Circulating Pomes

070713

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

Four shallow spaghetti bowls.
One clear pyrex pie plate.
One dash of water each;
one drop of detergent each.

Life traps us into killing.
With ghoulish, macabre hope,
I make my nightly rounds,
laying a deathtrap pool
beneath each corresponding
pool of carpeted lamplight,
expecting—come day—
a harvest of tiny corpses:
russet, fetus-form fleas;
clotted spray of my babies’ blood,
and my own.


070712

THE WAY OF WHEE!

fingerless, toeless, clueless—
but dancing to moonlight


070711

STILL KIDS

Let’s butt heads.
Let’s battle!

But if you win,
I’ll tattle.


070710

BRACING

Weather lady
predicts “gutsy winds.”


070709

SELF RESTRAINT

What use is a word
that’s never heard?

What use is a life
that’s kept interred?


070708

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Grass sends runners
toward the bare spot.
Grass sends runners
toward the flowers.
But—the same grass.

One kind of mind
grows flowers.
One kind of mind
grows weeds.
But—the same mind?


070707

NEED UH HIT

We are shut off.
We are shut out.
We won’t shut up.

“Uninspired,” we’re accused.
We are not, uh, mused.


070706

AFTER WORK

Friday. Home.
Park the car.
Check the mail.
(Odd. There isn’t any.)

At the entry.
Door’s ajar.
Inside—mail!
Up go my antennae.

Back-door check.
There you are,
with a tale
well worth every penny:

“Friday. Home.
Parked the car.
Checked the mail.
Bills, but not too many.

Hurried back
a day ahead.
Wanted home,
you, cats, our own bed.”


070705

GUILTY PARTY

Easy credit. eBay.
“Super-size those fries?”
Mega-entertainment.

Luxury tells lies.

Affluence, that robber,
steals our health, wealth, time;
lending opportunity,
motivating crime.


070704

HEARTS AND HANDS
(for Rick and Debbie)

Here’s my hand, I give it.
Side by side we stand.
Here’s your hand, I take it.
We live hand in hand.

Hand in hand, we flourish.
Heart to heart, life’s grand.

Loves and joys and blessings
one by one expand—
day by day as hoped,
year by year as planned.


070703

GO FOURTH

Go forth, Marie,
and multiply
your every joy
this Four-July!


070702

MATTER OF MIND

Mantra mind
replays this loop:

What’s best for one
is best for group.
What’s best for group
is best for one.

(What is this “group”?
Who is this “one”? )