Leather at the Pride Parade

Leather at the Pride Parade

18 July 2011

I walked with my friend over to the parade

Staging area, hugging friends along the way.

Eventually we found the leather cavalcade

As the sun burned the marine layer away.

Along with socializing, Wish supplied

Water and nourishment for our benefit.

My sunscreen got shared and applied

Guarding against sunburn’s stealthy hit.

Titleholders stood around in discourses

With Mama’s people and upstarts.

Three members dressed like horses

Complete with harnesses and carts.

There was a gentle breeze along the route

That kept us cool, natural ventilation.

The rest of the country can eat its heart out,

Jealous of San Diego’s location.

The crowds were enthusiastic, cheering

And applauding as we passed their mark,

People lined the street gawking and peering

From Normal Street to Balboa Park.

Sick Trick

Sick Trick

13 July 2011

How often do we listen to the shrillness

Of conversations about illness?

There was the first grade tonsillectomy,

Then in junior high an appendectomy,

After the last child came a hysterectomy

And last month was a lumpectomy.

Complaining and comparing aches, pains,

Sickness and operations pays dividends

In the form of unintended secondary gains

By helping us stay in touch with friends.

Without a medical history to flout

What else would we talk about?

Lament and Vent

Lament and Vent

17 June 2011

I haven’t felt up to par or normal all day

But I think I’ll go to the gym anyway,

I just hate a slight cold and not feeling well.

When five minutes on the treadmill is hell.

What’s even more irritating and irksome

Is the rhyming part of my brain still works some.

Hooray for Today!

Hooray for Today!

9 June 2011

I feel like praising and prizing today,

Not that it’s different from yesterday.

Today offers possibilities in this way:

Not just stopping to smell the roses,

But noticing the color metamorphoses

From a petal’s center of lemon

To it’s outward lip of salmon.

I’m celebrating the immediate

And another chance to create.

Nature cycles at it’s own rate

So the roses in my garden today

Won’t be in next week’s bouquet.

Today is a self-contained event,

That’s why it’s called the present.

Machinist, Poet and Watchmaker

Machinist, Poet and Watchmaker

26 May 2011

A machinist and a poet lived lived by the sea

And they were as comfortable as they could be.

The machinist had dealings with a watchmaker

This time the way the monies went was a deal breaker.

The machinist and poet went to see if he was a true blue friend

Or if he would prove to be a villain in in the end.

A visit to the watchmaker’s was very telling

Because voices were quickly raised to yelling.

In case affairs turned to disorder

The machinist wore a voice recorder.

The watchmaker finally threw a raging temper fit

But returned some items for the machinist’s benefit.

For justice the machinist filed in small claims,

Return of property or monetary value were his aims.

The watchmaker counter filed for a change of venue

Hoping to set a precedent or save himself revenue.

After going to a different hall and space

Finally, a commissioner heard the case.

The change in venue was denied.

So the watchmaker greatly sighed.

First the machinist told his version of events

With the poet giving testimony augments.

Next the rambling watchmaker told his side

Presentations unaligned meant somebody lied.

The machinist got a final say,

Then came the judgement of the day.

Damages were awarded to the machinist

And the watchmaker reacted at his meanist.

Epitaph Gaffe

It has been brought to my attention by the people I play cards with that my signature phrase is "What a rip!" Tonight while playing at my nephew's, the idea came up of putting it on my tombstone. I'll agree to it only if it rhymes.

Epitaph Gaffe

22 May 2011

What a rip! Here I lie

Buried six feet under.

A choice I couldn’t deny.

You there full of wonder,

While breathing and living,

Delighting in friendship,

Still doing and giving,

Here I lie, what a rip!

Permanent Vacation Choice of Vocation

Permanent Vacation Choice of Vocation

17 May 2011

My doctor’s office was next door

So I went to the fabric store.

I enjoyed walking down the aisles

And touching cloth gave me smiles,

Like calico cotton prints, flannel, velvet, velour,

Felt, lace, fleece, linen, chiffon, satin and more.

In the middle of that textile environment

I realized this isn’t my grandmother’s retirement.

In those days there were limited activities

Now I get to pick other proclivities.

With wide-ranging skills and interests

Quilting falls to the bottom of my lists.

Realizing I could do much worse

I came home and wrote this verse.

Conversations and Rations

I tried a different rhyming scheme in this poem.

Conversations and Rations

5 May 2011

I went to my friends’ for pizza night,

Looking forward to that weekly delight.

I dressed with the kilt-and-no-shirt look.

Other friends were there with foresight,

They brought mixed fruit and a book

About Lucrecia, the daughter of a crook.

After being married against her will

She started to write her own guidebook.

Her beginning battles were all uphill.

The tales of her deeds give us a thrill.

She became a master of misdirection.

It was like she had a license to kill.

Pizza was baked and came as a selection

One of green pepper and mushroom confection,

The other was pepperoni, all right;

All blending for a friendship connection.

Hurray for Susan’s Birthday

Hurray for Susan’s Birthday

17 March 2011

Susan thought this birthday would be goner,

But we wanted to surprise her with honor.

We want this year

To be a time of cheer.

As she turns the big six-oh

We want to thank her so.

After the trials and joys

Of raising four fine boys

She gets to do reruns

With granddaughters and grandsons.

Thanks for your example and the difference

You have made in the lives of the students.

You have been a person of positive influence.

What we mean and these words we’re usin’

Say happy birthday, we love you Susan.

Spring Fling

Spring Fling

8 April 2011

A gust of wind power

Sent the spring rain

Of a brief shower

Against my window pane.

Outside under the eaves

Crystals winked in sync

On the grass and leaves

To the sound of plink, plink.

I kicked off my flip-flops

To walk around barefoot,

Get wet from the raindrops

And enjoy the sensory input.

I unzipped my coat

To feel the setting sun

On my chest and throat,

A vitamin D dry run.

For precious minutes

I got to enjoy nature

At its freshest, in its

Own nomenclature.