Thursday, June 30, 2016

feelings

Taking Off

My mood is bottled up inside
I would that it be owl in flight
Or ship that speeds across the sea
Not anchor stuck inside of me

A weight that keeps me here aground
With few sweet chances to abound
The television stares at me
And seems to mock my stuck esprit

The phone is silent as a tomb
The flowers here refuse to bloom
They’re brown and wilted, so forlorn
Like anger from a heart that’s torn

Like bright balloons adrift in sky
Someday my joy will float that high

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Poetic Asides Getting Blank

Getting Ready to Go

Make a list
Of things to take
Make a chart
To-dos each day

Get the tickets
Begin to pack
Get the suitcase
From the back

Count the days
One by one
Soon it’s time
For traveling fun

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

exercise


Exercise

Although I want to exercise
I find it so tiring
It’s so important to keep fit
But it’s uninspiring

If I could move a little more
Progressively each day
I might not end up like Tinman

Who rusted by the way

Monday, June 27, 2016

conversation

Accidental Snobbery

“I saw you at the pool,”
my friend said. “I waved,
but you mustn’t have seen me.”

I wonder how many other friends I snub.

I don’t see anyone at the pool,
just colorful blurs.

I don’t wear glasses at the pool. 

Sunday, June 26, 2016

friends

Friendship

I can’t remember all we did together.
I just know we got along really well.
We saw each other at church and
did fun things when we had the chance,
in the midst of raising our kids.
But then we both moved away.
Almost thirty years passed.
Now we’re back in the same town.
Our kids are grown. We walk together.
And we picked up where we left off.
It’s an amazing thing,
like unearthing lost treasure. 

Saturday, June 25, 2016

limerick

The Cat Came Back

There once was a cat named Chow
Who had an obnoxious meow
His owner perturbed
Kicked him to the curb
You can guess where Chow is now

Friday, June 24, 2016

Faith

Faith

At times I consider the possibility
that there is no God.
No Creator.
No Protector.
No Comforter.
No one to calm my fears.
No supernatural strength.
No one to answer my prayers.
No still, small voice to guide me.
The world becomes tenuous,
frightening, hopeless.
Life becomes temporary.
I must have faith in God. 

Thursday, June 23, 2016

shoes

Seventies

I remember platform shoes,
walking a good six inches from the earth
experiencing what it’s like to be tall
stooping to get a drink from the fountain
traveling a long way down to take a seat
having a good view at a football game.
I lost my platform shoes and mood ring
through the years, but I still have my lava lamp. 

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

shoes

Summer Sneakers

Hundreds of feet
up in the sky
I was glad that summer
while clambering boulders
at Vedauwoo, Wyoming
to have K-Mart cheap
blue and white sneakers
that gripped like billy-o.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Star

Moon Scene

The stars overlooked the moon.
The moon overlooked the castle.
The castle overlooked the cliffs.
The cliffs overlooked the trees.
The trees overlooked the town.
The town overlooked the river.
And God watched over it all.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Stars

Star Scene

The dome tent glowed
on the snowbank,
overlooking an indigo lake.

A man lay spread eagle,
making snow angels,
while staring at the starry sky. 

Sunday, June 19, 2016

He said/she said

Telemarketers

I’m sorry to say I have become rude
to telemarketers, especially one
who has called so much, I know her name.

When she called today, I told her
“Please, take me off your list.”
She said she would.

And then she called again.
Maybe the click will be enough
that she’ll get the message.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

he said/she said


Communication

At our house,
with two nonverbal people,
a lot gets left unsaid.

But with a talking device,
gestures, sounds, laughter
and very expressive eyebrows

we’ve discovered
a lot can be said
without words. 

Friday, June 17, 2016

cool/ uncool

Cool

A basement
A spring breeze
Moss to bare feet
A late night swim
Aloe on sunburn
A breath mint

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Cool/Uncool

Cool/Uncool

I wonder what being cool feels like.
To have a bunch of friends emulating
your style, your actions, your conversation.
Being picked for projects, not waiting
long until your name is called.
Being the center of positive attention.
Feeling maximized, not minimized.
Being seen and heard and praised.
For some of us, though, it’s cool
to be uncool, letting others deal with mobs.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

office

Principal’s Office

“Come into my office,” Principal said with a smile.
So Billy went in after sitting awhile.
It started out nicely with a, “Hi how are you?”
Not so well, now, thought Billy, when they were through.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

haiku

Shadows in moonlight
Fairies dancing until dawn
Or woodland critters 

Monday, June 13, 2016

Sunday, June 12, 2016

restaurant

Moroccan Restaurant

Candle light, reds, golds, soft flute music
Sat on floor pillows around low tables
Draped large white towels over shoulder, instead of napkins
No silverware, ate with fingers, even hot food
Over the next two hours ate by course
Lamb, couscous, curry veggies, powder sugared dessert
Server in cream silk blouse and black slacks
poured tea backwards over her shoulder
Leftovers wrapped in swan-shaped foil
Memories stick even after thirty years

Saturday, June 11, 2016

restaurant

Making Fries

One winter, I worked at McDonald’s
where I made fries, after fries,
after fries, after fries, after fries.
The most exciting things that happened
was when the coatroom caught on fire.
We got to go home early and
I got a new outfit out of the deal.
And there was the time a drug addict
was kicked out of the dining room
for bad behavior and then he returned later
and jumped through the plate glass window.
We got to go home early that day, too.
Other than that I made fries, after fries,
after fries, after fries, after fries. 

Friday, June 10, 2016

wordle

I’m just an earthen vessel
With a flat glaze
Holding His lavish grace
Let praises ring

Thursday, June 9, 2016

wordle

Blacklisted

He wrote his story for a high, flat fee
About a ring of thieves he stumbled on.
With lavish words he penned the mystery,
The Vessel of Deception: A Great Con.
Came out in paperback on Amazon.
But soon it was blacklisted, to his shock.
A gaudy old reviewer named Bad John,
His words like aching tooth smacked by a rock.
But to that writer, seemed like just a prank.
His thousands were already in the bank.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Poetic Asides Unimportant

Big Enough

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:7) NIV.

When you love your child
and their teddy bear is lost,
you take time to help them find it.
If they like green sippy cups,
you get green sippy cups, not blue or red.
If they’re grieving over their goldfish,
you help them through it.
Nothing seems too unimportant,
if it’s important to one you love.
God is big enough and loving enough
to care for the unimportant things
if they concern us. 

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Time Out

Two pink coats
But I don’t like pink
One on sale
One a gift
I should take time out and find
My blue and brown coats

Monday, June 6, 2016

Time Out

Time Out

Time out to write a poem
As lunch settles in my belly
As music plays on the radio
As my hubby chats about work
As the floor dries in the kitchen
As a gentle wind blows
Beckoning me outside
To watch the world green up
But I might just sit here a little longer
And play Words With Friends. 

Sunday, June 5, 2016

The Last...

The Last Reunion

Thirty-two
In P-A
Green Forrest

Rented rooms
Lots of food
Saw locals

Wild raft rides
Idlewild

Memories

Saturday, June 4, 2016

The Last...

The First and Last Summer in Cheyenne

I met you there that Sunday night
At church a tour group sang
You clapped along with inner light
Your deep voice loudly rang

I learned you bussed the kids to church
I helped on Saturdays
You helped me with my godly search
To learn His loving ways

Lunch out together, prayers, long walks.
Church, singing, time with friends
Sweet kisses, passionate deep talks
How swiftly summer ends

So nearly forty years ago
At that small point in time
An hour of a gospel show
My life turned on a dime



Friday, June 3, 2016

free verse

About the grave
They stood like statues
And wept at their great loss
Not believing he was gone
Their hope buried with him
But that was Friday
Sunday came

Thursday, June 2, 2016

limerick

There once was a girl named Lenore
Who had a remarkable snore.
One day she did marry
Some poor soul named Larry,
But soon they were married no more.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

PA Are we there yet? PB Diminished Hexaverse

Are We There Yet?

In the mood to drive
With soft rock turned high
First feeling fearful
Narrow mountain pass
Calling on angels

Avoid potholes
Crushed dead critters
Large tumbling rocks
Extreme drop-offs

Wildflowers
Dazzling falls
Swaying pines

Breathe in
Fresh air

Joy