the tiny chameleon tree frog
blends into the forest motif
as a gray little bump on a log
or a green little lump on a leaf,
and nobody knows where he goes
whenever he’s not on the ground,
but equipped with his suction-cup toes,
he’s sure to be hanging around.
–photo by me
there once was a red-eyed old ghoul
who haunted a broken-down school
till the townsfolk all came
with their torches aflame–
now he lives in the woods as a rule
–photo/art by me
there once
was a self-righteous man
who built
himself a tall, open tower
from which
he would peer out over
his world
to search for his soul.
every day,
he would climb the stairs
and scour
the heavens for it;
sometimes,
he felt it was near.
in time,
it was too much for him,
and the
self-righteous man died.
in silence,
his soul flew from the roof
–photo by me
before telling a joke,
you must get it;
after breaking a bone,
you must set it;
before bathing a cat,
you must pet it;
after writing a poem,
you must edit.
–photo by me
your neighbor’s eye is fixed on you
for she’s intrigued by all you do
so don’t get mad and call her out
but give her ‘things’ to talk about
and then take solace in the thought
that you can do ‘things’ she cannot
so start the show and have some fun
before your audience of one
–photo by me
we may see our lives
as far too overcrowded–
and still feel alone
–photo by me
His name was Jack Pine
And he died for our sins;
Still he stands there in line
With his wires and pins.
While other trees ’round
Freely reach for the sky,
He is lashed to the ground
Without roots and bone-dry.
There once came a day
When his wires went dead
For man found a way
To use cell phones instead;
Still he stands there in line
As a new age begins–
His name was Jack Pine
And he died for our sins.
–photo by me
one tree, seven trunks
a great place to meditate
worn smooth by others
–photo by me
emerson
once suggested that
the earth laughs
in flowers,
and it follows, i guess, that
she cries in showers
–photo by me
a heron called punctual pete
would fly to his parents to eat,
and he would arrive
exactly at five–
not counting his head or his feet
–photo by me
michaeljordahl 