tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66575153509221887382024-03-18T11:14:23.273-04:00Humbucker PoemsPoems by Brother Ollie: the Tired MonkBrother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.comBlogger627125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-22828604139439783652024-03-17T21:25:00.002-04:002024-03-17T21:25:38.003-04:00a pub moment<div style="text-align: left;">The pub is warm</div><div style="text-align: left;">windows thrown open</div><div style="text-align: left;">salty sea air on the ocean breeze</div><div style="text-align: left;">pre-dusk clouds glow </div><div style="text-align: left;">with reds, a tinge of orange</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the barkeep laughs</div><div style="text-align: left;">as he cuts a steaming soda bread</div><div style="text-align: left;">the joke: he's poured a full pint</div><div style="text-align: left;">of Guinness into the batter</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the result is a brown moist delight</div><div style="text-align: left;">washed down with another stout</div><div style="text-align: left;">and a shot of Jameson</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-33478627496794807382024-02-25T21:27:00.000-05:002024-02-25T21:27:08.002-05:00sauna prayers<div style="text-align: left;">sauna door clicks shut</div><div style="text-align: left;">birch water ladled</div><div style="text-align: left;">over volcanic rocks</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">heat rises</div><div style="text-align: left;">edging on unbearable</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the tired monk</div><div style="text-align: left;">thinks of poems</div><div style="text-align: left;">as he soaps his head</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">razor slicks foam</div><div style="text-align: left;">slides on sweat</div><div style="text-align: left;">smooth and renewed</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">steam and prayers escape</div><div style="text-align: left;">via the tiny door crack</div><div style="text-align: left;">up through barren branches</div><div style="text-align: left;">and white pine needles</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-39192050296532576442024-02-22T16:55:00.004-05:002024-02-22T21:52:26.297-05:00one road over<div style="text-align: left;">the road is straight</div><div style="text-align: left;">just off a divided highway</div><div style="text-align: left;">past suburbs</div><div style="text-align: left;">butted up against</div><div style="text-align: left;">working farms</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">through a little village</div><div style="text-align: left;">down past a cemetery</div><div style="text-align: left;">a horse farm or two</div><div style="text-align: left;">then some open </div><div style="text-align: left;">wind swept fields</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the road narrows</div><div style="text-align: left;">the pavement stops</div><div style="text-align: left;">gravel and rutted dirt</div><div style="text-align: left;">right up to</div><div style="text-align: left;">a rusted dead end sign</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">keep going</div><div style="text-align: left;">the road dwindles</div><div style="text-align: left;">to a winding path</div><div style="text-align: left;">almost overgrown</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">under a tarp</div><div style="text-align: left;">by a cedar fence</div><div style="text-align: left;">a small red canoe</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I push it out </div><div style="text-align: left;">into the creek</div><div style="text-align: left;">paddle a few strokes</div><div style="text-align: left;">drift with the mallards</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-48557657846164838982024-02-16T18:14:00.006-05:002024-02-16T22:32:24.005-05:00secrets from the deep <div style="text-align: left;">secrets</div><div style="text-align: left;">sure I got 'em</div><div style="text-align: left;">a little spell ago</div><div style="text-align: left;">I pulled them up </div><div style="text-align: left;">from the deep morass</div><div style="text-align: left;">slathered in canal muck</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hosed them off </div><div style="text-align: left;">took a look</div><div style="text-align: left;">poked them with a barge pole</div><div style="text-align: left;">watched as they dripped</div><div style="text-align: left;">black guck, and slime</div><div style="text-align: left;">on the boardwalk</div><div style="text-align: left;">and slowly dried</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I kicked them </div><div style="text-align: left;">hard </div><div style="text-align: left;">back into the murk</div><div style="text-align: left;">sinking down</div><div style="text-align: left;">past bicycles</div><div style="text-align: left;">knives, guns, empty bags</div><div style="text-align: left;">and litter</div><div style="text-align: left;">...so much litter</div><div style="text-align: left;">to rest </div><div style="text-align: left;">still</div><div style="text-align: left;">on the bottom</div><div style="text-align: left;">forever</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <i>- for the record:</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I'm very much pro surprise and very anti secret. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-90019747649212314122024-02-05T16:31:00.007-05:002024-03-16T13:11:20.373-04:00churchnursing a slight hangover<div>in the back pew</div><div>boozy spirits waft</div><div>amidst some mumbled</div><div>yet earnest prayers</div><div>only one mid-sermon nip</div><div>from a battered flask</div><div><br /></div><div>last hymn fades</div><div>jacket, scarf, and Irish cap</div><div>on quick</div><div> a quicker exit out a side door</div><div><br /></div><div>a short brisk lonely walk home</div><div><br /></div><div>too Christian for the world</div><div>too worldly for the Christians</div><div><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-44028329827877250722024-01-27T08:51:00.002-05:002024-01-27T12:23:21.753-05:00hearthside<div style="text-align: left;">my obituary burns</div><div style="text-align: left;">torn into tendrils</div><div style="text-align: left;">tinder to light the hearth</div><div style="text-align: left;">the flames move</div><div style="text-align: left;">consuming kindling</div><div style="text-align: left;">birch logs ignite</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">this old ghost sits</div><div style="text-align: left;">warm in the fire glow</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-60343726301496929832024-01-24T16:27:00.005-05:002024-01-24T16:27:56.274-05:00gotta be the shoes<div style="text-align: left;">old monk knocking down jumpers</div><div style="text-align: left;">in the high school gym</div><div style="text-align: left;">his handles are tight</div><div style="text-align: left;">ball is on a string</div><div style="text-align: left;">quick crossover </div><div style="text-align: left;">a flash</div><div style="text-align: left;">step back fade away</div><div style="text-align: left;">hitting all day</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">on his feet</div><div style="text-align: left;">well worn Jordan 1s</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-76718818157926866562024-01-24T09:58:00.005-05:002024-02-03T22:11:10.460-05:00Closing Time at the Russel Hotel<div style="text-align: left;">stubby bottles cover the tables...<br />along with tall quarts and pitchers of draft</div><div style="text-align: left;">thick cigarette smoke plumes the air</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Toronto power trio hits the stage</div><div style="text-align: left;">plugs in oversized (for the room) amps</div><div style="text-align: left;">buzzing barre chords wail</div><div style="text-align: left;">thundering bass and drums</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">they rip through some originals</div><div style="text-align: left;">gets the crowd cheering </div><div style="text-align: left;">when they swing into some Zeppelin</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">in the corner by the bar</div><div style="text-align: left;">the manager cringes - too loud!</div><div style="text-align: left;">the girls can't hear the orders</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">he snaps - rushes the stage</div><div style="text-align: left;">flicks off the breaker</div><div style="text-align: left;">Geddy and Alex laugh</div><div style="text-align: left;">and promise to turn it down</div><div style="text-align: left;">...a notch or two</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the settle back in</div><div style="text-align: left;">wrap up the gig</div><div style="text-align: left;">with Working Man</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the manager grabs the mic:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Hustle Bustle - closing time in the Russel. </div><div style="text-align: left;">This is a Hotel, not a motel. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Drink up and get the hell out!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-49278664795432926662024-01-19T09:23:00.001-05:002024-01-19T09:23:39.753-05:00monk's bridgespare wood pulled out<div>from behind the shed</div><div>remnants of an ill built deck</div><div>carried piece by piece</div><div>down by the deep ditch</div><div><br /></div><div>rusty hand saw</div><div>my grandfather's hammer</div><div>pocket full of nails</div><div><br /></div><div>12 foot spans </div><div>crossbeams banged into place</div><div>ugly but solid</div><div><br /></div><div>new path</div><div>over this weedy watercourse</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-74973424350427120942024-01-16T21:05:00.002-05:002024-01-17T07:31:10.976-05:00don't let 'em<div style="text-align: left;">a custodian mopping</div><div style="text-align: left;">in a dim basement corridor</div><div style="text-align: left;">beckons me over</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">usually he has a joke, </div><div style="text-align: left;">or a wild story from the job</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">today a word of wisdom</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"hey man </div><div style="text-align: left;">don't let 'em steal your peace".</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">he looks at me real serious</div><div style="text-align: left;">and says "ok?"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I nod</div><div style="text-align: left;">respond "ok"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">we shake on it</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hear him shout</div><div style="text-align: left;">"don't let 'em"</div><div style="text-align: left;">as I turn the corner</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-79357696032571121322024-01-15T09:24:00.000-05:002024-01-15T09:24:08.082-05:00morning routine <div style="text-align: left;">hot water</div><div style="text-align: left;">over a old monk's head</div><div style="text-align: left;">steaming sandalwood suds</div><div style="text-align: left;">razor slicks</div><div style="text-align: left;">cuts away the grey hair</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">braced </div><div style="text-align: left;">by a generous splash</div><div style="text-align: left;">of Brut</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-63390695751956725512024-01-11T17:34:00.004-05:002024-01-14T10:09:17.452-05:00silence<div style="text-align: left;">hours upon hours of radio</div><div style="text-align: left;">couple "bad" tunes in a row</div><div style="text-align: left;">search the dial </div><div style="text-align: left;">bantering bitter talk shows</div><div style="text-align: left;">call in complaining</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">quick click</div><div style="text-align: left;">silence</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">takes a while</div><div style="text-align: left;">to get used to the quiet</div><div style="text-align: left;">just a faint</div><div style="text-align: left;">whirring 18 wheel hum</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-38481111499902974972024-01-11T16:59:00.002-05:002024-01-11T16:59:54.184-05:00Father and Son<div style="text-align: left;">met my father</div><div style="text-align: left;">once</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">ran into him </div><div style="text-align: left;">by chance</div><div style="text-align: left;">at a funeral</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">we shook hands</div><div style="text-align: left;">beside a coffin</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">he spoke seven words</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wrote them that night </div><div style="text-align: left;">in a black book</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-51008172109169036492024-01-05T15:13:00.002-05:002024-01-05T17:22:12.470-05:00three kings day<div style="text-align: left;">pea soup is simmering </div><div style="text-align: left;">on the wood stove</div><div style="text-align: left;">snow coming in heavy</div><div style="text-align: left;">pine boughs bend</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the tired monks sits</div><div style="text-align: left;">reads by Christmas tree light</div><div style="text-align: left;">one more day</div><div style="text-align: left;">one more feast</div><div style="text-align: left;">for the three wise kings</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-63136852760822337882024-01-04T10:14:00.001-05:002024-01-04T10:42:24.119-05:002 million miles<div style="text-align: left;">jacket says 2 million miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">in gold embroidery (just slightly frayed)</div><div style="text-align: left;">right over his heart</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">he'd driven more than a few thousand</div><div style="text-align: left;">more long haul miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">before the jacket was delivered</div><div style="text-align: left;">bureaucracy...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">25 years on the road</div><div style="text-align: left;">so much more than miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">every state</div><div style="text-align: left;">every province</div><div style="text-align: left;">...pretty much</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">thousands upon thousands of radio songs</div><div style="text-align: left;">and parking lot nights</div><div style="text-align: left;">missed birthdays, holidays, and days</div><div style="text-align: left;">with family</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">blizzards, construction, highway delays</div><div style="text-align: left;">of every sort - even a tornado or two</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">today the last delivery is done</div><div style="text-align: left;">heading back north</div><div style="text-align: left;">up and over Pennsylvania hills </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">temperature drops</div><div style="text-align: left;">the cold snatches moisture</div><div style="text-align: left;">from the evening air</div><div style="text-align: left;">delicate snowflakes fall</div><div style="text-align: left;">lit by rig headlights</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-74623147150486608632024-01-03T12:44:00.002-05:002024-01-03T21:18:29.319-05:00My First Albums<div style="text-align: left;">buried</div><div style="text-align: left;">shoved into a dusty dark corner</div><div style="text-align: left;">battered boxes of canning jars</div><div style="text-align: left;">obscure a red milk crate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">a few vinyl gems plucked:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cosmo's Factory</div><div style="text-align: left;">Abbey Road</div><div style="text-align: left;">Through the Past Darkly</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">these were played </div><div style="text-align: left;">flipped</div><div style="text-align: left;">and played again</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">41 more wait below</div><div style="text-align: left;">each one pulled out </div><div style="text-align: left;">and played </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">oh that stereo summer</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Note: Woodstock, The Band, Rumors, Chubby Checker, CSNY, After the Goldrush, Elvis, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan...and so many more. It was a beautiful and life changing find - I was about 7 when I starting listening to these albums.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-12719583395275361472024-01-02T09:09:00.003-05:002024-01-02T09:09:59.413-05:002024<div style="text-align: left;">laptop clicks open</div><div style="text-align: left;">blue light cuts </div><div style="text-align: left;">through morning dark</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">emails have stacked up</div><div style="text-align: left;">over the holidays</div><div style="text-align: left;">first one: The World Should Fear 2024</div><div style="text-align: left;">an essay of doom</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the tired monk leaves it unread</div><div style="text-align: left;">puts on steel toes, a thick scarf, </div><div style="text-align: left;">and new Christmas toque</div><div style="text-align: left;">tackles the big Aspen rounds</div><div style="text-align: left;">axe cracks through cold seasoned wood</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">a fresh cord split by noon</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-7203924933256902412023-12-26T11:27:00.001-05:002023-12-26T17:16:53.182-05:00yule poems<div style="text-align: left;">i)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">ragged notebook on garage floor</div><div style="text-align: left;">inches from melted snow puddle</div><div style="text-align: left;">front cover loose and torn</div><div style="text-align: left;">taped back on</div><div style="text-align: left;">new poems today</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">ii)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the night before</div><div style="text-align: left;">the night before Christmas</div><div style="text-align: left;">promise of snow...</div><div style="text-align: left;">just slashing white sleet</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">iii)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">twin orphan fauns</div><div style="text-align: left;">walk the fence line</div><div style="text-align: left;">up the frozen hill</div><div style="text-align: left;">into the cedars</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-50084234562098767592023-12-05T16:43:00.001-05:002023-12-07T09:24:47.542-05:00two scenes<div style="text-align: left;">"news" thick with doom</div><div style="text-align: left;">algorithms of filthy lucre...death</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>"social" media swipes</div><div>skits on a tiny screen</div><div>pulling your gaze deep</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">woodland walk</div><div style="text-align: left;">a rugged trail between </div><div style="text-align: left;">icy cornfields and a rocky ridge</div><div style="text-align: left;">out deep with the deer, </div><div style="text-align: left;">the pheasants, the quails</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-31809113664131495402023-12-04T08:58:00.001-05:002023-12-04T08:58:23.925-05:00early winter <div style="text-align: left;">crimson flurry</div><div style="text-align: left;">a whirling flapping burst of red</div><div style="text-align: left;">two male cardinals</div><div style="text-align: left;">scattering the grey chickadees</div><div style="text-align: left;">and pretty slate juncos</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">seeds fly </div><div style="text-align: left;">fall from the feeder</div><div style="text-align: left;">squirrel bounds</div><div style="text-align: left;">over fresh snow</div><div style="text-align: left;">to feast </div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-53749907188692730502023-11-28T08:52:00.003-05:002023-11-28T16:48:09.260-05:00Milton Road Poem<div style="text-align: left;">attention drifts to a barren tree</div><div style="text-align: left;">...that's a big bird</div><div style="text-align: left;">an owl, a hawk, a raven?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">no</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the head is blended invisible</div><div style="text-align: left;">into the grey November sky</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">a bald eagle</div><div style="text-align: left;">scanning for rabbits</div><div style="text-align: left;">along the cold creek banks</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-67060309390581935852023-11-19T11:18:00.006-05:002023-11-19T11:18:53.211-05:00the season<div style="text-align: left;"><div>macabre pumpkins melt</div><div>rotten orange goo </div><div>between deck cracks</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">snow skiffs swirl</div><div style="text-align: left;">blowing a pinless poppy</div><div style="text-align: left;">into the ditch</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">newly unboxed lights</div><div style="text-align: left;">LED brightness beams</div><div style="text-align: left;">sparkle over new snow</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-78098435850556286952023-10-29T12:26:00.002-04:002023-10-30T09:33:29.233-04:00fragments from the road<div style="text-align: left;">rearview make-up applied</div><div style="text-align: left;">gas pedal pressed to make up last time</div><div style="text-align: left;">stop signs rolled and full out blown</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lexus bumper suspended</div><div style="text-align: left;">with shredding duct tape</div><div style="text-align: left;">bent plastic fenders line the ditch</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"kids" laying rubber out by the lake</div><div style="text-align: left;">Coors can rolling on the shoulder</div><div style="text-align: left;">beside the new black stripes</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-20172059935526083622023-10-27T11:45:00.002-04:002023-10-28T17:18:24.536-04:00El Día de Muertos<div style="text-align: left;">a little wall hung shrine</div><div style="text-align: left;">golden framed photo</div><div style="text-align: left;">of a tiny one</div><div style="text-align: left;">born with a broken heart</div><div style="text-align: left;">ceramic knick-knack </div><div style="text-align: left;">kept on display</div><div style="text-align: left;">for 45 years</div><div style="text-align: left;">cross stitched art</div><div style="text-align: left;">dates of birth and death</div><div style="text-align: left;">not a mote of dust</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">today - this </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tinos;">el Día de Muertos</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">a new candle is lit</div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6657515350922188738.post-58485652269484307682023-10-25T16:51:00.002-04:002023-10-25T16:51:30.082-04:00forest edge poem<div style="text-align: left;">bits of wood flying</div><div style="text-align: left;">from a dead tree hole</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">woodpecker</div><div style="text-align: left;">red squirrel</div><div style="text-align: left;">a porcupine?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">masked face looks out</div><div style="text-align: left;">surveys the forest edge</div><div style="text-align: left;">yawns</div><div style="text-align: left;">curls back inside </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">a long ringed tales</div><div style="text-align: left;">blows in the breeze</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brother Olliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07506492407482879487noreply@blogger.com4