Memorial Day

I saw a field of rippling flags
With tombstones 'ranged beneath.
It gave me cause for gratitude
And sorrow too, and grief.

Bad Pickup Lines

• "I would pick you up, but you're too heavy."
• "I'd buy you a drink, but I can't a Ford to."

Luckily, I am married.  Otherwise, I would be a lonely, lonely man.

Household Wisdom

In thinking on the facts of life
I think it's best to have a wife.

The 50 Yard Dash

When I regard the stately tree
I think, "I'm faster, sure, than thee."

A Quick Look (as I turn a prime number)

With kidlings and bride
I'm burstin' with pride.
So seven and thirty
Is lookin' right purdy.

The Forgetten

Down in my basement there's TV
With channels on it, two or three
Or maybe more?  It's hard to tell.
Beneath the dust that on it fell
Since early winter, months ago,
When men in tights ran to and fro.

Snakes

I say a prayer for shady snakes
That they too might be blessed.
And maybe stop their slithering
And give their hiss a rest.

Pass the Ammunition

In my room there's a fly
Which is why
I
Cry,
"Die!"

What to Do In Absence of Marital Love

Wife's gone to Minnesota
Oh dear, what shall I do?
I think I'll wander into town
And buy a steak or two.
I'll fire up the barbie
And kick back on the deck.
I may be saddened when she's gone,
But I needn't be a wreck.

The Characteristics of Branches

Branches leap from trees,
Hurling themselves to the ground,
Whenever strong winds make them afraid.
And then, forlorn, there they are... un-made,
Like Teamsters on lunch, lying around.
Til blown away by another breeze

Jog

Night was falling.

Air was cold.

Graves were sentries

Stark and old.

Still he ran.

What from? God knows.

Graveyard jogging's

Weird I suppose.

Leak

I used to know just about everything.
Must have bumped my head
Or sprung a leak.
We'll see about next week.

The Shrinking Pot

The coffee pot grew smaller every day
In reverse relation to child-induced
grogginess.  Not a half bad price to pay
For two such angels.  A nice little boost,
Still, but so quickly, quickly... oh my... gone.
"Need I necessarily be done?"
Not as a matter of definition.
Only by wisdom's volition.

Thank God For Naps

The morning of Easter is wonder and praise.
The nap later on could last for some days.

"Good Friday" (re-posted)

Why Do We Call it Good?
Of all days it’s the darkest by far.
Judas and Pharisees, soldiers and priests,
All of them coming with lanterns and spears,
Peter cutting off Malchus’s ear.
Why do we call it good?
In the night came a mob with vile intent.
In the night came a mob with vile intent.

Why do we call it good?
When a friend is possessed and betrays?
Judas, companion, disciple for years,
Overcome by the devil, betraying his Lord,
Leading this mob full of soldiers and swords.
Why do we call it good
When a friend is possessed and betrays?
When a friend is possessed and betrays.

Goodness?  What goodness?  I see only blood.
Injustice and hatred roll down like a flood.
Goodness?  What goodness?  I see only pain,
Wickedness pouring like rain.

Why do we call it good?
When they hustle him off for a trial?
In the depths of the night was no justice nor right.
Annas the priest was the first judge he saw
Soldiers were striking him hard on the jaw
Why do we call it good
When justice is lost in the darkness of night?
When justice is hidden for lack of the light.

Why do we call it good?
When a friend who is frightened denies?
Peter, impetuous, quick to make promises,
But when he’s confronted is quick to say “No,
I don’t even know him.  This man I don’t know!”
Why do we call it good
When a friend who is frightened denies?
Sits down in the corner and cries?

Goodness?  What goodness?  I see only lies.
While courage and justice are dropping like flies.
Goodness?  What goodness?  I see only hate,
The inexorable marching of fate.

Why do we call it good?
When soldiers were mocking our Lord?
They gave him a robe with derisive intent.
They fashioned a crown made of thorns
And made him the object of scorn.
Why do we call it good
That soldiers were mocking our Lord?
That soldiers were mocking our Lord.

Why do we call it good?
When the word, “Crucify!!” fills the air?
Clamoring priests all determined to kill.
“We have no king but Caesar,” they said.
“This man is a blasphemer and ought to be dead.”
Why do we call it good
When the word “Crucify!!” fills the air?
When the word “Crucify!!” fills the air.

Goodness?  What goodness?  I see only blood.
Injustice and hatred roll down like a flood.
Goodness?  What goodness?  I see only pain,
Wickedness pouring like rain.

Why do we call it good?
When they stretch him out on the cross?
They nail his hands and his feet to the wood.
Toss dice for his tunic un-torn,
While his mother stands there and mourns.
Why do we call it good
That our Lord is stretched out on the cross?
And his mother, dear Mary, watches.

Why do we call it good?
When he stopped breathing?
Nicodemus and Joseph took him down,
Dressed him with myrrh and a funeral gown,
Placed him in a tomb at the edge of town.
And walked away.

Goodness?  What goodness?  Our Savior is dead.
His body is broken and hangs there like lead.
Goodness is murdered and justice a joke
The world is in shambles, irreparably broken
And hope?  How can there be any hope?
Why do we call it good?

Lent

I'm not one to give things up for Lent.  It always seemed artificial to me.  I'm not speaking to anyone else's experience, just to my own.  But for some reason this year is different.  I'm using Lent as an opportunity to set things down that I value to see what happens, to see what God will do.  In the past year I've commented a number of times about how I can't understand how anyone can be bored; there are too many interesting, worthwhile, and fun things to do.  I'm curious about what it is that I'm not now doing which will arise in the space that Lent has pruned.  We shall see.

To see what God will do this Lent
I'm doing blog abandonment.  

Birth Control

Birth control is always cheap
In many and listable ways:

1. Brush your teeth but once a month
2. Or walk around and Tase.
3. Bad mouth kittens, push old widows
4. Pay with only nickels.
5. Don't have sex or get all frisky
6. Stuff your pants with pickles.

It really isn't very hard

And it's all up to you!

Any other sobbing story

Simply isn't true.

Guck

When the slush falls down
All the romance is gone from
Precipitation

Honeydew

She says, "I've got a tub for you
To take downstairs, you see."
I said, "Hmm-mm" and then I sat
And wrote this poem for thee.
In not too long I'll get on up
And do some "honeydew."
But for just a little bit
I'd rather write for you.

(and off I go...)

Fragments Undone

The world was fallen long ago,
Continues thus today.
Sinners do what sinners do
And so the fragments stay.
To tell as much, with broken words,
Might strike a man as wise.
Yet it is but a half-truth told
For Jesus did arise.
The world is broken, yea it is,
As once his body hung.
But now with eyes of faith we know
That new life has begun.

Fragments

Fragments - busted up pieces of what used to be something...
Some "thing."  But the thing is undone, broken.
It seems that the world is fragments these days.
A civic sense that held us together,
Is sick, just plain sick.
Who can trust the other?  Those others are vile, truly vile.
One mustn't listen to them, at all costs no.
And religion, well, that was supposed to be an internal matter
Now wasn't it?  But now it busts out in all the wrong places
Indignantly right and yet doing damage to itself.
Or it plays the complaisant fool, doing damage to itself.
Or it is altogether absent, doing damage to everyone else.
Whether by omission or commission, the whole thing is busted up in fragments.
And where is a person to turn amidst these heaps of shards?
It's easy to cut oneself.  It's easy to wail.  It's easy to stomp...
And bust everything up just a bit more.
Is there nothing that holds it together anymore?
Or are we condemned to live so separately, as fragments
So unlovely, so unkempt, so broken...


(Was it always so frail?  So irreparably compromised?)
Seems not, but.

History of the Day

Saint Valentine was quite a guy,
A martyr back in ancient Rome.
He sold his cards and made a mint
And hid it in a catacomb.
But then the greedy government
Took all his cash and sent him "home."

Scatology

When baby says, "Ah poo"
He means to say, "I'm pooping."
We anxiously await
The day when he'll be stooping
All by himself, above the bowl.
That is our happy baby goal.

Pace

Spazzes from another age
Moved slower than today,
Sniffed the roses, took a breath,
Didn't get all frayed.
Nowadays, of course, they fly
And scene cuts into scene.
Life as flashing strobe effect.
Spazzes gone obscene.

Bluster

Arise, my heart, and with a will
Sing songs to beat the night.
Say bollocks to the raving moon
And eulogize the light.
Timid hems and pansy haws
Will nothing put to flight,
But ego mixed with blustering
Will surely win the fight!

Ppbbbbb.

I'm tired as a tree stump
Fatigued like army green.
I'd like to lie like lumber lies
As still as e'er's been seen.

Another Brief Thought

Wife said, "diaper"
I said, "crap."

This A.M.

Heavy frost in sunlight gleam
Trees adorned
The world: pristine

An Unpleasant Irony

Planned Parenthood fights like crazy to stay alive.

Komen vs. Planned Parenthood

When a bully comes to your doorstep
And yells that you're hateful and mean,
Give them a jab in the tonsils
And offer a punch in their spleen.
If insults and threats keep on coming
It's best not to cower and cringe,
But give 'em what for
Cause they chose the war.
Too bad if some others will whinge.

The Early Days of Fatherhood (Redux)

Dear Lord, I need.
That sums it up.
From breakfast time
To way past sup.
My eyelids doze.
My muscles fail.
All thanks to dearest
Abigail.

The Ol' Snippety-Snip

Amos the kitty was absent last night,
A-gittin' his testicles "done."
Seems he was fightin' and comin' up short;
Well now he just won't have a son.

----------------------------------------

We had to take him in for the second time in just over a month for a wound that left him unable to put weight on a leg.  The vet told me that the ol' snippety-snip should take care of the fighting thing, so Amos is "gittin' 'er done."

The intention was to spend no money on this cat.  It seems I am a weak-willed softie.  So help me, if he wants cosmetic surgery I will say NO!

Implicit: (Potent Toots)

When baby don't poop

Ain't nobody happy.

Talking Dogs

A pig says "oink";
That's all he'll say
And every horse
Knows only "neigh."
Consider ducks
Who "quack" each day
Or cows as well,
On "moo" they'll stay.

But dogs have depth,
A repertoire,
Myriad ways
To speak with pow'r.
Dogs "bow wow;"
They "arf" and "bark."
They often "howl."
When it gets dark.
Dogs, at times
As is their wont,
"Growl" at folks
A canine taunt.
Finally, when
Contentment's here,
Dogs say "woof"
And scratch their ear.

Bony and Nervous

The nervous squirrel, he looked at me,
Then skittered up a nearby tree.
He paused a sec, and looked back down.
I thought a saw a furry frown!
"Go on," I said, "You've naught to fear.
You're far too thin.  I fancy deer."

Your Humble Poet Laureate

Perhaps I should mention that the newly elected mayor has just named me Poet Laureate of The MOB.  What is the MOB?  It is the Minnesota Organization of Bloggers.  (Technically I now live in Iowa, but rules aren't stringent.)  In the wake of twitter and other e-fads, the MOB isn't what it once was, but it still is a means for bringing folks together and I like that.

Is this a great honor?  Why yes, of course it is!  And it is also pure tomfoolery of the best sort.  In that spirit, I will have to write some laud or ode to the Mayor.  But not today.  This prose just takes it out of me.

Beware Grandmothers Bearing Sleds

My son was a-sliding this morning
Upon the slick crust of the snow.
He got a strong push from his grandmim
And into the flagpole did go.
It's alright, his head wasn't broken,
Just badly bruised on both sides.
She says she is sad,
(Though she's quite clearly bad,)
And is itching to give him more rides.

Narcissism

The beautiful sunrise I missed
Was boring as boring can be
For I didn't see a darn thing
And really it's all about me.

Angels

When a bell rings
It might be a number of things:
Someone's at the door,
A boxer's on the floor.
An angel got her wings?
Well really, that's a bore.
Sure, some angels fly
Like those who flew in Luke,
But what of all the others?
This thing must be rebuked.
Wings and angels go together
Like Indians and feathers.
Some have 'em; okay that's great.
Others don't, and are still first rate.

Bah

The humbug is the insect

Of the body politic.

"Ha, ha, ha," he explained.

In he swooped with reckless wind,
Old man winter living large.
Asked by many to rescind,
He just laughed.  They said "Argh."

Don't Taunt the Winter

Old man winter wasn't dead
But lying quietly in bed.
Now he's roused and eating brunch.
Next he comes for you for lunch.

Abigail and Esther

In the space of twelve hours a birth and a death,
The giving of life and the taking of breath,
Joy in the wonder that's finally beheld,
And grief that one loved will now be withheld.

The Snow of Stereotype

On the Midwestern plains a light dusting of snow

Does stereotypical things: it swirls and blows.

Rarely does it rise up and smack you on the face

Nor play poker with the dawn, trumping with aces.

It's rather like an old school character actor;

Predictably playing his role, not much of a factor.

Historic Nursery Rhymes

This little piggy went to market

This little piggy stayed home.

This little piggy liked Carthage.

And this little piggy liked Rome.

And this little piggy went, "Gah!  Alaric and his barbarian invaders!!!"

Abigail Rose (born 1/14/12)

The first one came, a lumbering boy,
Who had no hurry in his bones.
One day crossed o'er into the next
And then another he condoned.

This baby girl now born today
Came thund'ring fast, her mission clear.
Her mother gasped, and cried aloud
For there she was, our daughter dear.

An Exhortation

Ahem.

Socks are best when worn in twos

So take good care you do not lose

Them.

Walnut

A walnut is an unstately thing,
Awkward and hemispheric
Like a small, edible brain.
Care for some walnut?

Many Ways to Wait

Wait
Wate
Ouate
Wayte
Ouayte
Whaite
Whate
Waite
Wheyte
Wheytte
Waitte
Ouaitte
Ad almost infinitum (it seems)

Compare and Contrast

Apricots
Tasty and orange
Always dried
-
Oranges
Tasty and orange
Never dried

Human folk
Creation of God
Very good
-
Human folk
Creation of God
Big stinkers

Fly-ku

Dormant or dead flies

Don't buzz around nor pester.

Long live Wintertime!

Some Days the Tired Just Catches Up

Fatigue had found him from far-flung places
Heavy burdens bearing down
Like big-boned monkeys lacking social graces
All of them out on the town.
What weariness - winsome clubbing of his head.
Sighs descended from his lips and fled.

Unitary Seasons

There's Summer this Winter;

There's spring in my toes.

And if there were water

It wouldn't be froze.

Lacking this ice

I'm unlikely to fall.

And mostly I'm thinking,

"This ain't bad at all."

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

John Bonham
Keith Moon
Nick Mason
Ringo Starr
Charlie Watts
Ollie Peacock

To find a dozen drummers drumming
Don't go looking in my mind.
I can only conjure six,
That's halfway there.  Who more to find?

I give up.

The Eleventh Day of Christmas (A Carpenter's Envy)

Back on the job site

Winter days would break my skin

Howling winds would slip right in

Whether dark or light

All the carpenters 

Bundled to keep the frost off

Hands cracking, painfully rough

Break time 'round heaters

Walls and roof complete

In walk comfy pipefitters

No need for jacket critters

Now ain't that a feat?

Pipers in leisure

Happy and deliberate

Lacking much -if any- grit

Their work all pleasure

The Tenth Day of Christmas

The census in this fair country

Reveals a total lack of lords,

Dancing or otherwise.

Christian confession yields but one, 

Arisen.  Again to arise.

The Ninth Day of Christmas

When Esther and Mildred and Gertie and Fran
Have all their sights on the hand of one man
Chaos ensues on the floor of the ball
Punches are thrown and the police are called.
These ladies, dancing, all elbows and knees
Are jealous as wildcats, but eager to please
Wishing to polka and two-step and twist
Looking for gentlemen them to assist.

The Eighth Day of Christmas

Cows these days have it rough.

Once there were maids to empty their udders,

But now just machines, cold and tough.

No doubt, in darkest cow dreams, there are shudders.

The Seventh Day of Christmas

To write a poem about swans is an impossible task for me
For Yeats has proffered his work.  To call it good would be a travesty.

The Sixth Day of Christmas (The Generosity of Geese)

On every golf course that I've ever seen
Six geese a-laying, and many more,
Have deposited gifts both brown and green.
Generosities laid down by the score.

The Fifth Day of Christmas (Every kiss begins with blech)

The feeling of jewelry on my skin

Evokes skeletons in dank prison

With manacles on wrists, holding them in,

An uncomfortable feeling, a frisson

That turns sideways into a knot

And makes me not want what I've not got.

One ring only, the promise from my wife;

Not one band more for the rest of my life.