The Buzz

             Two worker bees landed on the same red hibiscus bloom, and one cousin told the the other the news.
             They soon parted and met other bees on other blooms on other flowers in the garden, and the news was spread faster than the flowers’ pollen.
            Soon yellow jackets and wasps were, in their own languages passing on the news. Then the big bumble bees heard the buzz.
            Beetles, being beelingual, translated the news to other insects, and the ants’ chain command brought the news to ground level.
            Even the worms, who usually didn’t care, heard parts of the news as they moved through the ground away from the birds.
            In less than a day, most of the living creatures in all the front and back yards of the neighborhood knew the news in varying degrees of truth.
            The first two worker bees met again the next day and one said he heard about what they said to each other from another bee.
            The second worker bee told his cousin he only told one other bee, and those two agreed the buzz was not worth repeating.

I just want to know where you stand with me

I just want to know where you stand with me

Want no reasons,
No excuses and
I don’t want lies,
Or no alibis

I just want to know where you stand with me.
Will you be in the comfort of my arms tonight,
Or do I set your spirit to the wind, wild and free?
If you think I’m talking about together forever,
Then I think you have me figured all wrong.
I love to have you around, but, babe, forever
Is a long, long time.

I just want to know where you stand with me.
I just want to know,
I just want to know,
I just want to know,
I just want to know,
I just want to know where you stand with me.

Are you satisfied, or do you want to be free?
Are you satisfied,
Are you satisfied,
Are you satisfied,
Are you satisfied,
Are you satisfied, or do you want to be free?

Want no reasons,
No excuses and
I don’t want lies,
Or no alibis.
I just want to know where you stand with me.

Garden Seat

(Photo by Mike Hall)

A seat in the garden in the focus of the new area in front of the patio this summer. Three old mis-shapen evergreen bushes that would die if cut regularly, were removed and not replaced. The property completed their project with the multch, and we started our slice of heaven with a concrete garden seat, growing tomato plants, new plastic garden “stones,”  and a few plastic flowers bought at a garage sale (it was beyond the spring planting for annuals) to complement our patio table and new umbrella.  The patio faces the west and and the sunsets are great to watch.

Conversation with My Aunt

The role of the poet is to take snapshots of a reality, even though it may be totally invented. If successful, the result is a real snippet of a thought of a conversation a long time ago, from a character’s perspective.  This poem is by Karl Dobson, the newest member of the Boys of Lambda Sigma Chi. Dobson, was nominated by his friend, Brother Adrian Parker.  Karl started out as a journalist, and after graduation from BSU in 1979, went from small town papers to being a medical reporter for 10 years.  He was so into helping people that he decided to become a healer, first as a nurse and now as a physician’s assistant, the closest thing be actually being an M.D.  I suspect the lower pay in journalism may have contributed as a motive to a second career. The moves to Karl’s current position lead him on a journey to several towns and cities in several states, and Adrian lost contact. Through the World of Words by Elias Tobias, and a popular social network on the Internet, they found each other with Karl landing in Texas. He is working in Austin making  the big bucks. Karl presented a portfolio of poetry, forwarded by Adrian, and now the Sigma Chi’s are eight.  The boys welcome their new member.

Try to imaging how this aunt really was, and how she once looked. 

Conversation with my Aunt

“Pepper, Pepper, my Dear,” my aunt
  said to me.
“Never, ever, fall in love with a man
  who loves the sea.”
“They say they will love you forever,
  then let you be,”
“I loved a sailor once and just look
  what happened to me.”
“I looked in her tearing eyes that were
  seeing life at about eighty.
I was young then, and I thought she
  probably was right,
but what she didn’t say was falling
 would be such a delight.
I went to a dance while I was in high
 school on a Saturday night.
His name was Carlos, and he was a
  handsome, salty sight.
I couldn’t get over his muscles developed
 for one of his height.
Later we talked about having a big family,
  and we had a big fight.
When he signed on a merchant ship
 the next day, I saw the light.
“Pepper, Pepper, my Dear,” my aunt
  said to me.
“Never, ever, fall in love with a man
  who loves the sea.”
“They say they will love you forever,
  then let you be,”
My aunt has since passed away,
 but in me her words still live.
She told me the meaning of what it was
 like to love and how to give.  

“Pepper, Pepper, my Dear,” my aunt
  said to me.
“Never, ever, fall in love with a man
  who loves the sea.”
“They say they will love you forever,
  then let you be,”
“I loved a sailor once and just look
  what happened to me.”
“I looked in her tearing eyes that were
  seeing life at about eighty.
I was young then, and I thought she
  probably was right,
but what she didn’t say was falling
 would be such a delight.
I went to a dance while I was in high
 school on a Saturday night.
His name was Carlos, and he was a
  handsome, salty sight.
I couldn’t get over his muscles developed
 for one of his height.
Later we talked about having a big family,
  and we had a big fight.
When he signed on a merchant ship
 the next day, I saw the light.
“Pepper, Pepper, my Dear,” my aunt
  said to me.
“Never, ever, fall in love with a man
  who loves the sea.”
“They say they will love you forever,
  then let you be,”
My aunt has since passed away,
 but in me her words still live.
She told me the meaning of what it was
 like to love and how to give.

I Wish It Would Rain

The morning dew is not enough
to keep my love for you alive.
By the time the noon sun arrives,
you have disappeared into the air.
Secretly, you reappear in the
dark before the sun rises again.
Sometimes I wish it would rain.

Intergalactic Speeding

Don’t go so fast that you start to pass
your own shadow,
for that is a violation of intergalactic speeding.
Then the light will play tricks on you.
Some people will think you’re crazy because
you will see people and things they can’t.
It may be hard to know what is real,
and then you won’t know how to feel
When you discover what is the truth.
The mind becomes addicted to your vice.
The results aren’t nice, and you could
lose your job, your family.

Not much would be left of your life.
So slow down, and take a day,
or as  much as you may need.
Listen to some music, or get a book and read.
Take a look at what is that you really believe,
and you may be surprised.
This day is a good day to live.

Raging River

(Courtesy Photo)

Raging River

She wants to ride the raging river
 and settled for the comfort of a stream.
A stream can easily be maneuvered,
 and it can be the source of a dream.

To read this poem in Spanish, click here.

Raging Río

Para ver la versión original en inglés, haga click aquí. 

Raging Río

Ella quiere viajar en el río furioso
  y se establecieron para la comodidad de un arroyo.
Un arroyo puede ser fácilmente maniobra,
  y puede ser la fuente de un sueño.

Lost Turtle

(Photo by Mike Hall)

An older Painted Turtle seems temporarily lost in the morning after a series of evening and overnight thunderstorms washed the animal out of its usual hiding place in or around small lakes at Shadeland Station Apartments in Indianapolis on June 20, 2009.

Hot Legs

There are somethings that brothers don’t say about their brothers, but if you would have seen her, I would have been inspired as much as Paul Abernathy was to write this about her.   He sure has changed though.  He lives for a different life now as a music minister.

Hot Legs

Hot Legs,
walking down the street.
Hot legs,
from your skirt to your feet.
Hot legs,
just come walk this way.
Hot legs,
I’ve got something to say.
Hot legs,
I wish you were next to me.
Hot Legs,
you set my emotions free.

I can’t seem to get you out of my mind.
When you passed by me one day,
First, I saw your legs, so fine,
Then you smiled in a special way.
Guys were looking from behind.
If a song come over me, I’d say  …

Hot legs,
walking down the street.
Hot legs,
is there a place where we could meet?
Hot legs,
what kind of games do you play?
Hot legs,
do you need attention every day?
Hot legs,
There’s more to you than meets the eye.
Hot legs,
What ever that is, I’d like to try.
 
I can’t seem to get you out of my mind
When you passed by me one day,
In a moment, my life had changed.
You just happened to walk my way,
and my life hasn’t been the same.
If you were here with me, I’d say …

Hot legs,
from your skirt to your feet.
Hot legs,
is there a place we could meet?
Hot legs,
I’d like to get to know your name.
Hot legs,
since I saw you, I’m not the same.
Hot legs,
so long, so sweet, so right.
Hot legs,
would you like to be with me tonight?