what do you do when you’re out for some air,

and suddenly you’re face to face with a bear?

please do not flee

he’s faster than you

do not climb a tree

he’s a good climber too

and do not play dead

or it may become true

despite what you read

there’s nothing to do

but send up a prayer, and give up those plans;

when facing a bear, it’s out of your hands.

–photo by me

The great white limousine

Rolled down the road to Destiny,

And in it sat four revered men

Of great authority.

Religion and Tradition graced

The seat that faced the rear,

While in the back with Science

Sat Philosophy so near.

Now when the road became so

Rough that forward progress slowed,

Philosophy said, “Gentlemen,

Let’s try another road.”

“I think he’s right,” said Science,

Shuffling papers on his lap,

“I’ve been collecting data,

And I’ve made a little map.”

Religion would not hear of it,

“‘Tis blasphemy!” said he,

“For God himself has set us on

This road to Destiny.”

“Religion’s right,” Tradition chimed,

“It’s been agreed upon.”

And as they argued endlessly,

The limousine rolled on.

And in the end, their driver,

Who was named Necessity,

Would find that he would have to

Choose the road to Destiny.

–Photo 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

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

though flowers

are terrestrial,

their powers

are celestial

–photo by me