My Teddy Bear

My teddy bear is all worn out
I've had him all my life
His eye's rubbed off, he lost an ear
There's not much left but snout

He sits at the table in a chair
I take him with me everywhere

When teacher isn't watching
He shows up in class
I have to think quickly
And put him away fast !

The Camel that Barked

I can't say I like camels the least
In fact, they are one of my favorite beasts
I've known one camel since I was young
He likes to lick me with his long, fat tongue
But wait - I'm only dreaming
It's not what it's seeming
Because I just woke up
To find my little pup

Puppy Dogs

Dogs will keep you warm by sitting on your feet
If they had opposing thumbs, they'd bring you food to eat
Dogs will do whatever you want them to
But most importantly, they'll always love you

Gulls and Doves

On overnight excursions
Into nature's deepest coves
When the only others are
Gulls, deer, coyote, and doves

When the only sound of night
Goes cheep, cheep, cheep
And the chorus sings and sings
Until I fall asleep

When the only blossoms are
Wild, random, and free
When the finch and the sparrow
Are calling out to me

That's when I know
I'm serenely in my place
Among the highest evolved
Of the natural race

October chill
summer so soon gone
hot cider

a family tree book
of 600 pages
and 600 ancestors
stretching back
through centuries
discovered
grave sites
tramped down grasses
overgrown
in the woods

a turkey crosses the path
to join his flock in the woods
strolling casually
resembling
ladies walking home from church
on a Sunday
no hurry
taking their time

I gotta get used to the quiet
When the hyperactivity is gone
And nothing left but the hum of the fan
And the blue screen on the computer that's dead

Many quiet days lie ahead
The busy and the hurry are behind me
A new routine is at hand
What will I do with the hours?

cooler, cloudy, rainy
but sweat still runs down

nice summer rain with occasional lightning and the wind is blowing the trees

uncomfortable in my own skin
it tugs and pulls
pinches in the middle
not even the right shade
red, blotchy, ill-fitting
my skin

leaves
blowing in the wind
catch on the gate

the river path winds quietly except for birds' flutter
nary a sound, nary a mutter

dead brown leaves is what you see
I see dried herbs in a vase for me

get closer to the bank
sink down in the mud
inch your way through the mire
crunch down all the briar
stand up and look
did the fish get your hook?

just a little bit more
down to the shore
into the undertow
into the muck you go

Blue Catfish

3 foot long, boot to hip
15-20 pounds
no proof

3/26/05
3 foot long, boot to hip
15-20 pounds
proof

clouds fold
to gather
in morning

sun rise rays
light down
lit like a lantern
flicker down
to earth

picnic along a wild wood trail
thorns sting the ankles
a tick grabs its next meal
a stone marks the place where she lay
150 years, quiet and undiscovered
watermelon drips
baby's breath grows alongside

I wish I were a tree
with nothing to do
but sway in the wind
and lend my leaves to the ground
and canopy the forest
with my protective beauty
greening up the atmosphere
chlorophylling the air
borrowing from the sun and the rain
growing as tall as the sky
roots burrowing as deep as the world
a permanent fixture on God's green earth

the little boy went to the lake one day
caught some little fishes but the big one got away
mom called him in for lunch at noon
not yet, he said, I'll be home soon

when his bait ran out he started using meat
when that didn't work he dangled in his feet
a big white catfish grabbed the boy's toe
pulled and yanked as far as it could go

boy found himself in the middle of the lake
boy held on but it was more than he could take
with one final squeeze he let go of that fin
and the fish took off with a wide toothy grin

the fish swam circles around the little boy
the boy got mad. "I'm not your bathtub toy!
I came out to conquer and I won't leave till I'm through.
I'm taking you for supper - I'll take care of you!"

the boy pulled the fish out with just one hand
he took him home and threw him in the frying pan
the family sat around the table after they'd ate
"What a big fish you caught. It was worth the wait!"

matronly tree
holding her many arms out
wide to embrace
all her children
and those she doesn't
know
for all the world's related
and her arms look so
inviting
like a hug
a tree

quiet thoughts
under the elm
sways breezy

owl hoots
company keeps me
under the elm

stays busy
rodents feed me
under the elm

lady, lady
seems crazy
under the elm

walk down the river path
gather twigs and leaves
too early yet for flowers
not so for trees

leaves like patches on silk
mud the color of chocolate milk
cool the chill still in the air
come with me, I'll take you there

muddy, slopey, marshy bogs
dead vegetation, moss on logs
rainy, sleety, icy winds
blossoms, buds, insects on limbs
winter begins what finishes spring
beauty's continuance is the thing

Friends

my best friend lives far away
in a place I've never seen
she sends me postcards
I visit there in my dreams

I can tell her anything
she's supportive and nice
she'll do anything for me
I never have to ask twice

sometimes she calls and we talk
she mostly listens though
I know she worries about me
I think she knows

sometimes I gather my teddy bears
I put them in a circle under the tree
I hope they have a friend like I do
if they were real, I'd set them free

Mother's Hands

Mother's hands were full
teaching her children
the golden rule
Mother's hands were fast
serving others first,
herself last
Mother's hands were true,
cleaning sticky fingers
covered with glue
Mother's hands changed diapers
feet she held in one hand,
the other held the wipers
Mother's hands were soft before
as the years passed,
they grew calloused and sore
Mother's smile stayed bright
when her skin loosened
and her joints became tight
Mother put family first,
loving them at their best
as well as their worst
her's the lesson we learn:
Mothers were made to love
and give love in return

From a Child's Eye View

children don't notice long lines of traffic
they hear the windshield wipers going doo-roop, doo-roop
they hear the rain dripping
the cars swooshing by
they see semis, much more enormous than dad's SUV
they see wind tossing leaves across the interstate
the ten red cars passing
they feel the rain tickle their fingers through the open window
they feel the cool, wet air
the damp seats
and are startled to learn that the windows
MUST BE ROLLED UP NOW!

A Poem

Yes, I want you to start
Exercise Number One
Find a journal and describe it to me
Write a poem in your reverie
And as friends, tell me why
You're as sad as you are
I can't help, not knowing
the cause of the scars
Please share and we'll talk
About why life's not fair
I'll listen and offer advice, I swear

The Office

Monet's fuzzy landscapes
Inspiration on the wall
Amy and I -- confederates
Each morning in the hall

Soft light shines down
On tropical palms
Start the coffee brewing
Enjoy the morning calm

Elevator doors
Whisper a warning
He booms "Get to work"
Instead of "Good morning"

Phones begin stirring
Faxes on the floor
Adrenalin rush starts
Nerves brace for more

Frowning concentration
Screen comes to life
Force the panic into order
Using logic like a knife

Noon comes and goes
Chained to the chair
One o'clock arrives
With its hungry stare

Finally, some progress
Time to talk and laugh
Sharing a mission,
We're the office staff

Relive it in our dreams
Rehearse it on the road
Repeat it again and again
'Till we're very old

Meaning -- is there any?
Each person makes that call
Friendships form and
Maybe
That's the purpose of it all

Stars Shine

the brightest stars
shine in Kentucky
twinkle persistently
in constancy
sparkle love and kindness
friendship and fineness

accented lady
across the sea
teacher of prose
poet at heart
literary, like me

Relationship Man

Doug Grant
A man who never says I can't

A planner, a doer
A wooer

A builder of networks
A giver of perks that work

A believer in healthy motivation
Appreciator of creation

Nurturer of body, spirit, mind
A manager of time

Family man
A man with a plan

My Style

my style isn't loud conversation
I'd rather listen to birds
I don't like crowded rooms
I'd rather spend quiet moment
my style isn't to argue
I'd rather just let it go
my style isn't loud noises
I'd rather have peace
my style isn't assertiveness
I'd rather get out of the way
my style isn't pulling others down
I'd rather help all I can
my style isn't sitting and waiting
I'd rather go out and do
my style isn't to be complacent
I'd rather keep learning
my style isn't to lose friends
I'd rather keep them
my style doesn't allow me too many
I'd rather have one or two true ones
my style may be different
but it's the best way I know

A Little Spot of Light on the Carpet

Mitchell comes for a visit
and plays quietly while
Daddy talks about boring stuff

Carrying his blanket
he smiles shyly
and lays down
comfortably
on the carpet

Playing with a sunbeam
that shines through
the window and
onto the floor,
a little spot of light on the carpet

Tail-gater

I don't understand when I drive to work
why the driver up ahead of me always is a jerk
jamming on his brakes
when there's no reason to
I guess he just is sightseeing
with nothing else to do

A cornucopia of delights awaits him
silk sheets
soft skin
red wine
silk pajamas
no pajamas
meld together

read
by candlelight
in the flickering darkness

Bald
except for
2 slung-back hairs
like grasshopper limbs

In my cozy cubicle private window office
A passerby
At eye level

warm
February thaw
snow flurries tomorrow

the feel of
the sun on my face
early morning

I wrote this in my sleep

yesterday's red kool-aid
floats lazily
in the glass