my eyes blurred with tears

the world outside obscured, no

my dirty window

(Warner inspired Haiku

our version of occupy wall street

and about as effective)

Mirel is a queen bee

Mirel is a queen bee

with a hive.

She is busy

in the messy business

of making honey.

She is both:

a worker and a queen

like all of us

21^st century bees.

She is a be-ute-ous bee

with crisp fuzzy stripes and wings--

oh my, her wings are a wonder.

They take her hithter and yon

from continent to continent.

She touches down

in her mission

to gather sweetness.

She is a power bee.

She is a liberated bee.

It is hard work

to turn all you see

into goodness.

It is hard work

to gather thoughts,

carry them for miles,

and store them up

in the proper cell.

It is hard work

honey coating

your memories...

So that you might be rich

in what matters.

A Sonnet:  Dearest Harvest Moon

Dearest Harvest Moon, full of the summer sun,

Are you saving my summer memories?

Bright days of festivals, free time, and fun;

Twelve winsome weeks creating sweet stories--

Are you savoring the special moments--

Trapped inside your golden globe in the night?

Did you see me and how my time was spent?

Oh moon, make room for all the delights.

Sharing adventures, planning escapades;

Traveling far away, returning home;

Uplifted by the summer’s serenade:

Its soft crusade of heat and light and love

So big, so bright, so comforting in flight

Dear Harvest Moon, protect my dreams tonight.

His coffee cup in the cup holder

His coffee cup in the cup holder

donut in the bag beside

NPR on the radio, green light go--

clutch in, shift, clutch out

gas in, clutch in, shift

breeze from light to light.

Bang!  Left rear swings out,

front to curb and up

360 degrees and freeze--

the week has started and

the business of re-entry

has been beached--

flying, yet wingless

with thoughts behind

and the world unfurled--

move ahead, attend

to today, avoid accidents

re-attack work--

collisions with friends and

pack the email, lunch with shoes

send the briefcase--

party with calendar and

laugh, smile, laugh, but don’t cry.

He's delighted he didn't die.

Breathe in and out, hair cut,

visit mom, say goodbye
cross the street

and he's hit by a car on Friday.

Let’s do something easy.

Let’s do something easy, God.

If you are tired of Middle Eastern zealots,

Place your hand on the back of the dog.

Here, where my hand is—

pressing her head and shoulders

down into the floor

while she shakes and quivers

during the storm.

Heal her.

Give me peace.

Let us sleep.

If you are tired of wreaking havoc

Place your hand here on my back,

press hard into my shoulders

down into my body,

while I shake and quiver

during real life.

Let’s do something easy.

Easier than this.

Pine Mountain State Park

Pineville, KY

Honeymoon Falls Trail

The world is not with us


The world is not with us at work camp.
We know not of hurricanes and earthquakes.
We know how extension cords are connected to power.
We know how the work of our hands is connected to each other.


The world is not with us at work camp.
Here in the valley. We remember now the simpler things,
The thing contentment is made of, the shade tree,
a cool drink of water, eyes that twinkle.


It is easy for some to live at work camp forever.
Easy to live without the earthquakes of others,
the hurricanes of far, far away in other green valleys--
filled with shade and water and other twinkling eyes.


We can connect our souls at work camp, if we let them.
Will we let them?