Sunday, April 10, 2016

The Wall

Tell me. 
Tell me 
     The good news 
This motley crew

And I am one -

Isn't it interesting how 
We all have our stories 
To tell 

Back in the day 
I went through 
Check-Point-Charlie 
And rode on the little train 

"Bridge of Spies" 
(Movie)

1978 interesting - 
They let us through 
We had lunch 
     Unremarkable 
In some old building 
With slow service 
I recall 
What must they have thought 
     Of us 
Kids 
From the states 
On a budget 
Tour 

They wouldn't let the 
Tour through 
As one -
Just individuals 
And 
The Wall was still up !

I remember changing money 
For the day 
And being told not to take any 
Away 
( I may still have some ) 

Back on the other side -
They took us to the place 
Where there were stairs 
And people could look 
At loved ones 
But never touch
We climbed up 
Some wooden stairs 
We waved at the guards 
Who were looking at us 
Through big 
Binoculars
From their watch towers 
Across 
The space 
Filled with 
Barbed wire 
And metal cross pieces

They had big 
Guns 

And

I seem to remember 
     German Shepards 
On leashes

A wide expanse of 
Sand 
And then 
The Wall 

And I grew up with 
The threat
Of the planes 
Of the bombs 

Of the nuclear weapons 
That would rain from the sky 
At any moment 

And now, they say, 
The threat is worse !
And "they" have 
Clothes police. 
(What would they say 
About my thrift store 
Stuff?) 
I would undoubtedly be 
Beaten for myriad fashion
Faux pas !

But I am older now 
And if the nukes fall from the sky 
I only want to be at 
Ground zero -
For I have seen your false 
Promises -
And I know how lovely life 
Could be 
If -
If only -
We'd stop 
Being stupid 

And mean. 



Thursday, April 7, 2016

Destiny!

Feeling better -
And realizing that I 
Must be in charge 
Of my own destiny !!

Yeah right -

So the "positive people" say 
But 
What 
Has that got to do 
With a $1200$ 
Gold crown 
On an old tooth in 
This 
     Old body 

I can be thankful 
It is no worse 
     A friend was talking about his 
     Bone grafts and implants 
     $$$$

Hang together -
Old body -
For awhile 
Yet anyway 

Just because I 
Haven't had 
My coffee yet 
Is no reason 
To 
     Self destruct. 




Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Sarcasm

Some days,
One feels ones age -
102 
If it's a day 

And what a relief it will be 
To cease 
To exist 
No more bills to pay 
No more wondering 
If 
I 've said the 
     Right thing 

What did they mean by that 
And what 
Were they 
     Trying 
     To say 

Sometimes the Tango 
     Tangles us up 
     And sometimes it 
Flows 

This morning I was 
Wonderful 
And hopeful 
And then 
     A friend 
Who seems to have a knack for that 
Came 
And took it away 

Not my fault 
But I blame myself 
For every little thing 

I feel so betrayed 
And abandoned 

Left here 

To live 
Or die 
And to try 
And figure out 
Why 

The Gods 
have a sense of humor 

Even if it is 
Sarcastic 
And dark 



Thursday, March 31, 2016

Death Valley. Rhyolite


Death Valley


70 mph wind gusts. Death Valley.


God of the Garden

The God of the garden 
Welcomes me 
Home 

Death Valley. 
May be beautiful 
And far 
But it is not 
Green with flowers 
And 
Too many spring 
Weeds 

It is quieter -
Until the wind blows 
Then it feels like time 
To dig a hole 
In the dusty ground 
To get away from 
Blowing sand that stings 
As it hits my leg -
Can't stand up straight -
Walking like a drunken person -
And the sun -
Which dries all things 
Is very fierce
There 

Beautiful mountains. -

Here -
I have the sea -
All places seem to have 
Some version
Of crows -
As one flys by 

A hummingbird 
Comes near -
Sits on a branch 
Above my head 
And looks at me 
Saying 
Why -

Why don't you have 
a hummingbird feeder 
For me 

Thank you 
God of the Garden 
For being here 
To welcome me 
Home