Ka------Clink

 ka----Clink

dad unconsciously thumbed the top
of his old army Zippo

he wouldn't strike the flint
to spark a tongue of flame...
....he would close the top, then.........

ka----Clink

i lay in my little boy bed
listening to my father
smoke in the dark
one cigarette after another
but always the steady, rhythmic.....

ka----Clink

and he was back in Germany
reassuring himself
his weapon was ready
as he checked
checked
and rechecked the bolt.....

ka----Clink

Cherokee Owl

 i am the owl.

i am Cherokee.
only the cougar
is like unto me.

just as an owl
patrols by night
nobody sees me.
i am stealth. i am quiet.

i will speak truth.
my wisdom will last.
i tell of your future
and the pain of your past.

fools say i "hoot."
but you'll hear my cry.
mark when you hear me
somebody will die.

spreading my wings
i cover the moon
but my greatest secret
is your greatest rune.

i am Cherokee.
i am the owl.
i secret in shadows
when i'm on the prowl.

My Heavenly Visit

colors that defy description

scents no nose ever smelled

creatures of wings and light
absorb the mind
and befuddle my sight.

pearls and gold are common
diamonds and crystal too.
joy fills the air
people from every nation
dancing, singing everywhere.

most amazing to my ears
we all spoke a common tongue
and communicated easily.
peace and love were pervasive.
this perfection was clear to see.

angels served us dinner
but it was not meat we ate.
the taste, most peculiar, was better!
whatever God provided
had a far more amazing flavor.

oh, i nearly forgot to tell you
we all have our own mansions there!
they were each hand-crafted by the Lord.
if you could see yours, you'd say
that was something you couldn't afford.

but it's a free gift, without price!
you can have your family and friends over
any time you want.
there's no need to grill, dine
or pick up the check at a restaurant.

everything you'll ever want is provided.
but i've saved the best for last.
you're perfected there as well!
how do i know, you ask?
if that weren't so....you'd be in hell.

A Congress of Crows

There once was a Congress of Crows

And everybody knows

Their wisdom is sublime

When they gather on a line.

From a vantage of twenty feet

The world appears so neat.

But not to these fussy birds.

To them, the world seems absurd.

Said the crow, third from the right

These humans have lost all sight

Of that which is most needful.

They know not what should be heedful!

They smoke, they drink and cuss!

They hurry and run and fuss.

They never just stop and think

They perhaps, will disappear in a wink.

To which the eldest decried

I cannot further abide!

Just look at their litter and see

They are terrible, Oh Bother! Oh me!

It gives my old wings a shiver

Whenever I pause to remember

Even our nests they've smashed to the ground.

Their evil is most profound!

Oh, I don't guess they're all that bad

Said the youngest one, perched by his dad.

T'other morn one threw a donut away

And I near swallered it whole that day!

Shut up, son, said that crow's father.

Whatever you're thinkin' don't bother

To add to our distinguished Congress.

Remember, you're just a no-count kid, I confess.

At that, the crows nodded agreement

While watching an old man walk the cement.

Watch this, the youngest crow said

Bet I can hit that 'ol coot, or I'm dead!

Easy, son, you only get one shot.

But you got it in you, like as not.

The young crow's papa cawed

And the Congress cried, Help him, Lawd!

That's the moment the youngster did it

And hit that old man with his s**t.

It smacked him right atop of his bald head.

And we can't repeat what the old man said.

Then the Congress of Crows flew away

Hopeful to return some fine day.

When that old man comes walking once more

They'd all be ready, perched above his door!

 

Apricot Sunset

Early evening burned in apricot

With the sun's disappearance

at the horizon.

Even the air is fragranced 

With newness.

Early buds on my maple

Baby plants searching for rain

Yearning for light

Make their entry 

Around my patio.

But the most remarkable newness

Is within me.

I've been years traveling around the sun

And I thought I had figured life out.

That, of course is a twisted notion.

I need new air to breathe.

New light in which to glory.

New opportunities to grow.

I need "NEW."

It's yet early to sit on my deck

And rejoice in spring

But I will peer out my windows

And find serenity in the 

Apricot sunset

And the joy of new life beginning.

The Grin

I saw you watching me

And suddenly I was unsure

Of myself

Not knowing whether I should

Smile

Or pretend I was unaware.

I decided to do nothing.

You began to grin

In a way I could not unsee.

So, I smiled back at you

Unconsciously 

And it was on.

We acknowledged one another.

Why is that the most difficult thing

About falling in love

Is the simple act of seeing that the other

Truly exists.

I see the season's first robin

And I recognize spring is near.

You sat in a coffee shop

Not more that six feet distant

And I shivered at the notion

You even lived!

You and I have travelled far

Since that caffeine-fueled introduction.

What if I never acknowledged your grin?

What if we never took that first stroll

Or stood before that black-robed preacher

To say our vows?

Our children's children would have ended

Their possibilities right then

Had I not returned your grin.

You know? 

Just like that grin

You're wearing now.

o

 

 Hi, Readers....this site has been down, on my end for some time, but it appears to be "good to go" again. Soon, I'll be posting new material. I've be frustrated! But, maybe that's in the rear view mirror now. I hope I can soon lure you back. 🐶 

~~ james

The Inhalation of Skies

i am Wind!
i am the inhalation of skies
lungs of terrible draft
and willful fury.

i am Tornado!
i spin with hell's
centrifugal anger
and i will sweep far
your most worthy foundation.
i will lift high and dash your infants
with more ferocity
than Herod
stripping away every
cherished
prize.

i am Hurricane!
i will level your cities
break your levees
and forbid your populace
to return
rebuild
re-begin.

i am Wind.
i am deaf to
cantons of mercy.

when you believe you are safe
build monuments to the slain.

        But
I WILL RETURN!

I am Destroyer Wind.

As an offering for Veteran's Day I submit the following. I wrote it in 2017, memorializing probably the most senseless, most heedless example of foolish and poor leadership, exemplified by Col. Custer. Had I been there, I'd have shot him myself. The number of men butchered by inept officers are legion. God rest them all.  

Custer's Corporal

Well, no man never asked my starch

When we set off on our westward march

And no winsome lass never asked me why

When I set off for to win, or die.

No Cheyenne lance never pierced my skin
So I tried it once, and then again.
I heeled my spur when the Captain yelled "Charge!"
And I was kilt right there, beside my Sarge.

They laid me down and then scalped my hair
Then they left me dead and cold and bare.
But the handsome Colonel, he died there too
And the history they teach you jus' ain't true.

Well, the stories all brag of Custer's glory
But the unvarnished truth is another story.
It was all Lakota on that day
Until they struck tent and rode away.

So, hear me clear, all'a you bold boys
And quit all'a your brave, naive noise.
Every soldier boy that goes to war
Will get what war has in store.

Enjoy your boyhood kickin' rocks 'n cans
And don't rush off to be a man.
War ain't no lark, and it ain't no game.
And if you do come home you won't be the same.

I took six arrows in my side
And a tomahawk split my skull open wide.
Their squaws pierced with needles, my young ears
In hopes in the afterlife I could not hear.

Boys, you may keep your banners and flags.
From where I sit, there's no cause to brag.
I can no more hear that bugle call.
They kilt us one, and they kilt us all.

Just a few feet above my bones
The army set me up a stone.
Now, don't you think that's petty pay
For the dreadful pain I bore that day?

Sorry I've been gone, ya'll. This site got all twisted up on the provider's end. But maybe it's better now. I'll soon find out. I have things I've written that I haven't posted. But maybe things have been cured----or I could not have posted this!

James 🌛