Patchwork Prose and Verse
I was mad since you
were late so I fed turtles
all your marshmallows
no roasting for you
our discussion was our campfire
spark, flame, sizzle, blaze
they smiled and thanked me
reminded me to tell you
to keep slowing down.
when I’m birdwatching
and you’re nodding
off in the chair
next to me on
our campsite,
me: thrilled in
a composed way
behind my binoculars
and you with
holes in your socks
broken-breath quiet snores
I wonder ~
are we those old
people we’ve
always known
we’d become
one day?
Today is Global Big Day, and I’ve already been out birdwatching for over an hour. Come join me! No matter where I go birding, my heart feels happy. Normally, I’m home on the farm, but today I’m camping in one of Georgia’s amazing state parks. The sounds of morning birds on a campsite near a lake are second to none in the great choir of feathered friends. Join me in a bird count today!
Morning Song
once again
I’m in the woods
the usual cast
of characters
appears
robins, wrens, cardinals
then the
red-eyed vireo
chimes into the
morning chatter
followed by the
evil clown sound
of the white-breasted
nuthatch
then from behind
the veil of leaves
comes the
melody I love most-
the sireny-soloist
of the tiered trees
a wood thrush
bringing the song
these woods
her deep sea
Give me your Tevas
Let me have your Birkenstocks
Toss me your On Clouds
Your Chacos, your Reefs
I have a shoe addiction
in my DNA
soles are soul-soothing
not changing size where clothes will
holding me steady
Give me your Nikes
Let me have your Adidas
Toss me your Hey Dudes,
Your Hokas, your Clarks
I have a shoe addiction
in my DNA
Blind Rage Rispetto
such blind rage overtakes me on a thought
these triggers self-combust in open flame
one moment I’m quite civil, next I’m not
and all the same, I know you’re not to blame
I’m not sure how to turn things back around
to compromise and find some common ground
to put the world back on an even keel
……until I try to feel how you must feel
Invitation
I was once
invited to a
wedding
but I saw
the truth
of that
invitation
and
declined
without hesitation
without gift
without regret
without excuse
Reduced Speed Ahead
crave different days
not working deadline-driven
not governed by clocks
seems all or nothing
drowning in a swift riptide
too tired to love life
sacrificing hearts
of days just to earn a wage
what’s a better way?
To commemorate Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, I’ve written a reverse etheree.
To the hell of a concentration camp
To the death showers of Zyklon B
To separated families
To long lost baby shoes
To Hitler’s nightmare
To starvation
To ghettos
To hate
I
Am
From love
From living
From just like you
From family meals
From falling deep in love
From dreams and aspirations
From the freedom to live and choose
From the tribe of Father Abraham
From my ancestors’ strong family tree
Watermelon Offerings
what is this?
well, would you
believe it?
a text ~ding~
a random
communication
newsflash
like a game of Yahtzee
nine years after the full house
will this not substitute
for the apology
owed everyone involved?
this we know:
the human heart
slices cleaner
than seedless watermelon
all cut up in cubes
in a parfait dish
for the entitled
wedding soloist
we could take lessons
from chickens in a dust bath
shaking it all off
instead dwell in mud
wallowing unforgiveness
pig kin bickering
get out of the mire
unstuck from the yucky muck
before it’s too late!
*inspired by a recent sermon heard on YouTube
Common Threads 