<br />
TAKE YOUR MEDICINE<br />
<br />
Medical therapies invite controversy—<br />
What works? What doesn’t? Who decides?<br />
<br />
Pharmaceutical ads have taken a new tack.<br />
It’s no longer “Take this for your malady,”<br />
but “Take this so your malady will not <br />
disturb others.” On the horizon is <br />
“Have family members take this medicine <br />
so they will not be a disturbance either.”<br />
<br />
…Regardless of the rationale,<br />
“Take this medicine.”<br />
<br />
This week, a case was battled out in court, <br />
in the press, and in opinion polls.<br />
A financially strapped mom was found guilty <br />
of attempted murder for withholding <br />
chemotherapy drugs from her autistic son <br />
who died at the age of nine of leukemia. <br />
The therapy was too painful, she testified.<br />
All in all, it’s a great case for speculation.<br />
<br />
It’s enlightening to discover<br />
how established medicine defines<br />
successful cancer treatment:<br />
a very short-term extension<br />
of a sufferer’s projected demise;<br />
Suzanne Somers mentions this in <br />
“Knockout,” the book about her own<br />
cancer-related tangle with chemotherapists. <br />
It may be a case where she got it all wrong.<br />
<br />
Medical therapies invite controversy—<br />
What works? What doesn’t? Who decides?<br />
<br />
<br />
SHANTYMAN<br />
<br />
Oh, my will is weak,<br />
but my swill is strong<br />
and I do love<br />
a silly-sung song.<br />
<br />
<br />
RUNNING, OUT OF TIME<br />
<br />
“What a fiasco!<br />
How will I ever redeem myself<br />
with the committee?<br />
I must have missed something<br />
the client said; I’ll have to<br />
look through my notes tomorrow.<br />
But when? When? Let’s see…<br />
right after the staff meeting <br />
should work, provided—<br />
Huh? Did you say something?”<br />
<br />
“Yes, you look a little lost.<br />
When are you?”<br />
<br />
<br />
WORK? NOT MY BUSINESS<br />
<br />
"A Day's Work,"<br />
I named my business,<br />
but didn't work<br />
a single one.<br />
<br />
"Grand Poobah"<br />
was my title.<br />
Mission Statement:<br />
"Just Have Fun."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: none of my business.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110413<br />
<br />
FRIENDSHIP AND CHALLENGE<br />
<br />
First, his father died.<br />
<br />
When his mother was taken to<br />
a permanent nursing facility,<br />
that left him home alone.<br />
He went through money then<br />
(all of it) and friends.<br />
<br />
We did what we could.<br />
<br />
He was just enough mentally <br />
un-challenged to hold down <br />
a short series of janitorial jobs.<br />
Then he fell into the safety net<br />
of the homeless. <br />
<br />
For him, it worked.<br />
<br />
Once, during his home-alone days,<br />
I went with him to visit a sick friend; <br />
he drove.<br />
<br />
He drove serenely through the worst parts <br />
of town, oblivious (unlike nervous me) <br />
to littered sidewalks, broken-out windows, <br />
graffiti, and tough-looking residents.<br />
<br />
I examined his face, watched his eyes, <br />
noted his easy talking, and realized—<br />
he was as thoroughly in his own world <br />
as I was in mine; further, nothing <br />
prevented me from ease like his <br />
except my own interpretations.<br />
<br />
Today, <br />
as doomsday reports come in<br />
and safety nets erode, <br />
I deliberately adopt my friend’s ease <br />
to reinterpret the world.<br />
<br />
I say, this earth is my home—<br />
and I am not home alone.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: remembering an old relationship.]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
110412<br />
<br />
BUSTED<br />
<br />
“Withdraw? Oh, yeah? Well, draw a blank!”<br />
My drive-by teller’s such a crank<br />
(the muse who minds my data bank).<br />
“You never thank! You never thank!”<br />
<br />
“You don’t deposit the amount<br />
to prime the pump that fills my fount.<br />
You give me grief I can’t surmount.<br />
You no-account! You no-account!”<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>theme: a form or anti-form poem (this is monotetra).]</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-78300842264311594262011-04-11T20:57:00.000-07:002011-04-11T20:57:37.881-07:00Challenging Times* * *<br />
<br />
<br />
110411<br />
<br />
EASTER<br />
CELEBRANTS<br />
<br />
Dogwoods<br />
crowd the banks<br />
of wilderness ravines, <br />
offering <br />
white hosannas<br />
to alleluias <br />
of green.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Still dithering over offering/proffering</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">and alleluias/hallelujahs.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
MAYBE, MAYBE NOT<br />
<br />
Strictly, there are no gulleys on our hilltop,<br />
but my flowerpots and water-fountain barrels<br />
indicated a 3- or 4-inch gulleywasher overnight.<br />
<br />
A beautiful morning ensued, <br />
and errands beckoned.<br />
<br />
At the library park, ducks and geese <br />
ventured from the pond to explore puddles <br />
and other new water features.<br />
<br />
After heavy rains, <br />
I like to escort stranded worms across sidewalks; <br />
it’s a habit I developed long ago.<br />
Sure enough, as I walked the grounds, <br />
I discovered worms in distress.<br />
Later I encountered a large caterpillar—<br />
luna moth size—but apparently expired.<br />
Further on, there was a fresher-looking one, <br />
so I bent to inspect. <br />
<br />
As my hand reached toward it, <br />
my mind countermanded,<br />
“Maybe this has something to do with <br />
those wandering geese.”<br />
<br />
<br />
STUFF AND NONSENSE<br />
<br />
Our minds store up<br />
the stuff we need<br />
until the time we need it;<br />
and what a waste<br />
that seems to be—<br />
so seldom do we heed it.<br />
<br />
<br />
HELP!<br />
<br />
Once <br />
this was heady.<br />
But—<br />
enough already!<br />
<br />
<br />
110410<br />
<br />
TRENDING TOPICS<br />
<br />
The negatives I focus on<br />
multiply like evil spawn.<br />
<br />
When I abhor, I get more.<br />
What I oppose, grows.<br />
Why in heaven’s name<br />
this should be so,<br />
heaven only knows.<br />
<br />
Hell responds to “never”<br />
like coyotes to a hen,<br />
so “never” is the surest way<br />
to bring it back again.<br />
<br />
But saying “Never again!”<br />
to “Never again!”<br />
is a self-defeating chore—<br />
according to the way of things,<br />
that just escalates it more.<br />
<br />
Positive is the only cure<br />
for this negative spiral trend—<br />
claiming what I truly want,<br />
now and ever… “Ever again!”<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: Never again! ]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
OH NO?<br />
<br />
"Never again<br />
will I display my wares<br />
(these makings of my heart)<br />
to shuns and stares<br />
and slight-of-words<br />
disparaging my art."<br />
<br />
My art is in its infancy,<br />
born of separate knowing;<br />
the irritations I avoid,<br />
it grasps to speed our growing.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: Never again! ]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
WHO RULES? WHO KNOWS?<br />
<br />
here’s a recently clean<br />
sheet of paper<br />
with twenty-three ruled lines<br />
(who is their ruler?)<br />
I’m writing on the seventh line now,<br />
having left room at the top<br />
for a title<br />
<br />
now I’m halfway down the page—<br />
and what have I said<br />
of significance?<br />
<br />
this slow descent<br />
is like the passage of my life<br />
and just as overcast<br />
by that pesky question:<br />
what have I said—or done—<br />
of significance?<br />
<br />
(wouldn’t I be<br />
the last to know?)<br />
<br />
<br />
110409<br />
<br />
SLIPPING<br />
<br />
My errors <br />
repeat in patterns—<br />
transitions,<br />
repetitions,<br />
slips of mind or pen—<br />
that I notice and forget…<br />
till I notice them again. <br />
<br />
<br />
MIDNIGHT <br />
DEADLINE <br />
<br />
At the proverbial, <br />
if not literal, <br />
eleventh hour—<br />
rescue arrived: <br />
my muse's <br />
higher power.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: Time.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
EARLY SUBMISSION<br />
TO A LATE DEADLINE<br />
<br />
Kinda loses the fun<br />
when your poem’s <br />
done done.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: Time.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
PROGRESS<br />
<br />
Taxes submitted: check.<br />
Scrapbook project handed off: check.<br />
Club presidency resigned: check.<br />
Unemployment benefits terminated: check.<br />
Poem written: check. <br />
I’m free!<br />
<br />
<br />
ENDEAVOR<br />
<br />
I keep seeking<br />
“wherever”<br />
to find my kin,<br />
to match the<br />
“whatever”<br />
I find within.<br />
<br />
<br />
BON TEMPS<br />
<br />
There’s plenty<br />
of what I want<br />
in the world<br />
an’ I’m gonna have me some.<br />
<br />
In fact, I see,<br />
I have it now—<br />
all capped off with fun.<br />
<br />
<br />
110408<br />
<br />
MUSIC TO OUR FEARS <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(for Faye Jean)</span></em><br />
<br />
She's a drama-queen comedian—<br />
the best of these there's ever been;<br />
a melodrama melodian!<br />
<br />
She can turn a groan into applause<br />
and brighten gray to yellow.<br />
She's part magician too, because <br />
she makes melo mellow.<br />
<br />
<br />
110408<br />
<br />
GETTING TO KNOW THE NEIGHBORS<br />
<br />
Newly divorced and newly-fallen financially, <br />
I moved to a shabbier part of the city.<br />
<br />
Someone had preceded me.<br />
<br />
“Didn’t you used to be the florist at the<br />
west-side branch of this supermarket?”<br />
“Yes.” She had been transferred down. <br />
<br />
“Oh,” I breathed, <br />
wondering at her own fallen state.<br />
“How is it here? I don’t suppose<br />
many people buy flowers.”<br />
<br />
She laughed. “I had that same expectation <br />
at first. Life is hard in this neighborhood,<br />
so everybody looks out for everybody else;<br />
they have to. But the less they have, <br />
the more they appreciate what’s left.”<br />
<br />
“They appreciate beauty,” she said, <br />
nodding toward the floral displays. <br />
“They will scrimp somewhere else <br />
to buy each other flowers.<br />
Here, each day is a celebration.”<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: Celebration.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110407<br />
<br />
WHAT “IF”?<br />
<br />
One tiny nudge <br />
can edit history;<br />
every poet<br />
knows this mystery.<br />
<br />
Here’s a thought—<br />
<br />
What if Kipling<br />
had (or had not!)<br />
been tippling?<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: What if?]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110406<br />
<br />
DON’T FLATTER YOURSELF<br />
<br />
You mighta heard the talk around town<br />
about how you managed to overcome<br />
your circumstances an’ become<br />
a leading citizen hereabouts…<br />
pillar of the community an’ all that.<br />
<br />
You mighta heard people say<br />
you’re a friend to man an’ beast,<br />
a credit to your sex, an’ generally <br />
outstandin’ in every way.<br />
<br />
Well, I know you better’n them folks.<br />
I seen you at your best an’ worst.<br />
I know the truth an’ I aim tell it. <br />
So don’t flatter yourself, friend… let me!<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: Don’t…]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110405<br />
<br />
IMPATIENT THERAPY<br />
<br />
Hurry, Doc!<br />
<br />
Don’t be slow.<br />
I need to know<br />
about this diet<br />
while I try it—<br />
<br />
Was fiber ample<br />
in my sample?<br />
What’s the poop?<br />
Give me the scoop.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: Goofy and/or serious.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110404<br />
<br />
THE LEGEND<br />
<br />
Apple blossoms appeared yesterday—<br />
at least to my notice. <br />
Ever since, <br />
I have been trying to envision<br />
John Chapman<br />
and his famous apple seeds.<br />
<br />
How did he travel; how transport;<br />
where did he cache; where was his stash?<br />
What was his source of supply?<br />
<br />
I am as much intrigued <br />
by the logic as the logistics. <br />
So—why?<br />
<br />
The childhood story was apples.<br />
The adulthood one is cider.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: A person.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110403<br />
<br />
ARE POEMS STILL ALLOWED TO RHYME?<br />
<br />
Water is water and that’s very nice,<br />
but is it okay for it to be ice?<br />
If that is the case, please share a tip; <br />
may icicles, currently, melt or drip?<br />
<br />
What is the rule; must water be cool<br />
and, if so, how much—or is it <br />
required to be warm to the touch?<br />
<br />
Water appears to be rather fickle…<br />
What is decreed about water as steam?<br />
May it spray, foam, or trickle<br />
while going downstream?<br />
<br />
What are the rules about vapor and smog?<br />
What are the edicts on cloudbanks and fog?<br />
May seawater taste, these days, like brine?<br />
Again—are poems allowed to rhyme?<br />
<br />
<br />
NIGHT SHIFT<br />
<br />
I leave my body nightly<br />
as a bookmark, then check out.<br />
<br />
On my return, I always find it <br />
moved to a further page.<br />
<br />
This is a mystery;<br />
read into it what you will.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: My own absence.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110402<br />
<br />
EXPECTANT, SEE<br />
<br />
Spring can be dull, <br />
gloomy, cold—people too, <br />
young or old, <br />
who close their eyes <br />
to gloomy, cold April skies <br />
that suddenly switch blue.<br />
<br />
<br />
SATURDAY<br />
<br />
we slept in <br />
got up<br />
ate<br />
slept again<br />
<br />
what more<br />
can a body ask?<br />
<br />
<br />
POSTCARD<br />
<br />
It’s overcast, gray,<br />
and foggy today…<br />
nothing, to me, is clear.<br />
<br />
That’s all there seems<br />
to be to say;<br />
that’s the view from here.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: Postcard.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110401<br />
<br />
WHAT GOT ME HERE<br />
<br />
“What?” arrived around ’03<br />
when a key life mission appeared for me, <br />
to which I’ve been (for the most part) true.<br />
<br />
“What?” Oprah asked.<br />
And I instantly knew.<br />
<br />
“What one thing, if left undone, would you <br />
most regret when your life was run?”<br />
<br />
“Poetry!” then “What?” I said,<br />
wondering how such a notion got in my head<br />
and overtook my heart.<br />
<br />
My poem-a-day mission, given its start, <br />
grew clearer by the year. <br />
Now I’ve arrived, an everyday poet—<br />
<br />
“What?” is the what<br />
what got me here.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Submitted to Poem-A-Day challenge, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">theme: What got me here. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">This challenge was recommended by Writer’s Digest </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">and appears on Robert Lee Brewer’s blog.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110331<br />
<br />
MARCH SIMILES <br />
<br />
He's like a scar:<br />
clings to the past.... a real pain in the ass<br />
<br />
He's like abs:<br />
just like glutes & pecs, aims for health & sex<br />
<br />
She's like bell-bottoms:<br />
a wardrobe trial; goes in and out of style<br />
<br />
He's like a finger nail:<br />
count on it; under pressure, he will split<br />
<br />
She's like a musket:<br />
once she shot a cavalier, then shed a musket tear<br />
<br />
He's like a three-ring binder:<br />
difficult to categorize, since so ready to revise<br />
<br />
He's like an 800 number:<br />
more, even, than the mall... open when you call<br />
<br />
She's like the iPhone:<br />
admired, desired; by some, acquired<br />
<br />
He's like a unicycle:<br />
kind of a flubber where the road meets the rubber<br />
<br />
He's like the alphabet:<br />
he means well (for a spell)<br />
<br />
He's like a kite:<br />
stunt flier with one desire: higher! higher!<br />
<br />
She's like a chandelier:<br />
helps light make a prism break<br />
<br />
She's like an exclamation point:<br />
emotion detector... and projector<br />
<br />
He's like a cherry picker:<br />
How he'd boast! Now he's toast.<br />
<br />
She's like a dissertation:<br />
demonstrated mastery achieved through slavery<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ASIDE: Posted during the month to www.oneupme.com, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">an online game. Only very short responses to each prompt are allowed.]</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
110330<br />
<br />
THAT NAGGING QUESTION<br />
<br />
How can I enjoy my villa by the sea;<br />
my downy bed; my bread, fruit, tea…<br />
when you and yours have not, <br />
because of mine and me?<br />
<br />
<br />
110329<br />
<br />
BEDTIME STARRY<br />
<br />
Good night, beloveds... <br />
night-night, sleep tight. <br />
If I were your mother, <br />
I'd hug you tight.<br />
<br />
<br />
110328<br />
<br />
LET'S BE FRIENDS<br />
<br />
See-saw,<br />
swing, <br />
merry-go round. <br />
<br />
Here I am.<br />
Come find me. <br />
<br />
There you are.<br />
Be found.<br />
<br />
<br />
PROGRESS <br />
OVER PERFECTION<br />
<br />
One percent more, <br />
one percent better; <br />
that's how to soar—<br />
as a one-percenter.<br />
<br />
<br />
110327<br />
<br />
CACHE AND RELEASE<br />
<br />
I want to go to Machu Picchu;<br />
so I’ve said for forty years.<br />
It’s one of those raisin-dreams;<br />
deferred.<br />
<br />
My dad postponed his own <br />
such dream—Alaska—many years.<br />
I’ve had and used his souvenir gift<br />
a further many years<br />
and have looked at it many times;<br />
tonight, at last, I saw the gift of it.<br />
<br />
It’s a small gold-toned bookmark;<br />
paper-clip type, laser-cut.<br />
The topmost part, a filigree design<br />
above the cut-work word “ALASKA,”<br />
forms circular border framing a scene.<br />
The central motif, with evergreens <br />
at either side, is not a mountain, grizzly,<br />
salmon, elk, or totem pole,<br />
but a small log cabin on stilts<br />
with ladder access: a cache.<br />
<br />
It is a place where dreams are stored<br />
and kept viable; Dad’s gift affirms it.<br />
<br />
<br />
110326<br />
<br />
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEE<br />
<br />
“Clin shits,” my husband announces<br />
after washing yet another load of bedclothes.<br />
Thankfully, it hasn’t come to that; instead, <br />
it’s just one cat with a bladder problem.<br />
Or else, like us, she’s simply confused.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-11338601606875363872011-03-25T18:27:00.000-07:002011-03-25T19:06:14.139-07:00Moonshine* * *<br /><br /><br />110325<br /><br />THIS I KNOW FOR SURE <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(for Oprah)<br /></em></span><br />A day without poetry<br />is like a night without moonshine.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: O Magazine seeks short poems on Twitter.]<br /><br /></span></em><br />110324<br /><br />IT’S ALL IN THE<br />EXECUTION<br /><br />Bad poem.<br />Bad, bad poem.<br />Take it out<br />and shoot it.<br /><br />String it up<br />and shoot it down;<br />the only way<br />to mute it.<br /><br /><br />110323<br /><br />IMAGINE <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Cat)</span></em><br /><br />Imagine all problems<br />as subject to mind—<br />imagine imagination<br />making humankind kind.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: I'd say, for John Lennon too.]<br /></span></em><br /><br />110322<br /><br />TROUBLESOME TRENDS<br /><br />Neighbor pups encroach our cats.<br />That isn’t all that’s rough—<br />my <em>to-do’s</em> outswamp my <em>done’s</em>;<br />I can’t bail fast enough.<br /><br /><br />110321<br /><br />THIS SCEPTERED WHILE<br /><br />Winter’s dead.<br />Long live the king.<br /><br />Spring! Spring!<br />Spring! Spring!<br /><br />(Please excuse;<br />I must enthuse.)<br /><br /><br />110320<br /><br />THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES<br /><br />Weekends! Weekends!<br />Time for fun and friends.<br /><br />At end of week<br />when we’re weak from work,<br />they’re when that <em>work-weak</em> ends.<br /><br /><br />110319<br /><br />MUTUAL<br />MIS-JUDGMENT<br /><br />All that fighting<br />and hurt feelings—<br />what was that about?<br /><br />No, don’t remind me—<br />this is truth and peace;<br />that was doubt.<br /><br /><br />110318<br /><br />ANATOMY ANOMALY<br /><br />What a piece of work is man,<br />whose body is an art.<br /><br />Today I thanked my precious hands;<br />“Darlin’s, —bless your heart.”<br /><br /><br />110317<br /><br />THE JIG IS UP<br /><br />For Paddy’s day, I’d do a jig,<br />but don’t know how to jig-gle;<br />in fact, I cannot even do<br />a decent sort of wiggle.<br /><br />On dancing lessons, I missed out.<br />At the tango, I’m not hot.<br />I never, <em>ever</em> twist and shout.<br />Fan-dance? Please!<br />And can-can, I cannot.<br /><br /><br />110316<br /><br />REVISION<br /><br />watercolor lessons<br />give me<br />watercolor eyes<br /><br />now I see<br />watercolor flowers<br />watercolor skies<br /><br /><br />110315<br /><br />MODERN TURMOIL<br /><br />The Ides of March—irrelevant?<br />They scarcely drew a mention.<br />Japan and the Middle East<br />commanded our attention.<br /><br /><br />110314<br /><br />PI DAY TRIBUTE <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Diane)<br /><br /></span></em>While you and I stand idly by<br />without a clue and wonder why,<br />she bakes circles around us—<br />she knows her way around a pie.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: She's a numbers person; the kind who likes</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">bookkeeping and tax preparations.]<br /><br /></span></em><br />110313<br /><br />RECOUPERATION<br /><br />wedding ring<br />car keys<br />other things like these<br /><br />feared lost<br />assumed lost<br />find their way to me<br /><br /><br />110312<br /><br />THERE’S ALWAYS A CATCH<br /><br />A paradox—or plot, or ruse!<br /><br />Freedom seekers, you’re <em>forced</em> to choose<br />among more expressions than you can use—<br />at least at once.<br /><br />You win; you lose.<br /><br /><br />110311<br /><br />LIONS’ CARD IDEA<br /><br />Some birthdays are already done.<br />We hope today’s your greatest one…<br />and that the best are still to come.<br /><br /><br />110310<br /><br />ANOTHER FINE MESS<br /><br />“Oh, no—not <em>again!</em><br />How many times have I asked you<br />not to do this—and you went ahead<br />and did it again. I am so frustrated,<br />I just can’t to talk to you right now.<br />No, I can't say another <em>word!<br /></em>Hey, are you listening to me?”<br /><br /><br />110309<br /><br />LENTEN OBSERVANCE <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Joyce)<br /><br /></span></em>The "worker" that we trusted<br />has been oh-so-busted!<br />This photo makes it evident<br />how her life and Lent are spent.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Coworkers shot evidence of her sleeping at her desk.]<br /><br /></span></em><br />110308<br /><br />LOVE, LOVE ME, DO<br /><br />If not top-of-mind,<br />it’s surely bottom-line<br />to all our prayers—<br />someone who cares.<br /><br /><br />110307<br /><br />UNTITLED<br /><br />All worlds<br />for me<br />will end<br />with me.<br /><br /><br />110306<br /><br />HER HIGHNESS<br /><br />In royal air and regal pose,<br />her rarified lineage shows—<br />and she, through its expression<br />makes quite a grand empression.<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-46558915217702847382011-03-22T19:39:00.000-07:002011-03-22T20:15:58.407-07:00Mundane Magic* * *<br /><br /><br />110305<br /><br />DIM WIT<br /><br />I searched my thoughts<br />and recognized<br />that they were not profound<br />and, further,<br />that what dimmed them<br />was my wanting to astound.<br /><br /><br />110304<br /><br />DISSERTATION:<br />DEFINITION<br /><br />Demonstrated mastery<br />achieved through slavery.<br /><br /><br />110303<br /><br />A POINT I WANT TO MAKE <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Lauren)</span></em><br /><br />Truth is where you find it—<br />and what, through art,<br />it can become.<br /><br />What's okay for you<br /><em>is</em> what's okay for you,<br />just as what's Donne is Donne.<br /><br /><br />110302<br /><br />HER FLUFFINESS<br /><br />“Darlin’, you’re a fluffy cat.<br />Notice, I did not say fat!<br />Living large (your predilection)<br />can align with looking slim;<br />in fact, you’ll see this when I trim.”<br /><br />“Why would you shear perfection?”<br /><br /><br />110301<br /><br />MYSTICS’ MYSTERY<br /><br />If everything were innocent,<br />how could anything be wrong?<br /><br />And why, if this premise were right,<br />does it seem to most humans so wrong?<br /><br /><br />110230<br /><br />SLEEPER <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Arianna)</span></em><br /><br />Arianna needed sleep<br />and, at last, she got it.<br />Now she's its ambassador—<br />whoever would have thought it?<br /><br /><br />110229<br /><br />TRADE WARS<br /><br />Books,<br />overproduced and devalued,<br />have become the kindling<br />of their own immolation—<br />reduced, like their authors,<br />to a dwindling status:<br />used as loss leaders<br />in the battle for readers.<br /><br /><br />110228<br /><br />NATURAL SHOCKS<br /><br />Freely weep,<br />rail, moan.<br /><br />Pain<br />is a runestone<br />in a language<br />not yet known.<br /><br /><br />110227<br /><br />“GETTING” MY WAY<br /><br />NO! to that.<br /><br />OH! to this:<br />I’m happy and healthy<br />and strong and free and rich.<br /><br />YES! to what is so:<br />the one and only bliss.<br /><br /><br />110226<br /><br />OSCARS <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Paula)<br /><br /></span></em>When you have<br />a front-row seat,<br />life is good,<br />life is tweet.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Reply to Paula Poundstone who tweeted:<br />“I’m gonna tweet the #Oscars like a goddamned bird.”]<br /></span><br /></em><br />YOUR OWN DECISIONS<br /><br />Some will like them.<br />But, for those who won’t,<br />you’re damned if you do,<br />damned if you don’t.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: FB comment on other comments to an Oprah<br />OWN show announcement.]<br /></span></em><br /><br />110225<br /><br />MORAL SUPPORT<br /><br />Into judgment and pride I easily slide<br />but when I choose to let these errors go by,<br />my willingness gets amplified;<br />there, but for the God of Grace, go I.<br /><br /><br />110224<br /><br />TRENDING NOW<br /><br />A sort of quirk,<br />(I’ve lately noticed)<br />affects my social network:<br />more Facebook posts<br />and fewer Tweets<br />are penned.<br /><br />Is there meaning<br />in this trend?<br /><br /><br />110223<br /><br />WARM WISHES<br /><br />Like and for<br />everyone—<br />all I want<br />is a place<br />in the sun.<br /><br /><br />HARD, HARD TIMES<br /><br />Hard times are coming.<br />Nerves tense; pulses quicken;<br />we feel it in our bones.<br /><br />Hard, hard times are coming;<br />no bones about it,<br />we feel it in our bones.<br /><br />But we are poised to conquer.<br />Here's what we must do:<br />joined together as one body,<br />brain and heart and muscle through.<br /><br /><br />T.L.C.<br /><br />Little One beside me,<br />softly making little purrs,<br />does the Great One<br />tend to my needs,<br />as I tend to tending yours?<br /><br /><br />MEDITATORS<br /><br />You have to lose<br />your mind (said one)<br />to find just-breathing’s<br />so much fun.<br /><br /><br />OUT-SOURCERY<br /><br />Even if God<br />didn’t care for us,<br />except through us—<br />that alone<br />would be magical.<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-56903584493010089622011-02-22T18:13:00.000-08:002011-02-22T19:23:13.788-08:00Adventure and Speculation* * *<br /><br /><br />110222<br /><br />MIDDAY NAP<br /><br />Someone wearing white stockings,<br />petticoats, and a gold silk pinafore<br />is tumbling down a long, cushiony hill.<br />Lying in bed and viewing this,<br />I know it’s me, gently bouncing down<br />from lush spring-green heights,<br />skimming over golden tufts<br />of autumn grasses, and approaching<br />a long, gentle out-of-view slope<br />that will end abruptly and culminate<br />in something wonderful or tragic.<br /><br /><br />110221<br /><br />NEWS OF THE DAY<br /><br />People- and earth-<br />quakes rumble.<br />Dictators and buildings tumble.<br /><br />Thinkers fumble.<br />Doers stumble.<br />The world is all a-jumble<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Uprisings in the Middle East,<br />Earthquake in New Zealand.]<br /></span></em><br /><br />110220<br /><br />JUST DO IT<br /><br />Coax bad habits<br />down the stairs?<br />Slow-mo tweeze<br />your nasal hairs?<br /><br /><br />110219<br /><br />CAT: A TONIC <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Butterscotch)<br /><br /></span></em>What once was merely preferential<br />now is <em>clearly</em> near-essential:<br />a daily dose of cat to schmooze<br />(it hardly matters whose).<br /><br /><br />110218<br /><br />"WHY" GENERATION <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(for Allan)<br /></em><br /></span>Why are unanswerable<br />questions the ones I pose?<br />Why, why, why<br />am I obsessed with those?<br /><br /><br />110217<br /><br />IN BRIEF<br /><br />Why use<br />long words?<br />Short will do.<br /><br />Short is better;<br />four-letter…<br />three-letter…<br />look, too, to two.<br /><br /><br />PLAY, MATES!<br /><br />To <em>kinder</em> spirits,<br />it’s one big <em>garten.</em><br /><br /><br />THINKING ABOUT<br />NOT THINKING<br /><br />I was born.<br />I talked.<br />I stopped to think.<br /><br />Now I think<br />it may be better<br />not to talk,<br />not to think.<br /><br />Such emptiness<br />may well be<br />death’s birth canal.<br /><br /><br />110216<br /><br />CLOUDS FORMING<br /><br />“Such a pretty sunrise—<br />but enjoy it; this may be<br />the only sun we see today.”<br /><br />“What—are there <em>more?”<br /></em><br /><br />PEACE BY PEACE<br /><br />When belief causes grief,<br />this may make some sense:<br />seek contrary evidence.<br /><br /><br />110215<br /><br />TREAD LIGHTLY<br /><br />I don’t know what happened<br />to elicit this—but, <em>dang!</em><br /><br />“Don’t insult me, mister!<br />I’m the quiet type with fangs.”<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Encountered on Twitter.]<br /></span></em><br /><br />A WALK IN THE “PLARK”<br /><br />That’s when play and work<br />run together indistiguishably<br />(<em>walk </em>together; same thing).<br /><br /><br />GOOD WRITING <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Christopher)<br /></span></em><br />Take a simple story<br />with characters<br />you care about.<br /><br />Tell it well. No doubt,<br />your readers will care too.<br /><br />Face your fears.<br />Accept help, insights,<br />feedback, and advice.<br /><br />Join others who<br />struggle like you.<br /><br />Get unserious;<br />make it fun.<br />Go nuts!<br /><br />Keep it simple.<br />Be bold.<br />Write with guts.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Comment/synopsis made at:<br />http://www.fuelyourwriting.com/<br />power-of-words-the-kings-speech-and-good-writing/]<br /></span></em><br /><br />110214<br /><br />LOVE IS BLIND<br /><br />Chocolate candy, pink lace hearts,<br />red-red roses, cupid darts…<br />From dollar store to galleria,<br />valentine excess overflows.<br />Bows and arrows, ribbons and bows…<br /><br />Surely, everybody knows...<br />had it been a fresh idea<br />(something neither myth-icized,<br />love-aligned, nor cute-ified)—<br />cupid would be stupid.<br /><br /><br />DEAR YOU… LOVE, ME <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Darby)</span></em><br /><br />Beyond this world’s illusion,<br />we are in collusion...<br />enacting love’s inclusion.<br /><br />Love is all we are.<br />Love is all we do,<br />even when not meaning to.<br /><br /><br />LOST IN THE MIDDLE<br /><br />I like to piddle.<br />I like to twiddle.<br />I like to not make up my mind.<br /><br />Or else, I find,<br />I like to make it <em>up</em> one way,<br />then <em>down</em> another,<br />again and again and again.<br /><br />I like to piddle<br />and twiddle and fiddle—<br />but <em>why?</em> That’s the riddle.<br /><br /><br />NEW MEMBER <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for LeaAnn)<br /><br /></span></em>“LeaAnn Van Winkle-Gisler”<br />…now, THAT name is a whistler!<br /><br />How many other times<br />ya think this “LeeAnn” rhymes?<br /><br /><br />110213<br /><br />DAY? OH!<br /><br />Sun.<br />Him come.<br />Him wake up<br />everyone.<br /><br /><br />110212<br /><br />RIGHT?<br /><br />To believe a belief,<br />one has to believe<br />all contrary evidence<br />lies.<br /><br /><br />LEAD ON<br /><br />How will You direct my day today;<br />what will You have me do?<br /><br />How will You invite, incite;<br />what will You move me to?<br /><br /><br />NOT ALL THAT UNEXPECTED<br /><br />Why do scientists keep discovering<br />fabulous things like quarks and quasars,<br />black holes, and distant planets?<br />Because we keep thinking them up.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Some posit that the universe is made of thought</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">and keeps extending outward from our consciousness</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">as the range of our thought increases.]</span></em><br /><br /><br />DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS<br /><br />My latest rabbit hole<br />(a logo design contest)<br />was a lost cause<br />from the get-go.<br />So I got-gone—<br />or at least<br />my prospects did<br />(which means I’m still snagged).<br /><br />Well, I will submit my superb<br />(trust me) entry anyway,<br />sure that it will be disqualified<br />on a technical technicality—<br />specifically, my lack of<br />the specific technology needed<br />to produce the design<br />in a specific software format.<br /><br />But I can hardly call this<br />a “lost weekend"—<br />the difficulties were such<br />a satisfying challenge.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: My determination to do my best, once I’d launched,<br />resulted in a submission that did meet the design specifications—<br />thanks to contributions of knowledge and expertise by<br />some of my artist friends… may they be blessed!]<br /></span></em><br /><br />110211<br /><br />AS EXPECTED<br /><br /><em>“What if?”</em><br /><br />That’s the most<br />wonderful wonder.<br /><br />What if… I’m okay?<br />What if… it’s okay?<br /><br />What if it’s okay<br />if I’m okay<br />with whatever is?<br /><br /><br />110210<br /><br /><em>QUI SUM<br /><br /></em>Throwing off fear,<br />shame and sham,<br />I claim myself.<br /><br /><em>I say</em> who I am.<br /><br /><br />PIQUANT<br /><br />To a poem,<br />time is spice.<br />Read it slow.<br />Read it twice.<br /><br /><br />DEFLATED<br /><br />Sixteen inches this morning,<br />compared to twenty yesterday:<br />a too-quick collapse of our<br />wonderful snow soufflé!<br /><br /><br />COLD, HARD<br />LIGHT OF DAY<br /><br />Last night, I placed paper<br />and pencil by my bed.<br />In the dark, I wrote a poem.<br />There was no pencil lead.<br /><br /><br />NOLA PRIMA DONNA <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Valerie)<br /></span></em><br />Alligator... hurricane...<br />you'd think she was a bold one.<br />No, she's mean and vain;<br />she taunts;<br />she flaunts good fortune.<br /><em>She's</em> the cold one!<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Valerie, my niece, contrasted her fine evening<br />in New Orleans with the circumstances of Arkansas relatives<br />blanketed under 20” of snow. Why? Because (she said) she is mean.]<br /></span></em><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-558698909779847452011-02-09T17:24:00.000-08:002011-02-09T19:56:56.574-08:00Contraries and Curiosities* * *<br /><br /><br />110210<br /><br />OATMEAL AND BANANA <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Linda)<br /><br /></span></em>Though oatmeal was my daily manna<br />(just about) with nuts or fruit,<br />I'd never had it with banana...<br />Let me send you a salute!<br /><br /><br />ONE FINALIST, MANY DREAMS<br /><br />All but one will falter; fall.<br />Yet all will give their all.<br />As we watch and learn and cheer,<br />we, too, gain victory… over fear.<br /><br /><br />NO END IN SIGHT<br /><br />No end of snow<br />is seen, as yet;<br />this sky has so much in it.<br /><br />To what heights<br />can this snow get?<br />It seems the sky’s the limit.<br /><br /><br />SNOW ON SNOW<br /><br />Mother Winter<br />lays white linens<br />gently on each lawn,<br />then (as these spoil<br />from soot or soil)<br />more layers,<br />and so on.<br /><br /><br />110209<br /><br />TOO BUSY TO<br /><br />Well, why do you think<br />it’s called an occupation?<br /><br /><br />LIONS’ CLUB<br />CHRISTMAS CARD IDEA<br /><br /><em>Front:<br /></em>Picture of lions<br />lying down with lambs.<br /><br /><em>Inside:<br /></em>Lions smile hugely as they sing:<br />“All we like sheep!”<br /><br /><br />110208<br /><br />AND MY POINT IS?<br /><br />What use am I to anyone?<br />Whyever was I born?<br /><br />From first morn, I went<br />subject to my own bent—<br />keen to become life-wise.<br /><br />Now, my age is showing<br />(my demise)<br />and my synthesized wisdom<br />sounds strangely flat:<br />“Trust your inner knowing.”<br /><br />But you knew that.<br /><br /><br />VALENTINE BOUQUETS<br /><br />On scarcity of flowers,<br />there are no reports.<br />Are Columbian harvests<br />snowed out of airports?<br /><br /><br />110207<br /><br />FLIP SIDE<br /><br />Yesterday I felt lonely<br />for a kindred creative soul.<br />Today I think, “How lucky!<br />I’m self-entertained. I'm whole.”<br /><br /><br />GONE BANANAS<br /><br />We’re in a state, a state of cold<br />colder than Montana…<br />we’re low on milk and eggs and bread,<br />and down to last banana.<br /><br />Can’t shop... not lazy;<br />snowed in… near crazy.<br /><br />Though we have colds, no cold relief;<br />we’re out of cold reliever…<br />our cabin’s cold, but we are not;<br />we’re hot with cabin fever.<br /><br /><br />110206<br /><br />LION JOKE <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(from my Inner Child)<br /><br /></span></em>Q: Why did the lion cross the road?<br />A:<em><span style="font-size:85%;"> [See below, but try to answer for yourself first.]<br /><br /></span></em><br />FOR STARTERS <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Mary and Clyde)</span></em><br /><br />Thank you, Mother,<br />Thank you, Dad,<br />for taking care of me—<br />giving me a life-long sense<br />I’m loving, loved, and free.<br /><br /><br />VIGIL<br /><br />Why don’t I want to go to bed?<br />Why don’t I want to sleep?<br />Something’s rising in my mind,<br />something buried deep.<br /><br /><br />LONELY MOOD<br /><br />Some children<br />play with others<br />or with invisible friends.<br />I make do with no one.<br />Please,<br />someone make amends.<br /><br /><br />KID JOKE <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(from my Inner Child)<br /></span></em><br />Q: Why did the lion cross the road?<br />A: To get to the other pride.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: This came via writing with my left hand.]<br /></span></em><br /><br />110205<br /><br />DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT<br /><br />Snowscapes turn<br />from pearl to peach<br />everywhere the sun can reach.<br /><br /><br />SEASONS APART<br /><br />Winter spells are hard;<br />we know, because<br />we’ve fought ‘em.<br /><br />It may be May<br />at top of stairs;<br />it’s January at bottom.<br /><br /><br />PRISM ESCAPE<br /><br />Color<br />rainbows dark to fair—<br />but where? Midair?<br />In eye? In brain?<br />Out there?<br /><br /><br />110204<br /><br />ICY HOT<br /><br />Yestiddy (a snowy day),<br />my poe-min’ mighta chilled—<br />but, suprizinly, did not.<br /><br />In fact, it went th’other way.<br />I wuz bizzy, I wuz thrilled—<br />O, hunny, I wuz hot!<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-34028639173792746382011-02-04T08:41:00.000-08:002011-02-04T08:48:50.904-08:00The Lions' Share* * *<br /><br /><br />110203<br /><br />GREETING CARD IDEAS<br />FOR MY LIONS CLUB<br /><br />We heard your news…<br />NOT BAD, NOT BAD!<br />In fact, it makes us<br />GRANDLY GLAD!<br /><br />You may be strong.<br />You may be smart.<br />BUT…<br />You’re our friend<br />‘cuz you got HEART!<br /><br />We’re smiling WIDE<br />and roaring LOUD!<br />Your Lion pride<br />is Lion PROUD!<br /><br />Your LION friends are on alert.<br />We don’t LIKE it when you hurt!<br />Our concern will not end<br />till you’re well… till you mend.<br /><br />The one you lost,<br />so dear to you,<br />was our friend…<br />We hurt, too.<br /><br />CONGRATULATIONS!<br />We’re happy for your happiness<br />and wish you even more success.<br /><br />GET WELL SOON!<br />We want you well<br />We want you strong.<br />We’re glad you’re on the mend.<br />We want you back<br />where you belong.<br />We want you back again.<br /><br />Our club sometimes is like a zoo,<br />but when you hurt, we hurt too.<br />Do you miss us? Well, we miss you!<br /><br />If you want to know the truth,<br />we miss you like a missing tooth.<br /><br />When one of us is sick or sore,<br />how we WISH we could do more<br />than fuss and faunch and rant and rave<br />…and ROAR!<br /><br />We heard that you are sick in bed.<br />We WISH that you were here instead.<br /><br />SHARING YOUR SORROW<br />We grieve with you<br />and share your loss.<br />Life, so priceless,<br />has such cost.<br /><br />IN SYMPATHY<br />We are among the many<br />who share your pain and loss.<br />We, too, grieve<br />and feel bereaved.<br /><br />LION and LAMB…<br />Now there’s a pair<br />who learned to form a bond!<br />We LION friends<br />know ‘bout your KID.<br />Already, we feel fond!<br /><br />We heard there was an operation<br />with you as a leading star.<br />We assume its success<br />with nary a flub;<br />we've seen you in action<br />supporting our club...<br />What a smooth operator you are!<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-74301505337939103332011-02-04T08:30:00.000-08:002011-02-04T13:05:00.646-08:00Snow Day Play* * *<br /><br /><br />110202<br /><br />OBLITERATED<br /><br />When you're young<br />and take things literally,<br />news can be so cool!<br /><br />"Yesterday it snowed.<br />Today there is no school."<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Original title was CANCELLATION<br />but readers tended overlook the import.]<br /></span></em><br /><br /><br />ALONE TOGETHER<br /><br />It’s true—the thought<br />that <em>ought</em> to be outrageous:<br />cabin fever is contagious!<br /><br /><br />BOOKING AGENT<br /><br />From among the many beside my bed,<br />I chose a book—to back the torn-open<br />envelope on which I prepare to write.<br /><br />Ethan, recognizing poem-mode<br />when he sees it, asks, “What’s up?”<br /><br />“I’d been dreaming I was with Oprah<br />on her show, talking poetry;<br />that’s sure to launch a poem.”<br /><br />Shifting my writing materials slightly,<br />I catch sight of the book’s title and its<br />implications: <em>The Magic of Thinking Big</em>.<br /><br /><br />FOUR-PHASE FROST<br /><br />Kitty catches sight of snow.<br />Kitty says, “Me-oh!”<br /><br />* * *<br />Kitty starts to pine and pout.<br />Kitty says, “Me-out!”<br /><br />* * *<br />Kitty chills, in every paw.<br />Kitty says “Me-aw!”<br /><br />* * *<br />Kitty sees the snow anew.<br />Kitty says, Me-eeewww!<br /><br /><br />THAT MY CAT<br /><br />her a beauty<br />her a wonder<br />her got moods<br />like snow and thunder<br /><br />her have fur<br />her make purr<br />when her run,<br />her just a blurr<br /><br />when her sleep,<br />some sweet angel<br />when her stir,<br />some kinda devil<br /><br />sometime share<br />sometime plunder<br />that my cat<br />some kinda wonder<br /><br /><br />CHILD AT HEART<br /><br />Saying<br />that I love Her ways.<br /><br />Asking<br />not to be afraid.<br /><br />Believing<br />He is wise and true.<br /><br />Curious<br />about taboo.<br /><br />Gazing<br />at the world She made.<br /><br />Hoping<br />I will stay amazed.<br /><br />Thinking<br />He may be a fraud.<br /><br />This is how<br />I play with God.<br /><br /><br />SNOWFLAKES<br /><br />Like you—<br />we come,<br />we play,<br />we melt away.<br /><br /><br />WINTER SKY<br /><br />I see blue;<br />icy blue.<br /><br /><br />NAMASTE<br /><br />Here is where I am,<br />so here is where I start...<br />sharing who I am,<br />sharing from the heart.<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-91425042000449093342011-02-01T12:14:00.000-08:002011-02-01T14:02:29.258-08:00Winter Sprouts* * *<br /><br /><br />110201<br /><br />PRE-SNOWSTORM<br /><br />Dear media,<br />be speedia.<br /><br />Politics, crime, gossip, sports...?<br />We want weather reports!<br /><br /><br />110131<br /><br />MAIS NO! MAIS OUI!<br /><br /><em>Pleasure</em> means feeling good.<br /><em>Guilty</em> means feeling bad.<br />In truth, can people claim<br />“guilty pleasures” they've had?<br /><br />The terms are oxymoronic,<br />separate as vinegar and oil—<br />but, if egged on, they may (oh!)<br />merge in a marriage royal.<br /><br /><br />110130<br /><br />A LITTLE NUTHIN’<br /><br />Pomes make homes<br />fer minds, I think.<br />Sum o’ them are logs.<br />This’n is a chink.<br /><br /><br />110129<br /><br />HEALTH FOOD FORAYS<br /><br />In the aim of health and the form of seeds,<br />I bought some chia for my pet,<br />by which I mean my husband;<br />he who claims that sprouts are weeds<br />and the taste of pulses repulses.<br /><br />Pre-diabetes has him hexed<br />and I'm sure he's wondering what is next<br />in the way of seeds and weeds.<br />Though I don't plan to feed him vetch,<br />I'm keen he be keen on quinoa.<br /><br /><br />110128<br /><br />EARLY THANKSGIVING<br /><br />An early wake, an early rise,<br />comes today as a surprise—<br />a gift to squander or invest;<br />to rust-and-rest or do my best.<br /><br />So, using pen as my voice,<br />I choose to make my highest choice<br />of how to spend this interlude:<br />a litany of gratitude...<br /><br />for every person in my life,<br />for my role as someone's wife,<br />for health and wealth and soul and mind,<br />for Nature's wonders, and Divine.<br /><br /><br />110127<br /><br />AT THE CLUB<br /><br />Round and round,<br />we're walking laps;<br />we don't want<br />our health to lapse.<br /><br />Round and round,<br />laps on laps;<br />laps on laps<br />till we collapse.<br /><br /><br />110126<br /><br />UNEXCEPTIONAL<br />EXCEPTIONS<br /><br />In every season,<br />come unseasonable days—<br />extra hot or cold.<br /><br />For some reason,<br />people seem amazed<br />when such days take hold.<br /><br /><br />110125<br /><br />DEAR CATS<br /><br />Thank you, cats,<br />for something new<br />(especially a certain<br />one of you).<br /><br />How long’s it been<br />(one week? or two?)<br />since you’ve mis-placed<br />your pee or poo?<br /><br /><br />110124<br /><br />PRE-DIABETES<br /><br />Do not let this<br />be defeating.<br />Master wholesome<br />ways of eating.<br /><br /><br />110123<br /><br />TROUBLES, KNEE DEEP<br /><br />"My knees, my knees,"<br />he groans. "I don't know if I can<br />make it to the top of the stairs<br />with these knees."<br /><br />"Well, don't leave them<br />at the bottom," she protests.<br />"I'll be sure to trip over them."<br /><br /><br />110122<br /><br />THE RAISING OF THE BAR <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Susan)<br /></span></em><br />We had a peek, this week,<br />at a friendly small-town town,<br />one that deserves renown:<br />Morrilton.<br /><br />So solicitous of us<br />were the people there,<br />they raised the bar on care.<br />"Thanks. Well done."<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-8329858323812318502011-01-22T09:31:00.000-08:002011-01-22T10:23:43.574-08:00The Usual Gamut* * *<br /><br />110121<br /><br />DIABETES AND YOU <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Jaime)<br /></span></em><br />Diabetes comes from DNA<br />and from the way you work and play.<br />Diabetes comes from what you eat,<br />especially food too fat or sweet.<br /><br />Diabetes makes you drink and pee,<br />plus, it affects how well you see.<br />It makes you tired, it numbs your feet.<br />Let's make this sickness obsolete.<br /><br />Do not be a diabete!<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Jaime made a presentation </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">on diabetes </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">and footcare to our Lions Club.]</span></em><br /><br /><br />110120<br /><br />COFFEE PRE-JUNKIE <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Lizzie)<br /></span></em><br />Medicate your head?<br />Why <em>do</em> what you will rue<br />and later struggle to <em>un</em>do?<br />Meditate instead.<br /><br /><br />110119<br /><br />PLEASE EXPLAIN<br /><br />Who is this person who,<br />in photos and in mirrors,<br />looks pillowy, marshmallowy,<br />and billowy, but who,<br />inside, feels willowy?<br /><br /><br />110118<br /><br />THE EVERYDAY VARIETY<br /><br />For better or for worse,<br />I make and fill my own thirst;<br />when I want a poem, I write a verse,<br />and—best of all—get to read it first!<br /><br /><br />DEMISE SURPRISE <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Sargent)<br /></span></em><br />Someone just died<br />at age ninety-five.<br />People keep dying<br />not known still alive.<br /><br /><br />110117<br /><br />WINTER WAKING<br /><br />Winter-haze tonal grays<br />can make moon-sky<br />bright as noon-sky<br />and early wakers wonder<br />whether morning<br />is coming or glowing.<br /><br /><br />110116<br /><br />DRAFT HORSE<br /><br />I’m workin’ on<br />a long, long pome;<br />plowin’ long and steady.<br /><br />It’s gonna be<br />a hard, hard pome;<br />I’m tired of it already.<br /><br /><br />A BOUT<br /><br />Clouds out-crowd.<br />Clouds attack.<br /><br />Sun’s uncowed by bully clouds—<br />through a crack, it slips back.<br />Then it puts those clouds to rout.<br /><br />Sun is back.<br />Sun is out.<br /><br />How does this come about?<br />Sun, no doubt, has more clout.<br /><br /><br />110115<br /><br />EMBRACING THE SHADOW<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Under construction. This long poem </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">will take a while to complete and edit.]</span></em><br /><br /><br />110114<br /><br />PROGRESSION<br /><br />Winter is kind,<br />and ever more bright;<br />as she suspends heat,<br />she extends light.<br /><br /><br />OFFSPRING<br /><br />You greased it, eased it,<br />cursed, birthed, and nursed it.<br /><br />You raised it, praised it,<br />groomed it, pruned it.<br /><br />You composed, concocted,<br />and spun it;<br />and it looks so easy<br />once you've done it.<br /><br /><br />110113<br /><br />WHEN?<br /><br />Bundled up<br />one way or another<br />season after season<br />people are waiting<br />people are holding in;<br />bundled up<br />one way or another<br />season after season<br />bundled up as babies<br />people are holding on<br />looking to each other<br />each waiting for the other<br />waiting for release<br />bundled up and waiting<br />waiting for a reason<br />or just for an excuse.<br /><br /><br />110112<br /><br />WINTER BLISS <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Connie)<br /></span></em><br />Perfectly<br />simple serenity:<br />me on bed<br />in sunlight spotlight;<br />cat on me.<br /><br /><br />110111<br /><br />BLIND REFLECTIONS<br /><br />Emma dear, Emma wise—<br />what’s inside those Emma eyes?<br />I see, in them, myself reflected<br />but mine are not, to you, a mirror.<br /><br />I see in yours myself reflecting<br />why mine are not, for you, a mirror.<br />Emma dear, Emma wise—<br />what’s inside your Emma eyes?<br /><br /><br />110110<br /><br />POETRY<br /><br />Not the words but the way;<br />no specific thing you say.<br />It’s the truth told by the lie,<br />the <em>do not know</em> that answers why.<br /><br /><br />110109<br /><br />BEAUTY MARKS<br /><br />A few of the nuns<br />(let's not say which ones)<br />had—let us say—<br />facial blemishes<br />which, in any case,<br />they bore with good grace,<br />helping us know<br />what God cherishes.<br /><br /><br />MOMENTOUS<br /><br />In this now,<br />my struggle’s<br />through.<br /><br />World, …I am<br />at peace with you.<br /><br /><br />OBIT<br /><br />Poet:<br />probed deeply,<br />wrote long,<br />reportedly died of<br />stub wounds.<br /><br /><br />WEB OF DECEIT<br /><br />E-linked, business-network friends<br />keep recommending further friends,<br />but to claim these, one must state<br /><em>form of relationship</em> to date.<br />For the terms sites recommend<br />(<em>classmate/colleague/client/friend</em>),<br />how to answer is hard to guess—<br />there’s no <em>sort of</em>, just <em>no</em> or <em>yes</em>—<br />and these implied acquaintanceships<br />foster false pre-lationships.<br /><br /><br />110108<br /><br />SLEEP-IN<br /><br />I wake today<br />when the birds untree<br />and rise to flock.<br /><br />I wake to the sun<br />and not to the clock.<br /><br /><br />BRIEF SANCTUARY<br /><br />They’re our cats<br />but we root for the mice,<br />one of which<br />was discovered today<br />dried and flattened<br />under an out-of-the-way rug.<br />Poor baby is now a mummy.<br /><br /><br />110107<br /><br />ISP’S<br /><br />Once the computer<br />was an extension of us;<br />now that’s <em>vice versa</em>…<br />and it keeps getting<br /><em>wersa </em>and <em>wersa</em>.<br /><br /><br />110106<br /><br />GOOD DAY<br /><br />Up, groom, eat,<br />then out the door.<br /><br />Drive, arrive, work, drive,<br />and eat some more.<br /><br />Catch the mail.<br />Write a pome.<br /><br />Good day:<br />good away, good at home.<br /><br /><br />110105<br /><br />FLURRY OF HURRY<br /><br />Flit-flit-flit;<br />I’m in a tizzy—<br />not a state of zen!<br /><br />But it’s nice<br />to be so busy—<br />every now and then!<br /><br /><br />110104<br /><br />COOL CATS<br /><br />Winter cold gives no pause<br />when outdoor freedom beats cold paws;<br />“Let us out!” our cats insist.<br /><br />Icy blasts don’t deter<br />those brisk excursions they prefer<br />(and, in truth, cannot resist).<br /><br /><br />110103<br /><br />HOW I SEES IT<br /><br />Once agin, I awake<br />to butt of cat in my face.<br /><br />Cat don’t mean to offend.<br />Naw, an' <em>mine's </em>the “livin’ end!”<br /><br /><br />110102<br /><br />APPLICANT <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Hermann)<br /><br /></span></em>With a wink,<br />I will state<br />if I’m asked:<br /><br /><em>I can think,<br />I can wait,<br />I can fast.<br /></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Siddhartha's résumé.]</span></em><br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-40558214884706858582011-01-03T16:35:00.000-08:002011-01-03T17:04:08.954-08:00Winter Mix* * *<br /><br /><br />110101<br /><br />NEW YEAR’S DAY<br /><br />This day—<br />ostensibly about time,<br />but falling as it does<br />on a date of no particular<br />astronomic significance—<br />should serve as a reminder<br />that names of things<br />and ideas about things<br />often obscure the<br />nature of things.<br /><br /><br />101231<br /><br />STAY OF EXECUTION<br /><br />Leaves are dancing<br />up from the ditches<br />this warm December day,<br />resurrected by swirling<br />winds of protestation;<br />the year, apparently,<br />is not ready to die.<br /><br /><br />101230<br /><br />LEFTOVERS<br /><br />Those both old and bereft<br />cling all the tighter<br />to what is left.<br /><br /><br />101229<br /><br />PROBLEM PEOPLE<br /><br />Why are they<br />so difficult; so stubborn;<br />so unwilling to capitulate<br />to our superior wisdom—<br />and why,<br />when we visit their houses,<br />must we suffer the meagerness<br />of their offerings?<br /><br /><br />101228<br /><br />CURE-ATOR<br /><br />God,<br />have you any therapy<br />for the pain of being,<br />and of being me?<br /><br /><em>Such therapy is yours alone,<br />for the pain you’re feeling<br />you create and own.<br />When you think as I,<br />pain will go away:<br />“I’m okay. You’re okay.”<br /></em><br />­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________<br /><br />Today I found this poem note,<br />dated 091025:<br /><br />wind<br />shepherds<br />leaves<br />across<br />road<br /><br /><br />101227<br /><br />TO YOUR HEALTH<br /><br />Happiness<br />involves a task<br />and, no, it isn’t drinking;<br />before you think<br />a thought again—ask,<br />“Is that thought<br />worth thinking?”<br /><br /><br />101226<br /><br />UPWARD PATH<br /><br />“Guide my way,”<br />I again consent.<br /><br />To renew ascent,<br />I renew assent.<br /><br /><br />101225<br /><br />THE GIFT OF THE PRESENT<br /><br />No matter, hopes of Christmas Future<br />or joys of Christmas Past;<br />we are Guests of Christmas Present,<br />which can hardly be surpassed.<br /><br /><br />101224<br /><br />PAMPERED<br /><br />My sweetie makes me coffee.<br />He brings me toast and jam.<br />He claims that I’m his honey<br />and makes me glad I am.<br /><br /><br />101223<br /><br />DESIGNER<br />TOUCH<br /><br />Life is kinder<br />than we think<br />or can think;<br />when we notice,<br />we call this<br />serendipity.<br /><br /><br />101222<br /><br />COMING APART<br />AT THE SEEMS<br /><br />All I know I know<br />is how things seem to me,<br />including this self-same me<br />that seems to seem to be.<br /><br /><br />101221<br /><br />SEASON GREETING<br /><br />Ah! My favorite time of year<br />when I enjoy—and wish for you—<br />a very and most-merry,<br />thrilling, dance-enhancing,<br />whoppingly exciting,<br />gleeful, cheerful new debut<br />of joyous Christmas shopping.<br /><br /><br />101220<br /><br />RELIEF IS ON<br />THE WAY<br /><br />A nightmare<br />is a lie you keep<br />until you rouse<br />your self from sleep.<br /><br />Suspect there are<br />(to be let go)<br />“truths” you know<br />that are not so.<br /><br /><br />101219<br /><br />EXASPERATION<br /><br />Emma has been banished<br />from the bed<br />in hopes she’ll use a<br /><em>proper</em> pee-place instead.<br /><br /><br />101218<br /><br />WHAT I LIKE<br /><br />I like to go, I like to do,<br />I like to think and write, and then<br />I like to go and do it all again.<br /><br /><br />101217<br /><br />DIS-BANDED<br /><br />What is a ring to a marriage?<br />I lost mine yesterday,<br />trying to keep it safe.<br /><br />My hand<br />mourns like an orphan;<br />my heart grieves like a waif.<br /><br />What is a ring to a marriage?<br />I lost mine yesterday,<br />trying to play it safe.<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: As instructed, I put all my jewelry in my pocket<br />before touring a food-processing plant. Several events later,<br />my wedding ring was the only item that had somehow escaped.<br />The loss prompted thoughts about priorities, spouses, possessions, etc.]<br /></span></em><br /><br />101216<br /><br />NO GOOD CHOICE<br /><br />Setting the alarm for five<br />wakes you up at four.<br /><br />But if you <em>didn’t</em> set it,<br />at six you’d be a-snore.<br /><br /><br />101215<br /><br />INTIMIDATIONS<br />OF MORTALITY<br /><br />My cat puts his face<br />near mine each night,<br />then (sometime later)<br />his rear—<br />which means<br />that I begin each day<br />knowing the end is near.<br /><br /><br />101214<br /><br />OLD AGE BENEFITS<br /><br />I'm old—trust me—<br />but young enough to thrill<br />to a birthday card from my mom<br />with a twenty-dollar bill.<br /><br /><br />101213<br /><br />DECISIONS,<br />DECISIONS<br /><br />Colon or semi?<br />I haven’t a clue.<br />Maybe a dash<br />or comma will do.<br /><br />If you think prose<br />is hard, well—<em>foo!<br /></em>just try poems;<br />they’ll try you.<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-74365716630909597562010-12-12T19:24:00.000-08:002010-12-12T20:36:08.906-08:00Age—It's All the Rage* * *<br /><br /><br />101213<br /><br />DECISIONS,<br />DECISIONS<br /><br />Colon or semi?<br />I haven’t a clue.<br />Maybe a dash<br />or comma will do.<br /><br />You think prose<br />is hard? Well, foo!<br />Just try poems;<br />they’ll try you.<br /><br /><br />101212<br /><br />EARTH DAYS<br /><br />“What a party;<br />but look at the hour!”<br /><br /><em>“Hey, old folks!<br />Yeah, hey YOU—<br />what are you </em><br /><em>still doing here?”<br /></em><br />“Frankly, we<br />don’t have a clue.<br />Take it up with<br />your Higher Power.”<br /><br /><br />101211<br /><br />AS IS<br /><br />Mean. Funny.<br />Friendly. Sad.<br /><br />Of people,<br />little kids<br />don’t think<br /><em>should be,<br />shouldn’t be.</em><br />What they<br />think is—<em>is.<br /></em><br /><br />101210<br /><br />WISDOM AND GRACE<br /><br />Youth is the time<br />when life’s blessings are granted—<br />and taken for granted.<br /><br />Old age is the time<br />when (to those who haven’t<br />already become wise)<br />life grants its greatest<br />understanding and blessing—<br />appreciation.<br /><br /><br />101209<br /><br />IMPERMANENCE<br /><br />Frost and green grass?<br />That won’t last long!<br /><br /><br />101208<br /><br />UNBLEMISHED<br /><br />Snarl, bite, curse,<br />do far worse;<br />my soul knows yours<br />as lustrous, pure.<br /><br />The more troublesome<br />you become<br />(the more you break the rules,<br />attempting to break out<br />of the broken state you’re in),<br />the more you win<br />the love I’ve won myself<br />and now can do no other<br />than to offer.<br /><br /><br />101207<br /><br />CARTOON AVATARS<br /><br />One friend is a little stinker;<br />another, a happy cat.<br />There's a turtle, a top-cat, a martian—<br />and what-the-sam-heck is THAT?<br />There's a smiley one, a wiley one,<br />a minnie and a mighty one.<br />One's ghostly, one's speedy, one's jolly,<br />and one is blue, by golly.<br />There's a loopy one, a boopy one...<br />and I'm the snoopy artist one.<br /><br /><br />101206<br /><br />CHRISTMAS PARADE<br /><br />Winter dark and winter cold<br />seek something wondrous to behold:<br />like this festival of sound and light<br />that sparkles ‘round the town tonight.<br /><br />Flatbed trucks transform to floats.<br />Beauty queens forego their coats.<br />Boom-boom-BOOM! The band plays loud.<br />Everyone’s enchanted… proud.<br />And there are angels in the crowd<br /><br /><br />101205<br /><br />BEST FEATURE<br /><br />Ours is a too-cold,<br />too-warm house.<br />It’s fairly open,<br />so we go barefoot<br />in the upstairs rooms<br />and sweatered down below.<br /><br />One wall consists of windows<br />a full two stories high.<br />It only costs some northern cold<br />to view that northern sky.<br /><br /><br />101204<br /><br />"SOCIAL" GROUPS<br /><br />From surprise to frustration<br />and, ultimately, prayer;<br />group interactions<br />so often take me there.<br /><br /><br />101203<br /><br />LOWER-CRUST<br />REBELLION<br /><br />Don't call us crass,<br />or second class,<br />or dumb.<br /><br />Don’t press us<br />under thumb.<br /><br />We’ve been peons<br />for eons;<br />now that’s done.<br /><br />You say cream floats—<br />but so does scum.<br /><br /><br />101130<br /><br />THEY KNOW NOT<br />WHAT THEY DO<br /><br />People<br />make so many people<br />miserable,<br />insisting on making them<br />happy.<br /><br /><br />101129<br /><br />DEATH’S DOOR<br /><br />Am I completely—<br />or just partly—mortal?<br /><br />To my knowledge,<br />I’ve not yet<br />crossed that portal.<br /><br /><br />101128<br /><br />LATEST TOPIC<br /><br />Old age this.<br />Old age that.<br />What’s the fascination?<br /><br />Discovery,<br />at least by me,<br />that it’s dilation,<br />not contraction.<br /><br /><br />101127<br /><br />FEASTS FOR THE SENSES<br /><br />Delights! Delights!<br />Everywhere and every when—<br />from last song of swan<br />to first note of wren.<br /><br />Something’s always brewing.<br />Something’s always cooking.<br /><br />Surely you haven’t stopped looking!<br /><br /><br />101126<br /><br />IN WINTER COLD<br /><br />Some written warmth<br />can be a shawl,<br />or a filling-in<br />of a chink in a wall.<br /><br /><br />101125<br /><br />JO’S GIRLS <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for my sibbles)<br /></span></em><br />Five Little Peppers—<br />how they grew!<br /><br />We wanted<br />to be like them, too;<br />poor and loving,<br />curious, bold.<br /><br />We grew those ways,<br />and also old.<br /><br /><br />101124<br /><br />MY COY MUSE-TRESS<br /><br />I asked her help, a little.<br /><br />She asked <em>me</em> a riddle:<br />What rhymes with "muse?"<br /><br />"Come on, come on!"<br />she laughed. "Refuse!"<br /><br /><br />101123<br /><br />FINALLY<br />QUALIFIED<br /><br />Think about it—<br />if anybody’s<br />going to<br />explore and<br />write about<br />old age;<br />don’t you think<br />it should be<br />an old person?<br /><br /><br />101122<br /><br />MIRROR MIRAGE<br /><br />When I press upward<br />on my cheeks,<br />my younger face is there;<br />a toppled <em>doppelgänger</em>.<br />I must be careful not to stare.<br /><br /><br />101121<br /><br />MINOR SHIFT<br /><br />Once there was<br />a little girl<br />who loved to<br />(not write!) color.<br /><br />Now she writes,<br />most every day,<br />some little thing<br />or other.<br /><br /><br />101120<br /><br />HUMANS BEING<br /><br />Their thoughts and acts stay bloody,<br />but reasons why stay muddy.<br />They fiercely study, but scarcely guess,<br />the whys of their perniciousness.<br /><br /><br />101119<br /><br />RETRACTIONS<br /><br />I don’t put pomes<br />on my action list<br />but very rarely<br />are they missed,<br />(except for times<br />when I’m feeling dull;<br />then, much I write,<br />I quickly cull).<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-83950977239071262102010-12-06T11:38:00.000-08:002010-12-09T17:13:00.181-08:00Pets and Predicaments* * *<br /><br /><br />101118<br /><br />COUNTER POINT<br /><br />"Tick-tock," goes the clock<br />that hangs on the wall.<br /><br />"Tock-tick," claims another<br />just down the hall.<br /><br />"<em>Ding</em>-dong, <em>both</em> wrong!"<br />a third chimes in.<br />"I am music; you're just din."<br /><br /><br />101117<br /><br />ESCAPEES<br /><br />There's a mouse in the house,<br />I suspect—just look how<br />this bedroom is wrecked.<br /><br />A chipmunk’s misplaced—<br />this I know—brought in by the cat.<br />Where'd it go?<br /><br /><br />101116<br /><br />COUNTING THE MINUTES<br /><br />Muse, it's 5:19 a.m.<br />That's awfully late.<br />Was I stood up?<br />I thought we had a date.<br /><br /><br />101115<br /><br />PERCHANCE TO DREAM<br /><br />Things get precious,<br />just by being rare—<br />like that thing that knits<br />the raveled sleeve of care.<br /><br /><br />101114<br /><br />MEDITATION<br />DIRECTIONS<br /><br />“Breathe—slow—in,<br />through the nose,<br />to a count of seven;<br />hold another count,<br />then let it out—<br />through the mouth—<br />at that same pace.”<br /><br />(Then pass out?<br />Nothing was given<br />about when<br />to breathe again.)<br /><br /><br />101113<br /><br />LOVE TAKES A TOLL <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Emma)<br /><br /></span></em>A year of your pet's life<br />equals seven of yours.<br />(About.)<br />(Depending.)<br /><br />Life with a cat or dog<br />(a typical choice)<br />can be heart-rending<br />as it grows up—<br />for how it acts up<br />and what it gets into.<br /><br />On a cat, you cain't<br />impose restraint<br />or, on a cur, a curfew.<br /><br />Pets take a toll.<br /><br />This formula occurs:<br />For every year of your pet’s life,<br />take off one of yours.<br /><br /><br />101112<br /><br />DOUBLE DOWN<br /><br />I thought “depressed”<br />meant sad and bad,<br />but now I know—<br />it just means low<br />and oh… so… slow.<br /><br /><br />101111<br /><br />QUESTIONS<br />OF TALENT<br /><br />Did I—do I—<br />have a gift?<br />Did I lose it?<br />Am I hiding it<br />even from myself?<br /><br /><br />101110<br /><br />IN POEM COUNTRY<br /><br />Up with the chickens,<br />then up with the owls;<br />I’m not one<br />to throw in the towel.<br /><br />A poem is something<br />to <em>not</em> postpone;<br />I could write ‘em<br />till the cows come home.<br /><br /><br />101109<br /><br />SIMPLE MINDED<br /><br />You are there.<br />I am not.<br />That's the thought<br />I just thought.<br /><br /><br />101108<br /><br />SORCERER’S APPRENTICE<br /><br />Leonard Cohen, for a poem,<br />used a book of rhymes.<br />I use one for mine; that’s the scoop.<br /><br />Here’s my favorite group:<br /><em>aquatic, chaotic, despotic,<br />erotic, exotic, hypnotic,<br />narcotic, neurotic,<br />psychotic, quixotic, robotic<br /><br /></em>Building blocks, rhyme-words are—<br />keys-and-locks, gears for clocks,<br />ingredients for a cake;<br />myriad combinations<br />for myriad things to make—<br />including exotic spells to cast<br />and chaotic spells to break.<br /><br /><br />101107<br /><br />IT WASN’T MUCH<br /><br />“A walk in the park,”<br />that’s what they say—<br />and that’s what it was:<br />an easy cliché.<br /><br />It wasn’t much—<br />nothing arduous,<br />explosive or clutched;<br />nothing that transcends.<br /><br />It wasn’t much—<br />a casual outing<br />by two casual friends.<br />It wasn't much—<br /><br />before our fingers touched.<br /><br /><br />101106<br /><br />HEY, SANTA! <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Trevor)<br /></span></em><br />This, for you,<br />should be a breeze—<br />put brake pads<br />in my stocking, please.<br /><br /><br />101105<br /><br />I GIVE UP<br /><br />Clothes, money, attention,<br />opinions, encouragement, advice,<br />aggravation…<br /><br />It doesn’t seem to matter;<br />no matter what I give,<br />I get more than double in return.<br />What gives?<br /><br /><br />101104<br /><br />EMPATHY NO MORE<br /><br />I know you’re<br />upset about something<br />and I know you want me<br />to get upset along with you.<br />But I don’t want to.<br />Getting upset<br />makes me upset.<br /><br /><br />101103<br /><br />OPERATIONAL LIMITS<br /><br />Medicine, what is your tonic,<br />your remedy for grief?<br />What can you offer as relief<br />for pain, intense and chronic,<br />in bodies already half-bionic?<br /><br /><br />101102<br /><br />CLOCKING OUT<br /><br />Summer birds are seen no more;<br />sky is emptiness galore;<br />northern winds grow whippy;<br />days turn short and nippy;<br />jewel-toned leaves<br />that crowned the trees<br />have browned or blown away—<br />the year is calling it a day.<br /><br /><br />101101<br /><br />BARGAINING WITH MY CAT<br /><br />“Give me some inspiration,<br />Scout—to write about;<br />I’m in the mood.”<br /><br />“Hmm. Well, don’t be rude;<br />give me something in return.<br />I’m in the mood for food.”<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-63782743409578892742010-11-01T16:29:00.000-07:002010-12-09T16:53:36.645-08:00Fear and/or Sanity* * *<br /><br /><br />101031<br /><br />CUED TO FOOD<br /><br />Am I hungry? Am I not?<br />How to tell, I forgot.<br /><br />I eat on cue (from them, me, you).<br />Sometimes the cue <em>is</em> them, me, you.<br /><br />I eat whenever prompted to.<br />Can there be a way <em>not</em> to?<br /><br /><br />101030<br /><br />FRIEND OF A FRIEND<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(for Andy)<br /></em></span><br />Zounds,<br />the man does astound!<br />Happy birthday,<br />Ezra Pound.<br /><br /><br />FEAR AND/<br />OR SANITY<br /><br />All is well on the Mall<br />(here as well—all, all, all).<br /><br /><br />101029<br /><br />OPEN GATE<br /><br />The you<br />that you are meant to be<br />is now— at least, <em>can </em>be.<br /><br />It’s not too late;<br />why wait?<br /><br /><br />LET GO<br /><br />I had a job but it got zapped<br />and now my energy is sapped.<br />I feel so tired, but not from toil—<br />more like a frog that’s slowly boiled.<br /><br /><br />STRENUOUS DREAMS<br /><br />Each morning begins<br />as a wake-up, an emergence,<br />a recovery from dream-trials <br />of the night—<br />trials of exploration,<br />trials of evaluation,<br />trials of endurance.<br /><br />Each morning begins<br />as an achievement.<br /><br /><br />101028<br /><br />NEWLY BEFRIENDED<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(Poems through my left hand.)<br /></span></em><br />Let me be your poet.<br />Let me write your words.<br />Let me change your heart to sky<br />and all your thoughts to birds.<br /><br />* * *<br />Tell you what…<br />let’s be friends.<br />Life is play<br />that never ends.<br /><br />* * *<br />My way<br /><em>is</em><br />the high way.<br /><br />* * *<br />Here’s what<br />every finger knows:<br />the heavy work<br />is done by toes.<br /><br />* * *<br />Sleep is what<br />a body needs.<br />"Sleep!" is what<br />this body pleads.<br /><br />* * *<br />Cat on bed—<br />be careful, please!<br />Some cats sleep.<br />This one pees.<br /><br />* * *<br />Oh, me. Oh, my!<br />Oh, my. Oh me!<br />She came with the name<br />Sweet Trouble,<br />but <em>should</em> be called<br />Sweet Pee.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Written with my left hand<br />in a befriend-your-body exercise.<br />The premise is that doing so improves<br />contact with the creative right side of the brain.<br />Also, Emma-cat has begun to think the bed is her<br />new pee-place, freshly laundered after every use.]<br /></span></em><br /><br />101027<br /><br />OH, GOOD NIGHT!<br /><br />“Bats in the belfy,<br />worms in the books,”<br />somebody said.<br />“Bugs in the bed!”<br /><br />“Rent the belfry.<br />Lease the books,”<br />another said.<br />“But—oh, good night!—<br />don’t let the bed;<br />bugs bite!”<br /><br /><br />101026<br /><br />EMPTY EYES<br /><br />How we hurry—<br />how unwise—<br />with unfilled hungers,<br />empty eyes.<br /><br /><br />101025<br /><br />VOIDED<br /><br />What I take up,<br />I set down.<br /><br />What takes me up<br />sets me down.<br /><br />That is the cycle.<br /><br />I am handmaiden<br />to nothing.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>[ASIDE: I’d just listened to a TED talk by Elisabeth Gilbert<br />on creativity and decided to loan this time/space/venue<br />to my daemon/genius/muse: “Here, say something.”]<br /></em><br /></span><br />101024<br /><br />SLOW STARTER<br /><br />Sunday<br />is my lazy day<br />(more so than the others).<br /><br />The best part<br />is to read in bed<br />(or just stay under covers).<br /><br /><br />101023<br /><br />FOREVER FUTURE<br /><br />Two futures<br />are furiously unfurling:<br />bliss and misery.<br /><br />Two futures<br />are furiously unfurling,<br />or seem to be, eternally.<br /><br /><br />101022<br /><br />COCOA CAMO<br /><br />Hi, Mom, where ya been?<br />I been hidin’. Look, it’s me!<br />Wanna lick my cheek or chin?<br />I been busy—come an’ see.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>[ASIDE: Written in response to an on-line photo challenge.]</em></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6FTKHkYbDopg3H4dsAgXSC1Tkyjehnwt56lp-K5IfBPDV_fZ2lWtnrb65-XM99u9ZP2OdjTH6mf7KxM8qALQsCI6vTkfP54FiLt1IxFKADQ05tVHOgnHjN_kxxChyxn39acOb8i7IV2y/s1600/Baby+in+grocery+cart.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 193px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534728803411157538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6FTKHkYbDopg3H4dsAgXSC1Tkyjehnwt56lp-K5IfBPDV_fZ2lWtnrb65-XM99u9ZP2OdjTH6mf7KxM8qALQsCI6vTkfP54FiLt1IxFKADQ05tVHOgnHjN_kxxChyxn39acOb8i7IV2y/s400/Baby+in+grocery+cart.jpg" /></a>Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-42806223326134315112010-10-23T20:56:00.000-07:002010-10-24T14:55:15.165-07:00Love of What Is* * *<br /><br /><br />101021<br /><br />LIFE’S A BREACH<br /><br />Breakthrough<br />can be double win:<br />breakthrough out,<br />breakthrough in.<br /><br /><br />101020<br /><br />CATERED TO<br /><br />Ah, here comes the morning;<br />something brings the sun.<br /><br />Someone brings me coffee;<br />blessings on that one.<br /><br /><br />101019<br /><br />WELL SERVED<br /><br />Not only am I blessed,<br />but able to tell<br />how blessed I am:<br /><em>Alive and well.<br /></em><br /><br />101018<br /><br />LUNCHBOX PARADOX<br /><br />Self, must I send you back to school?<br />A sweet is not a healthy treat.<br />And don’t forget Prime Diet Rule:<br />The more you eat, the more you eat.<br /><br /><br />101017<br /><br />CAELUM IN TERRA <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Fay Jean)</span></em><br /><br />One joy<br />(so long longed-for)<br />life graciously sends…<br />one long conversation<br />with one long-time friend.<br /><br /><br />101016<br /><br />WEEKEND, WITH FRIEND<br /><br />Nothing is an effort;<br />all is light and grace.<br />In our time together,<br />things just fall in place.<br /><br /><br />101015<br /><br />CONSTANCY<br /><br />Over and over<br />life answers its own quiz,<br />sometimes with fizzle,<br />sometimes with fizz—<br />always conveying<br />love of what is.<br /><br /><br />AL FRESCO <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Fay Jean)<br /><br /></span></em>Sundown<br />on the terrace—<br />a spectacular view,<br />wine, food, conversation…<br />all of this, and you.<br /><br /><br />101014<br /><br />TROWELING IT ON<br /><br />My work grows ever more concise<br />as my time grows shorter.<br />Once I placed a brick a day;<br />now, little more than mortar.<br /><br /><br />101013<br /><br /><em>NOS IAM VICTORES<br /><br /></em>We<br />who are about to die<br />salute ourselves.<br /><br /><br />101012<br /><br />ADS SUBTRACT<br /><br />I rarely mention politics,<br />not because it’s fiddlesticks,<br />sleight-of-hand, or lies-and tricks;<br />campaign ads just leave me blitzed.<br /><br /><br />101011<br /><br />TIME, WELL, SPENT<br /><br />There always seems<br />so much to do—<br />so forgotten<br />once I’m through.<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-72931079857075416802010-10-10T11:56:00.000-07:002010-10-10T13:35:58.309-07:00Jo'z Julz* * *<br /><br /><br />101010<br /><br />DERE FRENDZ<br /><br />I ain't twitterd in a wile,<br />nor writ no poem neether.<br />Ever now an then (like you)<br />I jest needz a breether.<br /><br /><br />101009<br /><br />RESCUE?<br /><br />A tablespoon of mouse—<br />that’s how big it was,<br />and not yet torn or injured<br />by tomcat teeth or claws.<br /><br />I thought it wouldn’t last a day.<br />It refused to eat,<br />making every force-feed ploy<br />a sadly futile feat.<br /><br />This is the third evening.<br />Still, mousey lingers on<br />while Something<br />toys with each of us<br />and moves each as its pawn.<br /><br /><br />101008<br /><br />eBAY<br /><br />No “try” applies<br />when I buy—<br />but how the hell<br />shall I sell?<br /><br /><br />101007<br /><br />PLAY-PRETTIES<br /><br />Suddenly,<br />I’m a fool for jewels<br />and all awhirl<br />for mother-of-pearl.<br /><br /><br />101006<br /><br />SHOPPING TRIPPED<br /><br />A blouse in need of buttons,<br /><em>that’s</em> how it began—<br />an excursion to a thrift store<br />to look, to search, to scan;<br />earrings and a necklace,<br />purchases unplanned.<br />Somehow, crafting jewelry<br />became my heart’s demand.<br /><br /><br />101005<br /><br />EXTENDED VACATION<br /><br />Suit yourself. I don’t care.<br />I’m in the land of <em>laissez-faire</em>—<br />I went to visit; I’m still there.<br /><br />Under my skin? In my hair?<br />Not one bit. No, I swear.<br />Suit yourself. I don’t care.<br /><br /><br />101004<br /><br />EVERYDAY POETRY<br /><br />My rule is—<br />write a poem on the day,<br />about the day,<br />or about a thing<br />that’s <em>everyday... </em><br />so it’s okay,<br />more than perhaps,<br />to play my way:<br />to later fill in gaps.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">ASIDE: …especially since it can be so hard<br />and time-consuming to write a poem at all.<br />Make-up poems can be even more difficult.<br /></span></em><br /><br />101003<br /><br />TREES THAT PLEASE<br /><br />Orange-gold<br />beneath bold blue—<br />October oaks,<br />we’ve pined for you.<br /><br /><br />101002<br /><br />“DREAM” CHALLENGE<br /><br />Muse, dear muse,<br />I dream of you—<br />even when<br />instructed to.<br /><br /><br />101001<br /><br />HIGH AND DEEP<br /><br />Each year brings us lows and highs<br />(greeted, both, by deep-breathed sighs)<br />and few highs are more highly prized<br />than deeply blue October skies.<br /><br /><br />100930<br /><br />NACRE<br /><br />naked beauty<br /><br />iridescent<br />opalescent<br /><br />beauty named<br />an ugly name<br /><br /><br />100929<br /><br />GLORY US!<br /><br />Glory at night.<br />Glory at morn.<br />Glory—all glory!—<br />that we were born.<br /><br /><br />100928<br /><br />DAFT FOR CRAFT<br /><br />Muse,<br />I make confession.<br /><br />Out of the blue<br />(if not from you),<br />I have a new obsession.<br /><br /><br />100927<br /><br />ERRATIC<br /><br />yesternight:<br />a restless night<br /><br />a restless night<br />again tonight<br /><br />a restful night<br />would set this right<br /><br />so wistful for<br />a restful night<br /><br /><br />100926<br /><br />STUMPED<br /><br />I wish...<br />I want...<br />I might like…<br />I would choose to…<br />I could make a difference by…<br />My ideal life would be like…<br />I wish.<br />I want.<br />I do?<br /><br /><br />100925<br /><br />THE ONE EXCEPTION<br /><br />I’d rather pet a cat<br />than write a poem;<br />I’d rather cook a meal<br />than write a poem;<br />I’d rather go shopping<br />or visit a friend<br />or read a book<br />or watch buzzards fly<br />than write a poem—<br />except, that is, when<br />I’m writing a poem.<br /><br /><br />100924<br /><br />BEACHED<br /><br />Lately,<br />the ebb and flow<br />of the ebb and flow<br />seems to ebb and flow<br />just fine without me.<br /><br /><br />100923<br /><br />EVEN THE PAST EVOLVES<br /><br />Was it this way—or that?<br />What didn’t I know—then or later?<br />What do I not know now?<br /><br />The story of my life<br />changes with each telling.<br /><br />Now, even when I try to tell it true,<br />I have to keep my fingers crossed.<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-6765281430953499192010-09-22T23:25:00.000-07:002010-09-22T23:35:32.035-07:00Short and Sweet (Mostly)* * *<br /><br /><br />100922<br /><br />SENSE-LESS<br /><br />I watch near-blinded as,<br />from the round of its bucket,<br />the sun drops molten light<br />onto evening waves.<br />I must be near-deaf as well,<br />hearing no hiss of steam.<br /><br /><br />100921<br /><br />MELLOW<br /><br />I feel peace<br />(though no push or pull)<br />and cannot say<br />whether I’m empty or full.<br /><br /><br />100920<br /><br />“THE” ANSWER<br /><br />It’s all<br />so simple, really—<br />so really simple,<br />I simply forgot.<br /><br /><br />100919<br /><br />INCOMING MESSAGE<br /><br />What fool would be awake<br />and writing at one a.m.?<br />Besides myself, I mean.<br /><br /><br />100918<br /><br />CONFECTION<br /><br />Love it all<br />for its own sake;<br />the peace of God<br />is a piece of cake.<br /><br /><br />100917<br /><br />AHHHH – HA!<br /><br />Brilliant!<br />Utter simplicity.<br />Why am I happy?<br />Because I want to be!<br /><br /><br />100916<br /><br />MIS-HEARD<br /><br />You didn’t hear<br />the thunderstorm?<br /><em>No, I was asleep.</em><br /><br />Dreamin’?<br /><em>Uh-huh… freezing… </em><br /><em>back in Korea…<br />and other demons, too.</em><br /><br /><br />ARRIVAL<br /><br />Things come e-mail;<br />things come snail.<br />Things come true, too,<br />like <em>that,</em> from you.<br />(The check <em>was</em> in the mail.)<br /><br /><br />100915<br /><br />MOTIVACATION<br /><br />I know I care;<br />I care a lot.<br />I’m just not sure<br />what <em>about</em>.<br /><br /><br />100914<br /><br />FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE<br /><br />Friends, friends, friends—<br />whatever we’re in for,<br />we’re in it as friends.<br /><br /><br />100913<br /><br />FORCED<br />REMOVAL<br /><br />Cat gave<br />the bed<br />another douse—<br />that’s why<br />she’s now<br />in the doghouse.<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-28329147145922245102010-09-12T17:44:00.000-07:002010-09-12T18:55:58.360-07:00Waiting, Thinking, Being* * *<br /><br /><br />100912<br /><br />LADY IN WAITING<br /><br />Life becomes—as I grow old—<br />not too tame, not too bold;<br />not too hot, not too cold.<br />I’m holding onto a life on hold.<br /><br /><br />100911<br /><br />FÊTE ACCOMPLI <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Brent and Lizzie)<br /></span></em><br />Groom and bride<br />became husband and wife.<br /><br />For family, friends, and community,<br />it was all a wedding should be—<br />a celebration of connection,<br />an affirmation of love and life.<br /><br /><br />100910<br /><br />STILL NOT SURE<br /><br />I’m not sure why.<br />I’m not sure how.<br />I got a job, a car, a mate,<br />a house to clean and decorate.<br /><em>Meow, meow, </em><br />I got a cat.<br />I did all that.<br />Now it’s late.<br />What do I do now?<br /><br /><br />100909<br /><br />NIGHTLY NOOSE<br /><br />The world is dying.<br />What can I do?<br />The media says<br />I’m dying too.<br /><br /><br />100908<br /><br />INTUIT INTO IT<br /><br />Let me give you<br />some advice:<br />don’t think once,<br />much less twice.<br /><br /><br />100907<br /><br />PARCHED<br /><br />What's that sound,<br />I hope and wonder—<br />the approach of<br />distant thunder?<br /><br /><br />100906<br /><br />MORNING MISSED<br /><br />A sad morning.<br />The cat who always<br />escorts our<br />newspaper retrieval at dawn—<br />the cat who always<br />comes when called—<br />did not escort,<br />did not come.<br /><br />Always is not<br />always always—<br />at least, is no longer,<br />which explains how<br />a sad morning gave way<br />to a happy afternoon.<br /><br /><br />100905<br /><br />SAID AT SUNSET<br /><br />Please teach me.<br /><em>Teach you what?<br /></em><br />What I need to know.<br /><em>Why do you need to know?<br /></em><br />Hmmm.<br />Please teach me <em>that.</em><br /><br /><br />100904<br /><br />DAYS DAZED<br /><br />Time to do,<br />but little action—<br />lost my way,<br />my bearings,<br />traction.<br /><br /><br />100903<br /><br />SYSTEMS ERROR<br /><br />The downturn<br />will upturn,<br />the entrepreneur advisor<br />advises.<br />Be ready:<br />millions, billions<br />can be made<br />on one well-made trade.<br /><br />Well,<br />why is it well<br />for <em>any</em><br />to take so much<br />from so many?<br /><br /><br />100902<br /><br />CHARMING<br /><br />At one neighbor house<br />they quit feeding their pets,<br />leaving two mama cats<br />and three kittens to survive<br />or starve on their own.<br /><br />Another neighbor<br />took up the slack.<br />Three of the cats<br />(two of them, babies)<br />have no tails—<br />he calls them minxes.<br /><br /><br />100901<br /><br />SLOW PAY<br /><br />Work,<br />no work,<br />work again.<br /><br />Money,<br />no money,<br />money—<br />but when?<br /><br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-51892124847913266342010-09-05T08:12:00.000-07:002010-09-05T08:19:53.670-07:00Yours, Mine, Hours* * *<br /><br /><br />100831<br /><br />LOVE ME, LOVE MY<br /><br />Books, movies,<br />restaurants,<br />car shows, lectures,<br />favorite haunts.<br /><br />Yours and mine,<br />mine and yours—<br />hours and hours<br />have made these ours.<br /><br /><br />LET IT FALL<br /><br />September,<br />please<br />do.<br /><br />Do not refrain.<br /><br />Please,<br />September,<br />bring us rain.<br /><br /><br />HIATUS<br /><br />A change of pace,<br />a time of grace—<br />a day with no<br />“to do” to do.<br />Except refresh.<br />Except renew.<br /><br /><br />100830<br /><br />HELP! HELP!<br /><br />“Here I come<br />to save the day!”<br /><br />That means<br />that Mighty Muse<br />is on the way.<br /><br /><br />100829<br /><br />FRISCO FEST<br /><br />An August Saturday<br />with a touch of breeze;<br />a taste of fall.<br /><br />We walk and walk<br />without regard to knees.<br />It’s a car show, after all.<br /><br /><br />100828<br /><br />ENOUGH<br /><br />Here I am.<br />Stopped.<br />Empty.<br />Alone with everything.<br />Understanding nothing.<br /><br />Pain, puzzlement,<br />pleasure, peace—<br />indistinguishable.<br /><br />To whom<br />do I sing<br />my death song?<br /><br /><br />100827<br /><br />A PRINCE<br />OF A FRIEND <em></em><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(for Mike)<br /></em></span><br />Spirit unbroken,<br />as body allowed<br />he ran his life’s course.<br /><br />Now,<br />there’s a hole<br />in the world<br />in the shape<br />of a horse.<br /><br /><br />QUIT<br /><br />To live:<br />to die<br />to death.<br /><br /><br />100826<br /><br />RX: R&R<br /><br />My brain<br />has lost its head<br />of steam.<br /><br />Let it rest.<br />Let it dream.<br /><br /><br />“COMPLETE” JOY<br /><br />Frisky as a kitten,<br />happy as a pup—<br />at least on this work item,<br />I’m at last caught up!<br /><br /><br />MIDDLE WHITTLE<br /><br />Life keeps getting harder;<br />tougher day by day.<br />Some keep busy working<br />while others take their pay.<br /><br /><br />100825<br /><br />WACKY WHACK<br /><br />Summer heat got out of whack—<br />then, like some mad and mythic cat<br />that arched so high it broke its back,<br />it lost its power to attack.<br /><br /><br />100824<br /><br />THIS TUESDAY<br /><br />Days are like friends.<br />You have to know ‘em.<br />Be attentive; show it.<br /><br />Here’s a day<br />that calls for a poem,<br />if you happen to be a poet.<br /><br /><br />100823<br /><br />LIFE TIME<br /><br />It’s all a gift.<br /><br />No need or reason<br />to deserve it.<br /><br />No way to save it<br />or reserve it.<br /><br />No means to keep it<br />or conserve it.<br /><br />Just enjoy it<br />and observe it.<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-64508991007493705272010-08-22T17:56:00.000-07:002010-08-22T18:19:09.014-07:00Rough Seas* * *<br /><br /><br />100820<br /><br />‘TIS! – ‘TISN’T! (for Alan)<br /><br />Who can see—you or me?<br />Which is right—day or night?<br />Which is wrong—short or long?<br />Who knows <em>true</em>—me or you?<br /><br /><br />100819<br /><br />AS A HUMAN<br /><br />This is my source<br />of conflict, pain and sorrow:<br />attachment to opinions<br />even <em>I</em> will change tomorrow.<br /><br /><br />100818<br /><br />NO FRIEND<br />MORE TRUE<br /><br />Mate and friend,<br />you’ve lived with me awhile<br />and always gone the extra mile.<br /><br />Life with me can be a trial,<br />though I don’t mean it to—<br />to make amends, is there<br />something I can do?<br /><br />Yes, you can.<br />Be you.<br /><br /><br />100817<br /><br />THE DEFENSE<br />NEVER RESTS<br /><br />You let us down,<br />they said today.<br />It hurts so much<br />what others say.<br /><br />Sometimes it’s wrong,<br />sometimes unfair.<br />Sometimes it’s right;<br />that’s hard to bear.<br /><br />It hurts so much<br />what others say.<br />I just want<br />to be okay.<br /><br /><br />JUST INFORMED<br /><br />No. Not that!<br />My heart<br />went splat.<br /><br /><br />100816<br /><br />SELF HEALING<br /><br />You hurt bad<br />and don’t know why,<br />but this will help:<br />have a good cry.<br /><br /><br />100815<br /><br />MAYBE IT IS FUNNY<br /><br />My nose looks like<br />a case of rot<br />with sores that ooze<br />and will not clot<br />plus mucous<br />that I have to blot.<br />Snot can be<br />a real hot-shot<br />at healing sores,<br />but my snot’s not.<br /><br /><br />OVERBORED<br /><br />Do not scout<br />the deck for me.<br />I’m lost.<br />I’m lost.<br />I’m lost at sea.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Actually, less bored than challenged,</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">but still lost.]</span></em><br /><br /><br />100814<br /><br />WANT ADS<br /><br />CDL Driver.<br /><em>No.</em><br />Tax Preparer.<br /><em>No.</em><br />Dental Assistant.<br /><em>No.</em><br />Message Therapist.<br /><em>I’m on it!</em><br /><br /><br />100813<br /><br />ASYLUM<br /><br />A thought escaped<br />as I walked the hall:<br />“I love her.<br />God, I love her!<br />I love them all.”<br /><br /><br />100813<br /><br />WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE<br /><br />If penned up as a refugee,<br />I would have the sky;<br />if dungeon-locked,<br />a place to lie.<br /><br />If the bounty I’ve been handed<br />were stripped off like a glove.<br />I would still have memory.<br />I would still have love.<br /><br /><br />FLAW IN MY CRAW<br /><br />My work is good<br />(far from disaster).<br />If only I could<br />master faster.<br /><br /><br />SNAGGED<br /><br />Next time you’re with your yogi,<br />rabbi, priest, or shrink,<br />ask him for me, will you,<br />how we’re supposed to think.<br /><br />Do we stalk each nascent thought<br />like a hypochondriac a cough?<br />Do we wring the meaning out<br />or shut the darned thing off?<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4419220885773125366.post-48303041061887510092010-08-13T16:47:00.000-07:002010-08-13T18:58:53.203-07:00Pressure, Pleasure, Pain* * *<br /><br /><br />SACRED VEHICLE<br /><br /><em>“Thou shalt not tempt<br />the Lord, thy God.”<br /></em><br />I used to think that meant<br />don’t beg for Aladdin’s cave,<br />don't ask that a dead stick<br />erupt in rose blossoms.<br /><br />Now I think it means<br />take care of your body;<br />you don’t get a replacement<br />(at least not the same<br />make and model).<br /><br /><br />CELESTIAL SODA POP<br /><br />(was there ever a tune so aptly named?)<br /><br />(it’s worth a lifetime to hear it)<br /><br />(wordless ... and also beyond words<br /><br />(yet the title says it all)<br /><br />(wrong, the music does)<br /><br />(hush, everyone… encore!)<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">ASIDE: When the subject of personal theme songs</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">came up this week, I was sure mine was Bob Seeger's</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">about "I'm older now but still runinn' against the wind."</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Then I remembered Celestial Soda Pop.</span></em><br /><br /><br />PREMATURELY<br />INDUCED<br /><br />Delivery<br />can go easy<br />some say—<br />some, with experience.<br />(Breathe. Just breathe.)<br /><br />I am due<br />to deliver…<br />or be delivered.<br />(I’d gladly gestate<br />on those phrases awhile.)<br /><br />Pressure<br />is coming to bear.<br />(More gestation.)<br />I have no epidural.<br /><br /><br />MANAGEMENTAL<br /><br />I have modes of attention:<br /><br />One: utter focus.<br />Two: blocked.<br />Three: flit-flit-flit.<br />Four: forget-forget-forget.<br /><br />When left to my own agenda,<br />I manage well.<br />When deferring to another’s,<br />I manage. Well…<br /><br /><br />I DARE NOT LAUGH<br /><br />I have a cold sore rimming my right nostril.<br />This is August, so call it a heat sore.<br />Every time I smile, it cracks and weeps and enlarges.<br />I really think it’s impetigo,<br />which pleases me by association with babies.<br />It looks gross, like a squash-bug sized booger,<br />which pleases me by association with young boys<br />who know how to revel in grossness.<br />It is spreading to my upper lip<br />and I envision wearing a mustache to disguise it,<br />which pleases me by association with Groucho Marx<br />and Charlie Chaplin and all my hero comedians.<br />Now, if it were only funny.<br /><br /><br />GOOBER<br /><br />I forgot.<br />Natural peanut butter<br />doesn’t stick just to<br />the roof of my mouth;<br />it sticks to my throat.<br /><br /><br />GOBBLEDY SPOOKED<br /><br />The more<br />I say things<br />(especially, the more I exhort),<br />the more it all sounds like<br />gobbledygook,<br />or whatever gobbledygook word<br />they’re using these days.<br /><br /><br />INTERNALIZING<br /><br />I didn’t notice<br />that the strawberry<br />in my left hand<br />was the size<br />of the heart<br />of a red-tailed hawk<br />until I made<br />a first slice<br />into its ventrical.<br />I should have<br />swallowed it whole.<br /><br /><br />100811<br /><br />SHOWER<br /><br />Ahhhh.<br />Water on,<br />balanced cold to hot.<br />How must it seem<br />for one,<br />used most of his life<br />to be clean,<br />to not?<br /><br /><br />INCLUDE HIM IN<br /><br />Any man<br />who can take it in stride<br />when a coworker<br />incorrectly asks to take a shortcut<br />by riding his skirttails<br />is definitely welcome<br />at our impromptu<br />gal’s potluck.<br /><br />Salad, Bill?<br />A few strawberries?<br /><br /><br />TOLL<br /><br />I can’t decide<br />if this is funny—<br /><br />When people say,<br />“I would pay<br />to do this,”<br />I think they<br />just mean money.<br /><br /><br />CRAZY FOR YOU <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(for Ethan)<br /></span></em><br />We met, we talked,<br />we made a pact—<br />I and you—and you<br />became my school.<br /><br />For you, for you,<br />I would act the fool—<br />and not even have to act.<br /><br /><br />MISSION FROM GOD<br /><br />My daily duty and obsession<br />is like that “Blues Brothers” thing.<br />Everything else is<br />optional or expendable.<br /><br /><br />100810<br /><br />HOME, HOME,<br />HOME, HOME, HOME<br /><br />refuge<br />comfort<br />sanctified zone<br /><br />launchpad<br />anchor<br />heart-and-hearth stone<br /><br />floors<br />walls<br />roof or dome<br /><br />grace<br />delight<br />us<br />our own<br /><br /><br />EMPLOYMENT<br />AGENCY<br /><br />Exterminator wanted?<br />I’m here to apply<br />for the poisition.<br /><br />Etiquette coach wanted?<br />I’m here to apply<br />for the poisition.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: From a typo in a job ad.]</span></em><br /><br /><br />100809<br /><br />THE CORE<br /><br />More<br />seek to seek it<br />(to explore)<br />than know it.<br />Wander more.<br />Quest<br />is at the core:<br />the province<br />of the poet.<br />Ponder.<br /><br /><br />COME AS YOU COME<br /><br />Would I stuff you in a box<br />and tie you up with string?<br />Would I cram you in a mold<br />or pin your dainty wings?<br /><br />Would I force you to behave<br />like a robot or a slave,<br />or cast you as a victim<br />while I played the roguish knave?<br /><br />Would I shove you on the stage<br />and force you to compete?<br />Would I make you toe the line?<br />Would I bind your precious feet?<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">ASIDE: As I thought of the effrontery of trying to force<br />a poetic inspiration into a predetermined line-and-meter form,<br />this one came to me easily and just about complete. It does<br />not strictly toe the line.<br /></span></em><br /><br />SPECULATION<br /><br />My body will go on<br />as long as it does<br />and I really don’t think<br />it will mind when it dies.<br />As for my mind,<br />it doesn’t mind now.<br /><br /><br />ABOUT THAT REQUEST…<br /><br />Saying now,<br />“Can’t you give me<br />a few more hours<br />in this day?”<br /><br />. . .will that be<br />much different than<br />saying, later,<br />“Can’t you give me<br />a few more hours<br />in this life?”<br /><br /><br />100808<br /><br />DEAR DIVINE POET,<br /><br />Given the late hour<br />and long day,<br />which of these<br />would you do:<br />go to bed and sleep<br />or edit poems<br />from earlier scribbles?<br /><br />Oh, You are so wise!<br />But that is why<br />You are You<br />and I am …not.<br /><br /><br />FOLLOWING THE CALL<br /><br />With the dark<br />that leaves at dawn,<br />swiftly, corporeally,<br />he is gone.<br /><br />All too soon<br />will come the day<br />when corporeally only,<br />he will stay.<br /><br /><br />WOMAN OF A CERTAIN AGE<br /><br />People died today.<br />I wasn’t one of them.<br />Am not. Yet.<br />Not quite yet.<br />But there are intimations:<br />mortality tables,<br />losses, lapses.<br /><br />People died today.<br />Most, I think, tried not to.<br />But I can’t be certain.<br />I wasn’t one of them.<br /><br /><br />WHAT I’M ABOUT<br /><br />One: oneness.<br />Two: diversity.<br />Three: gratitude.<br />Oh, forgot poetry!<br /><br /><br />ENTERPRISE<br /><br />Thank you kindly,<br />Captain Kirk,<br />but my reward<br /><em>is</em> my work.<br /><br /><br />100807<br /><br />OMNIA FUGIT<br /><br />“Sic transit gloria mundi.”<br />Need translation? I’m equipped—<br />“Certain grasps must be ungripped.”<br /><br />Un exemplum:<br />My fresh manicure is chipped.<br /><br /><br />LIFE LONG<br /><br />Time for play<br />is playing for time:<br />being ex-tension<br />creates extension.<br /><br /><br />RIGHT LIVELIHOOD<br /><br />I ask, am told,<br />seem shy, am bold.<br />And what I have<br />outvalues gold.<br /><br /><br />DOUBLING UP<br /><br />My life’s lopsided.<br />I like it that way.<br />I overlap<br />my work and play.<br /><br /><br />SMALL COMFORT<br /><br />When I was little,<br />I didn’t know what to say<br />to old ladies either.<br /><br /><br />FASCINATING<br /><br />Poems come easier now,<br />I guess because…<br />everything<br />is an opening<br />into something<br />fascinating.<br /><br /><br />CACTUS FLOWER<br /><br />You asked.<br />I tell.<br /><br />To dance my dance<br />and sing my song<br />means...<br />love that well<br />which must be left<br />ere long.<br /><br /><br />100806<br /><br />WAGON MAKER<br /><br />I knew a man,<br />challenged<br />in fundamental ways,<br />who stumbled through<br />his crazy maze<br />of hazy days<br />in strangely able ways.<br /><br /><br />DIVERSITY<br />IDENTITY<br /><br />Dearest Sir,<br />Dearest Ma’am,<br /><br />Bonnet, helmet,<br />cap or tam—<br />how can I<br />pick a hat style<br />if I don’t know<br />who I am?<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: Did a diversity exercise that involved</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">expressing individuality through hat choices.]</span></em><br /><br /><br />MAKES NO SENSE<br /><br />When things don’t flow<br />or do your bidding,<br />you gotta know:<br />“Life is what happens while<br />you’re making other plans.”<br /><br />Oh, is that so:<br />what you “just know”?<br />You gotta be kidding!<br />Who has time for making plans?<br /><br /><br />WIN! WIN! WIN! —<br />NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT<br /><br />Cheerleaders by the dozens,<br />swirling and twirling about<br />Then the mascot Razorback;<br />bristles and tusks and snout.<br /><br />Roaring crowds<br />scream and shout<br />calling for a win, a rout.<br /><br />Powers that be, have empathy.<br />Please be Soooie generous.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[ASIDE: I overheard someone enthuse today</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">about the thrill of attending her first Razorback games.] </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></em><br />BARE, RUINED, MIRED<br /><br />That time of mind<br />thou mayst in me behold<br />when mellow thoughts<br />are none, or few, or old.<br /><br /><br />POME RITING<br /><br />let them come<br />let them come<br />let them come<br />just<br />let them come<br /><br /><br />APPARITION<br /><br />gracefulest mama<br />delicatest fawn<br /><br />stilty legs,<br />swishy tails<br /><br />lithely, quickly<br />gone<br /><br /><br />TOP OF MOUNTAIN?<br />BOTTOM OF WELL?<br /><br />We all may ask<br />where ideas come from,<br />but none of us can tell.<br /><br /><br />100805<br /><br />SHORT<br />POME<br /><br />Most times<br />my thoughts<br />are short.<br /><br />This time<br />I’m short<br />of thoughts.<br /><br /><br />CANTABILE<br /><br />Lifelong, I pondered,<br />“For what music am I meant?”<br />then learned, with wonder,<br />“I am my own instrument.”<br /><br /><br />100804<br /><br />THREE HOURS SLEEP<br /><br />The first half of the night,<br />I scanned the house<br />for a lost document, but my<br />searching turned up nothing.<br /><br />The second half of the night,<br />I scanned my mind<br />for that same lost document,<br />but memory turned up nothing.<br /><br />Oh, the document turned up<br />eventually:<br />when I turned up the lid<br />of the scanner.<br /><br /><br />* * *Jo Lightfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921094654982379127noreply@blogger.com0