Encounter'

( version of 2011)

Above the early morning fog
I hear a single songbird peep,
if not for me she'd be unheard,

the mountain cove is still asleep,


Then, through a rhododendron bush
a tawny forest beauty glides,
seeming not to move one leaf

to taste the dewy grass she spies


She turns, and bends her slender neck,
then stops. -I've made a tiny sound-
her eyes and twitching ears she lifts,

our gazes meet and my heart pounds,


her glance is cooler than a mist,
and, though the stranger stands so near,
she stands and lets me stare and stare,

she seems to be devoid of fear,


she's like a runway manequin
who waits to let me have my fill,
then turns, walks through a leafy screen,

and as before, the woods are still.
-jorge999

'Letter To My Brother In San Francisco' (December, 2003)

Dear David,
The rumor's true.

Winter has wrapped our sick and tired
world in the customary bandages.

Soon enough they'll be discolored - fouled
by the residue of our strivings.

But for today all is wrapped in a healing whiteness.
It's just as you remember:

The stillness of yard and street,
the trees transformed, the quiet!
-GL

'Ephemeron'

We'll lament,
no doubt, in time
--with suitably sad
and dolorous rhyme--
our totally mad,
fugacious, climb,

But dear, tonight
let's drink the wine!
-G.L.

"Twelves" (For Ben on His Twelfth Birthday)

Ben is my nephew and I love him a lot



Usually he's good, although sometimes he's not,

He is a cool kid -but he occasionally gets HOT!

A very fast learner -when he wants to be taught,

So, go ahead, tell me, what has this boy got?


Twelves,

He's got 'Twelves'!

I'll say it again:

He's got 'Twelves',


Now YOU say it:

'Twelves',

Now keep saying it:

'Twelves'

'Twelves'

'Twelves'

'Twelves'

'Twelves'

That's right! Two Elves!


P.S. I think I'll call those elves, 'Big Ben' and 'Little Ben'

-G.L.

Rick Perry's Version of the Pledge of Allegiance

"I pledge allegiance­, to Texas
and after that to the flag
of the United States of America (sorta),
and to the Republic for which it stands.
(Unless Texas decides to secede and become a republic again).
One nation (that may be divisible),
under The Christian God,
with liberty and justice
for all real americans.­"

-GL

‎Random Musings: The Origin of ‘Clam Up?’

‎
The Origin of ‘Clam Up?’


Clams are shy, taciturn,

restrained.

They don't flaunt their pleasure

or pain.


Clams are cloisterous.

They are not boisterous.


if they were, they’d be ...

oysterous

-GL

Footling

Some days are made to walk in puddles,
poke your nose in unknown places,
write a rhyme, inter your troubles,
play in your internal spaces,

Fiddle, footle, frolic, muddle,
scan the maps on peoples faces,

Some days are meant for work or schooling,
others are for different graces.
-G. Lally.

'Maters'

I have one tomato, "it's a female one", I thought,
but I'm an urban feller, and have never been taught,

(I never went to a grange or to any 4-H's,
never raised chickens, grew corn, or picked Payches*)

but I'd heard a y ...err... 'Local' with a tomato in hand
utter something like "mate her" to an overalled man,

who smiled and nodded, like an approving old elf",
"So THAT'S how they get 'em!" I said to myself,

But how to distinguish between the two sexes?
chromosomally speaking, mine must have two XX's,

I look for a male one, I try and I try,
but I just can't discern, which one has a Y!

I suppose to 4-H ers, there's just nothing to it,
but I can't imagine how these round fruit... err... "Do it".

Wait! I've got it! -a radical plan!
tonight I'll stowaway in the local fruit stand!

sooner or later, I'll see just what they're doin'...
If I can stay awake all night, I'll see lovesick 'maters wooin'!
-by George Lally
(Candidate for the title of 'Official Poetaster'*** of the Tomato Festival)



*that's called: "POETIC LICENSE", in case you hadn't heard,
it means I can fiddle with or mispronounce my words!
So 'peaches' can be 'payches'. Just drop your interrogatives!
I will not be denied my poetaster prerogatives!


**po·et·as·ter [poh-it-as-ter] noun.
'an inferior poet; a writer of indifferent verse.'
Origin:
1590–1600; < Medieval Latin or Neo-Latin; see poet, -aster1

File Under: 'Random Musings and Silly Rhymes'

the vegan diners,
their court case won!

“no hurt was intended,
no injury done”

said the the claims court judge
(a wise old owl!)

“remember the precept:
no ham, no fowl!”

-G.L.

'Livers' (2005)

Let the whiskey flow like rivers,
Sin the sins that make us quiver,
(both as takers and as givers)
Tomorrow we'll lament our livers.
--jjorge

"...and did I mention that you smoke?"

I can tell we're not meant for each other,
Oh just let me count the ways:
You're headstrong and could be a bother,
My dear we'd not last for a day;
You eat the wrong things -it's appalling,
pizza with french fries, oh dear,
You don't like Rioja -how galling!
(if anything, you'll take a beer)


I can tell we're not meant for each other
Oh just let me count the ways;
you march to your very own drummer,
you're determined to have things your way,
You care not a wit for refinement,
You don't go to operas and plays,
and dresses to you are confinement,
A tomboy you've been all your days;


I can say we're not meant for each other,
It's apparent in so many ways,
you've a temper (just like my mother)
...and yet...I am here in this haze;
I shan't worry, it's merely a crush dear,
You're not meant for me -I won't have it!
So why am I feeling this rush dear?
...Oh well, you're my heroine habit.
--jjorge

"World Cup Blues" (2006?)

Alas, I'm not a worldly chap
(Though I have travelled o'er the map)
Though I have visited and roamed
In Buenos Aires, London, --Rome

I've 'inhaled', 'drunk' and 'eaten' cultures
Like some crazed, voracious vulture.
I've lived like locals, learned their ways
Embraced their pasts--their nowadays

And yet I'm still a Philistine
'Cause I can't dig a certain scene...
(Would you believe it makes me yawn
much less arise to watch at dawn!)

A sport with balls that has no bats
Or three-point shots or touchdowns... Rats!
If I could work some interest up
--stop being a provincial pup--
I'd still not love the worldly Cup.
(G.L.)

'Broke and Broken Up' (lyrics by G.Lally)

My sister-in-law's FB status today was 'My Power Washer Broke'.
Someone said it sounded like a country song. So, here goes!


'Broke and Broken Up'
(lyrics by G.Lally)

My power washer's broke and so ain't I,
My man just left me for a teen-age tramp,
Oh, honey, buy me beer so I can have a cry!
beer and country music make my eyes so damp!

Some one stole my pickup, and my dang dawg died,
that ol' bill collector's knocking on my door
I need to find a place where I can go and hide,
but no one wants to take me in no more!

...I'm broke and broken up, but I ain't broken..."
truer words than that just ain't been spoken!
So cowboy, buy me a beer and play that song,
'cause everything I ever had's gone wrong!

Now please don't think that I am always bitchin'
but this toothache has me feeling...well, like shit!
this morning I woke up and I was itchin'
at least those pesky bedbugs like me quite a bit

...I'm broke and broken up, but I ain't broken..."
truer words than that just ain't been spoken!
So cowboy, buy me a beer and play that song,
'cause everything I ever had's gone wrong!

Correcting the Record

One time a woman called me ‘feckless’,
Well, how 'bout these feckles on my nose!?
I'd say her allegation's kinda reckless
don't you suppose?

I guess I'd hafta say that
that old gal is just a dunce!
--and anyway, I have been ROYALLY fecked,
more than once!

After Pascal

Though reason and I are well acquainted,
I sometimes see through an different prism,

In the heart of hearts dwell truths untainted
by enthymeme or syllogism
--GL

'One Letter Too Many'

(to Ms. J.)


If I were your
armor

I'd feel fine.

You're already mine.

Shaped to your shape,
my spaces

-all the old familiar
places-

You won't have to dress
in camo,

and if you need some,
I've got ammo:

te amo, te amo

-GL

The Secret Lives of Clams




“Oh, I am happy as a clam”,
was what my nice niece said,
It set my mind to musing, till
I see clam clans in beds.

'Clams are shy and taciturn,
don’t jump for joy', I thought,
-and 'do they ever clamor?'
nought!


even in Spring, when clam boy sings his salty song of love
and he is clam-romantic in his sandy, briney bed,
his nature is so different from human males above,
that yearning girl clams hear his song, and willingly are led,
( his gentle clam passion will not turn her red)


as he draws in and then expells
his nutritive sea waters
he sings of handsome clam sons,
and adorable clam daughters,
(propinquity is vital as he bubbles forth his song,
clams don’t get around as much as young folks do above)


Yes, somehow he communicates
-clam girl hears him like a bell,
and she discerns the vision
pulsing from inside his shell,
The gurgling pulses tell her
of a peaceable clam life
if she will just consent to be
his loving clammy wife.


unlike our human lives, so stressful and so frantic
some creatures live contented, beneath a green Atlantic.

A clam walked into a bar in New York City...

Clem clam chose the bar in the cellar
(apropos don't you think, for a bottom-dweller?)

"How would you like some nice wet sand?"
said the basement barman, "We'll give you a hand,

you can slip under it, and still hear the band,
We do our best for such handsome clams!

and we know all about your preferences here,
so no bar gull will pester to buy her a beer,

but sultry mollusks will prance on our stage
and they'll make you feel that you're half of your age

and later, dear clam, when you're feeling real fine
we'll prepare you the finest steam bath in white wine

with our VIP treatment, by the end of the night
you'll relax, and 'open up' -no longer uptight!"

these words meant to sooth, had a different effect
our clam felt a tingle the whole length of his neck

He suddenly experienced a strong urge to run
he forgot about mollusks, and booze and fun,

of course he couldn't put a finger on 'it'
but a now -intense fear filled his stomach pit...

[sorry folks to interrupt your fun, but this, alas, concludes chapter one]

Rumination on the Occasion of My Sixty-Ninth Birthday

As 'That Day' approaches:

I don't acknowledge birthdays any more,
but sometimes when my DOB arrives
I raise a glass -or maybe four or five-
(after I've determined that I'm STILL alive!)

knowing that before too long I'll 'pass'
this old dude doesn't covet gifts or pelf,
instead, I simply hoist my foamy glass,
and wish a happy 'burpday' to my own darn self!
-GL

Last Word

‘Saturday, May 21, 2011, 5:50 PM’

Drat! 
No new tat!


My tattoo artist cancelled today's session!


Damn! I don't mind losing my worldly possessions,

but I craved more ink today - my one obsession-

(okay, MORE than one, but this ain't no general confession!)

You see, I had hoped that
today, 
when the whole world goes, "Splat!"
I'd go out in style, sporting

a fancy, brand new tat!
But the #%!#&! cancelled app

has ruined all of that!

Well, just ten minutes more is all 

that me and this old world has got,
So, maybe I should meditate for ten

at least, on some sort of holy thought,

(while those smirking rapturees

imagine me in someplace hot!)

but I KEEP THINKING of
that blasted tat 
that I ain't got!!


OK, only seconds left now,
guess I'll just accept my fate,

knowing that this whole darn world is ending...


not.

-Jorge999

'Andrew'

If you weren’t litter-perfect you were close,
that day we had ‘first pick’ of all your daddy’s pups,
chubby, white and black with one white eye,
you could have been a panda cub;

an endearing, curious dog you were,
making eye contact with our human gaze,
not to dominate or challenge,
just gentle-friendly,

How could we not choose you?

Andrew, you endured indignities of baths and haircuts
and never made a whine or whimper,
but your happy self was always quick to sooth
our distress, and bad temper,

my buddy, my friend, I bring you now to Jo-Ann,
carry you to the cemetery with the
indian name --’Quidnessett’,
your quiddity now in convenient granulated form
(like some god-angering, Greek dog, transmuted into sand)
will slip easily into this hole I dig;

I think: 'will these granules, when rains
seep in and make your house all muddy,
will they stick to one another, and swell,
until you push a dirty paw up through the ground
and you come back to me from your dog heaven

or dog hell?'

'A Drink Called a Bearded Clam' (adult content)

1.
Deterred, at first, by a clam with a 'beard',
I gradually changed my mind
after I had been thoroughly beered
and had drunk three glasses of wine!

but it wasn't the first hair I'd tasted
(the whole story at another time!)
Dos Equis had gotten me wasted
then too, and hair-and-all, it was fine!

2.
Her business clothes seemed out of place
though they were of an elegant kind,
and I savor the memory of her good taste
-I'm sure it was better than mine,

with this ditty, I'm skirting ex-rated
-perhaps now I've crossed the line-
but her suit as she lay on the bed
was the furthest thing from my mind.

'Socrates Said To: "Know Thyself"

hmmm..."..a conceited little *poetaster..."

it could be that it fits! :-/

and, it makes my heart beat faster...

I don't like it, but

in truth it's


no disaster.

-GL



* May 10, 2011 A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg

poetaster

PRONUNCIATION:
(POH-it-as-tuhr)
MEANING:
noun: An inferior poet.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin poetaster, from Latin poeta (poet), from Greek poietes (poet, maker), from poiein (to make) + -aster (pejorative suffix). Earliest documented use: 1601.

NOTES:
What can you do when someone calls you a poetaster? Why, you can call them a criticaster (an inferior critic). Also see mathematicaster, philosophaster, and politicaster.

USAGE:
"In the title story, a poetaster suffering from 'chronic acuteness' is rushed to the hospital before his verse does much harm."
Anthony Bukoski; Average Joes Wind Up in 'Hospital'; Star-Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota); May 3, 2009.

"You have revealed yourself to the world as a conceited little poetaster."
Simon Barnes; Rooney No Longer in Control of Fame Game; The Times (London, UK); Sep 13, 2010.

‘The World is Spinning Faster’

It used to be
that folks could wait
till their third date.

but nowadays,
love, they start the fun
on day ONE!

So dear, by second date
we're ALREADY late
if we don't...you know...
'fecundate'
-G.L.

The View From Above'

they have 'gravitas'
--while we are brooding,

their jokes are 'droll',
-ours, merely funny,

sins of the rich are
'peccadillos',

they have 'net worth'
-while we have no money.



-G.L.

'Self Absorbed'

l.

You can have the abs you want

-if you'll be...

abstemious

just eat your apple pie sans cheese,

and yes, of course

whipped creamy-less



2.

well now my dues are paid and I'm a regular gym dandy
just twenty minutes jogging earns earns a piece of pie or candy

Yes, truth be told, this exercise is very, very nice
I sweat, and swear and sweat some more, and earn another slice

of lemon pie or pumpkin pie, - maybe a slice of cherry
or chocolate cream or blueberry ( perhaps a glass of sherry!)

eat candy, cake or pie, my friend, I tell you, in conclusion
but do those situps faithfully

...and have your ab solution.

-G.L. :-)

'all day suckers'

some
last longer

some
are stronger

some,
with a smack,

-crack!

-GL

'Insight' (2nd version)

I believe my younger selves still live inside me.

Yes, I know

I am that sagging skin
I am these aching hips,
I am that ravaged face
in the mirror as I stare,

but there are others behind these eyes :
the second-grader, late for school
the sullen teen with greasy hair,
a nervous newlywed,
the proud young dad
on the day you were born,

my collection of selves peers
into that cruel mirror,
wondering

"what the hell are we doing
in this old body?"

I tell you, these 'selves' are still right here!
inside me
waiting to be stirred to wakefulness

by one sweet moment
recollected:

by a glance at that photograph
of us,

a certain scent,

- that song!

-G.L.

‘Insight’

I believe our younger selves 
still live inside of us. 

Yes, I know,
we ARE that sagging skin
we ARE the aching hips, 
we ARE that ravaged face
we stared so long at today


but sometimes from these eyes peer out: 
a second-grader, a sullen teen, 
the newlywed, the proud young dad, 
-the one I used to be, 

looking into that cruel mirror
and thinking:
 "what the hell am I doing 
in this old body?"

I tell you, these 'selves' are still right here!
inside me
waiting to be stirred to wakefulness by

a thought, 

a photograph,

a scent,

-a song!

- G.L.

'How My Mind Works'

A simple word

or phrase is all,

-inflection, tone and such

will change it,

associations rattle

'round my head,

and something

in there

has to

re-arrange it.



Like this poem,

I think:

"find a clever way to

'finish it"

and: 'try to augment

not diminish it"

Next thing I know

I'm thinking of a

"Finnish hit"

Then suddenly

I'm at the end

and left with


'Finnishit.'

G.L.

‎'To A Spring Snow'

I know that your capricious visit was a whim,
but what of shivering daffodils?

and tender buds numbed
by your clumsiness?

it’s true your cousin frost's the crueler one
-the real 'blonde assassin'-

but I wish you'd have compassion
for birds and buds who’ve had enough

of you and him.
-G.L

Re: Wall Street meltdown, BP, etc.

As always, the rich white elite will have their loopholes, exemptions ...AND rich white lawyers to protect them from the consequences of their actions!
If everyone were TRULY accountable to the law for their misdeeds, the prisons WOULD ALREADY BE FULL of them...and there would be many, many job openings in the highest levels of corporate America, in K Street and in the various units of state, local, and national government.
For each sociopath behind bars, there are a hundred or more 'sophisticated sociopaths' -just as certainly predators- lunching in high end bistros, vacationing in exclusive locales, attending $1000 a plate political fundraisers, and 'doing their deals'.

Random Thoughts on the Israel-Palestine Conflict and U.S. Involvement in Same

RE U.S. Press Coverage of American U.N. Veto
(of resolution condemning Israeli 'settlements' as illegal')

First let me say that my heroes are Jewish progressiv­es who stand up for justice in Palestine -and there are MANY MANY of them.
Having said that, it's less about votes per se, and more about deference to AIPAC the moneybags lobby that purports to represent all Jews, but in fact represents its funders -rich right-wing jews bent on completing the West Bank colonizati­on project.
Unfortunat­ely a strong majority of American politician­s of both parties are cowed by AIPAC and will support any pro-Israel measure no matter how absurd or how it may go against our own American interests. AIPAC has a history similar to the NRA of going after politician­s who don't toe the line and (regrettab­ly) they have a track record of defeating them. Still, History will not look kindly on the multitude of cowardly U.S. politician­s who have played along with AIPAC to the detriment of their own country.
ADDENDUM: It should be noted that Christian Zionists, who form a large part of the Republican base, also press their politician­s to support Israel in every way -especiall­y in the Colonizati­on of the West Bank (euphemist­ically called: 'Settlemen­t Constructi­on').”
So much for 'All the News That's Fit to Print'.
The truth is, that in this country, news that reflects badly on Israel is downplayed­, white-wash­ed, 'spun' and very very often simply ignored.
Am I saying that the Israel Lobby has a disproport­ionate control over news in the U.S.A.?
You bet your #!*$)#! _ ss I am!

U.S. Aid to Egypt is Really Additional Aid to/for Israel

The U.S. has supported numerous dictators/ autocrats over the years, but its support of Mubarak, and $1.5 billion a year in (primarily ) military aid is driven solely by the interests of Israel and the Israel lobby in the U.S. This was the 'Egyptian payoff' that derived from the 1978 'Camp David' Agreement arranged by Jimmy Carter.

On today's news some Israeli stooge was asked: "What does the U.S. get back for all that money?" His answer: The U.S. gets "priority access to the Suez Canal and Egyptian airspace." ** The REAL answer, of course is that ISRAEL gets a compliant strongman who will suppress Egyptians, (who happen to be sympathetic to Palestinian aspirations) and allow Israel to proceed with its long term colonization project in the West Bank.

I wonder if the U.S. gets an annual 'Thank You' note from the Israelis?


** The U.S. already had complete access to the Suez Canal and Egypt would never dare to cut it off.
The U.S. would have considered that tantamount to an act of war. So what is gained by 'Priority Access'?
Do American ship captains get to visit a VIP lounge alongside the canal? or perhaps Egypt sends belly
dancers to entertain them during transit? $1.5 billion a year for 'Priority Access' is pretty bogus!

George Lally 2/10/11

"...'The Queen of Snail Mail', and other Memories..."

Today (2/6/11) I found on my hard drive, a couple of entries from May 2002:


Tina's Death

Thursday May 23, 2002

Tina was put down today.

Tina was my mom's 14 year old cross-breed (shepherd plus
something). Mom got Tina as a pup. She was a stray, all skin
and bones and shivering in the rain when my late father found her.
She had no license and they could not find an owner.
Dad died the next year and it's been just Tina and mom for nearly
thirteen years.

Lately Tina has been falling down frequently and has been in
pain in her spinal column and hips. It reached the point that
mom spent a couple of entire nights awake trying to comfort her
in the past week.

Tina was also having a hard time getting in and out of the house
to do her business. She is (was) a large overweight dog and mom
was endangering herself trying to wrestle Tina up a couple of steps
into the house. (I had built a ramp for Tina a few months ago but
she refused to walk on it so mother, all by heself, tore the ramp
down a few days later!)

Mom has a veterinarian who does home visits. She (the vet) was
at the house Tuesday and told mom that there was nothing to do
for Tina and it was 'her time.' Mom, who lives alone, was
devastated but agreed with the assessment
except she wanted to wait till today so I could be with her.

I arrived at 12:30. The vet was due at 1:30. Tina was lying on
the kitchen floor in front of mom's chair. She barked and wagged
her tail when I arrived but couldn't get up. My mother's eyes
were red from crying for the past two days. Mom had had eight
children but Tina was her 'Baby'.

We patted and comforted Tina until the vet arrived. At 1:30
sharp the vet came with Peggy the next door neighbor right
behind her. Peggy is a vet tech and she and her husband have been
very good neighbors to mom. She herself had been devastated when
her own dog died two years ago. Peggy had volunteered to
transport Tina's remains in her van to a place where they would
be cremated.

The veterinarian first gave Tina a shot to tranquilize her. She
lay there calmly, blinking a little. Then the vet started an IV
of a second drug and within a minute or two the blinking stopped.

Tina was gone.
After tears and hugs Peggy and I carried Tina, wrapped in a
blanket to her van. I stayed till 4:30 helping mom clean up.There
were newspapers all over the floor due to Tina's quite
understandable 'accidents' in recent days.

It will take a week to get the ashes back from the 'Animal
Rescue League.' Peggy says that they, unlike some crematories
this one really does give you YOUR OWN dog's ashes.

Peggy also took a picture of Tina with her digital camera on
Tuesday. She told me outside today that when she picks up the
ashes for mom she's going to bring her a framed 8x10 picture of
Tina. Nice neighbor.


Friday May 24, 2002

I checked in with Mom by phone this a.m.
She's doing ok, doing some cleaning.
I'll be checking in with her daily for awhile.
I've encouraged my siblings to call her too.
Sunday I'll drive back up to Avon and take her
shopping for a new washing machine.
Life goes on.

"The Bustle in a House
The Morning after Death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon Earth--

The sweeping up the Heart
And putting Love away
We shall not want to use again
Until Eternity."

(Emily Dickinson)



Sunday May 26, 2002

I just spoke with my Mom. She says she's 'feeling cold and old'
but she's staying busy. At this point she's quite insistent that
she won't get another dog and she is not really a cat person. I
will do what I can to help her process the loss of course and she
may then reconsider and get another dog.
I have to say that Mom is quite strong, in her way. She doesn't
get immobilized or paralysed by her grief--although the grief is
real.

Next to her dog her other great interest is her birds. Mom buys
and dispenses extraordinary quantities of bird-seed to her
feathered friends (about forty pounds per week!). She has a large
picture window in her kitchen and can watch her cardinals and
sparrows and finches right from her favorite seat at the kitchen
table. She also has her daytime 'soaps' ie. "All My Children" etc
etc and she spends a fortune on postage sending in entries to
contests etc. as well as her prodigious letter writing. Yes, Mom
is of that vanishing breed...she actually writes real letters to
her children, granchildren and others. I guess you'd have to call
her "The Queen of Snail Mail."
In short, Mom is hanging in there and she'll get whatever
support she needs to get through and past her loss.

Goodwill

It's a cold, frigid day, and I'm
reflecting:
on the old, the out-of-work the poor,
the laid-off people, some dispirited,
some who hardly struggle anymore,

How are they -today?
one with a car that's broke,
and no money to fix it - walks,

Near my house, is a trailer park,
I watch the trekkers trek a 3 mile stretch
of un-sidewalked highway,
with groceries from WalMart
or to work, in Hardees uniforms,

Winter clothes cost money,
but, there is Goodwill..

Each year in cold spells there are fires,
who is the named culprit?
SPACE HEATERS,
that desperate people sometimes use,
to warm their houses and their bones,

We lucky, think of them-the struggling ones
-the misery that cold inflicts-
from time to time,
though, honestly, our things
concern us most, don't they?
and 'the poor ye always have with ye'
Right?

Perhaps I'll make a Goodwill drop,
after I'm finished with my tea.
that's the thing to do. Isn't it?.
Yes, Goodwill.

-Jorge999

After Math

thought this might give you a smile...
(or a grimace)


After Math

For this they are not thankful,
For a Thanksgiving wish denied,
The millions who couldn't stop gobbling,
Can you hear their collective sighs?

What they gobbled, had to go somewhere,
And now it accuses their eyes,
grimly, they will go shopping
for pants of (a) larger thighs...
-GL
[ on Black Friday 2010]

'To A Chicken'

O you to whom the dinosaur is kin,
-noble cousin of emu, eagle, and owl-
I hold it as a dreadful sin
that any man would call you 'fowl'!

Alas, it's true that birds, and dinosaurs,
and men like me do die,
but you alone, unlucky avian,
endure the fate of being fried,

O, we are awed by your unlikely pluck!
as o'er your noble head a sword hangs high,
and you serenely peck and cluck,
until... ( I wipe a tear from out my eye)
you meet your end, dissected, and with carrots, stuck
into some fiendish granny's hot pot pie!
-G.L. December 2010

1-15-11

I am lately up to my eyes in a self-imposed marinade of ED poems and biography!

Sneak Attack

What makes me smile ?
Spring's sneak attack:

Seven forsythias
blazing yellow,

Undaunted,
daffodils
blazing back!

-GL