The Pokeweed
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Birds denude
Dark purple fruit for food
Around here they call it inkberry
*
Derided by many as unnecessary
Removal from the landscape is customary
Diligent birds replant it by seed
*
Can be messy indeed
The Pokeweed
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Playlist or Instruction Manual?
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La Roux wants to be bulletproof
Next time, the hardships will bounce off
I hear
*
Trading her scarred heart for armor
Is how Miranda will get by
I hear
*
They aren’t, the deep bass of Gomez
Cautions
*
I will emancipate myself
From this mental slavery, true to
Jimi
*
I’ll be a sinner and a saint
Meredith says don’t be ashamed
I won’t
*
P!nk instructs to change the voices
In my head, to like me instead
I will
*
Antebellum says the compass
Musgraves says the arrow, I will
Follow
*
Tom Petty has me far from my
Troubles and worries, I belong
I’m free
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Not a Spectator Sport
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Life is this pink and blue treat ball
Upon first glance does not enthrall
Just sitting there not giving
Needing you to do the living
You need to act to get rewards
Life’s waiting to be explored
Live to the fullest, risk the fall
Get all you can from this treat ball
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(An Octelle Poem)
Paper Wasp on Goldenrod
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It’s always a surprise to see
Not sure why I’m surprised to see
Wasps fly from flower to flower
– – – – – I am not scared
Is it the lack of hair that scares?
Slick pollinators causing dread
It’s always a surprise, you see
– – – – – I am not scared
Simply observe, no one gets stung
Evil’s in the beholder’s eye
Marvel at nature’s keen brilliance
– – – – – I am not scared
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(A Baccresieze Poem)
Sicyos angulatus
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The bur cucumber
Winds its way
Across fence lumber
Tendrils stray
*
An annual vine
On display
Hairy stems that twine
Prevent sway
*
Flowers licked by bees
On pathway
Spiny fruits don’t please
Deer today.
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(A Cromorna Poem)
6 Poems 1 Picture
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What did we do while waiting
Time once spent ruminating
Now cell phones are dictating
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(An Englyn Poem)
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Eyes lowered, sneakers tapping, chairs creaking
Speaking is not what we do
Waiting to be called by you
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I will risk a shrunken face
Just to get out of the place
Like the movie Beetlejuice
To vamoose to a new space.
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This large number I have found
Now has me waiting around
Until the magical sound
Of my name fills the compound
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Proximity to the door
Will not reduce my time here
Almost more than I can bear
My number is close I’m sure
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(An Englyn Proest Dalgron Poem)
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It’s fine – don’t call my name yet
So I can get out of here
I am strangely thrilled to get
Time to finish this chapter
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Surprise Snack
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Our for a paddle finding wild fruit
Kayak hulls knock against rocky shoreline
When we see the shrubs we make a beeline
Summer adventure with a snack to boot
Everything tastes better fresh from the source
And these small sweet dark berries hit the spot
It’s difficult not to grab the whole lot
Have to remember they’re all the birds’ got
One for us three for them without remorse
St. George Lake offers scenery for days
And many small islands to circumvent
Didn’t even need insect repellent
On Maine’s water with fruit we are content
Until the next time we paddle and graze
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(An American Sonnet)
Real or Reality
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Blank screen
Without it on I notice
The screech owl cooing in the dark quiet morning woods
The flimsy barrier of the screen door no resistance to the sound
And as the slightest hint of indigo
Begins to change the morning sky
Before any touch of golden sun appears
The barred owl also makes herself known
Echoing through the damp and still dark forest
As the dark, silent screen of the television
Reflects back to me my position
on the couch with morning tea
I can hear the faint content purr of Tom Cat
And feel his soft fur against my thigh
A small warm spot on this mild
Late summer morning
Another day beginning
As the golden enters the sky
A gentle breeze briefly causes the heavy dew to rain down
To the driveway from large leaves nearly ready to fall
With the spark of morning sun begins a chorus
First one loud clear voice above the constant din of katydid treble
Announcing the day has begun
Dozens more follow until the entire house and yard is filled with beginning
No power button just powerful.
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(An Idyll Poem)
Image from public domain
Correct by Chance
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Severe weather events
Flooding, blizzards, coating ice
Hurricanes, drought, pelting hail
*
Welcome weather events
Heatwave break, thundersnow, gentle soaking rains
Thunderstorms, inches of powder, clear starry skies
*
All of this happened … but not as you predicted
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(A Sevenling Poem)
Fuzzy Planning
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Road trip dreams post work-day reality
Planning the vacation but not too much
Where might we bike hike kayak camp and such
So grateful for our commonality.
Work week starts and vacation brain sets in
With each passing day focus is lacking
Mind wanders to long days of backpacking
We can’t wait until the journey begins.
The week will go by too fast we are sure
Dreaming and planning extend our short break
Thinking of it each moment we’re awake
Oh, how many more workdays to endure?
We have maps and guides but won’t let them reign
There’s just one plan: to avoid the mundane.
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A Picture and a Poem 