Presents

A benefit from my diversity
of worries (multi-faceted concerns):
the many help me duck a tendency
to concentrate on one until I’m ill.
As soon as focus hurts (or presently),
I shift attention to an other scene.
My younger kin provide variety,
and sometimes dire smite to smitten turns,
which feels by contrast like a gift to me.

(Magic 9)

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Making Do

In further evidence of climate change,
the squirrels are resorting to green plums
as dietary mainstay. It seems strange
to watch them hunt the prunus; hungry bums,
they must be famished – fruit once scorned becomes
their diet. See them finish every bit –
who used to litter pulp drops only pit.

(Rhyme Royal)

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A Gift of Pistachios

Our mom gave us pistachios
that couldn’t be outclassed.
I meant to make them pose for prose
but ate them all too fast.

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Repetitive Motion

It doesn’t take book knowledge to opine
repeated movement causes wear at least.
Three score and ten convey a sad decline –
I know some flexibility’s deceased,
and every month my skin becomes more creased.
I’m lucky old. I won’t complain or mourn
some inner works now seeming overworn.

(Rhyme Royal)

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Regretful

Once upon a time I misbehaved.
I hurt no one but I betrayed a trust.
My bad went undiscovered – no one raved
or even scowled – there was not a bust
or whimper – every consequence was waived.
But rue began to eat my gut like rust.
Imagining how terrible I’d feel
uncovered, I reformed without reveal.

(Ottava Rima)

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The Whine of the Week

The smallest state’s equivalent to us –
two Senators are what we each elect.
So why is there an argument or fuss
preserving filibuster? We all know
the Senate’s anti-democratic, plus
Republicans are weak and seek to cheat.
So politicians think they should discuss
a moribund tradition none select.
The GOP is whining like a wuss.

(Magic 9)

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Variety

I heard the sprinklers fire while in bed.
I rolled supine and opened morning eyes
to evidence of rain above my head –
the spattered glass of skylights a surprise.
Two hundred miles east there’s heat instead,
and low humidity, and blood-red skies.
We’re California big and so diverse,
no matter what there’s always somewhere worse.

(Ottava Rima)

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More On Screens

The place across the yard sold recently.
Protective parents purchased it to house
their kid who seeks a Cal advanced degree.
And based on what I see, these folks espouse
all paths to caution, internet-advised
and disconnected from reality,
installing tools unneeded – specialized
for suburbs and enhanced security.

Although nobody lives there yet, the scene
that greeted me this morning, through green limbs,
was every window aproned with a screen
of darksome mesh inside white vinyl trim.
I sigh. The insects here are not severe.
If I were they I’d leave the windows clear.

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Latent Vim

Surprised myself this morning with a ride
I thought I lacked the stamina to do.
With hesitant consent I modified
my calendar, from nothing to a few.
Deciding to begin, to soldier through
two-thirds of my routine or maybe less,
successive pedaling conveyed ten new
degrees of latent vim, and happiness.

(Huitain)

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Day 8

Five lovely days with 5 I like a lot,
and then an afternoon amid 4 more,
all finished with a Sunday brunch we got
where Mom’s recovering – back on her floor
but slower, with a walker – not a chore
but still a stressor. Love is work and fun.
Full 7 social days elapsed before
I took today, away from everyone.

(Huitain)

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