More stray notes

Poets know how to write
how to share the world in words
the best books on writing I've ever read
are those on poetry

Reasons to live in Minnesota
family
Lakes
because you like mosquito bites
Grandmas died here
Lakes
because you are tough enough for winter
five generations have lived here
Lakes
Trees
Trees
Trees
Family

 . . .
Fighting the urge for chocolate cake
lets try the celery for pete's sake
. . .
Some Similies

tired as parents of a colicky newborn

Hot as the anger of a woman called "girl"

Waves unfolded like airplanes crashing into the twin towers

Distrusting as a millionaire made president

the child trembles like a dog taking his last breath

the airplane rose like a cough
rough, deep, studdering- until it finally
caught air

black as midnight in my living room
computer screens aglow, no sleep
only thoughts
endless night of thoughts

He entered the room like a seagull
squawking and looking for food
 . . .
A good name for a poetry book: Textual Pleasures
 . . .
I am trying to think
but she crosses my path
and I smile
. . .

Random notes

Thursday Afternoon- Haug Sauer, 3rd floor

I laughed out loud at a funny story
ended up with a line at my door
I had to tell the story 3 times more

. . .
I'd leave school those days
tired from teaching
drunk with poetry
eating raw veggies
for dinner
my car's thermometer
read forty below
driving to and fro for over an hour
an hour to myself
to think
and study
or pray

 . . .
Too bad I can't bring a butterfly back
with every poem I write
Maybe I should dedicate proceeds from one of my books
for butterfly sanctuaries

Edge of Extinction

Edge of Extinction

I push my poetry

out the window

flutter down

until caught

by a current of air

transposed into a butterfly

takes flight

3000 miles to Mexico

Covering Cacti

in colorful wings

global warming

pesticide use

bulldozers for trump's

 * W * A * L * L *

When Butterflies Die does poetry too?

Shrew Poetry

I have a little shrew
he visited my house
smaller than a mouse
he crawls into my shoe
underneath the piano
behind the laundry bin

I see him
long in tail and nose
scampering everywhere he goes

 . . .
I have a shrew
in my shoe
his name is Roo

Whinny Pig

I have a little guinea pig
he likes to cry
a whinny pig
he thinks he's hungry
a thinny pig
oh, silly little
Guinea pig

3 ways

This same poem has been written many ways- here are a few

My last touch with you
seeking the comfort of your heat
entangled around and through
plastic tubes and wires
beeping and buzzing

drowning out your breathing
nurses running in and out
asking questions, interrupting
I can not share with you
thoughts circling in my mind

. . .

When I hugged out
I wondered
is this what it will be like

when you die?
my last touch
entwined and around plastic tubes

beeping and buzzing
distract me
from the rhythm of your breath
nurses run in and out
I can not open up

for fear my heart will bleed out
can't discuss, think
thoughts circling in my mind

 . . .
hugged you
between us
your headset

like this
will you die?

last touch
entwined
plastic tubes
beeping and buzzing

can't hear
you breathe
nurses in and out
I can't
   talk
   think

Last Sunset

Driving out of Brainerd
white mist rises over the lake
into the red sunset
pink and white tulle
layers over the trees
I must take a picture
where is that *dang* phone?