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

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