* * *
100322
WHITE LAWN
The lady
drops
her handkerchief.
The gentlemen
watch,
cold and stiff.
[ASIDE: Mother Nature brought a foot of snow;
menfolk immobilized.]
100321
UNSEASONED
Flinging snow like an apprentice,
Mother Nature came, this solstice,
like some newbie, fool, or novice;
some amateur in need of practice.
100320
WHAT MAE BE
Mae West was well blessed
with what let's call a chest.
And here is something more—
“Mae West” as "life vest"
started out as simile,
became a metaphor,
then turned so eponymous
they’re practically synonymous.
[ASIDE: Wisdom House challenge entry]
100319
STUCK BECAUSE NOT
What is missing?
I have no clue—
except one thought:
my life needs glue.
100318
VISITED
Do you suppose Mary
went around
explaining to the neighbors
what God had wrought,
so as to not
scandalize them or
keep them in the dark?
Do you suppose
we neighbors now
are being made privy
to miracles gestating
in the Marys and Magdalenes
next door or down the block?
100317
THE USUAL
Feeling
unusually glad—
about feeling glad,
as usual.
100316
INSTRUMENTAL
By reading, I know
words can ring—
as, on your stage,
mine dance and sing.
100315
PILING ON
Oh, by the way,
this day of Caesar-cide
(this Ides of March and “Brutus Day”)
now coincides
with “Buzzard Day.”
Well, to my mind—
the birds are much maligned.
100314
PIRATE TECHNICS
Pirates have at their disposal,
as they plunder on the sea,
quite a number of choices
in arsenals of weaponry:
flashing swords and gashing knives
(of which they’re such aficionados);
cannonballs, canisters, stinkballs, and mines;
pomegranate-shaped hand grenados;
blunderbusses, muskets, and musketoons,
plus pistols of every description;
fire-arrows, torches, rockets, and flares.
These all must be used with discretion.
Their best measure
is to seize without a fight.
Fire backfires—
they lose treasure
when they set a ship alight.
100313
REFLECTION
All my parts I daily meet
(the ones that meet my eye)
are slender: arms, hands, wrists;
my calves below the thigh.
“Envision,” say my diet books;
learn to “Think yourself thin!”
Well, were it not for mirrors,
I would think myself thin.
100312
JUST JOY
Joy, joy, joy!
Just joy I find—
Someone’s playing
with my mind.
* * *
Showing posts with label buzzards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buzzards. Show all posts
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Birds and Bard (Dr. Seuss)
* * *
100302
THEODORABLE (for Carrie)
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
To you, I raise a glass of juiess,
saluting what your words prodeuss—
fun and joy that tame abeuss.
Thank you, Engine! Signed, Cabeuss.
PORTAL
When you choose
an opposite way;
when you lose your bearings,
all that you bear, and all
that has borne you;
when you cast yourself out—
as you exit the city gate, notice.
The little bird
hidden in the bush
beside your path
still sings for you
its melody of kindness.
100301
CONSIDER THE BIRDS
Consider the birds;
their value is immense.
Consider the world
with no insect defense.
One recent spring
bugs arrived early,
birds arrived late—
an incipient pestilence
slow to abate.
Consider the world
with yearly such springs.
Consider the world
with no birds in the wings.
“CATHARTES AURA”
When is a buzzard
not a buzzard?
When it never was!
(That’s the buzz. )
Europeans decry our
lack of orni-culture.
Hawk, they claim, is buzzard.
(Our buzzard is their vulture.)
* * *
100302
THEODORABLE (for Carrie)
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
To you, I raise a glass of juiess,
saluting what your words prodeuss—
fun and joy that tame abeuss.
Thank you, Engine! Signed, Cabeuss.
PORTAL
When you choose
an opposite way;
when you lose your bearings,
all that you bear, and all
that has borne you;
when you cast yourself out—
as you exit the city gate, notice.
The little bird
hidden in the bush
beside your path
still sings for you
its melody of kindness.
100301
CONSIDER THE BIRDS
Consider the birds;
their value is immense.
Consider the world
with no insect defense.
One recent spring
bugs arrived early,
birds arrived late—
an incipient pestilence
slow to abate.
Consider the world
with yearly such springs.
Consider the world
with no birds in the wings.
“CATHARTES AURA”
When is a buzzard
not a buzzard?
When it never was!
(That’s the buzz. )
Europeans decry our
lack of orni-culture.
Hawk, they claim, is buzzard.
(Our buzzard is their vulture.)
* * *
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Peace, Prize
* * *
100225
THAT WOULD TAKE THE PRIZE
Would it be legitimate, when it arrives,
to drench it in water?
I opted for a white woman's
over a black man's
(both are crew neck).
It was awarded by a publishing house
for best self-help book title spoof,
which I won with:
"The Tao of Bliss – What Doesn't
Thrill You Makes You Wronger."
How I'd like, at my age,
to tell the nieces and nephews
that I won a wet t-shirt contest.
100224
POET’S DAY OFF
Self-help book title spoofs, instead of poems.
Last on the list won a t-shirt prize from the
contest sponsor, a publishing house:
Cereal Thriller – Live with Flair on Vegan Fare
Intuitive Time Management – Thinking Outside the Clocks
Perfectionism Rescue – The Ins and Outs of Over and Above
Stop That Teesing! – Help Eradicate T-Shirt Prize Contests
Order Up! – How to Successfully Demand Results from Your Higher Power
Guru Guru – Becoming a Self-Help Expert Expert
Taiwan On! – Dealing with the Taipei Personality
Soulmate Salvage – Correcting the Very Traits You Used to Adore
Stop That Teesing! – Help Eradicate T-Shirt Prize Contests
The Tao of Bliss – What Doesn't Thrill You Makes You Wronger
100223
PEACE POME
☮ is good. ✌ is ✍.
Like the ❂, ☮ is bright.
❆ or rain, day or ♘,
I ♥ to ✏ of ✌ and light.
~ ツO
100222
BUZZARD LADY
Buzzard Lady is my role.
Don’t put me in a pigeon hole.
100221
GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK
Well, it's bad news
for all you six-plus billion souls
who'll have to run your own lives,
now that I've opted out
of that responsibility.
(I was told it was never mine
to begin with, but don't we all wish
I'd found out sooner!)
100220
CHARMER
So cute a pixie
it's hard not to give hugs,
sporting short hair, blue jeans,
tunic and Ugghs.
P-O-E-T-R-Y
I try.
I fail, and fail again.
I fail. Again I try.
I will not quit;
will not admit
defeat.
I will—
like my endeavor—
end in “T-R-Y.”
100219
SPEAKING OF ODD!
No takers for my
buzzard speech—
how bu-ZZARD is that?
RELATIVE TIME
One week ago,
our fledgling finch
was pushed out of the nest.
Today he sits
three new-laid eggs
with the adults—
who would have guessed?
100218
PEAK EXPERIENCE
I told the seer, "I'm here to hear.
How can I make my dreams appear?"
"Cure conscious and unconscious fear.
What you want is very near;
get clear of fear to bring it here."
"My days, dear Seer, are growing drear;
how do I get my fears to clear?"
"Afraid I don't know," smiled the seer
with genuine and gentle cheer.
"Come and ask again next year."
HUNGRY, BABE!
When I see you
through my night vision goggles
taking out your garbage,
I can see you,
Babe, on night missions—slogging,
staking out our forage.
[ASIDE: TWITTER 2/12/10 - MichaelATerry: RT @GhostPanther:
Has there ever been a romantic poem that begins "When I see you
through my night vision goggles taking out your garbage..." ]
* * *
100225
THAT WOULD TAKE THE PRIZE
Would it be legitimate, when it arrives,
to drench it in water?
I opted for a white woman's
over a black man's
(both are crew neck).
It was awarded by a publishing house
for best self-help book title spoof,
which I won with:
"The Tao of Bliss – What Doesn't
Thrill You Makes You Wronger."
How I'd like, at my age,
to tell the nieces and nephews
that I won a wet t-shirt contest.
100224
POET’S DAY OFF
Self-help book title spoofs, instead of poems.
Last on the list won a t-shirt prize from the
contest sponsor, a publishing house:
Cereal Thriller – Live with Flair on Vegan Fare
Intuitive Time Management – Thinking Outside the Clocks
Perfectionism Rescue – The Ins and Outs of Over and Above
Stop That Teesing! – Help Eradicate T-Shirt Prize Contests
Order Up! – How to Successfully Demand Results from Your Higher Power
Guru Guru – Becoming a Self-Help Expert Expert
Taiwan On! – Dealing with the Taipei Personality
Soulmate Salvage – Correcting the Very Traits You Used to Adore
Stop That Teesing! – Help Eradicate T-Shirt Prize Contests
The Tao of Bliss – What Doesn't Thrill You Makes You Wronger
100223
PEACE POME
☮ is good. ✌ is ✍.
Like the ❂, ☮ is bright.
❆ or rain, day or ♘,
I ♥ to ✏ of ✌ and light.
~ ツO
100222
BUZZARD LADY
Buzzard Lady is my role.
Don’t put me in a pigeon hole.
100221
GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK
Well, it's bad news
for all you six-plus billion souls
who'll have to run your own lives,
now that I've opted out
of that responsibility.
(I was told it was never mine
to begin with, but don't we all wish
I'd found out sooner!)
100220
CHARMER
So cute a pixie
it's hard not to give hugs,
sporting short hair, blue jeans,
tunic and Ugghs.
P-O-E-T-R-Y
I try.
I fail, and fail again.
I fail. Again I try.
I will not quit;
will not admit
defeat.
I will—
like my endeavor—
end in “T-R-Y.”
100219
SPEAKING OF ODD!
No takers for my
buzzard speech—
how bu-ZZARD is that?
RELATIVE TIME
One week ago,
our fledgling finch
was pushed out of the nest.
Today he sits
three new-laid eggs
with the adults—
who would have guessed?
100218
PEAK EXPERIENCE
I told the seer, "I'm here to hear.
How can I make my dreams appear?"
"Cure conscious and unconscious fear.
What you want is very near;
get clear of fear to bring it here."
"My days, dear Seer, are growing drear;
how do I get my fears to clear?"
"Afraid I don't know," smiled the seer
with genuine and gentle cheer.
"Come and ask again next year."
HUNGRY, BABE!
When I see you
through my night vision goggles
taking out your garbage,
I can see you,
Babe, on night missions—slogging,
staking out our forage.
[ASIDE: TWITTER 2/12/10 - MichaelATerry: RT @GhostPanther:
Has there ever been a romantic poem that begins "When I see you
through my night vision goggles taking out your garbage..." ]
* * *
Monday, February 1, 2010
Animals, Weather, Time
* * *
100131
ATTUNED
I love it when he whistles and laughs
and jokes with the cats;
their ears swivel to tune him in;
they climb onto his lap if it’s available;
they gently paw his face, stroke his cheek,
then settle in to ride the warm rhythms
of his chest. "More," they say. "More!"
100130
SNOW DAY
Deer braved the yard today,
where they cautiously fed.
Cats braved the snow for birds.
Birds braved the cats for bread.
100129
WEATHER
WISHERS
What?
You didn’t expect
more snow to fall?
Please.
It’s January,
after all!
100128
BLAST!
"Brace yourselves,"
weathercasters scold,
rhapsodizing over sleet and ice.
Hmmph. That isn't nice; it's cold!
100127
TIME PIECE
"Time flies," Eagle cries.
"Time flies," Frog sighs,
"snatchin’ you up like some bug
that its flickin’ tongue has tazed.
Oh. Time flays," croaks Frog, amazed.
"Time flays," Horse neighs.
"Time flows," Raven crows.
"Time flows," Bear knows,
"driftin’ us along with gentle dreams
of polar ice an’ siftin’ snow.
Ah. Time floes," sighs Bear, mid-doze.
"Time floes," Whale blows.
"Time flees," buzz Bees.
"Time flees," Dog breathes,
"bitin’ our hides to set us movin’,
then lightin’ out; that irritatin’ tease!
Ooh. Time fleas," Dog moans, aggrieved.
"Time fleas," Cat agrees.
[ASIDE: I wanted to leave out quotation marks because they
were so cumbersome and distracting, but that didn't work.]
100126
RELAXED FIT
“When you retire,” his buddies asked,
looking at him a bit askance,
“who, at your house, will wear the pants?”
“Myself,” he winked, with a cheerful glance.
“Of course, I’ll be wearing putter pants.”
100125
TWENTY-TWENTY
Best gift so far,
this twenty-ten—
contact lenses.
I see again!
100124
TOO LATE
I missed a meeting
I meant to attend;
there’s no way to regroup,
recoup, or amend.
100123
BUZZARDS
“Unclean!” they’re seen—
“Untouchable!
Gnarly-headed grotesques. Fearsome
Underlings. Awful offal-eaters.
Horrid things on wings!”
Of this, buzzards are oblivious—
as they are of praise from students
of their ways, who say, “It’s official.
Buzzards are good to us. Beneficial.”
They recycle and renew.
Like morticians, beauticians, mothers,
menials, and multitudes of others
(maintenance workers, trash collectors,
hazardous waste operators, plumbers,
and sanitation crews, to name a few)—
discretely and with daily diligence,
they efface life’s ugliness.
They lift in air like dreams.
For those with eyes to see—
such elegance, such grace!
100122
LOOKOUT
At my north-sky facing view,
two trapezoidal windows
show through to a vast expanse
of icy blue; slightly smudged
with gray and white. But—
not a single buzzard in sight.
100121
MEAT OR POISON
One man’s crumpet
is another man’s strumpet.
One woman’s jackpot
is another one’s crackpot.
[ASIDE: Just playing with words, which,
like old stereotypes and clichés, are also
one person’s meat and another’s poison.]
100120
WINTER THUNDER
Startling!
Like a midnight pounding at your door
in the secret-code cadence of a comrade.
SELF-EMANCIPATION
First you have to make it okay
with yourself to think about
what you might possibly want.
Then you have to decide that,
yes, it’s okay to actually want.
Next you allow yourself to
full-heartedly accept
wanted and waited-for things.
After that, permission to pursue
is a natural progression.
In fact, you stand self-revealed
as a natural progression.
100119
CHARM SCHOOLED
It’s hard enough to
charm life into beneficence
when you’re an ingénue;
much less, a nongénue.
ASPIRANT
As if either is a place,
somewhere between seven and seventy,
I got used to living. I expected to expect
every day another day, and every day
three square meals, slow or quick,
and all my blessings double-dipped.
Little plain-old mortal me
aspired to immortality: unending life,
and not just that—ease, abundance, health,
pleasing occupation, and an inside track
to bliss. It hasn’t happened—yet
I’m caught by the idea. First, I’ve heard,
you go through death and back
near-endless times. Or not.
* * *
100131
ATTUNED
I love it when he whistles and laughs
and jokes with the cats;
their ears swivel to tune him in;
they climb onto his lap if it’s available;
they gently paw his face, stroke his cheek,
then settle in to ride the warm rhythms
of his chest. "More," they say. "More!"
100130
SNOW DAY
Deer braved the yard today,
where they cautiously fed.
Cats braved the snow for birds.
Birds braved the cats for bread.
100129
WEATHER
WISHERS
What?
You didn’t expect
more snow to fall?
Please.
It’s January,
after all!
100128
BLAST!
"Brace yourselves,"
weathercasters scold,
rhapsodizing over sleet and ice.
Hmmph. That isn't nice; it's cold!
100127
TIME PIECE
"Time flies," Eagle cries.
"Time flies," Frog sighs,
"snatchin’ you up like some bug
that its flickin’ tongue has tazed.
Oh. Time flays," croaks Frog, amazed.
"Time flays," Horse neighs.
"Time flows," Raven crows.
"Time flows," Bear knows,
"driftin’ us along with gentle dreams
of polar ice an’ siftin’ snow.
Ah. Time floes," sighs Bear, mid-doze.
"Time floes," Whale blows.
"Time flees," buzz Bees.
"Time flees," Dog breathes,
"bitin’ our hides to set us movin’,
then lightin’ out; that irritatin’ tease!
Ooh. Time fleas," Dog moans, aggrieved.
"Time fleas," Cat agrees.
[ASIDE: I wanted to leave out quotation marks because they
were so cumbersome and distracting, but that didn't work.]
100126
RELAXED FIT
“When you retire,” his buddies asked,
looking at him a bit askance,
“who, at your house, will wear the pants?”
“Myself,” he winked, with a cheerful glance.
“Of course, I’ll be wearing putter pants.”
100125
TWENTY-TWENTY
Best gift so far,
this twenty-ten—
contact lenses.
I see again!
100124
TOO LATE
I missed a meeting
I meant to attend;
there’s no way to regroup,
recoup, or amend.
100123
BUZZARDS
“Unclean!” they’re seen—
“Untouchable!
Gnarly-headed grotesques. Fearsome
Underlings. Awful offal-eaters.
Horrid things on wings!”
Of this, buzzards are oblivious—
as they are of praise from students
of their ways, who say, “It’s official.
Buzzards are good to us. Beneficial.”
They recycle and renew.
Like morticians, beauticians, mothers,
menials, and multitudes of others
(maintenance workers, trash collectors,
hazardous waste operators, plumbers,
and sanitation crews, to name a few)—
discretely and with daily diligence,
they efface life’s ugliness.
They lift in air like dreams.
For those with eyes to see—
such elegance, such grace!
100122
LOOKOUT
At my north-sky facing view,
two trapezoidal windows
show through to a vast expanse
of icy blue; slightly smudged
with gray and white. But—
not a single buzzard in sight.
100121
MEAT OR POISON
One man’s crumpet
is another man’s strumpet.
One woman’s jackpot
is another one’s crackpot.
[ASIDE: Just playing with words, which,
like old stereotypes and clichés, are also
one person’s meat and another’s poison.]
100120
WINTER THUNDER
Startling!
Like a midnight pounding at your door
in the secret-code cadence of a comrade.
SELF-EMANCIPATION
First you have to make it okay
with yourself to think about
what you might possibly want.
Then you have to decide that,
yes, it’s okay to actually want.
Next you allow yourself to
full-heartedly accept
wanted and waited-for things.
After that, permission to pursue
is a natural progression.
In fact, you stand self-revealed
as a natural progression.
100119
CHARM SCHOOLED
It’s hard enough to
charm life into beneficence
when you’re an ingénue;
much less, a nongénue.
ASPIRANT
As if either is a place,
somewhere between seven and seventy,
I got used to living. I expected to expect
every day another day, and every day
three square meals, slow or quick,
and all my blessings double-dipped.
Little plain-old mortal me
aspired to immortality: unending life,
and not just that—ease, abundance, health,
pleasing occupation, and an inside track
to bliss. It hasn’t happened—yet
I’m caught by the idea. First, I’ve heard,
you go through death and back
near-endless times. Or not.
* * *
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Winter and Aging
* * *
091220 (for Zach)
SNOW NAKED
Trees—
the elder
and the younger—
withdraw their energies
from these winter
silences and
furies.
091219
SURPRISE
Buzzard babies—
such a sight!
Who’d have thought
they fluff out white?
091218
IMMINENT DOMAIN
My chores were done,
and more to spare.
I headed for my easy chair.
Alas—the cat was sitting there!
“Forgive my breach of happy purrs,”
I told him, “but it’s time to stir.
So take my lap or I’ll take yours.”
091217
MUSE TO POET:
Yay! Hurray!
Oh, frabjous day!
You wanted a poem
joyful and snappy—
so, now are you happy?
BEYOND
After aftermath;
some nice surprise.
After all,
even winter dies.
091216
REMARKING TIME
For the unemployed,
meanings get reassigned:
- holiday/workday
- time on/time off
Vices become versas.
091215
NON SOM
Call it the “night bubble”—
that wide-awake, fret-tending time
between episodes of
sleep-it-under-the-rug.
Mind is a fitful child.
Might as well rise
and take care of it;
might as well walk the floors.
091214
AS LONG AS IT TAKES
Give me a word;
I'll give you a rhyme.
I'll give you a poem
if you have the time.
TOUCH OF THE DIVINE
Thank you, thank you,
powers that be,
for this human-inborn ability
to apprehend divinity!
091213
FUNNING ON EMPTY
"I'm in a bind," the poet whined.
"On my quota, I'm behind.
If there's a poem in my mind,
it's a poem I can't find."
091212
NOT OLD ENOUGH
I was born three-score
years ago, plus one.
And so, for Social Security
I'm too young.
For Medicare too; too young.
I'm sixty-one and I don't care.
I'm sixty-one; still young!
091211
DOWNSIZING
Goodbye,
right eye;
goodbye, left.
Farewell,
today's tooth;
tomorrow's.
Bone, muscle, skin—
your services;
suspend.
Goodbye,
dear body;
farewell, friend.
091210
WANDERERS, SQUANDERERS
Wasting, wasted, living lost lives
(barren, enervated, unenhanced),
we sleepwalk through paradise
oblivious, numb, self-entranced.
091209
GIFTED
Angelic?
Devilish?
Madness?
Sanity?
Gift of divinity:
our humanity.
091208
SHHHH
noise
annoys
091207
NOCTILUCID (For Rick)
Weatherman, we love you dearly.
You scan the skies day-month-yearly.
You’re a wizard.
You’re a wit:
"Behold that cloud, night-lit!
It’s more than cirrus merely;
it's noctilucent, clearly."
* * *
091220 (for Zach)
SNOW NAKED
Trees—
the elder
and the younger—
withdraw their energies
from these winter
silences and
furies.
091219
SURPRISE
Buzzard babies—
such a sight!
Who’d have thought
they fluff out white?
091218
IMMINENT DOMAIN
My chores were done,
and more to spare.
I headed for my easy chair.
Alas—the cat was sitting there!
“Forgive my breach of happy purrs,”
I told him, “but it’s time to stir.
So take my lap or I’ll take yours.”
091217
MUSE TO POET:
Yay! Hurray!
Oh, frabjous day!
You wanted a poem
joyful and snappy—
so, now are you happy?
BEYOND
After aftermath;
some nice surprise.
After all,
even winter dies.
091216
REMARKING TIME
For the unemployed,
meanings get reassigned:
- holiday/workday
- time on/time off
Vices become versas.
091215
NON SOM
Call it the “night bubble”—
that wide-awake, fret-tending time
between episodes of
sleep-it-under-the-rug.
Mind is a fitful child.
Might as well rise
and take care of it;
might as well walk the floors.
091214
AS LONG AS IT TAKES
Give me a word;
I'll give you a rhyme.
I'll give you a poem
if you have the time.
TOUCH OF THE DIVINE
Thank you, thank you,
powers that be,
for this human-inborn ability
to apprehend divinity!
091213
FUNNING ON EMPTY
"I'm in a bind," the poet whined.
"On my quota, I'm behind.
If there's a poem in my mind,
it's a poem I can't find."
091212
NOT OLD ENOUGH
I was born three-score
years ago, plus one.
And so, for Social Security
I'm too young.
For Medicare too; too young.
I'm sixty-one and I don't care.
I'm sixty-one; still young!
091211
DOWNSIZING
Goodbye,
right eye;
goodbye, left.
Farewell,
today's tooth;
tomorrow's.
Bone, muscle, skin—
your services;
suspend.
Goodbye,
dear body;
farewell, friend.
091210
WANDERERS, SQUANDERERS
Wasting, wasted, living lost lives
(barren, enervated, unenhanced),
we sleepwalk through paradise
oblivious, numb, self-entranced.
091209
GIFTED
Angelic?
Devilish?
Madness?
Sanity?
Gift of divinity:
our humanity.
091208
SHHHH
noise
annoys
091207
NOCTILUCID (For Rick)
Weatherman, we love you dearly.
You scan the skies day-month-yearly.
You’re a wizard.
You’re a wit:
"Behold that cloud, night-lit!
It’s more than cirrus merely;
it's noctilucent, clearly."
* * *
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