Category: poetry

Sundogs

I woke up this morning to what appeared to be three suns shining into my frosty bedroom window and knew at once how cold it had to be outside. I was tempted to crawl back under my warm blanket and go back to sleep, but I didn’t want to miss the shot, so I quickly threw on a couple layers of clothes and headed out.

I was not disappointed. A heavenly halo, studded with sundogs as brilliant as diamonds, hung low in the ice-crystal sky. It was a sight to behold, even with a -30 degree windchill burning my face. Fortunately, I was able to get a few shots before my fingers started to freeze.

flanked by his two dogs

the god of the sky brightens

the frigid morning

–photos by me

heavenly peace

i gaze at the stars and wonder

what strange tales are being told

around those distant campfires.

do they look up at our twinkling star

and spin exotic stories about us?

perhaps we each see the other

as something unknowable, a part

of the mystery of the heavens–

and there’s peace of mind in that.

–photo by me

ancient astronauts (archives)

when we surveyed the planet earth

from deep in outer space

we found that she was giving birth

to you — the human race

and when we came down from above

to teach you right from wrong

and show you that the way of love

is how to get along

you said you needed to be free

to learn things on your own

and so we listened to your plea

and left you all alone

but then, alas, when we returned

we found, much to our horror

that what the human race had learned

was weaponry and war

so now we watch you from afar

and patiently we wait–

perhaps we’ll wish upon a star

while you decide your fate

–AI image

On Thin Ice

These ice fishermen are a crazy lot. Despite all the warnings of thin ice due to unseasonably warm weather, they insist on driving out on it and putting up their ice houses. They must have their fish!

On Lake of the Woods, one person has drowned already, and over forty others had to be rescued by boat when the ice broke off from the shore and floated away.

On Red Lake, it’s even crazier; a plane and several vehicles have gone through the ice, and over a hundred eager fishermen had to be rescued. I love fish too, but not that much!

people are dying

to get out on the thin ice–

some more than others

–Photos by me

the moon and me

when i was a young boy,

it was the ancient face

that cows jumped over;

when i was a young man,

it became my chaperone

and followed me on dates;

and now that i’m old,

it’s the pocked and ruddy

face of an adolescent–

by these observations,

i can only surmise

that when i die,

the moon will be born

–photo by me (double exposure)