Winter Mix

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110101

NEW YEAR’S DAY

This day—
ostensibly about time,
but falling as it does
on a date of no particular
astronomic significance—
should serve as a reminder
that names of things
and ideas about things
often obscure the
nature of things.


101231

STAY OF EXECUTION

Leaves are dancing
up from the ditches
this warm December day,
resurrected by swirling
winds of protestation;
the year, apparently,
is not ready to die.


101230

LEFTOVERS

Those both old and bereft
cling all the tighter
to what is left.


101229

PROBLEM PEOPLE

Why are they
so difficult; so stubborn;
so unwilling to capitulate
to our superior wisdom—
and why,
when we visit their houses,
must we suffer the meagerness
of their offerings?


101228

CURE-ATOR

God,
have you any therapy
for the pain of being,
and of being me?

Such therapy is yours alone,
for the pain you’re feeling
you create and own.
When you think as I,
pain will go away:
“I’m okay. You’re okay.”

­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________

Today I found this poem note,
dated 091025:

wind
shepherds
leaves
across
road


101227

TO YOUR HEALTH

Happiness
involves a task
and, no, it isn’t drinking;
before you think
a thought again—ask,
“Is that thought
worth thinking?”


101226

UPWARD PATH

“Guide my way,”
I again consent.

To renew ascent,
I renew assent.


101225

THE GIFT OF THE PRESENT

No matter, hopes of Christmas Future
or joys of Christmas Past;
we are Guests of Christmas Present,
which can hardly be surpassed.


101224

PAMPERED

My sweetie makes me coffee.
He brings me toast and jam.
He claims that I’m his honey
and makes me glad I am.


101223

DESIGNER
TOUCH

Life is kinder
than we think
or can think;
when we notice,
we call this
serendipity.


101222

COMING APART
AT THE SEEMS

All I know I know
is how things seem to me,
including this self-same me
that seems to seem to be.


101221

SEASON GREETING

Ah! My favorite time of year
when I enjoy—and wish for you—
a very and most-merry,
thrilling, dance-enhancing,
whoppingly exciting,
gleeful, cheerful new debut
of joyous Christmas shopping.


101220

RELIEF IS ON
THE WAY

A nightmare
is a lie you keep
until you rouse
your self from sleep.

Suspect there are
(to be let go)
“truths” you know
that are not so.


101219

EXASPERATION

Emma has been banished
from the bed
in hopes she’ll use a
proper pee-place instead.


101218

WHAT I LIKE

I like to go, I like to do,
I like to think and write, and then
I like to go and do it all again.


101217

DIS-BANDED

What is a ring to a marriage?
I lost mine yesterday,
trying to keep it safe.

My hand
mourns like an orphan;
my heart grieves like a waif.

What is a ring to a marriage?
I lost mine yesterday,
trying to play it safe.


[ASIDE: As instructed, I put all my jewelry in my pocket
before touring a food-processing plant. Several events later,
my wedding ring was the only item that had somehow escaped.
The loss prompted thoughts about priorities, spouses, possessions, etc.]


101216

NO GOOD CHOICE

Setting the alarm for five
wakes you up at four.

But if you didn’t set it,
at six you’d be a-snore.


101215

INTIMIDATIONS
OF MORTALITY

My cat puts his face
near mine each night,
then (sometime later)
his rear—
which means
that I begin each day
knowing the end is near.


101214

OLD AGE BENEFITS

I'm old—trust me—
but young enough to thrill
to a birthday card from my mom
with a twenty-dollar bill.


101213

DECISIONS,
DECISIONS

Colon or semi?
I haven’t a clue.
Maybe a dash
or comma will do.

If you think prose
is hard, well—foo!
just try poems;
they’ll try you.


* * *

Short and Sweet (Mostly)

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100922

SENSE-LESS

I watch near-blinded as,
from the round of its bucket,
the sun drops molten light
onto evening waves.
I must be near-deaf as well,
hearing no hiss of steam.


100921

MELLOW

I feel peace
(though no push or pull)
and cannot say
whether I’m empty or full.


100920

“THE” ANSWER

It’s all
so simple, really—
so really simple,
I simply forgot.


100919

INCOMING MESSAGE

What fool would be awake
and writing at one a.m.?
Besides myself, I mean.


100918

CONFECTION

Love it all
for its own sake;
the peace of God
is a piece of cake.


100917

AHHHH – HA!

Brilliant!
Utter simplicity.
Why am I happy?
Because I want to be!


100916

MIS-HEARD

You didn’t hear
the thunderstorm?
No, I was asleep.

Dreamin’?
Uh-huh… freezing…
back in Korea…
and other demons, too.


ARRIVAL

Things come e-mail;
things come snail.
Things come true, too,
like that, from you.
(The check was in the mail.)


100915

MOTIVACATION

I know I care;
I care a lot.
I’m just not sure
what about.


100914

FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE

Friends, friends, friends—
whatever we’re in for,
we’re in it as friends.


100913

FORCED
REMOVAL

Cat gave
the bed
another douse—
that’s why
she’s now
in the doghouse.


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