Fido's fashions

 

                                           If Santa is near, I'll tell you ,my dear,
                                                 that your Christmas will not be merrier,
                                                    if you impose these ridiculous clothes
                                                       on your innocent, helpless, terrier.

Royalty

          

                                                    There's something about a Siamese cat,   -        
                                                                you know that they're regal, somehow.
                                                   When he draws himself up and gives me that look,
                                                               I know who's the boss and I bow.

Auto thoughts

                                    Sometimes you must fight for what you think right
                                           as you go through your daily ordeals;
                                        so it's nice to agree with something you see
                                              on the back of an automobile.

Hospice

                                                  It looked like a little altar,
                                                         to relieve any penitent birds, -
                                                  but I guess it was  just a feeder,
                                                        no doubt the same thing to a bird.

Bull's beef?

                                        If I were a proud and mighty bull,
                                                who reigned in his pasture as king,
                                           I would surely object to see my reflection
                                                portrayed with a ball of string!

Hidden souls

                                      There are interesting characters hiding, it seems,
                                                 in the leafage we see, passing by;
                                          this one, it is plain, has an over-charged brain,
                                                     and a very intelligent eye.

Flower fantasies

 

                                      We know we're supposed to be paradise-birds.
                                                but longed for a different style;
                                          to vary the hue, we opted for blue,
                                                  and pretend we are boats on the Nile.

The path in the pasture

                                            I saw a fresh path in the pasture, -
                                                      one person, perhaps, cut a swath?
                                              And I think, on our plains, all those highways and trains, -
                                                     might they all have begun with such paths?

Shipmates

                                     I marveled today at the faith of that dog,
                                              and thought what a world this would be,
                                           if we smiled through our tears and conquered our fears,
                                                   and lived in such trust as he!

Surf sounds

 

                                 I've longed to find words that can mimic
                                            the sounds of an incoming tide, -
                                     the murmurs and splashings, and sudden waves crashing,
                                              setting off cymbals inside.

Rock's regrets

 

                                    I used to be king of the garden,
                                         and smiled when I first got entangled.
                                     I fell for the charms of those soft little arms, -
                                         but the darn things will soon have me strangled!

Moody mallow

 

                                        I must say it's hard for a hopeful  young bloom,
                                              who's proud of her lacy frock,
                                          to try to smile through to a cold stony crew,
                                                   when she's stuck in a pile of rocks!

Magic garden

 

                                               
                                         I hail the creative genius
                                               of those whom the muses have kissed;
                                         for could imagine a garden
                                              as wildly seductive as this?

                                                        ( artwork by  Phyllis Thelen and Barbara Stevenson)

Morning waters

 

                                       When I look out my window at dawning,
                                                   and see the surcease of the sea,
                                         I envy its quiet acceptance
                                                      that all will be as it should be.

Dizzy Doorway

      

                                     Sometimes I think I'm losing my mind,
                                               or my eyes are deceiving me.
                                      But when you look at this little nook,
                                                how many lines do you see?

Bridge baby

                                  They told me they'd found a  new baby out there,
                                            who looked like my miniature brother.
                                  I might have fathered the lad, I said
                                           but I can't think who might be his mother!

Pigeon's pout

                               I flew into the Safeway this morning,
                                      and wandered around for a while;
                               but the service was bad, not one of the lads
                                      would show me the birdseed aisle!

Bastille Day

   

                                          I channeled the ghost of Marie Antoinette,
                                               when I saw this humongous machine.
                                         "You must have some pretty bad actors," she said,
                                                "to deserve this obscene guillotine"!

Dream scene?

 

                                            What is it that's so captivating,
                                                      as something we can't quite see?
                                              Is it because we can make it
                                                       whatever we want it to be?

Itsy tipsy spider

 

                                             I know this is not like my usual work,
                                                    but it does have an air, don't you think?
                                             Still with this kind of spinner, I won't catch much dinner,
                                                   I must have had too much to drink.

Base bawl

     

                                        He batted me out of the ball-park.
                                                 so he'll have his moment of fame.
                                        But for me, what's the good, I'm lost in the wood,
                                                 I'll never get back in the game!

Leaf memories

   

                                         We like to admire our new textures and shapes,
                                              more exotic than ever we've been;
                                         but it's tough when that fresh little squirt reminds us
                                             that we, too, were once young and green.

Sunbath

   

                                               It's not exactly a rock-pile,
                                                      but any port, I say, in a storm .
                                               My nerves were all shot, so I needed a spot
                                                    to sit in the sun and get warm.

Shoe story

  

                                  We got  him across half this country,
                                       we took him from door to door;
                                   we brought him right back where he started,
                                        now he doesn't need us any more.

Mother Goose

    

                                      I looked forward to being a mother,
                                             so I never played fast and loose;
                                      but it's hardly a breeze with a squadron like these, -
                                             how much can you ask of a goose?

Daisies' ditty

  

                                          Don't pull us apart for "she loves me"
                                            don't give us that "Daisies don't tell";
                                          just remember "fresh as a daisy,"
                                                and that will do very well.

Grass-hopping

 

                                            I'm usually rather retiring,
                                                 hopping through grasses, unseen;
                                              but I must say it's good for my ego,
                                                  to be featured as star of the scene.

Odd duck

                                         I had never seen markings like this before,
                                              when this duck came into my view.
                                          I do wish I knew who he is or from where.
                                               Does anyone know? Do you??

Shell game

  

                                            You toss us aside when you break us,
                                                   we end in the garbage cart.                                 
                                             But don't be so hasty, give us a look,
                                                   aren't we really a work of art?

Stream's themes

  

                                      Streams were not meant just to moisten the earth,
                                          but for other objectives, it seems.
                                       Streams can bring joys to adventurous boys,
                                           and  kids are just meant to run streams!