Category: childhood
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hot August haikus
humid afternoon Cicadas sing…an owl hoots the woods is confused street ball on recess basketball on concrete court too damn hot to hoop children across the street laughing under lawn sprinkler why not an old man? 8-8-21
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Swimming in third person
Coming out of COVID Albert realized He exists outside of his relationships Tries to reintegrate Beyond the confines of his mind Wonders why or if it matters Memories of friendships On an ascent path Rise, break cerebral fluid’s surface Like the taste of cinnamon and icing In the bottom of a bowl His mother once…
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Fairy tale for billionaires
If when the beanstalk was cut down The giant fell on Jack His mother and their wretched little house We would know The name of the giant and Not a fleeing petty criminal 8-3-21
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haiku meditation in unfamiliar woods
same woodland songbirds singing different descants call out, “Who are you?” alone…..sit silent your inner child still stutters fearful…..birds may laugh a woodpecker thrums dappled light dances on soft ground with the wind in trees 6-23-21
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For lack of a piece of chalk
Thoughts haunt; selfish thoughts that disagree with kindness, with what you believe to be truth. You try to be a better human, hope belief can erase the blackboard of mitochondrial neurons, but for lack of a piece of chalk a felt tipped marker has rendered you indelibly unclean. 6-19-21
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Family heirloom
Growing up, you’d stare at a family photo on your grandparents’ wall The one of your grandfather, his older siblings and parents dressed in somber suits and dresses, stiff, unsmiling Adult brothers arrayed in the back, three sisters bracket seated parents, a little boy on mother’s lap trying to sit still The little boy was…
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Queuing at the Door, or, A Prayer for Bob Hinkle
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by
1) Fold your hands, bow your head, Shut your eyes and pray I would try, but no one said how to pray Just how to act like praying I wanted to know where to go, how many Steps to take, how many doors to open 2) Dad would get angry, If you cheated and opened…
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Hair tonic for men
Sunday morning rituals Polished shoes, dark socks, Dress pants, shirt, tie, Wear your damn belt, Comb that rat’s nest Go back and part your hair Do something with your cowlick You wanted Brylcreem “a little dab’ll do ya” But Dad used Vitalis Hair Tonic for Men He was bald on top You knew why he…
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Haiku Meditation on a Sunday Morning Sitting by the Remains of Last Night’s Fire with a Cup of Coffee Watching Birds in the Park Across the Street at Sunrise
1) Sunday morning shoes canvas loafers don’t need shined Dad would not approve 2) ash remembers fire when flames don’t stay the night trees filter morning 3) crow stares with one eye red birds forage for breakfast jays flash blue on green 4-18-21
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Stopping to feast along a gravel road
1) Rancid meat only vultures crave; they never wait their turn to tear flesh from bones of what remains. I slow down to avoid interrupting the feast and wonder, if vultures eat vulture roadkill or leave it for the crows. 2) On my office shelf sits mom’s old schoolbook, 101 Famous Poems, copyright 1929. Sometimes,…
My husband's poetry 