08.04.2021
The Eagle and the Fire Chief
Away up high
In the top of a tree
That grows on a cliff
Too far up there to see
In a nest that is made
Of grey twig and thick moss
Meet the Village Fire Chief
And an eagle named Ross
This bi-weekly meeting
Depending on season
Is of urgent importance
And this is the reason
They’ve coordinated an effort
Serving both of their needs
To detect forest fires
And to try to save trees
The eagle keeps watch
From his perch in the air
And directs the flame-fighters
Where to go—here or there
And their team-up approach
Helps woodland creatures and man
By keeping the fires
From consuming the land
08.03.2021
For Those Who’ll Believe Me
They said I was dreaming
And I said I was not
When I shared what I’d seen
In the sky, in the hot
Summer day, when the sun
Was up straight overhead
As I walked down the street
Through the town where it led
And I stopped to look up
At the buildings around
And I spied through the spires
From my spot on the ground
It was golden and white
With its wings spread out wide
And the sun glancing off
With a glint from its hide
That was rainbow and blue
Like a flash after rain
With a golden-brown glare
That shone out from its mane
And there it was in the air
For a moment, if that
The king of all beasts
Splendid emperor cat
And quick as it came
It was gone from my view
“Could it be, what I’d seen,
Could it even be true?”
And I’ve told all the townsfolk
But they won’t hear a word
They all laugh or they jeer
And they say it’s absurd
Save for a few
Who seem to be keen
To hear what I say
And about what I’ve seen
It’s the children of course
Who can see, hear, and feel
The town’s children of course
Could accept what was real
So to them I entrust
This tale and more
To them I will tell
All the yarns in my store
And I’ll tell them to watch
To keep watch, and keep tryin’
For the chance that they’ll see
This magnificent lion
08.02.2021
Waking My Sister
My sister sleeps on
Though it’s time to arise
She’s still tucked in her bed
She won’t open her eyes
The sun, it is up
Breakfast almost to table
And she should get up
I know that she’s able
But she won’t, she remains
All snug under cover
Thinking it’s a protection
With its warmth
Just above her
Well I won’t wait around
It’s time for the day
I’ll take care of this
Here I am, on my way
As I enter the room
I crawl through the door
Then I drop to my belly
And I crawl on the floor
And the next thing I’ll crawl
Right under her bed
I’ll push on her mattress
Right under her head
In fact I just might
Because I feel strong
Pick the whole mattress up
Overhead with a song
I will sing very loud
And then I’ll start to spin
Till my sister wakes up
Wondering what world she’s in
Now that’s a true thrill
That I’d sure like to see
But oh no! She’s awake!
And she’s looking at me
So I’m wiggling my way
Backwards out of this place
To escape the hard glare
That I see on her face
And I’m crafting excuses
Maybe say that I’d miss her
If she’d stayed in her bed
And that she’s my best biggest sister
07.30.2021
In Protest
How dare they give this thing to ME
Don’t they know who I am?
I command the third dragoon
With turns from my left hand
How could they think to slight me
To put this in my path
When I’ve so many medals
More than any other hath?
This truly is outrageous
I’ll fume, protest, I’ll picket
How could they be so bold as to
Give ME this traffic ticket?
07.29.2021
The Loves She Doesn’t
I don’t know much
‘Bout the girl I love
But I know she’s not for flowers
She doesn’t care for boxed chocolates
Nor jewel-encrusted towers
She’s not a fan of strings of pearls
Or operatic boxes
She’s never worn a single fur
No beavers, mink, or foxes
And I am sure she has no interest in
Cracked teeth, scraped knees, or sneezes
Because a multitude of remedies
She takes as oft she pleases
So since she’s not for finer things
Nor a virus or a germ
I will instead just draw for her
The sweetest pachyderm