Dead Worm Haiku
one groomed Schnoodle and
one groomed Schnauzer both seeking
dead worms to roll on
Dead Worm Haiku
Spirit
Spirit
the day
after Halloween
the world
lit up for Christmas
Facebook directed,
“we’re all
fast forwarding
to the Christmas spirit
for 2020”
we watch, wondering
why we’d want
to speed up a season
as if Covid will drop
like the ball
in Times Square
at midnight
New Year’s Eve
we watch, wondering
if November 1
will become
the new
black shopping day
wondering
if the spirit
can be manufactured
by lights,
music
trees
gifts
food
because togetherness
has new Covid rules
about who belongs
in a household
and who doesn’t
we watch, wondering
whether some believe
faith
hope
joy
peace
love
can be plugged
and unplugged
like tree lights
we watch, wondering
why all the rush
when miracles
happen all around us
every day
we wait, praying
for His return
Oh, what a Christmas
of togetherness
THAT will be!
Blue Kazoo
Blue Kazoo
A Blue Kazoo Pantoum
a kazoo?!?!
weightless blue musical flute
seized from your suitcase at luggage inspection
on a family Christmas trip to New York City
weightless plastic toy
just who were you? the Pied Piper?
2004 tsunami zoom to The Big Apple
a simple kazoo- not illegal drugs or weapons
who were you now? the Pied Piper?
were you to groove and kazoo through the streets?
a kazoo – neither bong nor bazooka
booming voice scarring sweet souls, ruining memories
were you to flitter and flute-toot through the streets?
a kazoo – looted from your suitcase
other too-heavy baggage ruled the truth of the doom
a kazoo?!?!
Home from the Rodeo
Home from the Rodeo
September 1993
you were four
your baby sister
wasn’t a week old yet
you left with your dad
and older sister
for a rodeo
at Midway Farms
2 miles away
down the highway
down a long stretch
of dirt road
but halfway through my “nap when the baby naps,”
I got a phone call
from a subdivision neighbor
“Mrs. Meyer,
we found your son
on Highway 46”
I panicked!
then he added
“he got lost….
a lady saw him running alone
on 46
and tried
to pick him up
but he wouldn’t get
in her car
so she’s riding
alongside him
until he makes it home
safely”
alive, not dead
tears of relief
deep breath
that may have been
the day
you became a runner
you were well-oriented
you were cautious
you were determined
you still are
you made it home on your own terms that day
with an angel
in tow
Ode to Sapelo
The river property sale closes today at 10 am
Ode to Sapelo River
your marsh and river
at dawn and dusk
ever-changing palette
of brilliant hues,
whose back we scratched
on novice skis,
whose arm we tickled
casting lines, nets
whose oaks
huddled family gatherings
and
sheltered peaceful togetherness
you picked up
the dinner check:
deviled crab,
steamed shrimp,
fried fish
and lulled us
in a dock hammock
as we listened
for playful dinnertime dolphins
your trees and river breezes
brought cleaner air
to clear
the lungs
the mind
your heart our refuge
from demands
and deadlines
well done, friend!
now you’re ready
to
fully embrace
and care
for a new family
who’ll take
your empty shell
and
breathe new life
into you
you have so much more
to give
and you’re long overdue
for a makeover
and
the laughter of family
flooding your veins
we’ll never forget
the joy you brought us!
so long, old friend!
the memories live on….
Choices
Choices
Today’s list writing was inspired by a poetry group member to live intentionally – to make good choices and think about the blessings and consequences of choices. I chose a quote from a book I love – Simple Abundance.
“Your life at this exact moment is a result of choices you made once upon a time – 30 minutes or 30 years ago…..wrong choices should never be confused with bad choices.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach
5 of the Good Choices I Made Yesterday
- I had conversations with all three of my children and my brother – some deep, some reflective, some funny. All uplifting!
- I came home for lunch to walk the dogs in the sunshine and enjoy the beauty of the day and the serenity of the country woods.
- I worked hard and was productive for my employer, preparing well-chosen literacy materials as Christmas gifts for our grant partners.
- I kissed my husband and told him I love him. What a fabulous choice he is!
- I wrote in the morning and read in the evening.
Good choices drive a more meaningful life. A car doesn’t choose a driver. A driver chooses a car.
Abandoned
Today’s prompt was to churn up moments from the past about healing. This one’s a Pantoum for my 27 year old daughter Ansley, who jokingly recalls the day her mama abandoned her in the bookstore. Thank God we can joke through all the “coulda been.”
Abandoned
it was all a scary mistake
abandoning her at Barnes & Noble
she asked to go to the van as I checked out
she said she was sleepy
abandoning her was my fault
I told her to stay on the sidewalk
(we’d parked on the curb) but she was sleepy
she was supposed to stay on the sidewalk to the
van parked straight out front
I said, “stay on the sidewalk” because the van was
ten safe feet from the door
but she followed my only directions
she was supposed to go to the van
but as I drove away she stayed on the sidewalk
she did what I asked – but never made it to the van
she wanted to go nap in the van on the third seat
but as I drove away she stayed on the sidewalk
it was all a scary mistake
I had a meltdown when I realized I’d left her
I’d stopped for milk and bread at Food Lion
I called to wake her but her siblings said,
“she’s not here”
she wasn’t there – I’d left her on the sidewalk
I’d stopped for groceries 20 minutes away
I called the bookstore: “yes ma’am, she’s here”
I’d left her on the sidewalk
her pre-K teacher worked evenings at the bookstore
“yes ma’am, she’s safe in the children’s section”
TOTAL MOM FAILURE! would DFACS take her?
Miss Maury was reading her a story
my meltdown shifted from panic to gratefulness
I’d failed her – but she’d known exactly what to do
I’d called out to wake my four year old who wasn’t
there
panic turned to peace when I got back to her
I’d unknowingly abandoned her and we’re still
healing 23 years later
Simple Life
Today I’m thankful for the simplicity of enjoying nature, breathing fresh air, and living a relaxed weekend pace before Monday arrives again for its weekly stay with all its luggage. Here is a nonet- a nine line poem of descending syllables.
Simple Life
A majestic mountain view of leaves
red, green, brown, orange, and yellow
camping at Vogel State Park
just you and me – and time
time to breathe fresh air
time to cherish
what we choose:
simple
life
Nothingness
Nothingness
all sorts
of vise grips
tightening freedom
hindering lingering
clamping rest
choking life
keep me on the move
doing something else
to check another box:
done!
I want some
nothingness
and with it
I’ll take
a cup of hot tea
a book
a journal
a pen
a comfy chair
and two wet noses
by a blazing fireplace
savoring each moment
cherishing the warmth
of the deep
peace
Fix-it-Up and Busybody
Today I’m thankful for my boys – Boo Radley and Fitz, a Schnauzer and Schnoodle whose neurotic tendencies are ever present.
Fix-it-Up and Busybody
they’re
how they are
because of
how they’ve been
abandoned
neglected
abused
rejected
rough starts
left scars
broken leg
broken hearts
they’re
how they are
because of
how they’ve been
one lingering thing
is that they check
their people out
humans: such wrecks!
if one of us
seems sad or hurt
or loud or mad
they’re on alert!
they’re
how they are
because of
how they’ve been
but love heals
and hugs assure
playful nuzzles
gentle muzzles
waggy tails
perky ears
no more jail
no more tears
they’re
how they are
because of
how they’ve been
fix-it-up Fitz
and busybody Boo
swept up from the pits
into arms anew
they’re family now
on this funny farm
where no one tries
to bring them harm
they’re
how they are
because of
how they’ve been
