Trespassers

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Trespassers


In the spring,

whilst sharing pleasantries
with fences and sheep,

flowers giggle,
knowing all the while

their roots have
tunneled

without permission,
passports or
proper papers

and reached
new opportunities,

undaunted.

j

Ancient Prayer of Trees

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Ancient Prayer of Trees

Dear Lord,
Most High Creator of

roots
trunks
bark
branches
and
leaves,

grant me but an inch of dirt,
a drop of cooling water,
and the warmth of morning sun.

I promise my shade to all who linger,
to cope with children’s swings,

heart carvings,
(Phil Loves Katie)

hardheaded woodpeckers,
and rickety tree houses.

But
please, please, oh please
forgive me for 
bearing silent witness 
to

lynchings.

Amen

j

In the Beginning

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In the Beginning

Before writing
is published,

it is raw rhubarb,
sour to the senses. 

Editing
is much easier now

than during the
quill and inkwell days,


But editing is still
more chore than treat.

There will always be a better 
word to be found,

a more precise 
image,

a sweeter 
sound of rhyme.

I suppose God
wishes our

useless appendix
was so easily remedied.

But then, that work 
took a mere seven days.


j

Fashion Statement

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Fashion Statement


I do like your hat.
really?
yes. it reminds me of a lampshade 
i once knew.
really?
yes. like you, the lamp wore it 
slightly askew. 
you mean crooked?
aye. awry. cocked just so 
over one eye.
really?
yes. it's a fab look.
thanks. do you come here often?
twitter? only to see hats.

j

Wonderments and Such

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Wonderments and Such


Children should discover
the tales of Robin Hood, 
Hansel and Gretel,
Snow White

and many others of course,
but also,

they need to visit beaches
to play

in the sand. 

For ‘tis there they will 
begin to imagine

how many countless 
grains of sand 

cling to the edges 
of our world.

And thus, 
when they turn curious
eyes to the night sky 

they also might
wonder

how many stars 
torch all corners 
of our Universe.

And so too, 
these story tellings,

these imaginings, 
these wonderments,

will help them 
peek inward

and examine themselves
with a much greater

sense of humility.

j