Her shoes were carved
from blocks of cheese,
String cheese
were her laces,
Elbow patches made of wax
on knees
and other places,
Deep olive green
were her eyes,
with lips, a radish red
Spaghetti straps
held up her dress
lettuce was her bed,
Around the farm
she was adored
in town, she was a joke,
twas all the farmer could afford
yet still, the people spoke,
She noticed soon
the boy next door,
not much got past-her-eyes,
When Feta Jean got married
the tots
were no surprise.
Zc
An unsuspecting tide
calculated to each final drip
upon each beach it shall not stop
and all my life it’s been the same
and yet, one caught me napping.
The sand, the rocks, the seagull’s cry
the breeze I felt each day, but why
I let one catch me napping.
My heart I shall now lay to rest
so many years beyond the nest
an unsuspecting tide at best
I think, did catch me napping.
To youth, I often did proclaim
before the dawn – to catch this name
but I, is who I have to blame
for it only twas I, napping.
Perhaps beyond a dreamlike shore
perhaps a soul and heart restore
to one not awfully close to shore
and certainly – not napping.
I don’t wish
to age like cheese,
or smell
like wine.
I never want
to be a hanky,
for someone’s
sneeze
get tennis
elbow -
in my knees,
or froth like beer in a stein.
I don’t care
to reminisce
about good
old days,
yesteryear - or
things that might have been.
Just a
frosted glass
an olive or
two –
and I’d
gladly reek of gin.
The freeways were like arteries, all leading into the heart of
the intersection, where an entanglement of fenders and
bumpers formed a massive clot.
Nothing was getting through. It appeared as if all breathing
had stopped.
From a distance, firetruck sirens sounded like the horn section of an orchestra, while police conducted the general chaos away from the percussions.
All the while, a sprinkling of windshields, mirrors and headlights rained down upon the pavement, like the tinkling of a triangle being played in the background.
Building to a finale, a kettledrum of tow trucks arrived to lower the curtain on the cluster of nouns.
zc
It took a
while, but I found it.
It was lost –
gone.
I wasn’t
sure how long it had been missing.
I just know
that when I wanted it,
it was nowhere to be found.
Someone
suggested I wrack my brain,
but I wasn’t
sure what that meant,
or if it
would hurt.
I only have the one.
Wild turkeys
abound
sometimes flying,
mostly walking
Gators –
from a distance
crows and
wild hogs share the view
the same as
Snowbirds do
fish, large
and small
turtles
swimming – sometimes crawl
Gators –
from a distance
occasionally
a mosquito.
It seems fitting that The Barnes Company
retire their automatic wedding cake maker
after 10 years. Rust is the appropriate gift
for a tenth year celebration, and this mechanical
masterpiece provided years of perfect cakes.
It is to be shipped to the Rockford, Illinois
cake museum, along with the very first spatula
and several returned toasters.
There is a final resting place for old, retired traffic lights. It's been said that late at night they can be heard reminiscing about the glory days, telling tales of caution, sudden stops and near misses. Oversized loads barely clearing them as they hung, defenseless over intersections. Winter blizzards causing them to squint through their frost-bitten lens.
Of course, Skip always had the best stories, suspended over the No Turn on Red sign. He would always giggle as he spoke of drivers getting tickets. We think he really misses being out there. He gets so quiet after he's told a story. It's like his light burnt out.
Sad, really.
Where are you dear friend
where have you gone
Your memory - you left it behind,
I find it each day
it reminds me how you
were ever and always so kind.
Where did you go
are you just over there
I can't help it, so I take a look
I hear you in movies
you're up on the screen
I feel you when I read a book.
I miss you dear friend
each day of my life
your shadow and mine
are as one.
If you can't return
just stay where you are
I'll find you
when my life is done.
zc
Were I a
younger man, I would speed up my life just to see what happens next. Then I’d erase everything I didn’t like or
didn’t want. When I finished with my changes,
I would order Chinese for lunch.
Should I be
a more powerful man, I’d change the laws, giving everyone in the country free
health care. I would pay teachers more
than athletes, and police more than teachers.
If I were a
smarter man, I’d never again spend my time watching television. I’d read only clever books, spend more time
appreciating art and help those that deserve helping.
With the
potential of three wishes, I’d wish for youth, power, and brains. Not in that order.
My smart phone didn't graduate
it's spelling sometimes stunk
I'd write a text and then push send
Now they think I'm drunk.
It changes words, it slurs my speech
it tweaks what don't need tweaking,
Perhaps its why they're all surprised
the minute I start speaking.
The voices across the lake always sound like they're having fun. Important issues being discussed around their campfire, with occasional sparks floating up, reflecting on the water, dissolving quickly, like flickering ideas extinguished by too many beers.
