Thanksgiving 2013

For lives here in this place,

For lives yet to be,

And for the unknown that

Fuels our curiosity,

For the bonds of both family

and friendship given in amity;

for the air we breathe,

for the water we need,

for the food we enjoy,

and for your grace that we employ,

we offer this our Thanksgiving.

Grad School

              Grad School

The Ever Eat Café was my

Favorite lunch, but with a sigh

I skipped the beer because

I had two inviolate laws:

Never drink before a class

And don’t get on your drunken ass

At the Ever Eat Café, ever. Just pass.

Ruling the roost

"Ruling the roost" effectively took
A metaphor from a farming book
To help explain who's the boss.
But taking the time to look across
The political diaspora whose ranking
Candidates, we see rulers are Ben Franklins.

How many writers can publish

How many writers can publish

Something? As many who wish

To publish poems or a story

They can easily quarry

From the left or right side

Of their brain? Do they hide

In Creative Writing programs

Swept up in the romance

With aspirants who also are

Driven to be a literary star?

Multitudes of self-publishers

And writers’ workshops usher

Many to the garret rooms

Of those who are doomed

To write heroically

         only because they must,

Proving, once again

         achieving success is just.

How Many Writers Can Publish

How many writers can publish

Something? As many who wish

To see poems or a story

They can finally quarry

From the left or right side

Of their brain? Do they hide

In Creative Writing programs

Swept up in the romance

With aspirants who also are

Driven to be a literary star.

Multitudes of self-publishers

And writers’ workshops usher

Many to the garret rooms

Of those who are doomed

To write heroically because they must,

Which proves fame is just.

What Are Your Christmas Lights?

Saying “Merry Christmas” 100 times per year

For 60 years yields nearly 6000 smiles of cheer.

Must we? And, do you have to have it white,

In order for Christmas to feel right?

Nor do we have to have three wise men standing

In awe beside a manger, each one handing

Over costly gifts: frankincense, myrrh, and gold.

Angels are nice, especially when they sing seven-fold

Amens and Halleluiahs, announcing the birth

Of the Child, the Messiah, a King on Earth.

But we’ve had Christmases before sans seraph,

And no one reported the loss to the sheriff.

From Kyoto to Berlin, Oslo or Cape Cod,

Whether Mele Kalikimaka or Feliz Navidad,

 In upscale penthouses or nomadic tents

People observe Kwanzaa, Yule & Holy Innocents.

How do Christmas traditions become

Organized? By the rules of thumb

In families and communities?

By using theological amenities?

Per contra, some must have the vision

Of a halo of love for each precision-

Made person. When you celebrate the Christ-

Child’s birth, what are your Christmas lights?