On this last day in April
rain gives the look to rock
that it could grow things
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Chicken Wild Rice Soup
After this head-stretching day
complete with rollerskates
I read about 1940's physicists
and have a second bowl
complete with rollerskates
I read about 1940's physicists
and have a second bowl
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Time Dependent
The joy of not knowing
leaves me exultantly typing
x's and y's everywhere
And then the bill comes
finding the roof still leaking
and the cat looking up
beside an empty dish
How crazy and careless
when I was younger
to think that I would know
at some later time
leaves me exultantly typing
x's and y's everywhere
And then the bill comes
finding the roof still leaking
and the cat looking up
beside an empty dish
How crazy and careless
when I was younger
to think that I would know
at some later time
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
The Gig
I arise at four,
sort all of the black cables
camping style, in bags
The first big speaker
and the next, and two others
and take a short break
out to the blue van
forth and back and forth and back
lug the amp upstairs
PA loaded up
grab the dusty gig bags
and away we go
simple two wheel cart
my back forever thankful
up and down the stairs
The gang's all here
noisy tuning, test, 1, 2
how many minutes left
first chords, wailing voice
thunder tune opens, check sound
watch for feedback, please
less keyboard, more bass
don't be afraid to sing out
violin gently weeps
break time, be right back
second set well grooved, smoother
stories in our eyes
they cheer and leave us
which is fine, as we all turn
to tear down chatter
homeward night freeway
mozart on the radio
unpack - tomorrow
sort all of the black cables
camping style, in bags
The first big speaker
and the next, and two others
and take a short break
out to the blue van
forth and back and forth and back
lug the amp upstairs
PA loaded up
grab the dusty gig bags
and away we go
simple two wheel cart
my back forever thankful
up and down the stairs
The gang's all here
noisy tuning, test, 1, 2
how many minutes left
first chords, wailing voice
thunder tune opens, check sound
watch for feedback, please
less keyboard, more bass
don't be afraid to sing out
violin gently weeps
break time, be right back
second set well grooved, smoother
stories in our eyes
they cheer and leave us
which is fine, as we all turn
to tear down chatter
homeward night freeway
mozart on the radio
unpack - tomorrow
Monday, April 24, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Carry That Weight
Synchronous eye-mind movement
a pause, a reach, a toss
the juggler reaches new heights
(4 min. 27 sec.)
Friday, April 21, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
5:23 PM
Where you are
and whether
and each day
reaching, reaching
If I could hold
could hold
would never
grow old
This melody
arises without words
or knowing
or thinking twice
and whether
and each day
reaching, reaching
If I could hold
could hold
would never
grow old
This melody
arises without words
or knowing
or thinking twice
Monday, April 17, 2006
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Guard Duty
Ground-hop gently
mother squirrel
and carry your burden softly
pause long
to look
at me
hold your young
by the nape
and squirrel-climb the maple
jump -
all the way over
to pine branches
your young in nest,
keep guard
at the branch
Friday, April 14, 2006
The Next Gig
Here's a scary one:
we were on firm footing
I thought
Know that plans
can change, rearrange
into unfamiliar shape
Gravity always works
and so do lots of people
with inversely related power
Increased future uncertainty
diminishes hope and focus
by a path negatively exponential
While energy is conserved
entropy rules secondly
and action calls for reaction
The experiment is over,
time to write it up
and move on to the next
they say
you're only as good
as your next gig
we were on firm footing
I thought
Know that plans
can change, rearrange
into unfamiliar shape
Gravity always works
and so do lots of people
with inversely related power
Increased future uncertainty
diminishes hope and focus
by a path negatively exponential
While energy is conserved
entropy rules secondly
and action calls for reaction
The experiment is over,
time to write it up
and move on to the next
they say
you're only as good
as your next gig
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
To Brother, With Golf Club
Do you remember that time
that you chased me around
the harvested corn field
with a golf club in your hands?
The late afternoon sun
cast slanting shadows
and you meant to give me
a piece of your mind
Living in daily proximity
has its challenges
and thankfully
I could run
Now you live
several days by car
on a hill
I look at an old golf club
and think of your birthday
today
and how proud I am of you
my brother
that you chased me around
the harvested corn field
with a golf club in your hands?
The late afternoon sun
cast slanting shadows
and you meant to give me
a piece of your mind
Living in daily proximity
has its challenges
and thankfully
I could run
Now you live
several days by car
on a hill
I look at an old golf club
and think of your birthday
today
and how proud I am of you
my brother
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
A Few Simple Questions
An inquiry into poetic tendencies (courtesy of Carol):
1.Where do your poems start? What causes you to sit down and write a poem? Is it a certain emotion?
They typically start with the question of whether I have anything to write about, and I'm usually curious to know what it is. It's also typically a 'want to do' break from a 'have to do' day.
2.Do you have different stages to your poetry? Can you see how you've matured or changed over the years through your poetry?
Been at this for a good couple of months, and so far find that I do lots of second guessing. It's a learning process...
3. Do you have a favorite poem that you have written? What do you like about it? What does it say about you that you like?
I think so far I like the one called Ripple Effect, which was written after very intentionally reading through some Keats poems on a day when the ice melted from a nearby lake. I like how a moment to be shared develops and the turning to look and find that person.
4. Do you have a favorite that someone else has written? What does it do for you? Does it give you an answer or cause you to think a certain way? Does it motivate you?
Somehow I gravitate to Frost's 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening', likely because I memorized it as a child at my father's prompting (I think there was money involved) and I later made & published a version called "Distilling by Drops on a Friday Evening" which is heavily adapted to the chemistry lab world where much of my life has been spent. I like Frost's simple, clean ways of evoking an image - at least that's how it seems to me.
5. Do you only write poetry or is it a part of a vast array of writing methods that you use to express your self or your thoughts?
Most of my writing is carefully worded emails on technical work-related items. On rare occasions I work some haiku-form bits into the text:
These are wonderful
I wish I could write such things
but not enough time
1.Where do your poems start? What causes you to sit down and write a poem? Is it a certain emotion?
They typically start with the question of whether I have anything to write about, and I'm usually curious to know what it is. It's also typically a 'want to do' break from a 'have to do' day.
2.Do you have different stages to your poetry? Can you see how you've matured or changed over the years through your poetry?
Been at this for a good couple of months, and so far find that I do lots of second guessing. It's a learning process...
3. Do you have a favorite poem that you have written? What do you like about it? What does it say about you that you like?
I think so far I like the one called Ripple Effect, which was written after very intentionally reading through some Keats poems on a day when the ice melted from a nearby lake. I like how a moment to be shared develops and the turning to look and find that person.
4. Do you have a favorite that someone else has written? What does it do for you? Does it give you an answer or cause you to think a certain way? Does it motivate you?
Somehow I gravitate to Frost's 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening', likely because I memorized it as a child at my father's prompting (I think there was money involved) and I later made & published a version called "Distilling by Drops on a Friday Evening" which is heavily adapted to the chemistry lab world where much of my life has been spent. I like Frost's simple, clean ways of evoking an image - at least that's how it seems to me.
5. Do you only write poetry or is it a part of a vast array of writing methods that you use to express your self or your thoughts?
Most of my writing is carefully worded emails on technical work-related items. On rare occasions I work some haiku-form bits into the text:
These are wonderful
I wish I could write such things
but not enough time
Monday, April 10, 2006
The Monday Race
this one needs to be sent back to the kitchen!
Just think back
on all the marvelous Mondays
raring to go
chomping at the bit
pawing the ground
and wild-eyed
There's the bell
and they're off!
round the first turn
it's Green Tea by a nose!
over on the backstretch,
Bacon Bagel closes in
it's scrambled legs (***weak line alert***)
Hoof thunder
well-leaned profile
crop at the ready
there you are
fighting for place
ever edging forward
Home stretch
give all
don't fall
there's the line
camera flash
the Monday race
Just think back
on all the marvelous Mondays
raring to go
chomping at the bit
pawing the ground
and wild-eyed
There's the bell
and they're off!
round the first turn
it's Green Tea by a nose!
over on the backstretch,
it's scrambled legs (***weak line alert***)
Hoof thunder
well-leaned profile
crop at the ready
there you are
fighting for place
ever edging forward
Home stretch
give all
don't fall
there's the line
camera flash
the Monday race
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Ripple Effect
Borrowed sun-distant form
seals over half the year
clearly congealed and smooth
Long day edge-wise remover
reveals the rippling melody of light
a fluid dance from farther shore
Such brightness freely taken
I turn and look for you
and all that it can tell
seals over half the year
clearly congealed and smooth
Long day edge-wise remover
reveals the rippling melody of light
a fluid dance from farther shore
Such brightness freely taken
I turn and look for you
and all that it can tell
Guitar Man
From the all night focus on getting the sound
to this morning as I'm thinking about how to get that
Carlos Santana flow out of my effects box
and "should there be any delay?" -
I remember Jimi and how he didn't make it to the hospital
to this morning as I'm thinking about how to get that
Carlos Santana flow out of my effects box
and "should there be any delay?" -
I remember Jimi and how he didn't make it to the hospital
Saturday, April 08, 2006
stricken words
such cruel words
I have not heard
but feel
so I put on
my hiking boots
check the pack
pack some meals
trail head here,
it seems
and leads -
let's not worry
set a pace
"study as you goes"
from rock to rock
step carefully
with others on the trail
speak,
but don't complain
and do not be surprised at rain
take care of feet
rest when needed
signs and warnings
should be heeded
scheduled for removal
Owie Zowie
this one was written upon waking up with a toothache on a Saturday morning and not having a very clear idea of what to do next - it doesn't hurt so much now, which is inexplicable. I was going to delete this one, but here it is anyway.
"Get thee to a dentist chair!"
the weekend is begun
a painful tooth begins to flare
this is not fun, I do declare
what have I done
to earn the right
to twist and turn
in bed at night
but surely this
is not amiss
or so I think
after her kiss
meanwhile
I will sit and write
and on that tooth
try not to bite
"Get thee to a dentist chair!"
the weekend is begun
a painful tooth begins to flare
this is not fun, I do declare
what have I done
to earn the right
to twist and turn
in bed at night
but surely this
is not amiss
or so I think
after her kiss
meanwhile
I will sit and write
and on that tooth
try not to bite
Friday, April 07, 2006
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Dealing With It
The train of news
pulls into town
this time letting
everyone down
cries of "what will it be,
and what will become?
our plans are all ruined!"
our ease is undone
"give us this day
our daily bread!"
are more than words
just idly said
my daughter cried
like someone had died
her grief is real
and too new to heal
but evening comes,
and morning too;
putting 'deal with it'
on my list of to-do
pulls into town
this time letting
everyone down
cries of "what will it be,
and what will become?
our plans are all ruined!"
our ease is undone
"give us this day
our daily bread!"
are more than words
just idly said
my daughter cried
like someone had died
her grief is real
and too new to heal
but evening comes,
and morning too;
putting 'deal with it'
on my list of to-do
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Sharp Distance
Through cables of light
your word reaches me
with a point to make
to challenge the distance,
question intention
and inquire sharply
I awake and think
about whether I've made
a real mistake
a genuine fake
would not lie awake
to think of sharp distance
your word reaches me
with a point to make
to challenge the distance,
question intention
and inquire sharply
I awake and think
about whether I've made
a real mistake
a genuine fake
would not lie awake
to think of sharp distance
Monday, April 03, 2006
A Fine Man
(in 12/8 time, if you please)
Oh, I want to be a very fine man
an' live in a boat with a hat and a pan
an' when the rain falls, I'll hold the pan up
an' when company calls, use the pan for a cup
(an' nothing to do with the book I'm currently reading - "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman")
Oh, I want to be a very fine man
an' live in a boat with a hat and a pan
an' when the rain falls, I'll hold the pan up
an' when company calls, use the pan for a cup
(an' nothing to do with the book I'm currently reading - "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman")
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Racing Along
an aside...
Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio" includes a chorus by the Janissaries. These guys were typically 'recruited' from captives of the Ottoman empire (starting around 1330 - it's amazing how easily this type of thing can be looked up!) and given a kind of elite training in customs very foreign to the land of their origins. In a way, this created a new race of sorts, which grew to a point of revolting and later, control. And they made a type of marching music.
There's an essay about 'Race and Language' in the Harvard Classics by E. A. Freeman which explores the question of what defines people groups. (A great line from that essay: "We may thus seem to be landed in a howling wilderness of scientific uncertainty")
Just wanted to park this here for reference.
Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio" includes a chorus by the Janissaries. These guys were typically 'recruited' from captives of the Ottoman empire (starting around 1330 - it's amazing how easily this type of thing can be looked up!) and given a kind of elite training in customs very foreign to the land of their origins. In a way, this created a new race of sorts, which grew to a point of revolting and later, control. And they made a type of marching music.
There's an essay about 'Race and Language' in the Harvard Classics by E. A. Freeman which explores the question of what defines people groups. (A great line from that essay: "We may thus seem to be landed in a howling wilderness of scientific uncertainty")
Just wanted to park this here for reference.
poetic scraps
perceptive perspective
repetitive reception
inimitable intidimation
we don't expect anythingless messages
but sometimes that's all we get
repetitive reception
inimitable intidimation
we don't expect anythingless messages
but sometimes that's all we get
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Click
Seriously now.
Everyday the whiskers grow
and get cut off
rinsed thoughtlessly down the drain
This done with the same care
as picking a shirt with not too many wrinkles
and remembering the belt
The same tired, hurried traffic shuffle
on and in through door upon door
switches flicked by the automaton
I've become.
Everyday the whiskers grow
and get cut off
rinsed thoughtlessly down the drain
This done with the same care
as picking a shirt with not too many wrinkles
and remembering the belt
The same tired, hurried traffic shuffle
on and in through door upon door
switches flicked by the automaton
I've become.
One Chilly Evening
amid bills. tax forms, and feeble frenchifications
poetic pretension raises its twisted face
and ekes forth a half-sounded note
(it were better to practice with a mute)
personal fog drifts through his words
leaving listeners wondering why
or simply leaving
but still he makes eyes at the stars
not seeing the ditch into which he soon will fall
heedlessly, headlong and hard
this one is so strange
but so are bats echolocating dinner
and deer that run right into oncoming cars
poetic pretension raises its twisted face
and ekes forth a half-sounded note
(it were better to practice with a mute)
personal fog drifts through his words
leaving listeners wondering why
or simply leaving
but still he makes eyes at the stars
not seeing the ditch into which he soon will fall
heedlessly, headlong and hard
this one is so strange
but so are bats echolocating dinner
and deer that run right into oncoming cars
Le Jour Du Poisson
today is April 1st,
April Fool's Day
my son drew a note -
'Kick Me!'
and stuck it on his mother's back
they love each other
April Fool's Day
my son drew a note -
'Kick Me!'
and stuck it on his mother's back
they love each other
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