Sycamore song

  

                                            I suffered when I was growing up,
                                               my shape was so ugly to see;
                                                  then I found out one day I was really O.K,
                                                       I'm a  real true sycamore tree!

Coral's complaint

                                    I used to go dancing with each passing wave,
                                         'til somebody kidnapped me;
                                      and now on the wall, though admired by all,
                                           I yearn for my home in the sea!

First bloom

                                    I did it!  - me, the first bloom on the bush!
                                        It's an honor, I always was told;
.                                          they said I would see how proud I would be,
                                                but nobody mentioned how cold!

Last bird

                                  If that were my gang flying down south,
                                      I know who that last bird would be;
                                         I hear it, in truth, the voice of my youth,
                                             "Hey fellows, hey, wait for me!"

Buddha afloat

                                   I like to think of the Buddha.
                                         sitting calmly on top of the sea;
                                          when I think of the struggles and tussles and tuggles
                                                that go on with people like me.

Dancing Waters

                                     Watching the waters at sundown
                                         is always a magical sight:
                                             as the shadows that merge with the undulant surge
                                                start a dance between darkness and light.

Leaving ....

  

                                               I know I'm supposed to be leaving,
                                                   all  my buddies are waiting below;
                                                        I know that I should, and I would if I could,
                                                                but  I'm just too afraid to let go!

Torero

 
                                   My cuz was an ardent bull-fighter,
                                       but also a "wunderkind";
                                            he'd fight his bull, then, he'd pick up his pen,
                                              and enshrine him forever in print.

                         
                                                                                   (art by Barnaby Conrad)

Gala cala

                                            How Nature delights us in so many ways,
                                                as her magic awakes everything;
                                                  the leaves with their twirls and the blossom that curls
                                                        reassure us it soon will be spring.

Damp day

                                     Well here comes a day of rain,
                                         to some this will be a a pain;
                                            so it's good or it's bad, you're mad or you're glad,
                                                 it ain't gonna help to complain!

Garden Guest

                                             I'm glad Buddha sits in my garden,
                                                 I hope it's a comfortable chair,
                                                    and I hope he enjoys the aroma
                                                        of the mint that grew up for him there.

In memoriam

   

                                        The news jumped out of the paper today,
                                             that Barnahy Conrad has passed away.
                                               I can't do light chatter today if I tried,
                                                   my dearest cousin has died!

Making waves

 

                                         When your world seems to lose its momentum,
                                               and things need a bit of a shake,
                                                   you'll find that some small forward action
                                                         can produce a significant wake.

Sun's done?

                                 I used to think dusk meant our hardworking sun
                                      would finally get a rest,
                                           but my momma said "hon, that sun's never done,
                                                it just has to go warm someone else!"

To my Valentine(s)

 

                                              Just look, Valentine, and you'll see it is true, -
                                                 I have a soft spot in my heart for  you!

Moving out

                             There are sailboats and cruise ships and ferries and freight,
                                 moving out from the bay to the sky;
                                      and I'm used to the boats, but I still get a jolt
                                            when I see a whole island go by!

Deer me!

 
                                      There seems to be some confusion here,
                                          there must be two stories to tell:
                                            One should discover a healthier cover,
                                                the other should learn how to spell!



                                                                                       (OK, it's a double)

What I saw...

   

                                            It looked like an armor-clad warrior at first,
                                                 advancing, with sword, for a fight;
                                                     but then it turned into a wizard,
                                                         commanding his wand to give light.

Which way, Jose?

 

 
                                  It's not easy to know where you're headed,
                                       sometimes you just go round and round;
                                          but wherever you go, it's helpful to know
                                              whether you're up or down .

Reading light

                                Some bookstores are really progressive,
                                     adding services overnight;
                                            where they used to just give lights for reading,
                                                  they now provide reading for lights.

Tidal tlalk

 

                              I wish you could hear in a photo,
                                the lapping of waves from the tide, -
                                  the constant insistence, the gentle resistance,
                                     that calms all the tensions inside.

Horse sense

  

                                     You bet I'm a bloody good woman, -
                                        shovelling  horse stalls? of course!
                                            And sure I can send you some photos,
                                               but first please send me the horse!

Shady lady

   

                              I found this dear lady sun-bathing,
                                 when it seemed she should be in bed;
                                     I felt some remorse, but then noted, of course,!
                                        the poor lady had lost her head!

Perplexing plan

  

                                          I was watching the house going up next door,
                                               as its structure began to be growing;
                                                  but as it grew higher, I longed to inquire,
                                                      "Are you sure you know where it's going? "

Dorky pork

 

                                         Maybe you think that us pigs have no brain
                                             we're just good for your knife and your fork;
                                                   but give us some specs and  you'll never suspect
                                                        how much wisdom  you'll get from your pork!



                                                                                            (art by Peter Hewitt)

Fly-way

 

   
                                            I was tempted one night by the cloud bank,
                                                to follow that shimmering track;
                                                  I'd take off and fly to the edge of the sky, -
                                                     but I knew I would never come back.

Rock solid

  

                                 Tell me, dear rock. with your fissures and splits,
                                    how you've held them together so long;
                                      while we just complain of our aches and our pains,
                                         it's so hard to keep solid and strong!

Re-greening

     

                                        I must say I envy my newly-green trees,
                                              as I study them now vs. then;
                                              they get to shed all their tired old leaves,
                                                  and start out all over again.