Fanciful Friends

cast down from the fan
air flows and reaches 
out to barriers in its way,
its goal - the couch
or beyond hopefully
to the dog resting
on the rug - on the floor
along with the cat
by its side - friends
to the end of their time,
following each other
around - day and night
misfits of the world that
had been around them,
saved and resaved from
the crisis looming,
before and afterwards,
a daunting task it was
consumed us all, 
better we all are now
then we were...
the screaming valley
caught the attention
reaction swift and oh so
thorough as we changed
history's course as well as
our own for the better.

September 30,2025

Sunroom Darkness

darkness fills the sunroom
once overflowing with activity,
nights replace days hiding
the room's purpose, concealing
the reason for refurbishing,
moments of sound vanish
cats and people return inside
to fans and air conditioners
beds and bowls of food,
not available outside...
sunroom doors lead to the 
world beyond the world of the
home where they were protected
around the clock, if need be,
it was a world of privacy and
security, not taken for granted
when venturing carefully outside.
the sunroom is the transition
where cats can experience outside
without being outside - panoramic
view - twelve windows - ledges,
cat trees to sit or lay upon while
observing the outside scenery,
birds, rabbits, squirrels, and other
felines chancing a walk through,
but now...  it is empty, filled with
the darkness of night and humidity
no one sits at the door wanting out.

September 26, 2025

Myrtle Beach 2025 Series #14

Never Again

blankets on the sand deck lay

void of personal possessions

except inexpensive chairs 

under umbrellas - occupied two

or more - several chairs without

nary a one -  at water's edge

are they stationed - feet in the

water splashing - slowly sinking,

boats with blue sails bounce

up and down on the swells,

nausea inside just watching them,

traversing parallel to the shore

south to north and back again

towards parachute passengers

just launching from a skiff

a windy afternoon begins as

quickly as it begins - one week ago,

tan bodies once were all white

others are still quite pale looking

this coastline belongs to no one

although some think differently,

some spent hours getting here

others only a few minutes east

this coastline attracts them all

sharing vacations together we do

never meeting this way again.

September 20, 2025

Myrtle Beach 2025 Series #13

Last Time

days pass by quickly

seven at a time

blew by unfairly

wind, sand, sun

all gone away now

until next time - next year

one year older then

hip replacement and all

learning to walk again

in the sand especially

backpacks and canes

teens holding doors

speaking elderly words

making faces as I pass

me remembering quickly

how quickly it all passes

walking through and

saying "thank you..."

with a grinning smile.

a last look at the ocean

wearing polarizing lenses

poses no problems for me

white caps and all...

memories of body surfing

drinking beer, chasing

female companionship

lay on the sand as I walk

away with wife - last time.

September 20, 2025

Myrtle Beach 2025 Series #12

Right Way Viewing

off into the watery distance

I stare with futile expectations

like those before me and those before them

seeing the end but not the beginning

never knowing from whence it comes

contrasting waters coming at me

an unwavering horizon line

separating water from sky

a future distant goal to achieve

approaching but never reaching

an endless mental frustration like

not remember all lyrics of a song

or the quote from a popular book

shared in a conversation where

first impressions are the sole reason

for engaging in political small talk,

fishing poles sit in holders in carts

waiting to be pulled free or cast out

into the current less water that holds

the swimming prey for which they seek,

electric bicycles circumvent walking

large wheels enable sandy excursions,

partners exclaim:  "You showed me that before."

ponderings of a lesser kind die quickly here.

September 18, 2025

Myrtle Beach 2025 Series #11

Vision Afternoon

forward facing afternoon

sunshade increasing

shadows permitting

water waves approaching

selective white caps stretching

potholed ocean appearing

in the noon of the day

rolling over on blankets

oiled and ready to go

caps of all shapes and sizes

wrap around glasses attire

preschoolers wandering around

with hand touching parents

dogs on leashes walking

their owners vigorously

straight and off course too

bald heads reflecting the sun

long hair in tails hanging

down back with the younger

letting it toss in the wind

surveyors hunting silver

oblivious to others around

search the sands unsuccessfully

a dusty blue sky covers

all perspectives of sight

even when turning heads in

parallel oblique directions.

September 18, 2025

Myrtle Beach 2025 Series #10

Reality's Discourse

on the outskirts of reality

we live in townhouses

clustered in communities

with gates and keepers like

foreigners in the fifties...

controlled populations

retrained and modified,

reality blows through us

breezes at an eastern resort

chilling senses...  sobriety

dovetailed thoughts, feelings

one consciousness capabilities

rendering illusions needed

to influence actions...

truth steps in reality's shoes

only for convenience

politics and beliefs clash

junkies wear orange and red

for their colorblind intentions,

nature fools no one with its

seasonal changes, except

those who live on borders

extremities of snow and ice

preventing outlook changes

forcing us to accept the

discourse reality gives us.

September 18, 2025

Myrtle Beach 2025 Series #9

 

Nevertheless Quantum

fantasies fulfilled

ill-conceived or otherwise

faltering obedience

day and night

in between and almost

seeps through curtain walls

like sounds from above

and below...  similar to

dreams of another kind

illusive and unkind

as life bestows blessings

on violations of our

mental outlooks, keeping

us safe and in line...

silos of happiness

thoughts of silence

impending universal curves

where holes are filled

with energy, both light

and dark seen in the minds

of those whose fantasies

play out in quantum 

parallel dimensions

September18, 2025

Myrtle Beach 2025 Series #8

Moments of Time

time memories flirt with us

we tend to flirt back

photos taken and stored like

pigeons being fed on beaches,

dragonflies sitting on pools,

side walking crabs and

mono-wheels strolling

down sandy beaches...

aircraft ascending nearby

fading softly into silence...

time hangs on tourist heels

time looms in all minds...

too little or too much...

time flows through tunnels

nightly dreams, some days,

perceiving reality in five

one act plays without the

need to any curtain calls,

time is distorted, recreated,

intolerable at best but a

little disarming at worst,

yet time is always what it

is or what it is not and

always remembered for

what it means to us when

arriving at a complete stop.

September 17, 2025

Myrtle Beach 2025 Series #7

Line of Sight

from north to south

south to north and

from the shoreline

to the west and back

we see demarcation

lines forever from

our stationary location

rows of umbrellas

rows of motels

various condominiums

stretches of sand

asphalt roads and

too many stop lights,

restaurants, specialty

stores, pancake houses,

people milling around

like ants in a farm,

seagulls who wait  

until noon to fly by...

an all-inclusive voyeur

we have become

sending our interests

into areas we are now

forced to see daily.

September 17, 2025