Distracted

When I awake the sky is yet
A muted white, unpainted by the sun.
As I move, pinks glow on the clouds.
The sun rises so far north, I can sit on my front step to watch.
It's many minutes before a single car passes
The windows of the house and cars are coated with
perspiration- exhausted before they begin
at the thought of another humid and scorching day.
The  street lights flicker - uncertain if their job is yet done.
Too quickly, the pinks fade to smoky purple
The birds chide with restrained disapproval.
It's not the sun's fault, really, it's the clouds'.
All that nebulous water, shifting as the world spins.
I look down at my cat, at his mild surprise at finding me outside,
usually his domain
While I'm (looking), the pinks return.
                 distracted

Two Haiku from August 27, 2011

Late afternoon sun
The mat's shadow falls westward
Eastern trees reflect

Hummingbird visits.
Red-bodied dragonfly rests.
Butterfly wings close.

Will I Never

When will I grate all the cheese before the mold sets in?

                                                             before the old gets in?

 

When will I use all the coupons before they expire?

                                                            before their appeal tires?

When will I do all the work before it starts to pile?

                                                   before it raises my bile ?

When will I put all the photos in albums before the kids grow up?

                                                                            before the memories slow up?

The answer is never

because, just as ever,

time will not slacken or sicken

its downhill pace ever quickens

All I can do for the how

is to live in the now.

universe

Rob and I have been asked to be the featured speakers at the Mudpuppy's next Beat Night on September 29th. Rob has a much larger collection of original works  than I do, so I will publish here the poems I will be including that night.

                                                               

I am the universe

engendered as a woman

                  for your convenience.

I was there

in that perfect oneness of all stuff

before the cosmic explosion put light years between us.

We are still one;

subatomic particles in unpredictable cloud orbit

around the nucleus

                           the unseen force

                           holding us

                           tethering us together.

Every bit

the same

as every other bit

Energy is just matter moving really, really, really fast.

Matter is just energy on a bad day.

If there is no distinction

between where I end and you begin,

then it was all there in the Calvin Klein Commercial

                            not so much in the Radiohead lyrics.

Dinner for One

It would be so much easier to just make my own lunch.

A source less sadness prevents it.

So strong a force, it puts me on display for the world.

At my table for one, I conjure many stories for the other diners.

I am waiting for someone.

I am on a layover.

I am on lunch from work.

I am as lonely as I am lazy.

When I get home, I'll clean the kitchen.

Ode on a Moustache

My hubby shaved his beard away
late on one October day,
Preparing to become a member
Of those who call next month Movember.

It’s not so hard for him to grow
his facial hair can be shaved so
it forms a rather daring fashion
to go with biker style moustachin’.

People donate money just to find
Whose lips will look the oddest lined.
The cash goes to the fund the science
That will end a cancer cell alliance.

So thanks to all who grew a ‘stache
You raised awareness and some cash.
Prostate care will save the lives
Of families’ most beloved guys.

No Time

Rushing forward into the day, time compresses.

Approaching the maximum speed of my own life,

I feel the Dopler effect crushing against me.

Against this force, I can only reach backward,

Collecting what I can as this life speeds me away.