Could I be overconfident, like you?
I don’t declare as often, but within
I think I’m strong and special – and it’s true,
an argument won’t likely bruise my skin
(which at near 4 and 70 is thin).
There’s much that I am not proficient at,
big skills on which I cannot hang my hat,
and though I value gifts as much as smarts,
like you my head is brainy and not fat.
I pride myself on my conceits and arts.
(Dizain)
The noise I noted while abed last night
commanded eyes above to a raccoon
upon the skylight glass – she caught my sight
and made me glad I didn’t hear her soon
within my roof. The musk in morning light
is outside; something sprayed but I’m immune
in here. The only weird I sense near me?
Recurrence of the blue-light mystery.
(Ottava Rima)
Uncommon email found me yesterday,
that wasn’t either business or retail.
I booted up and saw my screen display
uncommon email.
The correspondence wasn’t boring, pale,
by formula or cluttered with cliche.
My former stepson wrote a loving hail.
The missive stood alone in the array
of worthless words and offers that assail
and beg deletion. I won’t toss away
uncommon email.
(Roundel)
Is she competitive? You ought to know,
who’s been her BFF for 50 years.
In truth her will to fight will ebb and flow,
depending on what candidate appears.
She won’t consider anyone a foe
with whom she opts to spend her days (or years).
How sweet or smart or ornery one’s act
influences her posture. That’s a fact.
(Ottava Rima)
The bins abut the pathway to my home
(the only drawback to aesthetics here),
and I’ve composed more than one pithy poem
about the way they look. They can appear
too stuffed, or situated front to rear.
It’s left to me to haul them more than’s fair.
And with next-door construction edging near,
I have to angle them to make them square.
(Huitain)
On game days here, I’m usually inside
or walking to the store. But Saturday
I set off from the city home, to ride
the subway with the game two hours away.
The cars were crowded, T-shirted with pride
of team, on chests and arms that never play.
I suffered, and I won’t do that again –
next game day I will leave for home by 10.
(Ottava Rima)
He’s worked now for a quarter century
repairing locks and understanding keys.
His focus trained on home security,
he doesn’t make allowance for the ease
of safety on the bus. He cannot see
a walk without his bear-spray expertise.
Like retailers who claim most shoppers steal,
this locksmith’s life perspective is unreal.
(Ottava Rima)
When I worked every weekday at a job,
I suffered now and then at getting done
a task or ten the calendar would lob
as deadline loomed, depending on someone
to answer me, return a call or run
a program I provided with due care
and courtesy. The blockage wasn’t fair
but had to be endured. Then suddenly
all wrong resolved and cleared the office air.
Life seesaws still, but not as speedily.
(Dizain)
When I was young, and even in my prime,
I escalated eating with the day.
No breakfast, little lunch – by dinnertime
my appetite would rarely go away.
The calories reserved did not allay
my hunger – so I munched and added weight.
But now I’m old and changed – I write to say
most days I only chew from 1 to 8.
(Huitain)
The dreams I screened last night contained machines:
a washer (twice), an elevator, car,
and telephones. I don’t know what it means,
for nothing broke and no one went too far.
They seemed vignettes of ordinary scenes,
myself as witness or the active star.
My sleep was stuttered but I rested well.
I’ve no foreboding memories to tell.
(Ottava Rima)
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