Ignoring the Science

an endless supply of heat hits

the valley each day, despite

the desire of the residents to

experience cooler temperatures,

nature can never be controlled

no matter how much wealth

we want to pour into the project;

destined to pass through four

seasons, we in the valley are

lucky since some locations are

privileged to experience two

and some three although that

is highly unusual and unlikely,

nature has her annual requirements

to honor and typically displays

no deviation regardless of those

who claim it is lack of climate

control and those who have made

the decision to ignore the science.

August 25, 2023

Heat's Humidity

the sun's heat buries the imagination

eyes shut tight avoiding

on the ground laying against its coolness

spoiled by mother nature...

heat filters through the water

fish swim down towards the bottom

away from anglers and heat

desperately looking for shade...

mountain streams that run cold

are now cooled and warmed,

trout float on the top like buoys,

conservationists know not what to do;

water flows inside the coolness

of the mental cave into which we

all have retreated...  humbled by

our surroundings and the heat.

August 22, 2023

Nature's Love

an isolated sunset,

a tree falls in the forest

that no one hears...

is makes no sound,

a forgotten sunrise,

an eagle flies north

to escape the heat,

no one cares...

a snake slithers across

a country pond

as if it were attempting

to communicate,

a field mouse sits on

the bank of the pond

smiling at the attempt,

nature holds it own

accountable as it nurtures,

but could care less about

mankind who has invaded

her domain, changing

her love of life forever.

August 22, 2023

Too Far In

the road to depression passes

through loneliness...  as one

comes to terms with being

alone even though there are

many people around...  it is

a mental aberration when one

is alone in a house full of 

people who are willing and

able to provide entertainment,

but it is not entertainment

that is being sought....  it is

an understanding that is well

beyond our ability to fathom,

we offer help - we offer caring

we offer guidance - we offer

compassion but those who are

in this state are not aware of

roads that lead in or out of it

and they languish in the town

of depression as if it were the

only place for them to reach.

August 22, 2023

Three Cats

three cats on the tops of couches sit

two on one, leaving the youngest alone,

for thirteen years together have been

giving us love and frustration both

but we would not change a thing...

three cats for two people

two of which have bonded with adults

while the third cannot seem to decide

which one is his favorite, if either...

three cats who stay together and play

when alone show jealous tendencies

when the human are home...

odd as it may seem sleep side by side

on the spare bed when it is cold,

and act like they are not friends when

the sun arises and it is treat time...

this is just the second house in which

they have lived although one lived

in an apartment with its master

for a while...  and, it is this second

house that these three cats and their

two humans like the best it seems.

August 20, 2023

Uninterrupted

objects seem closer outside my window

trees with bright shades of green leaves

red birds standing guard against the

blue jays looking for nest covering...

shadows behind the leaves hide the

chipmunks and squirrels scampering

up and down the trunk, chasing each

other although one is much bigger...

objects outside my window form faces

that smile and frown at the same time,

hard to interpret their true nature, their

eyes appear to be hollow with circles

that mimic their duplicitous nature...

objects underneath my window, not

seen by the eye, tend the reflect the

in a not so favorable way as it moves

from the back yard to the front, casting

shadows that move in both directions

trying to cast doubt on the endgame...

objects above my window provide me

with shelter so the games I play each

day will continue and be uninterrupted.

August 20, 2023

House on the Corner

no association lives in this neighborhood

but there are rules by which to abide...

no clothesline in the back yard,

no fence taller than 4 feet,

no side building unless it is attached,

no large trailers in driveways,

no children allowed in nearby yards,

no cars parked in the street...

we have these rules where we live

and none can be broken or waived,

even if you know the right people;

the man who lives in the house

on the corner enforces these rules

and it is from him if there is an

exception to be granted...  but, it is

also this man who lives in the house

on the corner who does not follow

these rules, setting a bad example...

Fifty one years ago, these rules were

set into motion and must be renewed

every ten...  but, the man who lives

in the house on the corner has failed

to renew them so now all the residents

who live in this community are free

to do whatever they damn well please.

August 18, 2023

Run Down

paintings hang on the walls

along with an ancient clock,

time has not been kind to

this dwelling as ivy and moss

cover the outside brick as if

painted by an artist whose

work is not known...  inside

there are only a few rooms

standing as the separators

have all decayed and rotted,

roots of the trees can be 

seen traveling beside the

lumpy sidewalks as weeds

replace grass in all directions,

holes in the walls that used to

be windows now look like

the eyes of dead relatives

whose image was burned

into the concrete and bricks,

holes in the roof or what is

left standing allows the sun,

wind, and rain to flow freely

in all the rooms giving the

house a swampy appearance.

August 18, 2023

Self Imposed

a black man in the shadows stand

watching white children play

wondering why they weren't black,

a white man in the shadows stand

on the other side of town, watching

black children play, wondering

why they were not white....

two cultures live in harmony on

opposite sides of a city, not knowing

what exists on the other side...  and,

too afraid to venture out of their 

own comfort zones to explore...

each has their own reality and each

wonders why there cannot be more,

each hides for fear of being discovered

and dealing with the consequences of

an angry mob....  and, in the daylight

hours each man goes about his business

as if there was nothing more to think.

August 16, 2023

Robot Watch

two by two they march

some holding hands

others not...  a lone bird

on a telephone wire

watches them pass,

silent and solemn as if

to a funeral were going,

some are old while

others are young,

some are male while

others are female,

some tall and skinny

others short and fat,

and all the rest of them

appear to be normal

whatever that is...

at the end of the column

are a pack of wild dogs

growling from hunger

that has been with then

for days...  but on leashes

they are and their masters

are behind them without

any expressions at all on

their shiny metal faces.

August 16, 2023