we three were
a merry three
the sun
the wind
and me
we danced
with ease
upon a breeze
while daisies
bowed in
verdant leas
but then the
wind was
called away
and couldn’t
stay to play
one day
the sun and I
we really tried
to have some
fun beneath
blue skies
but soon
I found our
friendship
thinned
until at last
the truth
sunk in
the sun’s
a bitch
without
the wind
–photo by me
a distant siren dutifully
ricochets all around the
tall downtown buildings
in the summer city heat
across from my bus stop
the children at the park
erupt with intermittent
piercing primal screams
a dog with a death-wish
howls every 2.5 minutes
as a jet passes overhead
and the traffic surges on
yet through all the noise
I can still hear my bus as
it accelerates into traffic
a good 4 stop lights away
dragonfly squadrons
flying mosquito patrols
are a welcome sight
–photo by me
I went out in the sun
I was white as wonder bread
still I stripped down to my shorts
and I bared my balding head
I looked just like a Q-tip
as I laid out on the spread
and I guess I fell asleep
for I woke up flaming red
I thought I’d get a tan
but I’m lobsterized instead
and now I’m truly worried
as to what will lie ahead
for the thought of even moving
now fills me with dread
I’ll prop myself up
for the night on my bed
I’m sure I’ll get big blisters
until my skin is shed
and probably by morning
I’ll wish that I was dead
I guess I didn’t listen
to what my mother said
don’t lay out in the sun
when you’re white as wonder bread
more modern mothers
turning to wicca mean less
goddesslessnesses
a movement more or less apt
for even gods have mothers
–photo by me
it was a long winter
now, in the still of the night
I step out into the shadows
and tip toe down to the lake
under too many stars, and–
oh my god the stars!–
the air is just a little too
cool for the usually
ubiquitous mosquitoes
but its just right for my
scandinavian blood
I lay back on the sand
and peer into the endless
abyss of space and time
I feel so blessed that I am
here this very second
experiencing this wonder
I thank god for this joy
the lapping waves soothe me
and cold, brittle memories
melt away once again
it was a long winter
an overnight storm
whips up chaos and fury
and reminds us all
of the violence of war
on this memorial day
–photo by me
life is but a wooden fence
that stretches ‘cross the grounds
and circumnavigates the deep
with countless ups and downs
life is wooden mile-posts
with threaded rails of time
standing sun-bleached hand in hand
on felted lawn sublime
life is wooden moments
reaching out of sight
a wooden skeleton by day
a memory by night
–photo by me
michaeljordahl 