Snow Day Play

* * *


110202

OBLITERATED

When you're young
and take things literally,
news can be so cool!

"Yesterday it snowed.
Today there is no school."


[ASIDE: Original title was CANCELLATION
but readers tended overlook the import.]



ALONE TOGETHER

It’s true—the thought
that ought to be outrageous:
cabin fever is contagious!


BOOKING AGENT

From among the many beside my bed,
I chose a book—to back the torn-open
envelope on which I prepare to write.

Ethan, recognizing poem-mode
when he sees it, asks, “What’s up?”

“I’d been dreaming I was with Oprah
on her show, talking poetry;
that’s sure to launch a poem.”

Shifting my writing materials slightly,
I catch sight of the book’s title and its
implications: The Magic of Thinking Big.


FOUR-PHASE FROST

Kitty catches sight of snow.
Kitty says, “Me-oh!”

* * *
Kitty starts to pine and pout.
Kitty says, “Me-out!”

* * *
Kitty chills, in every paw.
Kitty says “Me-aw!”

* * *
Kitty sees the snow anew.
Kitty says, Me-eeewww!


THAT MY CAT

her a beauty
her a wonder
her got moods
like snow and thunder

her have fur
her make purr
when her run,
her just a blurr

when her sleep,
some sweet angel
when her stir,
some kinda devil

sometime share
sometime plunder
that my cat
some kinda wonder


CHILD AT HEART

Saying
that I love Her ways.

Asking
not to be afraid.

Believing
He is wise and true.

Curious
about taboo.

Gazing
at the world She made.

Hoping
I will stay amazed.

Thinking
He may be a fraud.

This is how
I play with God.


SNOWFLAKES

Like you—
we come,
we play,
we melt away.


WINTER SKY

I see blue;
icy blue.


NAMASTE

Here is where I am,
so here is where I start...
sharing who I am,
sharing from the heart.


* * *

Winter Sprouts

* * *


110201

PRE-SNOWSTORM

Dear media,
be speedia.

Politics, crime, gossip, sports...?
We want weather reports!


110131

MAIS NO! MAIS OUI!

Pleasure means feeling good.
Guilty means feeling bad.
In truth, can people claim
“guilty pleasures” they've had?

The terms are oxymoronic,
separate as vinegar and oil—
but, if egged on, they may (oh!)
merge in a marriage royal.


110130

A LITTLE NUTHIN’

Pomes make homes
fer minds, I think.
Sum o’ them are logs.
This’n is a chink.


110129

HEALTH FOOD FORAYS

In the aim of health and the form of seeds,
I bought some chia for my pet,
by which I mean my husband;
he who claims that sprouts are weeds
and the taste of pulses repulses.

Pre-diabetes has him hexed
and I'm sure he's wondering what is next
in the way of seeds and weeds.
Though I don't plan to feed him vetch,
I'm keen he be keen on quinoa.


110128

EARLY THANKSGIVING

An early wake, an early rise,
comes today as a surprise—
a gift to squander or invest;
to rust-and-rest or do my best.

So, using pen as my voice,
I choose to make my highest choice
of how to spend this interlude:
a litany of gratitude...

for every person in my life,
for my role as someone's wife,
for health and wealth and soul and mind,
for Nature's wonders, and Divine.


110127

AT THE CLUB

Round and round,
we're walking laps;
we don't want
our health to lapse.

Round and round,
laps on laps;
laps on laps
till we collapse.


110126

UNEXCEPTIONAL
EXCEPTIONS

In every season,
come unseasonable days—
extra hot or cold.

For some reason,
people seem amazed
when such days take hold.


110125

DEAR CATS

Thank you, cats,
for something new
(especially a certain
one of you).

How long’s it been
(one week? or two?)
since you’ve mis-placed
your pee or poo?


110124

PRE-DIABETES

Do not let this
be defeating.
Master wholesome
ways of eating.


110123

TROUBLES, KNEE DEEP

"My knees, my knees,"
he groans. "I don't know if I can
make it to the top of the stairs
with these knees."

"Well, don't leave them
at the bottom," she protests.
"I'll be sure to trip over them."


110122

THE RAISING OF THE BAR (for Susan)

We had a peek, this week,
at a friendly small-town town,
one that deserves renown:
Morrilton.

So solicitous of us
were the people there,
they raised the bar on care.
"Thanks. Well done."


* * *

Fire and Ice

* * *

100325

ANAGRIM

Someone has evil
in his very name
and can't veil his breath:
a vile, live, evil flame.


100324

FIRST TEN HITS

I feel so stressed.
I feel so behind.
I feel so old.
I feel so empty.
I feel so stalked.
I feel so good.
I feel so unloved.
I feel so accomplished!
I feel so…….down.
I feel so badddd.

[ASIDE: Random Twitters.]


100323

SLICK

Our foot of snow arrived quickly,
sandwiched between layers of sleet.

Taking in the scene this morning,
I decide: “Any exercising done today
will be done indoors.”
Then I notice sparrows, exercising
their fruitless search for food.

So, in boots, nightie,
and borrowed husband's robe
(husband's borrowed robe, that is),
I trek outside to a the crest of the lawn,
carrying a dishtowel
and a mixing bowl filled with
breadcrumbs, cereal, and seeds.

To free my hands before spreading
the towel on the icy surface,
I set the bowl down—and down it goes:
down the knoll, down a rut in the long
winding driveway and, from there,
whirling and bobsledding,
down the street toward the lake.

My trek just became extended
and my exercise decision un-decided.


* * *

Snow Days with Pirates

* * *

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.


* * *

Words of Fun

* * *

100218

LEXICONSTRUCTION

Need a word? Just make one
(it’s a democracy).
Then add two or three.

I needed a word,
for example.
I present it as a sample:

Simplicity plus happiness?
That’s “simblissity.”


100217

A HOST OF DAFFY DEALS

I wandered only as The Cloud
that floats on high o’er th' Internet
(that vast e-commerce-dealing crowd).

With virtual virtue I was endowed.
By data streams I roamed, and got not wet.


100216

COACHING SESSION

“Depend upon your higher power,”
my guru/coach suggested.
“Assign one dream-goal upward.
Let your uptight self be rested.”

“Use intuition to set that goal.”
Well, that’s how I got flustered.
My inner whisper told my soul—
“Go, ye. Speak of buzzards.”


100215

RISE ‘N SHINE, YEP!

Hello, Sun, how do?
Liftin’ up them clouds, are ya,
movin’ everthang along?

Guess I best git up, m’self—
ta start my own day strong.


100214

PEAR-TREE

Morning is its blossom.
Noon, its honey-bee.
Evening is its harvest:
the pear called ecstasy.

Night has come,
has come, my love,
drawing you to me.

Come, my love—
come share this night.
Love, come pear with me.


[ASIDE: Shall I come-pear
thee to a summer’s night?]


ANY ART

If you plan to pick it up,
know how to put it down.
Progression can be obsessive.

If you plan to stick with it,
know when to put it down.
Obsession can be progressive.


100213

GUEST, LIST!

This is a private party,
not a banquet or a ball,
and if you want a lecture,
go find a lecture hall.


[ASIDE: Scrapped…

This is a private party,
intimate and small—
open just to kindred souls
(but open to them all).

This is a private party
for the select few
who manage to gain entry.
So, welcome. That is you.]


100212

BEYOND THE PALL

The sheet that skims my skin tonight
requires the moon to make it white—
and more than moon; for, though so bright,
moon but reflects more brilliant light.


100211

CHERUBIM TO CHERUBIMBOS

Wondrous, sonorous signs and symbols!

Words are heaven’s mighty cymbals
sounded by angels at their gambols
to babbling mortals at their rambles.


-------------------------------------------------
[SONG LYRICS FOR LIONS INTERNATIONAL]

LION PRIDE WORLDWIDE

If you know one Lion, you’re bound to know a few.
You find them on savannahs, in the jungle, at the zoo.
You find them in the circus, and other places too.
But can you guess—more or less—what these Lions do?

Lions meet and Lions talk.
Lions work from dawn till dark,
Raising help and hope and funds,
Especially for little ones.
A Lion is a lady. A Lion is a man.
Dogged as a shepherd, gentle as a lamb.
Lion vision helps all see—
The world is one community.

If you know one Lion, you’re bound to know a few.
You find them on savannahs, in the jungle, at the zoo.
You find them in the boardroom and on the factory floor.
They do good in neighborhoods—Hear those Lions roar!

Lions meet and Lions talk.
Lions work from dawn till dark,
Raising help and hope and funds,
Especially for little ones.
A Lion is a tiger, fighting for the right.
A Lion is an eagle, searching with true sight.
Lion vision helps all see—
The world is one community.


[ASIDE: Lyrics for our local club, which LOVES to sing
“Happy Birthday” in as garbled a fashion as possible…

Lions meet and Lions talk.
Lions sing in Rogers , Ark. ,
Raising voices to a screech,
Growling this for all and each—

“Happy Birthday to you…”
or “Hear Those Lions Roar” ]

-------------------------------------------------

100210

HAPPENSTANCE

Whatever happens
happens (in one theory)
to be good, so that
whenever whatever
shouldn’t happen happens,
it just so happens
that it should.


100209

KNOWSEY NEIGHBORS

Love that saying.
Is it your own?

Inquiring minds
want quoted sources known.


100208

SNOW ON SNOW

Overnight snow falls afresh,
slipping from branches
to meld with melting snow below.


* * *

Snowy & Flakey

* * *

100207

CHRONIC PAIN

Chronic pain.
Chronic pain.
Chronic pain
is a chronic pain!


100206

ANOTHER
CANCELLATION

Snow. Sleeting.
“No Meeting.”


100205

FLAKEY

Snow is made of water
but it can be dry.

Snow—on your nose
or eyelashes—feels light.
But snow is heavy.

Snow falls
because it’s heavy.

Wet snow is heavier
than dry snow.

A heavy snow
can be quick and thick
or just deep.
It can be wet or dry

No matter
how heavy it is,
snow is light
and usually white.

Against the clouds
from which it falls,
it’s dark—like cinders.

You can build with snow.
You can make a man
or igloo or fort.

Snow can get dirty—
gray or brown or yellow—
but let’s not go into that.


100204

HIBER NATION

For many in this country,
the difference between
joy at snow and joy at snow
is many months between.


100203

SADLY TRUE

It’s bizarre. It’s medieval.
No matter what you say or do—
someone somewhere
thinks you’re evil.


100202

PLAITING FOR PROFIT

The heffalump is plenty plump
from a boondoggle at the zoo;
an inward trade of honey
for an outward of scoubidou.

[ASIDE: Poets Northwest challenge for February:
write a poem using one or more of these words:
boondoggle, heffalump, serendipity (or serendipitous)
This won't make much sense unless you’re familiar
with the key terms used.]


SAIR-N-DIPITY

Now I ain't a'sayin', "Jest ignore it,"
but don’t go a'lookin' all up an down
an’ don’t go a'searchin' all aroun'—
‘cuz you kin look yerself pure blind.

Sair-n-dipity's somethin' good ya find
when ya ain't even lookin' for it.


100201

SHARED WORKSPACE

Clickety, clickety, click-click-clack!
Unless I focus on my own,
his keyboarding makes me groan.
Clickety, clickety, click-click-clack!


[ASIDE: Actually, I rarely notice. I was just
listening for inspiration and that’s what I heard.]


* * *