Dad's Mesquite
golden light filtered through
feathery green leaves.
gnarled rough brown bark reaches toward cotton clouds.
breeze gently sways nest on highest branch.
jet-black grackle perched on drooping mistletoe
advising, perhaps admonishing.
tree’s penumbra shields brightly colored hammock,
cradle for snoring hairless primate.
© 2024
Magical Chaos 2
home, relaxed settled
with cat on lap
after first hot shower in four days
tired achy recalling…
greeters greeting
rangers ranging
humans and canines
howling poems
hanging with heathen
artists, musicians, and deep canyons
drumming rock star,
hashers, kinksters.
art-cars floating
as in a dream
tammi tiptoes
(trying not to wake sleeping bear)
loving lionesss nurturing, healing.
roaming roma roving.
sweet rat lady in sync
with bejeweled turtle
fulcrum leveraging
knowledge
new rangers emerge,
crossing the line
queen commanding
julie organizing, motivating
onesie marcus
volunteering expertise
julie offers nourishing
smoked salmon
cock waffles magically appear
in sunny hands
angel water
healed and smiling
wind blows, sun sears
rainclouds threaten,
momentary stillness
followed by rocket launching
incinerating man
engulfed by volcanic temple
drumbeats and tornados
synchronize
embers float toward heavens
backlit by starlight
home, relaxed settled
with cat on lap, yet yearning
already feeling
absence of the tribe.
c 2024
Hot Diggity
no hot dogs (seems cannibalistic)
frankfurters with chili
wieners with kraut
1200 people
fifty five dogs
coexisting
singing
laughing
reciting poetic tails
people
hanging out
with best friends
barking
dancing
howling with joy
celebration of
furry four-legged lovers
under clear desert sky
© 2024
Magical Chaos
under moonlit sky,
gentle breezes
cool desert sand.
coyotes howling.
not-quite saguaro,
not-quite man,
spirit towering
over rocky landscape.
observing
two-legged creatures
painting, sculpting,
performing.
twirling, leaping,
dancing in celebration
burning desires
ignite temple of man.
© 2024
Communal Well Being
humans are bad at loneliness.
we need that mysterious thing called happiness.
partaking in transcendent bonding rituals,
sports, group chanting, singing,
release chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin,
which makes us feel good.
community gives feelings of connectedness,
feelings that life matters
feeling like we’re on earth for a reason
other than just to die.
© 2024
Zen Garden
still your mind.
create a list:
items that no longer hold meaning
items that increase unnecessary desire.
items that no longer serve.
trash them.
still your mind.
spend time with positive happy people,
read healthy material,
watch movies that add
happiness and peace to your life.
still your mind.
focus on one thing at a time,
thinking positively,
let go
of negativity
remain
only with what you
truly need,
want, and like.
still your mind.
improve your actions.
re-evaluate your
aspirations,
goals, and ambitions.
still your mind.
invest time
energetically cleansing,
beautifying your soul.
create your own garden.
© 2024
Riparian Sunset
crimson droplets
ooze honey-like
bloody fingers
smear virginal canvas
spectrum
from sanguine to barbie pink
greening cotton woods
backlit by golden sun
dark horizon
contrasts pastel sky
ground saturated
in purple rain
© 2024
Desert Quest
ahead,
elongated shadows of setting sun,
trail covered by eons of blown dust.
beneath my feet,
ancient footprints in desert sand,
evidence of those who came before.
around,
harsh desiccated landscape
of indescribable beauty.
spiked branches, sparse foliage
twisted contorted cacti
forbidding yet inviting.
dust devils swirling,
randomly blending
earth and air.
confident strides
leading farther from the known,
closer to the divine,
into unknown hardship,
unintended consequence,
unimagined transformation.
behind,
only footprints,
pathway for those who follow.
© 2024
Norm Is Not My Name
two outs
bottom of the ninth
bases loaded
three and two count
do this
don’t do that
do it for the kids
do it for god
stifled suffocating
wanting to soar
wings clipped
trapped
do it because it’s expected
do it because cool
do it because it’s responsible
do it because its profitable
be loyal
be stable
be reliable
be boring
pick up the bat
point to the bleachers
plant your feet
swing away
swing away
with full force
aim high
aim far
sometimes
the vessel
must be shattered
to free the spirit
© 2024
