68/100

Persistent kitty

Prancing, nudging, purring, stop

Settles on my lap

67/100 days of summer Poetic Bloomings First Love

Kissing

You were seventeen, I was fourteen.

I loved how your deep voice boomed in the night,

even though you were describing an x-rated movie scene.

One evening, you drove me home, driving like a maniac,

but I loved how it felt to fly down Pennsylvania roads.

For fourteen months, we were inseparable,

playing basketball, kissing, walking in the woods,

kissing, going bowling, kissing, watching movies,

kissing, going to church, kissing, hanging out with friends,

kissing, tinkering with ham radio in your shop,

kissing, painting your MGB bright orange, kissing.

After dates, huddled in a kitchen corner,

we sipped mint tea, munched cinnamon toast,

talked and kissed with an eye toward my parents’ room.

We spent the next three years trying to break up

but always getting back together,

until we just got sick of each other. Fast forwarding

almost three years, you met my fiancé and you hit it off.

Somehow you ended up in our wedding party
and our wedding was on your birthday.

Every once in awhile you pop up in my dreams

and we’re usually kissing.

66/100

Tiger Lilies

Lining the country road,

freckled, orange trumpets

on long slender stems,

cheering and encouraging me

as I got on and off the school bus

for twelve years,

yet I was unaware.

65/100 halibun

Isolation 

A mountain lake mirrors golden aspen, emerald pines and sapphire sky. An upside-down row boat rests on the rocky shore.

Bejeweled mountain scene

Millions scurry in city

And I wonder why

64/100 prayer poem

Not David and Goliath

Lord, I’m not facing any giants

Like David against Goliath

Just a bunch of angry dwarves

Like a cow versus fire ants

So please help me not get nibbled

To death by all my problems

But walk in victory even over

The little nuisances in my life

63/100 Poetic Asides Memory

Memory

M ay remember it, may not

E very day’s a guessing game

M ay remember it, may not

O ften he doesn’t know my name

R emembering is like fishing

Y ou catch some, but most get away

62/100 days of summer my first halibun

Treasured

I have always held disdain for flowery poems about mother, exalting them for their love, hard work and perfection. No angel shines brighter. No martyr sacrificed with such conviction. No humanitarian served with such compassion. Gag me.

Son gave me bronze plaque

Mother poem gushing praises

Treasure forever