i like to make
things out of wood
i never really
thought i could
but i have help
my inchworm friend
who carries out
the measuring end
he scoots along
then parks his butt
to show me where
to make my cut
but he’ll become
a moth someday
he’ll feel his oats
and fly away
and on that day
he does escape
i’ll have to buy
a measuring tape
–photo by me
aurora
purple, green
rippling, dancing, glowing
spirits to our ancestors
neon
–photo by my son, aaron
when land meets the sea
he must form a good shoreline–
or his name is mud
–photo by me
sometimes a cold line
is all that it takes to break
the strongest of hearts
–photo by me
–photo by me
“She seemed happy on Facebook, officer!”
“Grandma’s Little Paradise”
–Photo by me
I lay here on my lawn chair
Out in the merciless sun,
Too hot to move to the shade.
The shimmering air is still,
And I’m actually being cooked
alive in this backyard oven.
I’m sizzling like a sausage.
The meat is done and ready
To slide right off my bones.
I’m going to spontaneously
Combust any second now.
Detonation is imminent–
Wait! Suddenly a breeze!
A lovely, lovely, breeze!
I am saved by the wind.
Don’t leave, lovely breeze.
Come back! Tell your friends!
I am back in the fiery pit.
I am wilted.
–Photo by me
a brief stillness comes
as summer hesitates to
give way to autumn
–photo by me
We Americans
Say we’re a Christian nation–
Clearly, we are not.
We have far more vacant homes
Than we have homeless people.
michaeljordahl 