Oct 1, 2012

Blacky





Blacky

this cat was running wild
killing birds sleeping little
keeping the raccoons at bay

this cat now has a name
sleeps on my chair
refuses certain foods

this cat likes it indoors
with velour mice
and a rope scratching post

this cat's got culture
gave up the rat race
for the human race


Sep 11, 2012

Facial



Facial


my face
got a work over
out with the old
in with the new
sixty minutes rub a dub dub

my spirit
needs a scrub,
exfoliated, steamed
freed from blemishes
maybe it too would glow



Jul 6, 2012

Summer Berries




Summer Berries



raspberries crushed have a scent
eliciting memories unbeckoned
reaching for the plumpest
unaware of the scratches
seeking the sublime in art and life
we satisfy our lusts seasonally
filling our bowl to the rim
add a little milk
the glory of the
squish and devine taste
replace the failures in other realms
summer has arrived


May 24, 2012

Our Circus



Chagall courtesy Magpie Tales
Our Circus


laughing and falling from grace
we clown through life
doing trapeze acts
juggling our emotions 
walking a tightrope
riding bareback
subduing the lions
getting a cheap laugh
we pray to the ringmaster
hope for good audiences
and 
a chance to do it all again.

May 16, 2012

Love is







Love is

love is like
making cupcakes late at night for your son's class
rubbing medication on the guinea pig's mange
stepping into the scary bar to rescue a lost friend
wiping up after the rescued cat
watching your daughter drive away in your only new car
letting your loved one not see your sadness
sending flowers to a parent who never loved you best
ignoring the hateful politics of your friend's husband
planting gardens in places you know you will leave

love is like letting you just be
a rainbow


I, I, I



I, I, I


I will meditate
I will follow zen
I will retreat
I will pray
I will follow my bliss
I will be my inner child
I will go with the river

an awful lot of I's

on the journey to nirvana

Alone




photo by Joan Tucker


Alone

she was cranky and mean
she was drunk and secretive
she was victim and tyrant
she had no past or future
she had a daughter
she had no family
she just died

alone

Threads





Threads

history and folklore beckon
trying to explain things
to sort out the mysteries
find the cultural meanings
what where they singing
how to cook those
why the festival
no one explained
languages were theirs
we were to mind read
now saddened
by so much loss
need to hear it all again
with new ears
with new urgency
what about those rivers

Dnieper and Vistula




May 14, 2012

Paul G in Seattle





Paul Gauguin via Magpie Tales



Paul G

currently paul is hanging out
in Seattle with the totems
and asian lions

people crowd around 
don't seem to get it
these bright paintings

seems like long ago
girls were either covered up
or butt naked

who was this dude
maybe he should have 
stayed in France

clubs and oars 
from the Marchesas
garner closer attention

they say that painting 
is worth one million

I like that one




May 11, 2012

Not there






someplace so mysterious
I was not there
my blue pants suit was there
with its red stitching
but I was not there

I stood right next to a gondola
and a striped pole
the crowds were there
clicking and feeding pigeons
but I was not there

my husband and friend
were smiling in the photo
but I was not there
in a city so grand and chic
I was not there

I ponder the memories
review the photos
touch the old pantsuit
process that time and place
and yes I was not there

May 3, 2012

Seventy


seventy suns
seventy miracles
seventy mysteries
seven-ty
strangest sensation
 70

wow you don't look seventy
you just look what?
inside does not match outside
inside wants to dance fly
cavort do somersaults

outside tries to behave
appropriately sort of
don't embarrass yourself

yet the laughter is still there
and the twinkle and the storytelling

and yes that damn mini cooper

Mar 16, 2012

Journey to Joy








scent of grapefruit
breeze ruffling palm
warm water floatation
shadows on white walls
decadent bliss descends
dreaming of morocco
places where sun reigns

washington winter forgotten

Feb 8, 2012

Tucson



tucson desert canoa ranch santa catalina
sabino canyon sunrise pink creeping in
stories of apache raids and ancient tribes
st xavier entombed in the white mission
sky all navy blue adorned with twinkling lights
air so clean you shut off the air cleaners
bones stop aching in a land of old bones
hawks and hummingbirds thrill and a grand barn owl
tubac galleries filled with red and turquoise and orange
gemstones dinosaurs quartz agates sunstones
pearls rubies cacti nomads venders seekers
the earth's bounty all packed in tents in the desert
the silk road the guilds the artists ancient memories
all together in one short moment one dream

I buy a turquoise ring to remember

Jan 10, 2012

Ode to Leonard





leonard's voice
crawls down my spine
like a deep growl
joyful despairing
paradox
poetry like gravel
on an old dirt road
or a city alley
suzanne
by the river

hallelujah

Jan 7, 2012

Cold breaths


cold icy breaths
truth serum
sand shifting
moody words
no calming breezes
to ebb the flow of
feelings unfettered
raw ingredients remain

Elasticity of time


elasticity of time
photos in courtyards
in europe with a tiny waist
three little happy bird faces
can smell the sea in one
can hear the bells in another
can let go of the sad undertones
celebrate the pureness of memories
feel them again and again