The Gardener
Santa Clara, CA 95051
theroot_
WISP OF REASON©
PORT AUTHORITY
a basket of asparagus steps off the bus
my ambassador to the Civic Center
which has a large statue by the civic pond
an honorable leader
in honor of a memory which has escaped
and the story slips back into history
where it belongs
with a rabbit
sweet thing
and chimney sweeps long forgotten
it is sort of a bicycle chain
sprocketed with stuff that repeats so that
historically speaking
it won't get repeated
sand dunes beginning
an ancient slot machine pays out roofing tar
a pond with no frog
and rusty speakers in a weed-strewn drive-in theatre
spewing mushrooms I wouldn't deign to enjoy
in favor of
lightning never seen
an entire play that never happened
days long or short
stockings that fit or not
now we're talking
further . . .
so we get off the bus
to go where?
that is the question
which implies an answer that won't be repeated
benefits of roofing tar
if that would please
largely, though, it has no beginning
no end
the pilot's seat is empty
the Hindenburg
and the signs that accumulated
had anyone paid attention
to an illuminating silence
profound lessons that were lost
we are doomed
what do you mean we
white man?
echoes in a room without walls
the patience of doves is not strained
that watch through stained glass windows
flying free
and one imagines laughter
it all amounts to a basket of asparagus
for those seeking an answer
there is none
and it is everywhere
oh, and that ambassador?
look for a vermillion badge
FUSCHIA
the mind that sees itself is beyond hierarchy
is neither ruled nor rules
and finds itself in all beings
a pair of geese flying together
wings almost touching
festival goers in the park
war survivors
people who wear signs
on the window sill
a dying bee
all those wheelbarrows
on their way to the sea
red drops burning in the snow
why is Rosie scolded for catching a bird?
tattered flag on a boat
a bobbing tea pot
ah, the harmony!
NOODLES . . .
there are as many ways of thinking as there are human beings
many different ways of seeing a tree
and those squiggly things in your breakfast soup
are noodles . . .
when all slurped together
self evident
now if we can agree on what is a tree
we can all slurp together
of course this is a simplification
but indulge so we can think together
if we can do that, we can act together
which, relatively slurping, increases our power
as a species
Darwin applauds, together with his latter day saints
but here we totter on slippery things
life was somewhat dangerous
without a bowl
possible to break a bone which by degrees
is connected to the hip bone
hip bone connected to the ankle bone
praise the word of . . .
philosophers of prestigious degree might disagree
while slurping coffee and other perks
gardeners just mosey along
plucking daisies and dandelions
unbelievable enjoyment unrelated to . . .
ah, sneeze it!
THE FLOW
muted horn of a distant train
Miles Davis
Persian rug in a tent impossible
strewn with diamonds from the sky
without ants, pesky neighbors, angry birds
passing into silence
taking the history of slaves with it
the abandoned path
this report is revolutionary
its headlines in laser flashes on a front page
yet to appear
for eyes yet to see
Rosie's ears perk to attention
Susan's car rolling in
Tabitha with her crooked broken tail
sits just beneath this clipboard
purring
energy of stars kindly bent
to ease us
UNDER GLOWERED EVES
front porch jasmine
brittle paper brown
drifting battleground
for samurai beaks
hummers against a darkening sky
a gathering of clouds felt in Oklahoma
in Arkansas rain
tornadoes
pain as yet unknown by indoor California people
inconvenienced from day to day
between starting heaters or air conditioners
rolling thunder on the horizon
catching crickets for bamboo cages
fingering iPhone prayer beads
to summon a flash mob dancing in the street
mood infectious
perhaps pandemic
I celebrate the light fantastic
let good times move the iPeople
picnic in the park
prior to an expected earthquake
and who can stop it?
on handheld screens leaders are seen
channeling passion to causes
movements of great force
to rattle tea cups making discreet tinkles
to mask the final moans of millions
Duke Ellington . . .
how dare change the subject?
had a cause . . .
which was?
he was his own leader
moved along with his band by fossil fuel
Ah Ha!
POLITICS!
put your hat back on the rack
the Duke of ebony had his time
before the fuel was gone
and I am laughing
religious people, people with leaders
hold up books or banks and expound principles
I do not flip pages, wave flags, or chant
the earth is my support
bed rock
which at any moment may explode
or if it does not
may be struck by an asteroid big enough to create moon2
while humming birds argue
CHANCE
does the wheel of fortune have eight spokes or three
does god spin it
ever wonder why
out of 171 million
there is just one winning ticket
or your spouse's moods
pine trees sway in the wind
memories that disappear
here in the ordinary world of invisible truth
blue ceanothus
yellow ice plant left over from the last glaciation
and what does the highway remember?
might as well ride a bicycle
there is no gold like fool's gold
and in the morning, finally
just sitting
quietly . . .
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The Gardener
Santa Clara, CA 95051
theroot_