All writing

Embarrassed that they'll soon be standing naked,
so jealous of the evergreening pines --
and honestly, it's so unfair, can't take it --
deciduous leaf bearers of all kinds
blush helplessly. They're showing their true colors,
refusing to resign themselves to fate.
Exasperated, lonely warbler hollers,
the sunburned foliage hides his chosen mate.
Mosquitos swarm, daredevil aerobatics,
their bites will make the deerskin hard as bark.
The warblers, unimpressed by these dramatics,
zoom through the swarm, each picking out a mark.
Our bachelor attempts one final call,
but time runs out as autumn comes for all.

Ambition once attempted to announce
that in no longer wanted wealth or power.
Greed seconded, demanding not an ounce
beyond what it was due. Before the hour
was struck the others followed, each in turn
denouncing this or that, but with it, purpose,
and as they idled, trying to discern
if there was any there beneath their surface
discovered that indeed they play a role
in separating us from one another
but at the same time, each does make us whole,
distinguishable, close, but not our brother.
The sum of all our parts, good, bad and ugly,
we're nonetheless ourselves, and fitted snugly.

Got me a camera obscura,
and at a reasonable price.
Resulting images are purer.
To penetrate any disguise
I simply point and click the shutter:
the photo, absent any clutter,
displays on an adjacent screen,
not of what is, but should have been.
If only life could be that simple
we'd capture it without regret.
No need to double check or vet;
replace the pimple with a dimple.
If not the fairest, at least fair.
And yeah, a thicker head of hair.

time flies when I am having fun
each takeoff and each landing
and when I cannot find me none
my efforts notwithstanding
I might just time an errant bee
it really doesn't matter
is it to be, or not to be
let's see, here come the swatter

grief and trouble carried with
spring ice buckling underneath
soul quick falling through the crack, through the firmament
falling like a heavy rock
trouble is that grief got stuck
grabbed the edges of the ice, became permanent

now it follows me around
to wherever I am found
gossip with it, and ill will, rumor peddling
that I didn't die but live
knew the land with naught to give
well and maybe the odd quails, with their meddling

which of them told him the truth
him the master of my youth
but they gave my secret up, with their bantering
and unable to resist
he pursued me through the mist
grief and gossip rode nearby, horses cantering

he caught up, and having found
hugged me, lifted, spun around
alongside him, in the saddle, grief chuckling
said he really couldn't stay
all we had was that one day
grief remained though to the end, it is suckling

grief and trouble carried with
spring ice buckling underneath
then collapsed, my soul lost grip, sinking suddenly
falling like a heavy rock
my misfortunes, hanging back
grabbed the edges of the ice, glumly, sullenly

now they follow me around
to wherever I am bound
gossip with them, and ill will, rumor peddling
that I didn't die but live
knew the land with naught to give
well and maybe the odd quails, with their meddling

which of them told him the truth
him the master of my youth
but they gave my secret up, with their bantering
and unable to resist
he pursued me through the mist
my misfortunes rode nearby, horses cantering

he caught up, and having found
hugged me, lifted, spun around
trouble rode with him, and grief, they're a trinity
but he really couldn't stay
all we had was that one day
grief and trouble though remained, to infinity

Author notes: https://youtu.be/pfMKLuUy7cI?si=XwnSsA0UrHMV-kXa

shadows gathered by the light
and as none of them too bright
argued over width and girth
even length for what it's worth

one, a shadow of a doubt
didn't know what it's about
but insisted if it's width
it is only by the teeth

and another, somewhat dim
though a mainstay at the gym
demonstrating inner strength
waxed poetic and at length

but to settle the debate
which went on till far too late
and to figure which was which
someone came, and flipped the switch

Author notes: image by GPT

a cloud of dust ignites: creation
soon planets settle in their stations
new worlds await a mind that reasons
questions the meaning of the seasons
and ponders why it must exist
before returning to the mist

Author notes: image from 123rf.com

what if life reversed the tables
every vestige that enables
you to feel that you're in charge
you're the master, written large
would it bother, would it sting
when the bird demands you sing?

Author notes: image from 123rf.com

when mice and men
are long since gone
and roaches plan
them having won
will roaches worry
about mites
in worthwhile stories
something bites

listen, dear friend, as I sing you a waltz
I once met a man lacking failings or faults
as perfect he was, as fresh dew on a leaf
and no, I can't say our encounter was brief
for the man, as he was, can I say it much clearer
is staring at me when I look at the mirror

imagine yourself as a piece on a board
can't make any moves, not of your own accord
no, every decision dictated above
a hand that descends, lacking mitten or glove
and grabs you in fingers still covered in grease
so unceremonious, no thanks or please
just moves you wherever, and says, stay right here
and you, just a pawn, have the whole world to fear
but opposite you there are bishops and kings
they think that it's them that are pulling the strings
but really for all of us, it's just that hand
and we, like all pawns, struggle to understand