Poems for Sale
Poems for sale!
Fresh poems for sale!
Order them
by pigeon mail.
I’ll tie them to
your pigeon’s tail,
and send him back
on the next light gale
so they’ll come fresh–
not one bit stale.
Yes, that is how
I’d pay my bail
if I were in
the county jail.
Poems for sale!
Yes, poems for sale!
Not a Given
The love of a family
is not a given
and a big extended family
is not a given
and a circle of friends
is not a given.
Acceptance and understanding
from those who talk and listen–
I listen to others and notice,
these things are not a given.
And now I have a debt, a bank
of thanks not given.
Stacks of notes of thanks to send,
for tomorrow’s not a given.
Let Me Think
Let me think.
Let me know what you think.
Let me know, let me think that I know
how to go about this.
Then show me how to let go.
Let me see.
Let me wonder again.
Let me try this one more time and then
I’ll be done on my own.
Then show me everything you know.
When We Vote
When we vote, we’re one but two,
because I’ll vote the same as you.
We choose our choice,
compound our voice,
and hope that what they’ve said is true.
So here’s this running list of names
who give each other all the blame.
But I know you
and you’ve been true,
so let us think and vote the same.
Mad Scientist
If you’ve got a great idea, but no time left in the day,
and you wonder what the world would think or what your friends would say,
and your seven other projects are getting in the way,
and you’re not sure that it will work (but think that it just may)
just pretend you’re a mad scientist, and do it anyway.
Realistic Reality
If by “let’s be realistic”
you mean “let’s make that a reality,”
let’s go!
And along the way,
please don’t say
“I told you so.”
Because when it is reality,
you’ll find it quite realistic.
But if you stop right here
you’ll already have missed it.
Get Well Soon
Get well soon.
We’ll go outside.
We’ll run around the yard and
rake up all
the leaves and move
them all into the garden.
Get well soon.
We’ll go somewhere,
drive off without a care and
stop at stores
and buy some stuff
and generally run errands.
Get well soon.
We’ll have some fun.
By “fun” I of course mean work.
Get well soon.
Unless you want
to stay and rock and nurse.
I Feed
I feed
the baby, then I feel
a hungry need
for food; I feed
myself, then I feed
the baby, then I feed
the sourdough starter, then I feed
the baby, then I feed
the chickens, then I feed
the baby, then I feel
a hungry need
for food; I feed
myself, then I feed
the baby, then I feed
the kefir grain, then I feed
the baby, then I feel
a hungry need
for food; I feed
myself, then I feed
the baby, and then I feed
the baby (again) and then I feel
a hungry need
for food; I feed
the household, then I feed
the sourdough starter, then I feed
the baby, then I feed
the chickens, then I feed
the baby, then I feel
a hungry need
for food; I feed
myself, then I feed
the baby, and then I sleep.
And then (again)…
Underneath
Underneath pink gums so tight
lies a row of pearly whites
that won’t get through without a fight.
Makes me wonder what else is hiding inside.
If a Bogotano
If a Bogotana had this many cleaning supplies, she’d be a professional cleaner.
And he’d be a mountaineer with this hiking stuff, or with just one carabiner.
A Bogotano with this garage would not complain that it’s too small.
He’d be a full-time carpenter with just one little stall.
With this moderate stash of polish, he’d be out there shining shoes.
And he’d only have two carboys if he was selling what he brewed.
A Bogotana would be a tailor with this nice sewing machine
and these two bikes would give a job to two Bogotano teens.
They don’t need these two mowers– they’d mow parks with a string trimmer.
and they would have an office with these desks and macs and printer.
A Bogotano would start a bookstore with the books on just this case.
But rather than go into business, we keep busy just looking for space!