birch bark bingo – September 4

Posted on September 5, 2013 by landl30

9.4

birch bark was the writing paper,

wallpaper, canoe paper, money

paper. we forgot about it as we

rushed forward into antiquity.

 

people lived on lands they saw as

God’s, Kitchimanadoo’s, everyone’s.

what a surprise when we came with

territorial imperative.

 

casinos now dot that land, red mans’

revenge, payback, payforward for

grannies with cigarettes dangling

from their lips at the machines

 

that spit out funny paper, money

paper, nothing paper, until birch

bark looks good again

as something of substance.

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grandma’s cooking – September 2

Posted on September 3, 2013 by landl30

9.2

In a kitchen filled with smells she

was a large woman, foursquare jaw

surrounding a blocky plain beautiful

face that had strength in it beyond

years. the paring knife operated

ever so deftly in her large rough hands

peeling the thinest of skins away from

potatoes cooked to just perfect

firmness, then shifting to chop rooted

horseradish into a pot whose aromas

could melt membrane.

 

grandma’s cooking taught patience

and love, perseverance and

practicality. here is fifty cents it is your

allowance for the week, spend it

wisely. I did not understand then that

she gave because my parents were not

able, or that her power could overpower

the quibbles of my home.

 

I stand at the sink now with paring

knife in hand, an exercise in finesse

and patience and practicality. we will

feast tonight on the potato salad of her

makings. on the attributes

of her soul.

—————————

 

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a stocky little body – September 1

Posted on September 2, 2013 by landl30

9. 1

a stocky little body of a boy

climbs into my lap

touching places of

memory.

 

I still know how to

ride a bike

read the book

and talk about Mr. Peppers and his cat

who loves orangesickles.

 

a lifetime moves too quickly from

boy on lap to lapping for a glimpse

of boy. I can barely keep up.

———————–

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maintenance – August 31

Posted on August 31, 2013 by landl30

8.31

drops in eyes, pills in

places, lay down and

stretch that back,

 

oil those hinges, check

the lint trap, screen

that face and fast.

 

slide the dipstick,

test those tires, air

pressure’s good or not

 

grease those skids

hold that party, gather

some notes on the spot.

 

how’m I doing, how’re

we doing. maintenance’s

much more than we thought.

——————

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state fair – August 30

Posted on August 31, 2013 by landl30

8.30

wide wide bottoms in

blue jeans

 

corn fed mamas off

to the fair

 

sad happy faces

with corndogs

 

Minnesota mining

for fair.

———————

 

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dry stick branches – August 29

Posted on August 30, 2013 by landl30

8.29

tree trimming buzzes greet

the late summer heat. water

fall bed lies flat and dry, mud

sticks gasping up to nothing.

 

clip those dry stick branches

before the winter fall blasts

bring power lines and lives

crashing to the ground.

—————————–

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MLK 1965 – August 28

Posted on August 28, 2013 by landl30

8.28

the long black car drove slowly

majestically through Boston

streets lined with faces, hands

arms reaching for

hope

 

and i jogged beside to keep

the inmate safe. bullets, knives

and hate also striding through

the streets reaching for

anger.

 

you blocked me from seeing

him! I stood all day here to see

him! my heart shrank inside.

only a man-child had I gotten

in the way.

 

hope needs to see, touch, feel

while our fears cover up. so

maybe I was wrong to cover

too much. but at least a bullet

didn’t hit

that day.

———————–

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Godot – August 27

Posted on August 28, 2013 by landl30

8.27

godot stands offstage watching

while estragon and vladimir rake

each others souls with query and

reposte. Is it time to arrive.

 

lessons to be learned of how

it all comes round. again and

again and again, until. or is

there any end beyond until.

 

did you see me, do i exist

or are we ghosts in a grave

yard waiting for the whistling.

 

godot waits for the waiters.

is it time to arrive.

——————-

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sun sorcery and failings of truth – August 26

Posted on August 26, 2013 by landl30

8.26

brown blades fan overhead

skimming pale gasps to fend

the heat.

 

summer warming has come

with vengeance and my pasty

white quails

 

slathered in sunscreen.

 

they lauded a day at the

beach when I went excited

as a child

 

my wool bathing suit itching,

sand filling and scouring, while

the frozen Atlantic

 

made a mockery of trying

to flee the naked burning

sands.

 

sun, sorcery, and failings of truth

now fill our world, as we flee

the warming.

———————-

 

 

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riding with phantoms – August 25

Posted on August 26, 2013 by landl30

8.25

In 1948 western heroes rode

across screens so vivid I thought

they were behind them.

How could Roy be at the Capitol

and then at the Paramount later

on.

 

Grammy would hold my hand

and buy us a popcorn at the

store next door to theater row.

Trigger was so large and golden

my eyes widened at the glow.

 

The mechanics don’t matter now.

The Capitol is gone, an empty lot

where Roy first held my gaze and

boyish heart. He still rides there

amidst the phantoms.

————————–

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