"The Ballad of the Busch Stadium Squirrel"

runnin' like a squirrel do
zoomin' 'cross the infield grass
home plate in his view screen looms
one more frontier he must pass
the batter stands oblivious
to the nimble creature on the way
the pitcher stands incredulous
the umpire makes the pitcher pay
he calls a ball the hurler screams
that squirrel ain't on either team!
the call will stand
the squirrel will not
he must run on
or he'll be caught!

(2011 db michel)

---

PROUD TO BE TFFE!

Dan -- Squirrels are our cheerful, resourceful friends! Ex.: On day, a few years ago, on Rt. #128 in the Lexington area, I saw a squirrel running across four lanes of heavy traffic. Stopping, and facing me, he knew he was "had", unless . . . he remained motionless, hunckered down, and let my car pass
harmlessly over him. Glancing in the rear-view mirror, I saw him continue
his sprint to the edge of the highway. :o)

jm

---

"The Heat Of The Day (Ain't What It Used To Be)"

noon is near
fall is falling
and the heat of the day ain't what it used to be
time to run
and the runners are running
but the wage they get ain't what it used to be
my belly's full
of the empty promise
and the speakers word ain't what used to be
the road is long
and bridge is crumblin'
the way back home ain't what it used to be...

(2011 db michel)

---

PROUD TO BE TFFE!

I don't count myself as one you'd say
who with which words has quite a way.
But once in a blue one there is a time
when I can profess to coin a rhyme.

It's usually when I am blue
and seem to have no one to talk to.
So I sit and think and to myself
put words together to no one else.

And then I wonder who might read those lines
and wonder if.....

There have been times
when folks have enjoyed a line or two
that I have penned when I was blue.

Kitty thoughts that cheer me up
might fill another's empty cup.
And so I write and try to share
the feelings hidden deep in there.

Sometimes it flows.
And sometimes not.
Sometimes the words get tangled
in quite a knot.

But in the end, when I've had my say
and toddle off to sleep that day
I know that I have bared my soul
one more time to some who live quite far away.

And when I slumber with kitties dear
I know that happiness is quite near.
The words I've spent to tell you all
my thoughts are worth it, the cost is small.

So, kitty dreams to each and every one
who reads my words and ponders some.
I know you are like the kittyman.
Who reaches out when and where he can.

Luv you all, best wishes and kitty kisses.

10/23/11 mss

---

"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Hopefully, the "aliens" have progressed to at least the level of
Starbucks . . . ;o)


The Fireplace

(A Flashback in Time)



"Do you miond
if I put out
the fire?"

"No.", I reply.
And, it was so --
with bucket of water.

"Do you mind
if I turn off the fire?"

"No.", I reply.
And, it was so --
in an instant.

Times have changed . . .

* * *

jm
7 November 2011

---

Dan -- I checked two pages-worth (only) in the "Politics" category, and didn't
see any "Dan's Poetry Corner". I don't know how many would be interesting in
posting that type of poem, there, although I have just completed one (It's mild, and not of Russian "bread-line humor" quality, but, still, political.).

Should I just post it there, "raw", or in your column -- and hope you or
Uli might come to my rescue, worse come to worst?

Cheers, as ever,

jm

---

Dan -- I checked two pages-worth (only) in the "Politics" category, and didn't
see any "Dan's Poetry Corner". I don't know how many would be interesting in
posting that type of poem, there, although I have just completed one (It's mild, and not of Russian "bread-line humor" quality, but, still, political.).

Should I just post it there, "raw", or in your column -- and hope you or
Uli might come to my rescue, worse come to worst?

Cheers, as ever,

jm

Fine with me if you post it here...As long as it's nothing you think that might be moderated.

---

PROUD TO BE TFFE!

OK -- Here comes . . .



Food, for the Artist


With heads in the sand --
sports, sit-coms, Ayn Rand.
Christ's Mass, on the airways --
pop music, quite bland.

It's winner, take all,
for the top one percent.
Charles Darwin was right;
compete, or repent.

Elite, bourgeoisie --
the cycles repeat.

A coffee-house chat --
that ends, in the street.

It's food, for the artist --
to plot a repeat . ..


* * *

j.m.
19 November 2011

---

Kindly permit, one & all, a little comparative history . . . ;o)

jm

*

Coffee & Ale


A cup, over daily affairs,
a tankard, to question the king.
A notepad, to change one's career,
a notice, to tax everything.

A land, seeking vision, in pain,
a land, with new leaders, of strength.
A nation, of short-sighted gain,
a nation, with limitless length.

A people, desiring new ways,
a people, resourceful, at work.
A kinsfolk, that take time to pray,
a kinsfolk, that praying, would shirk.

But, our differences pale,
over coffee & ale.

* * *

jm
29 November 2011

---

Doodles*


A sculpture,
a portrait,
a musical work --

yield images
from
an author's mind.

Doodles, though,
unwittingly,
sketch actual patterns,
of that mind.

Patterns of
memories --
patterns of sorrow,
patterns of love.


* * *


j. r. martin
12 November 2011


* Thank you, David Shapiro

---

On endless nights when sleep betrays for I have failed to bed
my eyes search endless words of others to see what they have said.
And when I pause to think a bit for what they may have meant
I sometimes respond in words of mine to what they wrote and sent.

At times I send some words on back supporting what they think
and then again think it best if I just have another drink.
My own words chosen poorly at times, and strain to full describe
what chaos goes on back and forth inside my tired mind.

My travels take me the whole world wide with just the touch of a key
and here and there I leave a note, a bit of thought from me.
And then I travel on before too well I become known
but the words I've left upon the screen are seeds that I have sown.

Sometimes my words, encouraging and helpful for them to see
and sometimes they describe my downfalls and what has become of me.
No matter where my endless nights, when sleep betrays my mind
have taken me, I hope somewhere I've left some words as kind.

---

"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Poetry Reincarnation


From time to time,
a life, anew --
Dan's Corner endures,
like super-glue.

No "Burma-Shave"
to end these lines --
they serve a need,
with lines that rhyme.

And when they don't,
we do not care --
We pound the keys,
and pull our hair.

Sharing thoughts that touch the soul --
Gaining meaning, is the goal.

* * *

j. r. martin
13 January 2012

---

Poetry Reincarnation


From time to time,
a life, anew --
Dan's Corner endures,
like super-glue.

No "Burma-Shave"
to end these lines --
they serve a need,
with lines that rhyme.

And when they don't,
we do not care --
We pound the keys,
and pull our hair.

Sharing thoughts that touch the soul --
Gaining meaning, is the goal.

* * *

j. r. martin
13 January 2012

The corner endures because of people like you, Jim...Who share of their mind...heart and soul by posting here.

---

PROUD TO BE TFFE!

The Musical Carpet


A single, bass tone
from somewhere, far away --
pure, resonating the very fabric
of the universe . . .

Beauty begs accompaniment --
as a composition,
with structure and form --
developed with elegant intent.

Harmonies of infinite ranges
combined to form ever small
points of sharp, binding significance . . .
gathering together.

The treble domains formed the pattern --
the bass, its warp and weave.

* * *

j. r. martin
20 January 2012

---

Kindly change "weave" to "weft" -- not as poetic, but, more accurate.

;o)

jm

---

My Hero


Just as the hare is zipping across the finish line,
the tortose has stopped once again
by the roadside,
this time to stick out his neck
and nibble a bit of sweet grass,
unlike the previous time
when he was distracted
by a bee humming in the heart of a wildflower.

-- Billy Collins

---

And, so, to lift a glass. . .


Nothing Twice

Wislawa Szymborska
1923-2012


Nothing can ever happen twice,
In consequence, the sorry fact is
that we arrive here improvised
and leave withot the chance to practice.

Even if there is no one dumber,
if you're the planet's biggest dunce,
you can't repeat the class in summer:
this course is only offered once.

No day copies yesterday,
no two nights will teach what bliss is
in precisely the same way,
with precisely the same kisses.

One day, perhaps some idle tongue
mentions your name be accident:
I feel as if a rose were flung
into the room, all hue and scent.

The next day, though you're here with me,
I can't help looking at the clock:
A rose? A rose? What could that be?
Is it a flower or a rock?

Why do we treat the fleeting day
with so much needless fear and sorrow?
It's in its nature not to stay:
Today is always gone tomorrow.

With smiles and kisses, we prefer
to seek accord beneath our star,
although we're different (we concur)
just as two drops of water are.

---

"Wavelengths"

i'm not here but you are
brother where am i?
if you're here and i'm not
did i take off and fly?

in the morning when i'm listening
to the wavelengths you can't hear
i could say that it's amazing
there is nothing there to fear
but you might not understand it
what is done is what is done
when the saucers come on for me
another rider on the run

i am there but you're not
sister where are you?
if i'm there and you're not
did you take off with the broom?

(2012 db michel)

a flight of fancy for poet's day

---

PROUD TO BE TFFE!

Permit an observation:


Typos

When words are typd,
that letrs lak,
with CERN's T4T,
they do attak.

Boson-Shave.

:o(

* * *

jm
1 March 2012

---

"Coming Back To Life"

Where were you when I was burned and broken
While the days slipped by from my window watching
Where were you when I was hurt and I was helpless
Because the things you say and the things you do surround me
While you were hanging yourself on someone else's words
Dying to believe in what you heard
I was staring straight into the shining sun

Lost in thought and lost in time
While the seeds of life and the seeds of change were planted
Outside the rain fell dark and slow
While I pondered on this dangerous but irresistible pastime
I took a heavenly ride through our silence
I knew the moment had arrived
For killing the past and coming back to life

I took a heavenly ride through our silence
I knew the waiting had begun
And headed straight..into the shining sun.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhV4me_k8Y8


Oooh, nice. Bless The Floyd.

Regards,

A

---