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Over The Rainbow Once I was chasing rainbows. I believed Vague promises of being fortune-bound Enough to be too willingly deceived— Real fortune needs both feet kept on the ground. Then I discovered roots, as it now seems. How quickly rainbows I once tried to chase Evaporated, as I found new dreams, Rewarding hearth and home with pride of place! And then, before I knew, I had retired. In looking back, I wonder what I might Not do again, or have instead desired, But find there are no scenes I would rewrite Or wish away—and now I comprehend Why fortune is not at the rainbow's end! (First published in the Fall 2021 issue of WestWard Quarterly) |
If Pigs Could Fly If pigs could fly, and always find their sty, Fresh pork would be worth more alive than dead, Perhaps far too exorbitant to buy In shops—since you love bacon, that's your dread! Green farmers would let pigs export themselves, Suppressing carbon hoofprint from air freight. Consignment drones would languish on the shelves Of Amazon, while trained pigs lay in wait Until your order popped up on their phones. Low-flying pigs with smartphones in their chops, Delivering your coffee, would make drones Forever obsolete for coffee drops ... Lest pigs' new worth kept bacon prices high, You'd have to learn to pluck pigs from the sky! (First published on October 3, 2021 in the Creativity Webzine) |
After Breakfast A whole day lies ahead. So I will take Five minutes sitting by myself, and let The dirty dishes signal I'm on break, Engrossed in my own thoughts. A cigarette Relaxes me, it makes me feel unsnared, But only for a while. The life I know Rewards conformity. I wish I dared Escape from ties to here, just pack and go, And travel to pursue the freedom I Keep longing for. Yet duty to my kin Forbids me still. In truth, as time goes by, A love of homespun comfort settles in ... Soon chores resume. But till they call on me, These moments let me dream that I am free! (Prompted by Elin Danielson-Gambogi's painting and first published in the Creativity Webzine on November 30, 2021) |
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Rooftops in Snow Ranged high above the snowfall on the ground, Oblivious to stirrings far below, Observed from higher still by a renowned French artist named Caillebotte, and capped with snow, The Paris rooftops conjured up an air Of urban stillness. Birds would have to hear Pins dropping if they listened from up there, So tranquil was the morning atmosphere ... Impressions painted long ago are what Now capture, for posterity, the peace Snow-covered roofs presented to Caillebotte Near old Montmartre ... Silence did not cease On those old roofs: it still is felt today— When gazing at his oil in the Musée. (First published in the Ekphrastic Review on December 31, 2021 as a response to Snow Covered Roofs in Paris by Gustave Caillebotte) |
Witches Dancing When once a castle stayed unused too long In Scotland, homeless witches found a squat. These witches, who think paying rent is wrong, Can deal with any interfering Scot Harassing them for squatting there at night, Enchanting all the dear departed souls Still lurking in the castle for a fright ... Displaying mesmerizing rigmaroles, A charismatic dancing witch—who leads Nocturnal rounds of hornpipes, jigs and reels— Casts spells on any meddler with her deeds. If you're the rent collector, your appeals Not only get no rent—but also you Go home and pay the landlord what is due! (Prompted by The Witches Dance and first published in the Spring-Summer 2022 issue of Rat's Ass Review) |
Columbo's Missus Columbo has a missus he reveres. Off screen she often solves his cases, though LAPD's most fabled wife appears Unseen on-screen: her face can never show! More fashion-conscious than her husband, she Belongs in Hollywood. Can no one share One look at how she dresses? Always he Shows up alone at each black-tie affair— Most autographs for her are ones he gets! ... I think I know why she's not on TV: Some miserly accountants, fearing debts, Slimmed budgets. Though they cover clothes you see Unkemptly worn by him, the lines she spoke— Superbly dressed—would make the series broke! (First published on January 31, 2022 in the Creativity Webzine) |