If Only All We Need Were

How woefully wrong

every single thing is now

with Brat Boys of America

running all the shows

It’s amazing how quickly

respect turns to regret

in higher-circus atmosphere

We are endlessly capable

of scudding what’s right for us

But for love’s indefatigability

Another Cavalcade of Seasons and Songs

Fold the year’s pain

into renzuru--

everything you lost locked

in the heart,

head full of yearning,

embarrassments

like showy tailfeathers,

all your melodies memorized

in the wings.

Keep your crane of ghosts

and minor chords

creased in your notebook,

carry it with you,

stashed in your pillow for dreaming.

Sharing an older poem that seems both topical and timely.

Untitled: America

In the USA

the following is acceptable

A man’s last moment alive

groveling on the floor

of a hotel hallway

multiple killing machines

trained on him

following snarled orders

to crawl forward

keeping legs crossed

not to move

sobbing

begging

for life

his fatal mistake

an involuntary movement

to pull up his pants

The gun that killed him

inscribed with the words

YOU’RE FUCKED

This is acceptable

to the police

a jury

our government

and the court of public opinion

is not universally decrying

an obvious miscarriage

of justice

and basic humanity

There is something very wrong

at the most basic human level

in the USA

on this earth

and I don’t know how

to end this poem

Possibly the Fussiest of All

What will become

of the one whose

fear comes calling

First snowy day

blows away thoughts

of maybe not

Kitty prefers

to nap, stir not

she purrs all day

What about love

dreams made of clouds

above our hearts

The Real Toads are trying out a challenging and very fussy little form
called THAN BAUK in the Imaginary Garden. Yikes

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

Mocha Maya’s

Shelburne Falls, MA

 

Busman's Holiday

These days play

like the movie Groundhog Day

and not in cute and funny way

more of the same gut-wrenching

anxiety upon waking each day

assuming there’s been any sleep

today brings more weight to bear

Advice to look to the helpers

and helping others yourself helps

but there’s no escaping

that sinking sense of coming

catastrophe heavy responsibility

particularly inability to protect

children from the coming storm

It can’t be healthy

living this day after every day

but health wellbeing happiness

are no longer the American pursuit

just ideals we will remember fondly

charming artifacts from simpler times

if there’s any time for memories

in the new holiday season

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:

   

    30 POEMS + DRAWINGS IN NOVEMBER!

Naming Conventions

It’s one thing

to create something

and give a name to your invention

like a newborn

or your favorite mojito recipe

but the human tendency

to explore and excavate

naming things once discovered

seems different

I’m not saying it’s easier

to travel through space

for the chance to name a star

or to discover

a new-to-us insect species

but maybe these things

already have names when we humans

come upon them I don’t know

I do know I've been discovering

a lot of new things myself lately

about human nature

at least as it plays out

in my universe over here

digging up previously unearthed

artifacts and gems

a few that scurried away

preferring to be unexamined

and one or two so bright

it was impossible to look at them

with my naked eye

but despite my obvious

human tendency toward curiosity

I feel reluctant

to name them

#29 (penultimate!) of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is STARS.

You Got Me Feeling Trapped

And not

the have-a-heart kind

either

but a big steel bear trap

clamped down years ago

been gnawing

and licking ever since

trying to decide

if your story

is the real one

or mine

think I’m at the point

of brushing off

mannerly concerns

and appendages

formerly thought necessary

in order to save myself

so forgive me

if the next time

you visit me in confinement

you find only a rusted leghold

I will be free

scarred

but somehow stronger

#28 of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.

Ponies

You ask me to fix your hair

and talk to me while I brush

of dreams and drawings

I notice how you’ve grown

and wonder every time if this

could be the last time

as you need me less

or maybe

differently

and I am so constantly aware

of my own needs

which have also grown

So we talk and dream and scheme

and so far

our plans include one another

I braid and breathe your hair

whisper a little prayer

that they always will

#27 of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is HAIR.

Stashed Away With Your Prized Accoutrements

Consider

the secret stories

you carry with you

how much do they weigh

what kind of pencils

are required

to keep them colored in

are they hazy or precise

do they comfort

or slice

unapologetically

& emphatically yours

to have & to hold

forever in your belly

unless you write them out

#26 of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is SECRETS.

Rainy Days & Mondays

Stay inside

it’s raining

rain of disquiet

inviting

discordantly fine

rain-on-the-roof harmonies

imploring us to

stay 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!

Moonlight Magic

There's some kind of small-town

craft fair going on outside

but who would choose shopping

even for pottery & maple products

when you could be inside

a beloved jostling coffeeshop

steam rising & warming

entirely rapt by a songwriter's

earnest verses about stars

snowstorms & comedians

& what-could-have-beens

#24 of 30 Poems In November to benefit Center For New Americans. Today’s theme is SHOPPING/NOT SHOPPING.

The Life Cycle of Towels

It’s getting rough

around these edges

as we arrive

at the fraying stage,

pulling wayward strings,

aware that the wrong pull

will bring on the great

unraveling, which we know

will be followed by

a protracted thinning,

but hell

today’s a holiday so let’s

bring out the fancy linens

and show those edges

what’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

Down But Not (Yet) Out

One minute

you’re leaving the supermarket

balancing a satchel of groceries

and a pumpkin pie

the next you’re down

I mean all the way down

splayed on the concrete

accepting a much-older gentleman’s hand

to hoist back to your feet

In this moment you realize

maybe you’ve reached a new life stage

the falling-down-needing-help level

and it sinks in

that you’re no longer as strong

as you always thought you were

in fact you’d be totally useless

in the coming apocalypse

zombie or otherwise

You ponder this development

already in pain

from just this one episode

as you shakily limp away and drive

but also giving many thanks

because you didn’t hit your head

you didn’t break your hip

and most importantly

the pumpkin pie is unscathed

Argh! #22 of 30 Poems in November to benefit the Center for New Americans. Today’s theme is ZOMBIES.

The Way of Flowers

Each blossom, even

the hardiest foliage,

wilts after a time

#21 of 30 Poems in November to benefit the Center for New Americans. Today’s theme is FLOWERS.

No Such Thing As Too Much Cake

All the sweetness

mostly I don’t deserve

but deliciously served

against saltier times

A cornucopia

of ridiculous riches

like a tempting cake table

each and every day

It’s so hard to believe

this sugar is my life

I still pinch myself

just 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.