Sitting at the kitchen tableMy coffee cup in handI find myself musingAbout the nature of manNot man, the male of our speciesBut man – short for humanMy coffee is cream-coloredBut originally was blackLike our African forebears, the origin of our kindThen other colors came about, each equally unique Until those with the most possessionsDecided their…
Poem: Strange Tooth in Pie
The quote, “Strange Tooth in a pie. Purchaser Indignant”Came from the Washington Times, July 6, 1907I think we’d all like to think that an unsavory discoverylike a “strange tooth” appearing in foodis relegated to the distant pastwhen sanitation and health department standardswere not as high as todayUnfortunately, just a few years backTwo friends of ours…
Ode to the Frog
Lying here in bed,I can hear your rhythmic ribbitsRight now, there’s only one of youBut I know you have friends nearbyI can hear their serenade as I walk in the evening.Water is key to your presenceAnd I’m grateful for the rain That has enabled you to join usIn drought years, I miss your songBut not…
Poem #9: An Unlikely Friendship
We met that day when you rang our doorbelland asked if we neededsomeone to mow our lawn.You, an older Mexican man, fifty-fiveAnd me, a mother in my late thirties.Who knew then you and your nephews would work for us for fifteen years?Doing our lawn every other weekScraping and painting our houseWorking inside on room after…
Poem #7: A Postcard Poem
Missing you this evening.We have the fire roaringfor the hot tubNothing fancy except the setting.Nestled amid the orange trees Under a star-studded sky.The air is scented with orange blossomsThe evening so quiet you can hear a far-off owlNo traffic noise or street lightsJust the occasional rustle of a night creaturewandering through the grove.Wish you were…
Family Birthday Celebration in Photos
Yesterday, our family celebrated the birthdays of Luna, Lyla, Ray, and Ron’s mom, Cindy. We had food, presents, and lots of fun. How wonderful to be surrounded by these lovely people in my life. Here are a few photos to commemorate the event. Lyla (5), Luna (ll), Nico (8), and Ethan (15 3/4 months) Ray,…
Odd Wisdom: “Nothing is Worse Than a Cold Egg”
Early one morning, in my family’s kitchenI felt my stomach contort from hunger,an accordian squeezing out a tune.I was five, I sat at the table watching my dad fry sunnyside-up eggs in the cast iron skillet.My tummy was a wrung out washrag inside my belly.”Can I eat now?”I asked my father.He turned and slipped the…
Happiness for the Little Boy, the Honey Bee, and the Alpaca
To be happysaid the little boyis to play outside so hardMama’s smileshines down on melike a full moon at nightTo be happysaid the honey beeis to buzz from flower to flowerso muchbright orange pollencovers my whole body like sprinkles on ice creamTo be happy said the alpacais to stretch in the sunso longmy soft black…
Day 4 Poem: Where Trees Are Square
Where Trees Are SquareEver marvel at how life can surprise you?If not, travel to Panama and visit just north of the Canal ZoneYou’ll find there a whole valley of square cottonwood treesWith rectangular trunks and square tree “rings”Imagine stumbling upon this valley of square treesWalking among the tall rectangular trunksWondering how this could have happened…
Day 3: A Surrealistic Prose Poem (Or My Best Effort Since I Don’t Exactly Know What That Is!)
The National Poetry Writing Challenge today called for a surrealist prose poem. Google’s answer to what elements are needed in a surrealistic prose poem are as follows; The main elements of surrealism include the integration of dreams and fantasies into reality, the exploration of the unconscious mind, and the use of free imagination. Okay, here goes…
20 Minutes a Day 