How woefully wrongevery single thing is nowwith Brat Boys of Americarunning all the showsIt’s amazing how quicklyrespect turns to regretin higher-circus atmosphereWe are endlessly capableof scudding what’s right for usBut for love’s indefatigability
12.30.2017
If Only All We Need Were
12.19.2017
Another Cavalcade of Seasons and Songs
Fold the year’s paininto renzuru--everything you lost lockedin the heart,head full of yearning,embarrassmentslike showy tailfeathers,all your melodies memorizedin the wings.Keep your crane of ghostsand minor chordscreased in your notebook,carry it with you,stashed in your pillow for dreaming.
Sharing an older poem that seems both topical and timely.
12.16.2017
Untitled: America
In the USAthe following is acceptable
A man’s last moment alivegroveling on the floorof a hotel hallwaymultiple killing machinestrained on himfollowing snarled ordersto crawl forwardkeeping legs crossednot to movesobbingbeggingfor lifehis fatal mistakean involuntary movementto pull up his pants
The gun that killed himinscribed with the wordsYOU’RE FUCKED
This is acceptableto the policea juryour governmentand the court of public opinionis not universally decryingan obvious miscarriageof justiceand basic humanity
There is something very wrongat the most basic human levelin the USAon this earthand I don’t know howto end this poem
12.10.2017
Possibly the Fussiest of All
What will becomeof the one whosefear comes callingFirst snowy dayblows away thoughtsof maybe notKitty prefersto nap, stir notshe purrs all dayWhat about lovedreams made of cloudsabove our hearts
The Real Toads are trying out a challenging and very fussy little form
called THAN BAUK in the Imaginary Garden. Yikes
12.03.2017
The Collected Poets Series
Hello, Friends, it’s December! Next up, I am thrilled to announce that I’ll reading as part of a distinguished poetry series at my favorite coffeeshop in my favorite town on Thursday night. Look here for photos, bios, poems: THE COLLECTED POETS SERIES
Marian Kent & Irene Willis
The Collected Poets Series
December 7 at 7:00 pm
Shelburne Falls, MA
11.30.2017
Busman's Holiday
These days playlike the movie Groundhog Dayand not in cute and funny waymore of the same gut-wrenchinganxiety upon waking each dayassuming there’s been any sleeptoday brings more weight to bearAdvice to look to the helpersand helping others yourself helpsbut there’s no escapingthat sinking sense of comingcatastrophe heavy responsibilityparticularly inability to protectchildren from the coming stormIt can’t be healthyliving this day after every daybut health wellbeing happinessare no longer the American pursuitjust ideals we will remember fondlycharming artifacts from simpler timesif there’s any time for memoriesin the new holiday season
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Christmas at the White House, 2017 |
Well! *deep breath* THIS uplifting verse is #30 of 30 Poems in November to benefit the Center for New Americans! Today's theme is HOLIDAYS.
Thank you, dear readers, for cheering me on this month. Please take a moment to scroll around and read poems you might have missed this month. My kids also successfully finished their challenge to create 30 drawings each on the same themes. Amazing!
I hope my friends might also consider making a donation of any amount to Center for New Americans. Here is our fundraising page:
11.29.2017
Naming Conventions
It’s one thingto create somethingand give a name to your inventionlike a newbornor your favorite mojito recipebut the human tendencyto explore and excavatenaming things once discoveredseems differentI’m not saying it’s easierto travel through spacefor the chance to name a staror to discovera new-to-us insect speciesbut maybe these thingsalready have names when we humanscome upon them I don’t knowI do know I've been discoveringa lot of new things myself latelyabout human natureat least as it plays outin my universe over heredigging up previously unearthedartifacts and gemsa few that scurried awaypreferring to be unexaminedand one or two so brightit was impossible to look at themwith my naked eyebut despite my obvioushuman tendency toward curiosityI feel reluctantto name them
#29 (penultimate!) of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is STARS.
11.28.2017
You Got Me Feeling Trapped
And notthe have-a-heart kindeitherbut a big steel bear trapclamped down years agobeen gnawingand licking ever sincetrying to decideif your storyis the real oneor minethink I’m at the pointof brushing offmannerly concernsand appendagesformerly thought necessaryin order to save myselfso forgive meif the next timeyou visit me in confinementyou find only a rusted legholdI will be freescarredbut somehow stronger
#28 of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.
11.27.2017
Ponies
You ask me to fix your hairand talk to me while I brushof dreams and drawingsI notice how you’ve grownand wonder every time if thiscould be the last timeas you need me lessor maybedifferentlyand I am so constantly awareof my own needswhich have also grownSo we talk and dream and schemeand so farour plans include one anotherI braid and breathe your hairwhisper a little prayerthat they always will
#27 of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is HAIR.
11.26.2017
Stashed Away With Your Prized Accoutrements
Considerthe secret storiesyou carry with youhow much do they weighwhat kind of pencilsare requiredto keep them colored inare they hazy or precisedo they comfortor sliceunapologetically& emphatically yoursto have & to holdforever in your bellyunless you write them out
#26 of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is SECRETS.
11.25.2017
Rainy Days & Mondays
Stay insideit’s rainingrain of disquietinvitingdiscordantly finerain-on-the-roof harmoniesimploring us tostay inside
#25 of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is RAIN. Sharing in the Imaginary Garden, where the Toads have been let loose on our November themes!
11.24.2017
Moonlight Magic
There's some kind of small-towncraft fair going on outsidebut who would choose shoppingeven for pottery & maple productswhen you could be insidea beloved jostling coffeeshopsteam rising & warmingentirely rapt by a songwriter'searnest verses about starssnowstorms & comedians& what-could-have-beens
#24 of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is SHOPPING/NOT SHOPPING.
11.23.2017
The Life Cycle of Towels
It’s getting rougharound these edgesas we arriveat the fraying stage,pulling wayward strings,aware that the wrong pullwill bring on the greatunraveling, which we knowwill be followed bya protracted thinning,but helltoday’s a holiday so let’sbring out the fancy linensand show those edgeswhat’s what
#23 of 30 Poems in November to benefit the Center for New Americans. Today’s theme is--what else?--THANKSGIVING.
Joining in on Friday 55 at Joy's place: VERSE ESCAPE
Joining in on Friday 55 at Joy's place: VERSE ESCAPE
11.22.2017
Down But Not (Yet) Out
One minuteyou’re leaving the supermarketbalancing a satchel of groceriesand a pumpkin piethe next you’re downI mean all the way downsplayed on the concreteaccepting a much-older gentleman’s handto hoist back to your feet
In this moment you realizemaybe you’ve reached a new life stagethe falling-down-needing-help leveland it sinks inthat you’re no longer as strongas you always thought you werein fact you’d be totally uselessin the coming apocalypsezombie or otherwise
You ponder this developmentalready in painfrom just this one episodeas you shakily limp away and drivebut also giving many thanksbecause you didn’t hit your headyou didn’t break your hipand most importantlythe pumpkin pie is unscathed
Argh! #22 of 30 Poems in November to benefit the Center for New Americans. Today’s theme is ZOMBIES.
11.21.2017
The Way of Flowers
Each blossom, eventhe hardiest foliage,wilts after a time
#21 of 30 Poems in November to benefit the Center for New Americans. Today’s theme is FLOWERS.
11.20.2017
No Such Thing As Too Much Cake
All the sweetnessmostly I don’t deservebut deliciously servedagainst saltier timesA cornucopiaof ridiculous richeslike a tempting cake tableeach and every dayIt’s so hard to believethis sugar is my lifeI still pinch myselfjust to make sure
A little sweetness for today! #20 of 30 Poems in November to benefit the Center for New Americans. Today’s theme is CAKE.
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