ANTHROLOGY©
UNEXPECTED PLACES
in our American culture
creation of desire
is a patriotic profession
dissatisfaction drives profits
everyday life could always be more convenient
more exciting
more . . .
but I have become heretical
shockingly hard to detect
my wants are few
criticism wanes for the many
god doesn't love me
it doesn't matter
walmart doesn't either
my days pass in ordinary work, receiving little attention
for which I am grateful
satisfaction hasn't many buyers
though easily affordable
how can I say that the warmth of a sidewalk is a free sauna
walking past 24 hour fitness is just as beneficial as paying admission
that writing is scripture
is it not?
though I hope this doesn't last that long
like savoring air, it's meant for today
doesn't matter if anyone is listening
in fact, you might catch a tune your own
skipping along
having forgotten this
I hope so
bless you
MAKING WAVES
BEASTS WITH VOICES
slaves were called
climate change forced migrations and adaptation
trade and communication
built civilizations
seventy-five percent of earth's population
have cell phones
now everyone has a voice
says the History Channel
(Mankind Decoded)
in benign times no one notices
the ceaseless changes
no one cares
shouldn't we since now
necessarily we notice
the weather is beastly
sunspots, asteroids, volcanoes and earthquakes are
implacable as the profit calculation
that has brought manmade disaster
which might be mitigated by manmade changes
yes, the internet carries billions of voices
we babble, roar, giggle and sometimes say the obvious truth
listen to our planet
ask:
am I a slave?
FROG
a frog prince
turned into a novelist by a kiss
from The Wicked Witch of the West
braves the dark and stormy night
evil publishers clutch greedily at the manuscript
which
like alphabet soup
might regroup into The Wall Street Journal
or Pilgrim's Progress
reviews so auspicious that he decides:
call me Frog!
I will accept donations
but from now on
no more kisses
the internet reverberates
thunder and videos
the Gold Miners game at halftime
is shut down by a power failure
Chinese government terrorists doing a propaganda run
not the really real thing they emphasize
in a secret message to The White House
just a hint of our novel in progress
send an advance and we'll fax the final chapter
a geosynchronous satellite spies Frog
marching as to war
but not really
since that would delay the novel
no, it will be more
the end of pretence is in store
Chapter One
Gold Miners and knights of the City Council huddle
footballers eat hot dogs and drink beer
there is a great cheer
a great stadium will be built
it will pay for itself, and then some
with a little help from the Redistribution Agency
which the State has provided with funds for just such projects
there is no downside
citizens are assured
services they have paid for will continue
no matter what
Chapter Two
Investment Miners huddle
home loans are issued to those who can sign their name
loans bundled and sold to investors
who are assured
great profits
like the Redistribution Agency, except unofficial
Chapter Three
magical accounting becomes the mortgage meltdown
which might become national
the Investment Miners are bailed out
Derivative Miners are shocked by the Great Tsunami
economic earthquakes worldwide
have them looking for cover
magical accounting is weakening governments
virtual money can disappear in a millisecond
they envy the Gold Miners
Chapter Four
Government Miners survey the scene
emergency salvage operations begin
to claw back what's left
the Redistribution Agency is cancelled
virtual money is deleted
Chapter Five
Gold Miners have turned virtual money into a tangible stadium
City Council informs citizens of a critical issue:
devastating, long-term impacts on vital services
and we are doing everything we can
to protect city taxpayer assets from State raids
Epilogue
Great Recession rolls over the world
OMNIBUS
KNOWLEDGE DRIVES
COMMERCE, CIVILIZATION AND POWER
three crows in a tree
soon to fly elsewhere
they will choose a route none can predict
shifting positions along the way
no one in control as many others join the flock
no one knows everything
everyone has something to say
I see their wings black across the sky
flying with them to unknown places
illusions
there seems to be a leader
not to be envied
invisible currents cause a revision
their calls fade to a blown horizon
sunset
perhaps they know
our planet has its own destination
led by forces unseen
though felt by all
ice caps melting
our foreknowledge of migrations is not better
though our history is better kept
but remembering it is no compass
our knowledge confined to limited directives
leaders
I see their wings
hear their words
and fly another way
HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER
in vain hope for a grandiloquent rose
forego a necessity for predicates
surpassing dawn's expression
the best poetry ends
in silence
which is the object of what?
how to reconcile the grit of existence
that continues in necessary degree
with Hamlet's question
which belongs to everyone
scratch the surface anywhere
and the quest begins:
a sale at Orchard Supply
which shovel is best
North Korea threatens nuclear annihilation of
the White House
or worse
the New York Stock Exchange
and we know they're insane
a refinery fire in Oakland palls the air
threatening to eclipse the murders there
polar ice caps definitely melting
pennants flapping and the music unheard
is what remains
THE DAY AFTER ETERNITY
life is hard
then we get old and die
put plainly, it's a bitch
but not to cry
anyone can get over it
the price is high:
everything
so do the math
lose everything and no reason to cry
otherwise:
sameo sameo
hard math
but let's cruise with this
where's the proof?
lose everything: done
everything?
my proof is your palaver
flood waters rise, high winds blow
in California, where I live
spring is summer
what do I know?
the palaver:
well, maybe the math is too old
around the corner is a better place
better music there
who cares?
tough talk for tough times
gender, age, race, religion
doesn't matter
climate change is a bitch
and there is no other place
so don't take my word
I am not another place
but life gets tedious
don't it?
over here, over there
take your troubles anywhere
it's all the same
die bitching or get religion
take your pick
heaven comes now or later
but wait!
for only everything
plus just a bit of anything else
we can have eternal bliss
here and now
such a deal
yeah, life is hard
but there is no other place
why make it harder
it's not a bad place
tell everyone I said so
but what do I know?
IN A DAY'S WORK
streets scattered with blossom petals
paper thin
white shades of rain yet to arrive
people on the sidewalks
greeting each other and spring
though temperature records are broken
on Channel 5 the weatherman
always impeccably dressed
with balance and gestures refined
lets slip a comment unheard on G rated news
"something crazy going on"
will he be fired or admired
for saying the obvious
perhaps a Wiki hero is born
to be prosecuted and rendered for re-education
white petals, paper thin
two bumblebees having sex bump off my cheek
visitors from a deep well
twined in morning glory blossoms
my neighbor and customer walks up
wearing dark glasses
cataract surgery
he can play golf again
his happiness like sunlight, warm on my back
a young boy on his mini skate board stops by my truck
"hello"
he is intelligent and bright as the sky
"watch how I can accelerate"
and gone in a flash
rare privileges
for a gardener who just cuts grass
as the world passes
CHOICE
come, tell us
which ancestor so long ago
delved into realms of ancient wisdom
and said
what is this?
the other animals have claws and teeth
we must do better
what would that be?
we are smarter
more is better
we'll grow bigger brains
and it came to be
and now we rule
congratulations are in order
we are so refined
should we choose
we can change the climate
we can destroy the planet
whatever we do is better
isn't it?
KNOCK ON WOOD
maybe a great sunset:
oh! let's go there
funny thing once there:
oh, really the past was golden
why look anywhere else
why look?
pretty good question
ask again:
who looks
