Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Silly

There once was a man named Mo Bean
The funniest guy that you’ve seen
He had purple hair
Wore red underwear
His teeth only numbered fourteen 

Monday, May 30, 2016

Defense

Defensive

Perceived offenses
Bracing for insults
Worried what others think

Use affirmation
Consider positive traits
Defend against defensiveness 

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Defense

Defensive

I don’t mean
what you think I mean.
You thought I meant it,
before I said it. 

Saturday, May 28, 2016

On the Outside

Looking disinterested
But underneath the surface
Dancing the Irish reel

Friday, May 27, 2016

Hideout

Hideouts

H ide away in some cubby hole or an
I dyllic refuge on the beach or a
D en in the mountains. Just get away
E veryday in some type of sanctuary
O r retreat. Your back porch rocker or
U se a closet for a lair or a blanket-covered
T able for a fort. Perhaps just close the door.
S ecret yourself away and listen to your heart.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Hideout

Not-so-hideout

My friends and I found a hideout
along our country creek road,
a hollow in trees and tall grasses.

No one knew where we were
when we were tucked away
in that cozy spot, or so I thought

until a neighbor cut my hair.
She said, “Kids are always there.
I wonder what they’re up to.”

I didn’t say a word. 

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Poetic Bloomings Dawn

Radiant

R esplendent birth of morning sun
A ppearing now in shining light
D azzling diamonds in the dew
I n my backyard, not just a few
A brilliant display of common weeds
N ew dandelions spreading seeds
T hen they dull as sun proceeds

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Doodling

Doodle

D istracted and wandering in the
O zone, not caring about what’s going
O n, watching lines, curls, boxes,
D aisies pouring from my fingertips
L etting whoever drone on and on,
E ventually it will end and I can go. 

Monday, May 23, 2016

Surroundings

Afghan

A striped afghan
covers my living room chair,
pinks, browns, and yellows.
I remember when

my sister crocheted it.
Shortly after, she at 22, I at 19
settled in Lincoln, Nebraska,
a thousand miles away from home.

Years later, I told her I wanted
 her to will me her afghan
since it reminded me
of that phase of life.

The next Christmas
I received the afghan in a box,
along with a note,
“I plan to live longer than you.”

Thanks a lot, Sis. 

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Urban

Urban Life

Cacophony of urban life
The smell of bodies, fuel, and grime
And getting lost in side street maze
And always running out of time

A dance, a show, an evening out
The busyness of here and there
The homes packed tightly in a row
Commotion’s buzz heard everywhere

See people scatter ‘long the way
Like dandelions all adrift
The colors loud as frightful noise
A quiet moment, a rare gift 

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Urban

Urban, Country, and Small Town

At times I miss an urban home
So many things to see and do
To anywhere’s not far to roam
At times I miss an urban home
From shady parks to glass and chrome
Selections are not sparse or few
At times I miss an urban home
So many things to see and do

At times I miss my country life
To hear the redwing blackbird trill
So far away from city strife
At times I miss my country life
A scenic walk is what I like
A dusty road, a grassy hill
At times I miss my country life
To hear the redwing blackbird trill

Oh, my small town’s okay with me.
Not much to do, but it’s not far
There’s little need for lock and key
Oh, my small town’s okay with me
The folks are friendly as can be
With cozy homes along the street
Oh, my small town’s okay with me
Not much to do, but it’s not far

Friday, May 20, 2016

Ekphrastic painting

Perspective

They gave him a pirate’s funeral.
Dumped him in the ocean.
As they watched his body sink down
to Davey Jones’ locker,
he looked down on them
while demons fought over his soul. 

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Ekphrastic

Photo of Two Nonagenarians in the Park

My two uncles met in the shady park,
one from Dad’s side, one from Mom’s.
Both had white hair, receding-hair lines
silver glasses, paper-thin skin,
and crescent-moon smiles.

One sat with his hands resting on his cane,
the other stood with hands in pockets.
One has since passed on to meet his brother,
my dad. I think of all their past years
and the five nieces they had in common.

And I wish we would have known them better.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Poetic Blooming Ryuka

Taking a drive in my home town
Spied rusty shell of red sports car
Once the envy of all students
Value more the unseen

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

funny form

Sister Act Now

Mary Robert said of practice
Singers didn’t seem to know how
Sounded like they’re stuck by cactus
Sister Mary Clarence come now

Monday, May 16, 2016

Sevenling

Sevenling (Reading a how-to)

Reading a how-to
Listening to a lecture
Watching a documentary

Building a house
Riding a horse
Smelling a rose

There’s learning and there’s learning.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Distance

Distance
is a friend of mine.
Lovely things wait
at the end
of many miles. 

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Distance Acrostic

Distance

D etached she let the history teacher drone on.
I  ndifferent to past wars, she may as well have been in
S pace, floating along weightlessly in cold darkness.
T rying to drum up even remote interest, she disguised her
A loofness by taking notes, which turned to doodles, a
N eckace of flowers around her paper, reserving space in the
C enter in case something interesting formed in the great
E xpanse of the lecture. She gave up and drew a smiley face.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Bref Double

Dancing with Will

A rocker and a roller she
Would dance the night away until
Her laughter changed to yawns and then
She’d kiss Will bye and head for home

Around a curve there stood a tree
She doubted as she sped downhill
She braked and slid and lost her course
And stopped to smashing of the chrome

She heard a distant timid voice
Man shape appeared before the moon
Sweet trail of blood ran down her face
And then her mind began to roam

To thunderous cacophony
She danced the dance of life with will 

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Three

Three Places I’d Like to Go

If things will go right,
I’ll catch a jet flight
and fly off to Hawaii.
I’ll dance to slack-keys
and see rainbow trees
and fritter my time by the sea.

Off to Australia,
then I can tell ya
of koalas and kangaroos
blue fairy penguins
and pink lakes of prawns
and Ayers rock, if I choose.

And then to Ireland
of River Shannon,
the brilliant emerald isle.
Land of shillelaghs
shamrocks and fairies,
and visit a castle awhile.



Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Poetic Sides Running Its Course

A Zap of Grace

When life detours, yes, worries gnaw.
And you’re on edge and nerves are raw.
You wish this blitz would run its course.
Yes, worries gnaw, when life detours.

Fear rams your joy down in the ground.
Then doubt joins in with its harsh sound.
And then you feel like broken toy.
Down in the ground, fear rams your joy.

A zap of grace. It’s what you need.
And joyful thoughts, now, you must feed.
A prayer or two to seek His face.
It’s what you need, a zap of grace.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Tricube

Summers Past

Race barefoot
Play statue
Tag you’re it

Climb tall elms
Pick plump plums
Dash downhill

Build rock dam
Splash about
Catch peep frogs 

Monday, May 9, 2016

Three

Three in One

Father God
Creator
So loved us

Jesus Christ
Son of man
Redeemer

Holy Ghost
Comforter
Alongside 

Sunday, May 8, 2016

He said she said

He Said I Love You
(an A’La Arora)

She had thought it not possible
that she’d be left alone
to chart her course
and make the best of things
without him, four years now.
She just wants to cry.
He said, “I love you.”
And then kissed her goodbye.

She went on vacation without him
traveled the country,
a cruise to Alaska
and one to Mexico.
She had fun with family
and felt guilty a bit.
He said, “I love you,”
that day he was hit.

It was wise not to see him,
they said, but she doubted.
She and her children
said goodbye through
the casket lid.
His ashes are bedside
She says, “I love you.
I’m sorry you died.”

There had been ups and downs
throughout their marriage.
Sometimes she thought
they wouldn’t make it
“until death do us part,”
but it came too soon.
She sings, “I love you,”
to an inner tune.






Saturday, May 7, 2016

He said, she said

Record Holder

He said, “God could never forgive me.”
She said, “Congratulations!
You’re the first person God can’t forgive.
Shall we call Guinness?” 

Friday, May 6, 2016

He said, she said

Jesus said, “I am the way the truth the life;
no man can come to the Father but by me.”
Oh but they try.
Why?
I don’t know.
I guess His sacrifice just wasn’t enough for them.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

He said, she said

He said she looked lovely
in the moonlight
She said, “Just in the moonlight?
That’s when he packed it up.
He knew he’d never win.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Liar

Body Language

He said she was a liar
because when he asked
her what the matter was,
though she said, “Nothing,”
her gritted teeth,
flashing eyes,
and flaring nostrils
spoke volumes. 

Monday, May 2, 2016

Magician

A Wise Fool

A clown cares not what others think
He’s off his rocker, out of whack
A fool will dance in public then
His joy and laughter stays intact

He challenges all those around
He flashes wild, contagious smiles
He almost seems miraculous
He shares his magic tricks in styles

His silky hankie whips out fruit
His crazy show surprises all
Amazed they wonder at his act
He prances ‘bout and then he’ll call,

“Set yourself free from life’s chaos
And let not worries be your boss!”

Sunday, May 1, 2016

practical joke

Hills, Hollers, and Potatoes

While my, then new hubby and I traveled
the country on our honeymoon,
we stopped in
to visit his grandparents.

They took us for a drive to see
the Missouri countryside.
While Grandpa told us about pranks
he and his friends played on each other,

Grandma described the farmland,
“Hills and hollers, hollers and hills.”
Grandpa told us about prank calls,
pretend arrests, and fake food.

Of course they always knew who
the culprit was behind the jokes,
except for one time, apparently
Grandpa’s crowning achievement.

Sick with pneumonia, in the hospital,
he hoarsely whispered to his grandson
if he did this one thing, Grandpa
would reward him  handsomely.

I don’t know if Grandpa’s friend
ever figured out who hauled  
his potatoes out of his cellar
and upstairs into his bathtub.

It couldn’t have been
“old Hanky boy”
who was suffering
in the hospital with pneumonia.

And I, newly married,
learned a lesson
in putting up with
a husband’s goofiness.

All through his stories,
Grandma chanted
“Hills and hollers,
hollers and hills.”