Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Una One, Una Two


This morning,
hairtousled,
beard askew,
eyes semiconscious,
the face in the mirror looks familiar.

No,
not the fellow in the wedding photo in the living room.

HIM.

The Montana mathematician
with dreams of pipebombs dancing in his head.

Behind this mirror face, though,
no rage-fueled Fourth of Julys
nor bitter April 19ths.
Just an occasional pop of annoyance at:
bad drivers
ex-wife
politicians in general
TAXES
automobile repairs
dinner-time telemarketers.

Dull stuff, really.
No threat. Harmless.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Leaving the vet's/Nagasaki/Other haiku

                                                  
leaving the vet’s
without my daughter’s cat –
chilly wind

animal carcass
on shoulder of the road
I don’t look – I look

a break in the clouds
gave way to sunrise –
Nagasaki

 

April Morning

                                                  
April morning –
cardinals in conclave
at the bird feeder

A Mall Santa's Prayer


A Mall Santa's Prayer

As I hold each precious child
let me treat each one
with the love and care I'd show
Your most holy Son.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Some published clerihews


Robert Frost
                                                 
In those woods Robert Frost
really was lost.
But always looking for ways to make a dime,
he stopped to scribble a rhyme.

...

Albert Einstein
                                                 
Albert Einstein
had to pay a traffic fine
for trying to reach the speed of light
in a Packard one night.

...

Herman Melville

Herman Melville
chose to fill
his epic novel with page after page of involved but possibly plagiarized details
about whales.

Some Christmas verses (used in Cards, greetings)


Though Santa gives so many gifts
he’ll always be outdone.
He gives clothes and toys and such,
but the Father gave His Son.

... 

At Nicea St. Nicholas
slapped that naughty Arius.
Now for those with vices
the naughty list suffices.

... 

With ox and ass and manger and hay
St. Francis recalled that holy day.
And before that Greccio scene was done
The Father again provided his Son.

...
 
Holy Child of light
illuminating with hope hearts
in these darkest days

... 

Oh most holy Child of light
Illuminate with hope our hearts
So even on the darkest night
 
...

A Mall Santa's Prayer

As I hold each precious child
let me treat each one
with the love and care I'd show
Your most holy Son.


...
 
Christmas Eve walk
studying the stars above -
maybe one of these?

...
 
Through the clouds
a solitary star shines –
Christmas Eve

...
 
After sunrise
One star still visible –
Christmas Day

...
 
After Epiphany Santa Claus
will take a pause.
But believers have no need to fear:
He'll be back next year.

... 
 
Oh, to have been a shepherd or a king
and to have heard those angels sing
or to have seen that star so bright
upon that holy Christmas night.

But Christmas transcends both time and place
and we can share in that night’s grace
when like those humble ones back then
we heed God’s call and proclaim, “Amen.”