Morning Ready

early morning awakening

late night fumes
rules apply no longer
within the ranges of
what we assume...
face masks protect us
through the vacuum of
time bent forward and
backward by persistence,
leaps of faith 
never guaranteed
form the foundation of
discontent by which we
measuring our passing,
times of journeys
monitored seldom
 wishful thinking from one
station to the other,
bound by a reluctant
desire to awaken refreshed
full of energy 
ready for the day ahead.

November 5, 2024

Life's Behaviors

a trail of thoughts linger on the

mental paths of fantasies,

fighting for juxtaposition and

remembrances of a time where

witches brew sustained life

and dwarfs only counted their

blessings in the dead of night,

a time where visitors roamed

the land unabated, mating with

only unathletic virgins built to

bear the offsprings who would

eventually rule the land....

a time when innocence was

only manifested after copulation

and children were bought and

sold like grains of rice used

for festival cooking and to toss

into the ponds for luck...

it was time of backroom deals

and alliances when stories were

written modeling life's behaviors.

November 4, 2024

Library Days

day by day the minutes pass
as do the hours and moments,
memories fade into the horizon
of time that one so easily passes,
thoughts surround the day
the day unwinds its performance
movements in and out of place
taking place seconds ago...
time hurries through its routine
placing strangers in the transit
mailbox that zips along the road
like a greyhound out on loan,
mysteries collide with circumstance
and the unusual becomes not so
usual but commonplace, speeding
our dimensions as if tethered to
gyroscope keeping it balanced...
records bear out the same evidence
recorded years ago, on magnetic
tape, stored in the archives found
in the basements of libraries.

November 3, 2024

Looking

outside my window looking

leaves on trees I see
shadows and light as well
the presence of the sun I feel,
a sunroom with light abounding
wicker furniture there too...
an empty cat tree since our
three cats are sitting with me,
outside my window looking
no birds of paradise arrive
plenty of robins and bluejays
since the hummingbirds
left here weeks ago...
outside my window looking
on both sides surrounded
by RVs - makes me want to
go camping but I am no
longer that kind of child...
outside my window looking
a neighbor rakes up his leaves
mine will soon be mowed since
it can be done sitting down,
no need to stand all the time...
outside my window, looking
nothing new comes to mind,
just an old fashion community
with lots of peace of mind.

November 3, 2024

Misinformation

rain falls on the ground

unrestricted

trees lose their leaves

unmolested

cars move along our streets

unprotected

children collect on corners

unnoticed

couples tend to their needs

undetected

atmospheric rivers flow

unregulated

wars flourish around the globe

unstoppable

bias news reaches our ears

unacceptable

life ends abruptly often

undeniable

November 1, 2024

Fall Rituals Unnerving

a morning sun leads the way
other stars follow,
planets by the dozens float
in weightless space
waiting for an invitation,
 unseen darkness is the energy
moving gravity through
spacetime and those who
have the resisting energy
do so with renewed vigor...
wolves on earth lead the way
along the path down by the
creek that moves water
from the mountain...
into the valley it rolls as if
on its way to an urgent
meeting with nature...
signs of humanity are seen
by the holes in the ground
looking for resources
hidden from our grasp,
and those with feathers in their
caps and money in pockets
are the ones who benefit...
leaves from the trees fall
hiding from their masters,
raked into piles for fall fun,
only to be burned because
of their pagan natures while
we dance around campfires
and drink hot chocolate.

October 31, 2024

The Life Tree

a pale blue sky holds the remnants

of a framed, full yellow moon with 

shadow - images on its face like 

rather small earth-like continents...  

off in the distance a row or ross 

trees emerge that favor a true 

depth of field...  just above like 

loose fitting hats are serious purple 

clouds framed by a pastel pink 

sunset and a lone scavenger flying 

west as well...a slightly curved 

ground holds a full head of tan broom

straw grass, clumped together, adding 

perspective to the lifeless, leafless, 

dark tree whose branches twist 

awkwardly up into the early evening 

fall sky...four main limbs give the 

impression of a human but the hundreds 

of smaller stems and limbs offer up

the abstract and the illusion of

nature's life centuries of years ago.

October 28, 2024

Nature's Cycle

a leaf slowly tumbles

to the ground,
raindrops flatten its
frail appearance,
squirrels trample upon
its torn body,
leaves falling on top
of old ones,
covering the grass
hiding the roots of
old trees and
covering nuts,
for which all the
squirrels search,
ants live under the
leaves making homes
in the dark dirt,
worms burrow in and
around - leaves crumble,
finely mix together,
as more leaves cover
the ground...  fall
turns to winter...
winter to spring,
fresh leaves appear
and the journey
of the cycle ends
just as abruptly
as it began.

October 27, 2024

Nosey Neighbors

a purple vase sits atop a
dark oak wood table,
a tennis ball atop of that,
behind it rest two green
and tan vases on either
side of a fireplace...
a mantel holds a clock
and a temp gauge that]
seldom is accurate and
to its left is a large screen
monitor on which movies
are watched occasionally;
a cabinet of equipment used
for entertainment rests on a
hardwood floor newly
installed by amateurs since
it now squeaks when walked
upon when traveling from
one side of the room to the
other - several times a day
this is now done...  an air
purifiers against the wall
keeps life relatively sterile
even though the windows
are always open...  visitors
sometimes knock on the door
to see if anyone herein lies.

October 27, 2024

My Siamese Cat

hues of brown fur-like hair,

soft and silky streak,

across the slim body as if

by design...  a dark brown

tail highlights the difference,

brown eyes turning sky blue

in a serene and calming way,

teeth like fangs on either side

offer a menacing point of view,

long legs and black paws

even on the underside,

pure bred all the way...

and when he enters the room

everyone knows that day,

announcing in a special way

no hearing loss today...

purring when being rubbed

silent when sleeping,

curled up in a tiny ball,

not quite sure of anything,

juxtaposed against the yellow

ones - two brothers they are,

all of whom have shared space

for thirteen years or more...

shy at first and even after

not trusting anyone, he poses

no threat with a sweet demeanor

but tomorrow he might trust

you less than today...

none the less he is that peculiar

and gains nothing either way,

it's just a longtime friend he is

my Siamese cat named Piper.

October 26, 2024