Word Dimension

In love with language all my life, I’ve learned
a lot of origins. I studied Greek
and Latin, read Old Norse, and even turned
a little toward the Sanskrit, with a peek
at proto-English etymology.
I’ve always been a reader, and for years
I added shelving everywhere I dwelled.
E-readers now allow me smaller spheres —
I store a thousand volumes lightly held.

The decades of attention I have paid
to words, combined with sticky memory,
appear to let me hear more tones conveyed
than others catch. A dog’s olfactory
machine attends to smells full and intense,
and I get words in ways most do not sense.

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Repetition

It’s known if monkey see, then monkey do.
That’s how small apes and babies learn to be.
So watch yourself – your boy is watching you.

You act like you expect your words, if true,
to be the way he learns. But don’t you see?
It’s known if monkey see, then monkey do.

You’ll have to move that phone out of your view
if you’d deny him virtuality,
so watch yourself – your boy is watching you.

Of late his fits of temper make you stew.
You’d rather he learn equanimity.
It’s known if monkey see, then monkey do.

When you’re irate, it’s hate and wrath you spew.
Your mien is cold – your scowl’s enmity,
so watch yourself – your boy is watching you.

Respecting repetition is the clue –
use analog, and model courtesy.
It’s known if monkey see, then monkey do.
So watch yourself – your boy is watching you.

(Villanelle)

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A Better Spring

A better spring than last year is in store
for us – I feel it in my bones and heart.
Twelve months ago, we didn’t dream the start
of lockdown would produce uncivil war.

We didn’t know the senate we’d abhor,
the hate we’d grow to tear our towns apart.
A better spring than last year is in store
for us – I feel it in my bones and heart.

I don’t think I’m naive as I implore
my friends to let anxiety depart,
my family to act not bold but smart.
I’m feeling healing truer than before –
a better spring than last year is in store.

(Rondel)

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Plum Petals

Plum petals show like snowflakes on the wood
beneath my feet, against the crooked limbs
above my office shed. Their whiteness skims
and flits on wind as if they understood
their blossom purpose has been served. I could
avert my glance – no other act bedims
plum petals.

They’re tufts of white throughout my neighborhood.
They have no grandeur and few synonyms,
but still they grab attention. Notice brims
and I declare a nuisance looking good –
plum petals.

(Rondine)

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Snags

There won’t be interruptions in this streak
of daily lockdown posts, but I can see
some obstacles that counter my technique,
like missing illustrations, capitals
at starts of lines, and looks I didn’t seek
when posting and composing from my home.
Disruption shouldn’t last more than a week
or 2, while I’m away and helping 3 —
If I can’t hit direct, I’ll try oblique.

(Magic 9)

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Dismay and Disdain

I know a guy who claims that empathy
is almost over-dominant in him.
He feels so much he thinks the quality
is uppermost in character. That whim
is so inaccurate, he’ll ever miss
the feelings of all others in his path.
He regularly tries to mend with kiss
the devastation littered by his wrath.

I wish he’d hold the mirror to his face,
and recognize he’s master of the faults
attributed to others. He might see
his tantrums in the murk of his disgrace,
and comprehend the form of his assault
on honesty, enlightenment, and me.

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Indiscriminate Love

She married young, for 1970,
and didn’t promise anything for life.
The groom and she were close to 23
when they became the husband and the wife.
She figured that she loved him well enough,
but also felt compelled by how he yearned
to be with her forever, like the stuff
of true romance – with endless love he burned.

Eternity endured for one decade.
She couldn’t stand his suffocating love.
The marriage ended, but he never stayed
a single man – he sought by push and shove
a woman who’d consent to marry him.
His indiscrimination read like whim.

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Sez Me

Deciding that I’ll make a holiday
for solo me today, I didn’t push
to exercise or chores. I started play
instead of work, and took my coffee strong.
I even put my bathing on delay.
I focused on uncovering my whims –
I’m thinking I will let my body say
when I will sit, when I’ll indulge in Kush.
I’m planning nothing is my plan. Okay?

(Magic 9)

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Shared Bin Complaint

It’s difficult to share a garbage bin –
inhabitants each have disposal views.
Whenever someone vacates or moves in,
they tend to cram and otherwise abuse
the needs of other residents. And worse
than what is meant for landfill, is the stuff
that occupies recycle bins – the curse
of boxes that are not collapsed enough.

Exasperation most of us have felt,
but yesterday’s misdeeds went far beyond
the normal rude behavior. I was dealt
a brimming can that drove me to respond.
But first I had to stand in rain and sort
their trash, before I griped my stern retort.

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Masking Smiles

My daughter says the mask’s real benefit
is she no longer has to smile so,
who feels a scowl’s more appropriate
with all the excrement in life of late.
But I think she’s mistaken. Just as it
is obvious when speaking through a smile
(we hear the grin affecting tone and pitch),
unless she blocks her upper face, a show
of beam is there – it’s only blocked a bit.

(Magic 9)

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