Friday, January 30, 2015

the road

measuring the miles
in music
155 songs to go
on through the night
 Johnny Cash
redeeming the road

Thursday, January 29, 2015

the axe


sparks spin
honing that edge
thumb test
with one eye closed

plant feet
 wide
  steady
crash it down
splintering hard wood
 n' harsh words

the lamp


flick the lighter
sparks
 then hot steady flame

light the lamp
burn away the dust

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

tending

acrid smoke seeps
from below
ancient furnace heaves
in a slow, sputtering
basement death

the tired monk
makes his rounds
double covering
dreaming novices

layers the winter robes
for starlit work
 swings
  splits
   stacks
    stokes the hearth

     savors new heat

Saturday, January 24, 2015

pilgrimage hill

steady uphill hike
trudge
the high snow line
clamber, climb
throw a leg
over the rock ledge
past the crackles
and dead spot hums
place earphones
tweak the dial
look down
over the valley
soaking in
the strong FM signal

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

toques, tonsures, and truckers hats

toque over tonsure
  too cold
  for traditional trucker hat
old monk robes falling
well below
the plaid hemmed coat

steel toes swing
down from the cab
quick running board prayer
swinging beads, Bible,
fresh cuppa joe

solid break
 usual stares
  then back on the road

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

trucker haikus

sweep brown slush
outta the garage
like any old temple monk

fire up the rig
tonsure covered
with thick Mack toque

engine rumbles
shakes the cab
shatters fender ice


Friday, January 16, 2015

strong

heat clicks on
rumbling basement deep
house cold creaks
coffee is extra scoop strong
seeping morning warmth




Wednesday, January 14, 2015

400

i)

back up from the south
back to bursting snowbanks
sliding through drifts

ii)

early start
even for a trucker
engine hums
wheels caught
in a black ice spin

calm - smile
keep it between the lines

iii)

roads empty
for a hour
or more

just that one guy
out in the dark pre-dawn cold
packing Christmas away





I made it to 400 poems. 

500...here I go...