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

Halloween

an eerie moon hangs low in the sky
a bevy of quail replaced by crows
sits on a weathered fence rail
guarding the open graves....
fall leaves on the ground lay
hiding the young grass growing,
rain gentle falls on the tin roof
sounds of an orchestra tuning,
squirrels and chipmunks scurry
along the ground hopping over
each other for the small nuts...
a witch in black, rimmed in red
surveys her domain silently while
crows gather at her feet paying
homage to her ruthlessness...
lightning strikes nearby, followed by
thunder - spirited silhouettes shiver,
darkness rocks the imagination,
tall tales abound - innocence sleeps
in warm beds, oblivious to the
menacing outside...night's brew
simmers in mind cauldrons and
some hide in closets waiting for the
light of a new welcomed month. 

October 26, 2024

Morning Haze

sunlight drills through my mind's curtains
enlightenment is never out of reach,
shades of wisdom float past my eyes
as if on a river cruise in search of ports;   
a path forward seldom taken clouds the
vision - fall storms without lightning,
pleasing a judgeless jury and a crime
gone missing in a fall haze...
equipped with compasses, the quest
for mindless truth begins - a journey on
not so familiar ground - the bartender
ignoring curfew, our steins fuller than
they were before...  endless chattering of
endless kind grace our mature ears,
helping us find our missing captain...
tears stream down glass walls where
tourists rested their heads, trying to
catch a glimpse of the pope's reflection,
and with eyes firmly planted in the
back of my head, I push forward hoping
the day will finally catch up to where
it had left off - just yesterday it was...  or

so it is that my mind believes it to be.

October 24, 2024 

End of the Line

paused and waiting, we tend to
dwell in the past - not necessary,
swinging doors and wells
more than we should...
children of alliance stand tall in
the valley of time, moving
it conclusion ever so slowly,
fields of uncertainties replaced
by sustaining hope and faith,
longer than normal we wait...
anxious to be called out
anxious to hear the assignment
anxious to know...  it is all just
a matter of time, they say...
the fringes of memories hold
the doors open letting the wells
run dry as if they were oil fields,
doubts are cast in bolts of lightning,
we duck back inside when the
last one strikes the ground and we
collapse into a forgetful river.

October 24, 2024

Chinatown

the weave of the land is personal

from foreign lands they come
with them bringing cultures of
food, clothes, and wine...
desert garments they wear on 
their shoulders, different colors
different style but the same
message is conveyed - they are
the ones with whom we will do
battle one day just a sure as the
just as the sun begins to shine,
hair across their faces blown
and eyes but just a slant - no one
knows their destination, no one
can understand their rants...
justice is as it always is, prevails
among the poor and rich alike
but to these immigrants it
matters little, offering nothing
in return bur pain and suffering,
a long list of deeds they do,
some of which belongs to others
but blame they receive all the same,
taking it graciously on the cusp 
of the new day in their control.

October 21, 2024