Noticing

The first job for intelligence, I thought,
is finding happiness. That’s what I want
from genius (and it’s also how I sought).
If not, you’re just an idiot savant.
Likewise, I’ve long expected artful minds
to notice what exists with every sense –
to be attentive to specific kinds
denotes creative bent with diligence.

But I was incorrect. Although it’s strange
encountering stupidity in smart,
and seeing careless permeating skill,
awake and reasoning don’t interchange,
full consciousness is not a form of art,
and mindful’s a deliberate state of will.

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Density

Until a day ago, my view was brick
outside my office shed. For 16 years
I looked at blocks and mortar inches thick
when typing at my keyboard. What appears
today is temporary, planks of wood,
for some landowner in the neighborhood
is tearing down to then build house and wall.
He says he won’t disturb my peace at all.

It’s now the season of the A.D.U.
At least two neighbors paid and have permits.
My boundaries are not invaded, true,
but I’ll be longing soon for noise respites.
It’s good that I approve of density
in housing, for that’s how it soon will be.

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Wordles

Designed to pick out patterns as I am,
and liking solitary anagram,
I’ve noticed some relationships in word,
which carried to deliberate are absurd –
like backward LIVE is EVIL and (what’s worse)
a GOD transmutes to DOG in its reverse.
That scrambled HEART is EARTH has no debater,
but now I note those letters forming HATER.

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If I Were a Virus

If I were a virus, I’d try to infect
as many hosts as can be found.
I’d cause victims sneezing and thereby expect
dispersal of particles. Bound
for another by blood, shit or snot,
I’d aim to diffuse with a strew.
Pretending I’m viral while knowing I’m not,
I get how to not infect you.

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Kinder Grad

Matriculation is a minor rite
when marking elevation to first grade.
Free choice, a film, and donuts were delight,
according to reports. The students played,
the teacher sat – all suitably “last-dayed.”
And though his folks expected he would grieve
at change, it wasn’t sadness he conveyed.
The pathos was his parents’, I believe.

(Huitain)

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Inner Healing

I wonder sometimes if I can exert
an influence on how my insides mend.
It doesn’t seem outlandish to assert
(or theorize, at least) that to intend
sincerely can’t do ill, to heal a hurt.
I pilot vigor and attempt to send
good where I need it currently within:
extremities and under spots of skin.

(Ottava Rima)

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Dogwood

Asserting dogwoods don’t grow locally
(he said they need a winter freeze to bloom),
I countered with how many I can see
around my neighborhood. I don’t presume
to knowledge (though my cranium has room
for more, I’ll never be a botanist),
but now my walks abut a petal boom
of blossoms too abundant to be missed.

(Huitain)

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The Mien

A mien recalls someone I used to know
who shared my bus and talked incessantly.
It isn’t she, but likeness triggers flow
of shuttered stuttered dormant memory.
I found her boring then and didn’t see
a reason to befriend her, view her place
or show her mine. The idea striking me
is how completely I forgot her face.

(Huitain)

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The Disconnect

There seems to be substantial disconnect
between the news and my experience.
Reports on screen will lead one to expect
rude violence amounting to immense.
The smash-and-grabs, the muggings, all the guns
now commonplace, group looting, road rage, more
they say is rife, while panic phrasing runs
through all the texts I’m reading on NextDoor.

I’m obviously old, but I still walk
and ride mass transit in the cities here.
I don’t encounter threats – I rarely balk
or change direction. There does not appear
to be a cause to arm or stay inside.
But news is bad, and I am mystified.

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A Blue Light Glows

A blue light glows I never saw before,
although I pay attention to what shows
on every inch of ceiling, wall and floor –
a blue light glows.

I can’t assume it’s new. I don’t suppose
a range hood can evolve or mutate – sure
I must have missed the sign its current flows?

Could some vibration shake or wake it more?
That theory’s not supported, heaven knows,
but something near has altered lately, for
a blue light glows.

(Roundel)

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