I’m in the process of taking photos to go with 50 poems I’ve written–it’s a way to survive the pandemic. Here is a photo of a painted lady on a cosmos, part of my take on retirement. First Day of Retirement The panicked whine of a chain saw Rips through my black morning coffee AtContinue reading “Old Poem, New Photo”
Category Archives: Poetry
Friday Poem: Arc of an Orchid
Life is out of balance When the arc of an orchid Weighted with fragile beauty Cannot hold our attention. ### California is burning up–wildfire smoke has blanketed the state with hazardous air, another reason to wear a mask. The concept of looking at the details of an orchid is a challenge.
Poem: Orange Sunrise
In the glow of an orange sunrise Dogs don’t care, They bark out loud and tumble In a smoking lounge Of bad air. While I worry if tomorrow Will be the same.
Poetic Insight
My thoughts have been sharpened by these days of forest fires, a pandemic and the politics of hate. When I look at a photo I took of a turtle in a river bed several years ago, I see a military helmet, now more than ever. Perspectives are shaped by personal experiences. I once crawled underContinue reading “Poetic Insight”
Poem: The Nightmare
The Nightmare If the nightmare had been real, You would have fallen down a mine shaft With no bottom, Arms flailing, Bloody fingertips striking jagged concrete, With balls of fire hurtling at you, But wait, it would have been worse than that If it had been real, This silly nightmare You think will be chasedContinue reading “Poem: The Nightmare”
Poem: Bouquet at the Beach
Bouquet on the Beach Alone on the beach With my dog, our steps Erasing the trails of legless lizards. I search for forgotten sand toys and unretrieved balls As if I were an explorer. In the dog’s shadow I see a bouquet Face down in the sand like a dead mariner who tried to crawlContinue reading “Poem: Bouquet at the Beach”
Poem: Aging
Aging Left my cane at home, Ego. Dyed my white hair brown, Mistake. Hiked up a mountain, Breathless. Aches and pains abound, Youth gone.
Film Noir Dream
The dream is sprawled naked On cheap bourbon soaked sheets. Bullet hole to the forehead, Warm blood oozing To the flickering beat Of the third floor neon lady Outside a cracked window Where the soft moan Of a saxophone Creeps in and out of Shadowy buildings And alleyways of wasted lives. Someone screams nonsense InContinue reading “Film Noir Dream”
Sun with Rain Cloud
The rain is raining all around, It rains on field and tree. It rains on umbrellas here And on the ships at sea. –Robert Louis Stevenson How far would RLS get into todays world of poetry? Say what you will about the simplicity of his word and rhyme scheme, his rain poem has stuck withContinue reading “Sun with Rain Cloud”
