
There lives an old woman near here,
her cottage secluded and dear.
But the overhead tree
pelts her deck with debris –
she has to keep sweeping it clear.

I heard awhile ago that when we dream,
it’s black-and-white our mind’s eye will depict.
But I remember colors, so I deem
that notion incorrect and nothing strict.
It’s not like one can test and then predict –
the truth is in the dreamer’s sleep affairs.
But what of tunes? Are dreams with sound equipped?
I swear I’ve heard a few with lovely airs.
(Huitain)

I penetrated morning fog, and saw
a nexus clear as dream and sharp as steam –
distinctive link emerged from natural law,
delineating to and fro from seem.
I peered. I liked. I stepped from theme to scheme.
Behind was stale, beyond a beckoning
to patience, an elision of extreme:
a going-forth to future’s offering.
(Huitain)

My little place has urban privacy.
For nearly 15 years it’s been my home.
It’s hidden in a garden few will see,
behind a big brown-shingled boxy house
that one-time housed a single family,
but now comprises 4 one-bedroom flats.
Of late the residents in front of me
are home-improving, triggering this poem –
Their power tools corrupt serenity.
(Magic 9)

A novel novel’s in my hands today,
expensive and well-written, but alas,
it seems to lack a plot. For English class
it may suffice, but me it turns away
to open neuroscience newly bought.
Then how I wish the author better taught!
Too thick with anecdotes, too thin with fact –
I search my shelves for something to distract.
And soon I pull my favorite out to read.
Two hundred years in print and perfect still.
From one to two, my reading now is three’d –
I flit from new to new to gentle thrill.
I claimed I’ve read the best, the great, the strong;
you called me arrogant, but you were wrong.

The car alarms are bad, but backup horns are worse.
The first would be okay if stopping theft.
The latter interrupts attention like a curse,
and leaves us home inhabitants bereft
and longing for a break from penetrating noise,
when no one is endangered by the truck.
I don’t mind work and don’t care who the block employs –
repeating beeps are what I want to duck.

It worked today. I had good internet.
There was no glitch or hangup in my way.
I try to notice well but can forget.
It worked today.
The water pressure’s good. There’s no delay
in telephone or text. I’m not upset
by outside cats or inside kid dismay.
The toilet’s flushing fine. The coffee met
my needs. My games are launchable for play.
So much is hard but I’m not crying yet.
It worked today.
(Roundel)

Before the end of January here,
the yards and gardens sprout with signs of spring.
Oxalis blooms and tulips start to spear
the air with blades of green, betokening
a change of season early in the year.
For just as winter comes before we sing
Noel, we of the West don’t recognize
tradition. Here’s an iris for your eyes.
(Ottava Rima)

The news reports they listen to or read
are erudite or academic sorts,
that fuel their fears and act like chicken feed –
the news reports.
That 1 in 12 tests positive distorts
perspective, by ignoring that indeed
11 stand beside as viral thwarts.
They’ve heard the worst, and say contagion’s seed
awaits all gatherings. As one exhorts,
the other begs. I’m helpless to impede
the news reports.
(Roundel)