Archive for 'Daily Haiku'
Thursday, March 16th, 2023
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- death of a friendship
They couldn’t see each
other as they are now, but
as who they were then.
- stages of braces
Anticipation,
soreness, weird accent, soreness,
swishing out food bits.
- it all comes down to a sliver of voters
Everyone sticks to
their parties, and a group of
moderates then chooses.
- crucial conversations
Moving from fight or
flight to safety for all who
fill up knowledge pool.
- final stages
He’s going to talk
with his dad about elder
care choices to come.
- exploring the world of food
They tried every new
restaurant, reading menus,
picking cool dishes.
- the return of beavis and butt-head
Teenage duo wreak
havoc while cracking jokes at
music videos.
- the little burrito shop
A family-run
place where the burritos rule
and the tacos strut.
- where’s the mistletoe?
A sprig can lead to
a first kiss can lead to one
more kiss can lead to …
- funny ornaments
Old school art projects,
sports mascots, talking cartoons
and assorted kitsch.
- it’s the bought that counts
Gift cards are perfect
for control freaks: Spend this much
at only this place.
- tiktok: where issues go to die
If it’s not happy
happy, if it spotlights a
cause, it’s banned all right.
- four bags of clothes
One to donate, one
to trash. One to sell, one to
give to a dear friend.
- but who will stand for the white man?
Embracing the right’s
Christian nationalism
makes for holy war.
- war crimes in ukraine
Putin brandishes
his military might by
killing families.
- visions of winter
Southerners dream of
snow, but wake up to icy
nightmares all around.
- thermodynamically deficient
Shivering around
the house, in the car, at the
store. Always too cold.
- shopping maul
Should we still look for
the perfect gift, or will we
make do with these socks?
- virtual lap, virtual ear
Santa takes time to
field last-minute Zoom calls from
those good boys and girls.
- a christmas wish
Could we lay down the
guns for a day and start a
little peace on earth?
- thirty marvel movies and counting
Are we tired of
movies based on comic books?
Watch IP freely.
- what i did in 2022
Met my girlfriend, got
new job and computer, paid
off all debt, walked miles.
- hankering for tales, tall and otherwise
More people are swayed
by compelling stories than
dry facts on their own.
- over before it started
Let’s resolve to make
ourselves better in— Screw it
and pass the cheesecake.
- closing the year in a tizzy
Spending the last week
hurriedly trying to do
everything listed.
- the quiet countdown
Nine, eight, seven, six,
five, four, three, two, one. Happy
New Year, we whisper.
- new year’s wish
Hoping for growth, peace
and all things wonderful in
2023.
- pandemic year four
The virus surges,
and the death toll rises. Why
aren’t we doing more?
- photos of who i am now
The most glaring change
is the biggest smile that you’ve
ever partaken.
- old knees
The legs work fine, save
for creaky joints that sometimes
need a little rest.
- gingerbread housing
The roof leaks icing,
the windows are all muddy,
the walls are falling.
- pocket computers
Use them to record
moments, calculate bearings,
learn about the world.
- suggested food trucks
Pancakes, whiskey snow
cones, pies, chitlins, kimchi and
deep-fried everything.
- hop on a plane
Take flight on an old
747 to
visit a new land.
- southwest gone south
Their planes stood frozen
on the tarmac. Their agents
unable to move.
- streaming meltdown
How do you win fans
with mediocre programs
and rising prices?
- reverse to-do list
She added items
already done to keep track
of her performance.
- alas twitter
Whoever thought that
tweeting would prove to be more
trouble than its worth?
- murder central
Bodies drop every
day in the city. Nothing
slows down the killing.
- first time in south america
Hopping continents
to embrace new people and
absorb more culture.
- hiding the special ice cream
It resides in the
secret freezer to keep those
pesky roommates out.
- the nonviolence way
Yell from the streets, march
to and fro, let everyone
know why we’re angry.
- the office cleanup
Pack, trash, shred, file, place
on shelves, stow in baskets, sweep,
rearrange, compact.
- lower your standards
Why have the best when
you can have fourth best? Why try
for unreachables?
- the lone birthday present
It wasn’t much, but
it was enough to stave off
lonely bitterness.
- infinite diversity in infinite combinations
The franchise, in its
seventh decade, plows ahead
with more fun and shock.
- internal calendar
We feel a younger
age than we are. Our spirit
shines through our wan flesh.
- on the minibike
The youngster puttered
around the farm, causing the
chickens to scatter.
- family gathering
Young’uns running the
halls, parents in the kitchen,
Grandma in the den.
- the loudest children on earth
They open their mouths
like normal kids but emit
high-decibel booms.
- yipping and yapping
Doggy duo ruled
room with microaggressive
barks and energy.
- closed for private party
You can’t come in: We’re
busy celebrating your
being kept outside.
- epic house party
Lots of food and drink,
a great endless playlist and
friends and family.
- the tech revolution
Easier to text
the children than shout over
and over for them.
- putting the “ai” in haiku
This is a haiku
about the nature. Pine cones
come from cones of pine.
- the blizzard
Trapped indoors with no
means of escape. Surviving
until help arrives.
- nepo babies
Well, these Hollywood
roles won’t cast themselves, will they?
They’ll be stars, big stars!
- add 45 days
It takes 21
days for a new habit to
take. But that’s a myth.
- the kayak incident
My partner went for
a swim. When he tried to climb
back in … in I went!
- the long withdrawal
The blinding headache
of weaning yourself off of
caffeine pierces all.
- what’s the steering wheel doing way over there?
Everyone here drives
on the left. There’s no way I
can get used to it.
- beach bummed
Got my sunscreen on.
Got my cold drink and good book …
uh oh, here comes rain.
- party barge
Beer and booze for all
as we swim and cavort and
snorkel in the bay.
- nightly facetimes
I needed to see
that face, that smile, on my screen
while away from home.
- the podcaster’s dilemma
To let the guest shine
or to hog the spotlight while
showing off their smarts.
- improv rules
Learning how to build
each other’s ideas while
not going for laughs.
- bite by bite
They finished off the
remaining ice cream and licked
the bowl super clean.
- forming new habits
Every action you
take is a vote for the type
you wish to become.
- strip mining memories
Creative process
includes plumbing deep depths of
psyche for details.
- the chatgpt dad joke
I asked the chatbot
for a doctor’s note, but it
gave me excuses.
- and chicken thighs
Food is love. Cooking
special dishes for special
someone takes real heart.
- ai takeover
An approximate
thinking engine is enough
to fool most of us.
- the path of elder care
A winding trip through
insurance and nursing homes
and health aides and death.
- party at amanda’s
Head to basement for
rocking out with local band,
banana in hand.
- i love you
I said it, and I
meant it. Don’t know why it took
so long to utter.
- furry rave
Dress for bed and for
a party with some panda
PJs and glow stick.
- tying the room together
Throw out the shabby
old rug, and throw down a new
beauty to walk on.
- the pegasus effect
Governments use these
military-grade tools to
spy on civilians.
- black life revealed
Zora studied new
cultures by taking part in
songs and rituals.
- the dinner that almost wasn’t
He forgot to make
the reservations, and the
joint was filling fast.
- moving offices
They cleared out their small
cubicles, hit the lights and
left the rest behind.
- the lasting of ‘the last of us’
Wandering through a
hellscape of zombies and rogues.
*shakes fist at fungus*
- the evolution of amazon
Books to everything
to knock-offs and “Lord of the
Rings” and prescriptions.
- one step back
Twists and turns on the
road to sobriety can
include relapses.
- why are we afraid of black history?
Destroy all of our
libraries and flog teachers
who do not obey.
- a one thread count
Sheets made of burlap
that scratch the skin and crackle
when placed on the bed.
- a dozen concerts on the calendar
Wherever the bands
play, whatever time they start,
we’re gonna see them.
- pothole city
Cars bounce and tires
pop on the unkempt roads of
our metropolis.
- the message of hip-hop
A true 21st-
century town crier who
tells us where it’s at.
- race cars and thimbles
Traipsing through a flat
Atlantic City to buy
property for cheap.
- the death of twitter
All that was left was
a self-styled pretender and
adoring minions.
- quite the racquet
Not enough spaces
for tennis, pickleball. We’ll
settle it in court.
- junk food jamboree
Patties and buns in
juicy combat to decide
best burger in town.
- the magic window
Glimpses of life on
active rotation, highlights
and precious moments.
- puzzlers
Spending time sorting
by edges and colors to
build a large portrait.
- brighter days ahead
The lie of the clock
is that it’s earlier than
it was yesterday.
- the modern awards show
Flashy staging and
slick graphics with the same old
bigwigs and speeches.
- f is for fentanyl
Kills without remorse
this opioid scourge that hides
in everyday drugs.
- pie oh my
Cherry, chocolate,
chess, apple, pumpkin, Key lime,
blueberry, pecan.
- am i hungry?
Learning to trust the
body for signals to feed
and to stop feeding.
- yelp wanted
Scroll through the choices,
pick a new restaurant for
dinner on a dare.
• • •
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Monday, December 5th, 2022
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- the last corona virgin
Get thee behind me,
COVID. You shall not cross this
masked face, these washed hands.
- we report, you comply
When a news network
lies to you all day, all night,
it’s brainwash city.
- we’ve already moved on
The mass shootings of
today are forgotten long
before the blood dries.
- a focus on the numbers
She cared more about
the target, even taking
unhealthy chances.
- parton the interruption
Philanthropist, song-
writer, angel, a hell of
a businesswoman.
- non-stop flow
Time flies, or it creeps
in this petty pace. But it
always goes forward.
- saturday at the costco
A warehouse filled with
shoppers in a frenzy for
discount bulk salmon.
- patriotic pickins
What American
boy hasn’t tried Rice Krispie
treats? It’s in our blood.
- brigade of helpers
They made the most of
the day by installing the
laminate wood floor.
- belabor day
Quiet quitting. The
Great Resignation. Looks like
labor fighting back.
- probably not
Does this poem make
you angry or question all
your base assumptions?
- the new skate park
The boys made up new
tricks as they glided and jumped
and fell on each curve.
- waiting for da dough
The bakery line
stretched 20-people deep as
aromas wafted.
- secret identity
My mind wanders as
we exchange pleasantries: Where
do I know you from?
- bugging in
Vaccinated and
boosted (twice!) and I still caught
coronavirus.
- tiresome
They spent their weekend
nights peeling out in circles
while evading cops.
- some is forgiven
The crushing weight of
student loans becomes somewhat
lighter in a snap.
- there’s always community college
Education is
too precious to let any
yokel in the door.
- can’t spell ‘ain’t’ without ai
Listen up, nerds: I
don’t need no algorithm
to decide my fate.
- penalty boxed
It’s quite a racket
that the government has when
it comes to bounced checks.
- groundhog century
Does history make
progress ever, or are we
stuck in a time loop?
- concert under the stars
A warm summer’s eve
as the bluegrass band takes the
stage before a crowd.
- generation gaffe
Should we really know
TikTok and Dua Lipa
and “Euphoria”?
- alternative school
Either for the real
geniuses or criminal-
ly inclined or both?
- debt-free me
I owe nothing to
nobody, and that’s how it’s
gonna stay for now.
- getting adult braces
Just like teenage years,
the metal braces steer these
wayward ancient teeth.
- calendar vs. climate
Will the blazing heat
of endless summer ever
make room for fall leaves?
- food is love
Every morsel a
hug, every calorie a
blessing. Food is love.
- meme economy
We’re cranking them out
just as fast as possible.
Demand is so high.
- cash free is the way to be
This venue accepts
only credit and debit
cards. As God insists.
- power naps
I lie down on a
pad to recharge myself. So
does my dead smartphone.
- palpable bitterness
Life’s too short to let
bygones be bygones. Embrace
the darkness within.
- brownie à la mode
Ever dream of a
dessert only to have it
come true? Life is sweet.
- the version in my head
Is canon. Ships the
best twosomes. Blows the effects
budget. Has endings.
- zzz’s please
Sleep, a miracle
drug that heals fatigue and a
large set of ailments.
- lizard in the house
How did you get in
here, little guy, and why are
you up on the wall?
- droughts, fires, floods and debris
The weather tells us
in hurricanes and heat waves:
Climate change is real.
- ragin’ contagion
The pandemic is
not over for millions of
vulnerable folks.
- mortified on a daily basis
Thinking of little
else than stupid screwups from
20 years ago.
- fall festival season
Bring on the art and
exotic foods and music
and cooler weather.
- homecoming haze
Let the alumni
wander the halls and look back
on their good ol’ days.
- the selfish friend
Always ready with
the wrong sentiment or the
discouraging word.
- the bad boss
He berates as he
breathes, heaping scorn on the ones
he hired for work.
- have you tried dried fruits?
Like a kind of food
parody where no one’s in
on the spicy joke.
- daylight saving forever
At some point, we’ll stop
setting clocks back and live with
brighter days ahead.
- the last half-season i forgot to watch
I will probably
never go back to see what
happened to my buds.
- the pool is closed
Hang up the swim trunks.
Clear out the leaves and put on
the safety cover.
- working the stadium concession stand
Band kids and their folks
shovel popcorn and serve hot
dogs to raise money.
- fruity fondness
Gimme those hand pies
straight from fryer or oven.
Let me burn my mouth.
- yelling, gesturing, repeating
Talking in vain while
listening to the band play
deafeningly loud.
- shaky knees
Standing upright one
minute, feeling woozy the
next minute. What gives?
- reno woes
The contractor was
supposed to start the project
sometime last Thursday.
- home sweet home office
A place to pay the
bills, write novels and hide from
the whole family.
- odd hours
Have breakfast at noon,
nap around dinnertime, go
to sleep at sunrise.
- the hazing ritual
Get beaten over
and over because it’s how
we always do things.
- the little farm stand
Minnie and Jed run
the place, showing off their fresh
produce and hay bales.
- everyone has a price
Can you be bought? Are
your scruples for sale? Are you
unimpeachable?
- fundamental telepathy
Do we really want
to know what people say when
we are not around?
- waisted
These pants used to fit
me fine. Now they remind me
not to have dessert.
- all dressed up
A night on the town
with my lady starts with fine
fashion and footwear.
- candy shopping
Cheapest? Full bars? The
kind we like to nibble on?
Pennies and raisins?
- waiting in the er
Not enough staff but
plenty of patients sweating
it out for hours.
- in a dark alley
All he remembered
of the mugging was the gun
pointed in his face.
- magic in the air
The witches’ ball has
ghoulish fun, cheap scares and a
VIP section.
- potheads not prisoners
When will this country’s
criminalization of
marijuana end?
- the spirit of all hallows’ eve
We scare ourselves to
feel alive, to face our fears,
to know true horror.
- death takes a holiday
Honoring those who’ve
passed with fond remembrances,
lovely ofrendas.
- candyland
Off to the stores to
rack up half-price chocolates
and various sweets.
- the servers left behind
A restaurant can
only run short staffed for so
long before it fails.
- what they did to get into college
The little dumdums
made up activities and
had others take tests.
- what they did to get into college, part 2
They relied on the
worst stereotypes to dress
up their normal lives.
- hour hands are tied
An extra hour
to set all the clocks inside
and outside the house.
- the opening act
A band, not quite as
famous, but good enough for
the show’s early birds.
- democracy at stake
A referendum
on the integrity of
our own elections.
- the human purse
Pockets for keys and
gum, debit cards and lip balm
and whatever else.
- southern snafus
Birmingham traffic:
280 sucks. Atlanta
traffic: Hold my beer.
- veterans day … special?
Can we offer more
than discounts and fanfare to
those who served our land?
- fall shower
Brilliant leaves of gold
and red and orange drifting down
from audacious heights.
- at the marcus king show
A fan collapses.
Security guards surround.
CPR started.
- shut out at the bakery. twice.
Surprise! Doors are locked.
Why hast thou forsaken me,
Google? I believed.
- learning indian menus
Try a new dish and
record it in the log book.
Slow but rewarding.
- first day on the job
Report to HR
to fill out paperwork and
show my ID cards.
- a taste of sushi
She timidly tried
a bite, processing the smell,
texture and flavor.
- the idlest boy in alabama
Staring at the clock,
waiting on an assignment,
ready for nothing.
- beating hiv
Not just unlocking
the treatment, but also a
preventative shot.
- the algorithm of crime
New patterns based on
old ones that oppress, detain
and discriminate.
- a ball of stress
Unable to sit
still and relax, waiting for
the worst to happen.
- bracing for family
Here come the in-laws
and relations to invade
our houses. Deep breaths.
- thank you consequence
It’s a healthy thing
practicing gratitude … makes
you less of a dick.
- foodie holiday
Gimme that pumpkin
pie, that gravy boat, some of
that homemade dressing.
- the 15-hour pot roast
Every check on the
slow cooker lets out heat so
it’s even slower.
- the late night visitor
She snuck in through the
dimly lit corridors to
tuck in beside him.
- an ode to recruiters
Ready to sign you
up, ready to size you up,
gone just as quickly.
- worth a thousand words
A beaming smile bursts
forth from the images of
our nights on the town.
- debt free is the way to be
No more house or car
payments, credit card interest
or old student loans.
- volunteering for the wrong reasons
Doesn’t matter as
long as you put more good and
giving in the world.
- the truth is paywalled but the lies are free
Paywalled sites bear the
fruit of investigative
journalism, so …
- beyond heartbreak
Even after we
oust them, abusive exes
continue their harm.
- oh and dumbledore’s gay
Representation
after the fact shows a lack
of author backbone.
- personal pillow valet
She brought her own to
sleep more soundly, tossing the
old ones from the bed.
- beyond boundaries
If we don’t set them,
we handle relationships
at our own peril.
• • •
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Friday, August 26th, 2022
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- my whole life is kayfabe
Feuding with people
who aren’t involved, aligning
with heels and faces.
- last days of high school
One final goodbye
to teachers and classmates who
shared this adulting.
- house shopping 2022
Make crazy offers,
waive the inspection, and still
lose to investors.
- acidic aspirations
Take psilocybin
and conquer the fear of death
while tripping big balls.
- the right number of exclamation points
Hello! It’s good to
meet you!! And a period
to show I’m not nuts.
- election time in alabama
The kooky battle
to go further right than your
distinguished rivals.
- three is a tragic number
Ten years ago, the
Birmingham News chose to give
up and publish less.
- the coming of summer
Clean out the pool, try
on your swimsuit, and prepare
for the hottest days.
- dear graduates 2022
We broke the world so
you’d have something to fix in
your ample spare time.
- specs appeal
New eyeglasses for
a new look: suave, stunning and
sophisticated.
- “you don’t look your age”
The compliment from
the pharmacist’s assistant
made my day complete.
- a saturday offline
Mother and daughters
united over a day
without noisy screens.
- in remembrance
We spend a day to
honor the fallen, the brave
ones who gave their all.
- disease-free summer
Let’s hope the boosters,
masks and distancing pay off
in the next season.
- nice is not the same as kind
Worth pondering while
sizing up people around
us and their motives.
- mycelial networking
Competing trees share
sun and minerals through an
underground network.
- circle the block
Walking the same stretch
every day and looking for
what we missed before.
- gimme one of everything
The candy store stocked
a myriad of sweet treats
and delicacies.
- cult of productivity
Don’t let a minute
slip away without wringing
some work outta it.
- feeling useless
Overprepared and
underused, a wan combo
holding workers back.
- affirm gesture
He would tell himself
in the mirror, “I am great,
and I am special.”
- parallel parking: the musical
♫ Where oh where can I
park? There’s a spot! Can I fit?
Will I hit the cur-r-r-r-r-r-rb? ♫
- the ethical parker
Take up only one
space. Don’t back in. Wait till the
gate is fully clear.
- ammosexuals
Ammosexuals
brandish lethal weapons as
the bodies pile up.
- a dish of copypasta
The digital screed
made its way through the forums
hungry for violence.
- four holes
Her mouth left her in
writhing agony, defanged
of her wisdom teeth.
- the unkempt neighbor
The place next door has
an abundance of weeds and
a rickety porch.
- lake life
Sitting on the dock,
legs dangling, watching the boats
churn through the water.
- the littlest crazies
The youngest face down
anxiety, depression
and bouts of self harm.
- cobblestone nightmare
Jostling teeth loose while
bumping along a million-
year-old unpaved road.
- the burden of paying down the burden
The mountain of debt
shrinks payday to payday, with
something left to spend.
- city on the grow
She felt the stirring
of civic pride and planned to
move away quickly.
- bus stops of the future
Sleek design meets queued
riders ready to board their
civic chariot.
- the gelato shop on the cobblestone street
Kids pressed their noses
to the window, trying to
decide which flavor.
- summer to-dos
Lounge around the pool,
catch fireflies in a jar,
nap in a hammock.
- the secret girlfriend
He didn’t tell his
friends that he was dating and
found someone special.
- in case of situational anxiety
Go rigid throughout
the body, unable to
take in what’s coming.
- ducking the shooter
She dipped her hands in
her friend’s blood to paint herself
and lay very still.
- green card blues
They married for love
and citizenship, ready
to pass any test.
- learning to eat again
We deal with food, a
necessity but sometimes
a fierce enemy.
- trek to the cahaba lilies
Wading the river
to see glorious blooms while
they’re still in season.
- sweaty chores
The humidity
pours out of us as we work
outside this summer.
- petty patrol
We keep score for so
long we forget what it was
that riled us before.
- regions field, sixth inning
A hot dog and a
taco raced around the field
to the cheers of fans.
- the wooden chimes
Swaying stems, the wind
playing those bamboo trees in
nature’s symphony.
- nineties and hundreds
Air conditioners
unable to match summer
blasts of brutal heat.
- long walks to nowhere
Six thousand steps or
two-and-a-half miles on the
treadmill, one hour.
- freedom for me but not for thee
This land is your land,
this land is not my land, this
land was made for you.
- nine-month sentence
Women, guilty or
innocent, can face the same
time for the same “crime.”
- worrying 9 to 5
On-the-job stress that
grows with each shift, a pressure
that’s unrelenting.
- the world games in birmingham
Masters of discount
sports assemble for friendly
competitiveness.
- the pause
Before suffering,
before mindless anarchy,
we take a moment.
- deliberately forward
Bravery is the
act of putting one foot in
front of the other.
- but never tennis
The treads worn smooth by
years of pacing and walking,
shuffling and running.
- the chores that never seem to get done
Better put them off
till next week, or next month, or
next season. They’ll keep.
- long message service
Their texting thread wound
through breakups and meet-cutes, past
heartaches and wonders.
- the missing geese
The feathered fiends were
nowhere to be found in the
sprawling city park.
- indifference vs. inert
No forward motion
and no incentive. Versus
unable to move.
- no cover fridays
I’d rather converse
than listen to the band, trade
words than hear the beats.
- stood up
She had some place to
be better than our late date,
as if she’s all that.
- magnanimity 2022
They planned to shelter
homeless in plywood ovens
in the scorching sun.
- ode to a fruit pie
Apples and sugar
melded in a thin pastry
inside its wrapper.
- the runaway tooth
One fang among the
many set off on its own
despite group pressure.
- tension up high
I feel anxious more
than ever and all throughout
my poor old body.
- no candle blower outers
Delight in the grand
fortunes of others and have
them delight in yours.
- ridiculously consistent
The patterns emerge:
Why be somewhat consistent
when you can be all?
- coming into your own
Learning to be your-
self. Standing up for yourself.
Being true to you.
- one bruised toenail
The feet survived the
new walking routine except
for one bruised toenail.
- boy meets girl, something something something
One good thing about
seeing movies high is not
caring how it ends.
- the click
Suddenly it all
makes sense. Everything just falls
into place like so.
- mandatory fun is mandatory
Despite carefree smiles,
corporate dictates insist on
fun no matter what.
- heat is the true killer
Forget tornadoes
and blizzards, heat is the true
killer among men.
- the protests must go on
The patriarchy
belches. So foul the stench that
we must cry out more.
- the parking did them in
The concert was great,
but the escape was blocked on
all sides by traffic.
- the pool
She rode atop the
salty waves for a slice of
her backyard heaven.
- a furious hush
The madder he got,
the quieter he became,
seething in silence.
- one small selfie for man
They posed in front of
a rocket, and you could see
the stars in their eyes.
- who’s in charge of what?
He’s in charge of the
grill and tires. She’s in charge
of everything else.
- chill vibe
Not too busy, not
too loud, just an evening of
soft music and words.
- boned appetit
This state taxes food,
not for the revenue but
out of danged sheer spite.
- an inherited problem
The bosses stuck him
on an out-of-the-way team,
hoping for … something.
- the drone
On and on he went,
pausing not for breath or for
reply, endlessly …
- her eyes gave it away
As she waited on
tables, she hoped no one would
see how high she was.
- studying psychedelics
On the precipice
of exploring creation
and total being.
- death of summer
No more late night game
tournaments, no more hanging
out around the pool.
- first day of class
Pencils sharpened, shoes
tied, lunches packed. Everyone
have a good school year!
- 2-d hollywood
The cardboard cutouts
stood ready to glamorize
modest mundane lives.
- headlines and tan lines
The Facebook news tab
is the standard mix of tech
stocks and Page 3 Girls.
- duolingo, but make it geeky
He tried his best to
learn from the book, practicing
his new coding skills.
- working stiffed
Stop with the “look at
me.” You don’t get a cookie
for doing your job.
- what not to teach
History. Facts. Sex
ed. Critical Race Theory.
Science. Deep thinking.
- modern horoscopes
Turn off your ringer
and crawl back in bed, Pisces.
He ain’t texting you.
- weaponized vocabulary
Her words cut deeply,
making her loathsome point oh
so sarcastically.
- the telescope a million miles away
Peering into space,
looking back billions of years
to our origins.
- monkeypox see, monkeypox do
We have already
weathered one pandemic, what’s
another disease?
- marvel, phase 8
Ninety episodes,
19 movies, three concerts
and five new theme parks.
- no one stood up
The city cut the
library budget, leaving
no choice but to close.
- the perfect patriarchy
It is not enough
to own women. We must smash
their free will as well.
- matrix of deception
From the shadows they
pulled the strings. No one could find
them, much less stop them.
- the bully
At times, I have been
the bully. And at times, the
bullied. Choose wisely.
- the bearable heat
The AC couldn’t
decide between too cold and
too hot. Lukewarm days.
• • •
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Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
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- smoke break, winter edition
Bundle the fuck up
for a 5-minute sojourn
by the back entrance.
- use the good china today
Candles, wines, cigars,
gift cards, linens … break them all
out and use them up.
- poetic instant analysis
Scanning the lines for
wordplay and symbolism,
tripping on meter.
- hearing the words of the verse
A melodic burst
of syllables, a brief hush
of understanding.
- feminist turned misogynist
Once a hero, now
a goat. Made us believe he
was part of the cause.
- modern valentines 1
Please accept these terms
and conditions as shown to
be my valentine.
- modern valentines 2
Swipe right, hey gurl, a
few suggestive emoji,
pre-date, confirmed date.
- modern valentines 3
A non-binary
throuple with hints of poly
and no jealousy.
- cupid 2022
Arrows tipped with love
potion and double dose of
Moderna vaccine.
- ultimate poker face
Remarkable self-
poise, or the last one ever
before dropping dead.
- the whitest supremacy
The thought police do
kindly request that books by
black authors be banned.
- the great resignation
What happens when a
society finds out the
true value of work?
- no time for breathing
He practiced a form
of keen mindfulness that ran
on autopilot.
- dog in training
Learning to beg and
roll and sit and come and stay
for praise and biscuits.
- with facebook, your junk is someone else’s treasure
I gave away a
20-year-old TV set
in just 2 hours.
- technical(ly) gibberish
(It’s not exactly
gibberish since very smart
people make it work.)
- make it awkward
Share too much, dance in
front of a crowd, and swipe right
on people you know.
- dry month
Lock up the liquor
cabinet and throw away
the six-packs of beers.
- impossible choices
How do we weigh the
science and economics
when we failed them both?
- jetting off to paris
Ah, to spend the week
with haute cuisine and sublime
music, living well.
- interactive artscapes
When the artist and
audience connect over
social media.
- the swear jar
Clean up language through
fiscal remuneration
by violation.
- the beauties of space
An uncle and his
nephew bond over the worlds
they might see someday.
- a problem for future me
Let’s go the cheap route
and have the consequences
play out however.
- do we do it for the gratitude?
Is it so much to
ask for a “thank you” or does
that corrupt motives?
- world war 3
A nuclear power
invades a sovereign land.
It’s almost midnight.
- mind games
Conservatorships
can safeguard the mentally
ill or make things worse.
- guess the copay
This doctor’s visit
will cost me 40 bucks or
200 dollars.
- the laziest of friends
They might text, they might
meet up, they might share some laughs.
But probably not.
- the courage to sing
Approach the front of
the stage, take a deep breath and
let out that first note.
- a gentle reminder
Be brave enough to
(if stuck in complacency)
suck at something new.
- the revival of book burnings
Destroy empathy
by setting aflame those cursed
books that inflame hearts.
- the mid-morning nap
A brief siesta
to prep the body for lunch
and afternoon drudge.
- the medical bill nightmare
To pay thousands for
drugs again and again or
face an early grave.
- the indoor garden
The special lamps bring
sunshine to the wisps of plants
stretching in comfort.
- recreational high
Out of commission
for a few hours as the
brain relaxes all.
- the forever loan
The most expensive
cap and gown ever ensures
this cumbersome debt.
- so saucy
Irreverent imps
seize control of staid placid
psyches to spread mirth.
- in reddit we trust
Online gossips vote
up (or down) sordid rumors
for entertainment.
- pet conspiracy theories
Believe what you will,
but know that still crazier
ideas take root.
- the nine days of spring break
Celebrating a
week of uninterrupted
fun and/or mischief.
- the mating call of the fox
The back yard echoes
with passionate cries from some
wild bushy-tailed freaks.
- the pleasures of an incubating season
Days grow warmer and
longer as winter goes in-
to hibernation.
- paperworked
This pile to be filed.
This pile to be shredded. This
pile to be eaten.
- hiber nation
A modern stupor
brought about by always-on
screens in all venues.
- an appropriate dosage
With Girl Scout cookies,
one box equals one serving.
Yes, one measly box.
- bulletproof
Backpack shields and drills
for days … nothing to disarm
potential shooters.
- summer of soul
When Harlem lit up
with a galaxy of stars
all on one big stage.
- the fix
Just one more. That’ll
make it all right. Can’t function
till it’s in my hands.
- to the shredder
Old phone records, scads
of brochures and legal junk,
reams of paper dross.
- presence and presents
They’re instructed to
come empty handed yet they
bear gifts just the same.
- far or fiyah
Success depends on
whether “fire” has just one
or two syllables.
- hiking with six eyes
Their cameras came out
for engrossing foliage
and weirdly shaped rocks.
- staffing shortages and other delights
Every time I ask
for “no mayo,” the sandwich
arrives with mayo.
- not in a joking mood
Troubled times leads to
an absence of whimsy while
the whole world burns down.
- back to reading
The absolute joy
of holding a book and thumbing
through its rough pages.
- a chapter a day
Devouring this
book in nightly sessions while
boredom falls away.
- the re-creative process
Reading old poems
and thinking “How did that thing
come out of my brain?”
- eye candy for the neighbors
What good is having
the house painted when you can’t
see it from inside?
- scrape scrape scrape scrape
Washing isn’t all.
You have to scrape and scratch each
square inch of old paint.
- no one notices
Not the couple at
the bar. Not the cyclist in
the street. Just no one.
- the hypnotic scroll
I can’t turn away
from the endless options to
watch, like and subscribe.
- return of the cold war
Powers clash over
dueling ideologies
and outdated slights.
- threats of a madman
A huge fortune to
protect no matter the cost
to the citizens.
- the public in public health
Endless cycles of
mandated masks. The lesson
is to never try.
- the pollening
Yellow dust swirling
everywhere, sinuses in
total misery.
- instant dissatisfaction
When you click on “Buy,”
but the shipping won’t happen
for 6 to 8 weeks.
- how to binge
Theme song. Episode.
Closing credits. Repeat. Move
on to the next show.
- my montage
Clock in. Do my job.
Clock out. Eat my dinner. Read
a book. Go to bed.
- writing in the sky
Her hands and arms and
face telegraphed ancient thoughts
in potent fashion.
- coming out party
Once dead and newly
risen, he appears for his
heavenly reward.
- return to office
Taking the last 2
years of struggle and success
and forgetting them.
- talking type
An lol, an
ikr and a couple
of hbu’s, too.
- confronting a fear
Saying aloud the
parts that have me confounded
and begging for help.
- first date at a wine bar
I haven’t laughed so
hard in a long time and been
able to relax.
- the grownup party
All the little ones
wanted to do was stay up
late and play some games.
- the grownup party part 2
All the older ones
wanted to do was converse
deeply and drink rum.
- best buds everywhere
A forest stroll shows
off the fragrant flowers just
coming into bloom.
- addicted to illegals
A cop show for just
anyone and everyone
who has eyeballs, pulse.
- keys to literary success
Start slowly to draw
the reader in, go faster,
end on a climax!!
- get the grill ready
Dump out the ashes
and scrape the gunk off the grill.
Ready for some meats.
- even drummers get the love
When rock stars die, fans
mourn them all, especially
those who smashed things hard.
- an audience of one or two
No matter how small
the following, to give it
all you’ve got each time.
- slipping into the ether
A heaviness falls
and thoughts and steps slur in a
bumble of nonsense.
- the sacrifices for barbecue
Working the pit at
four in the morning, tending
those meats carefully.
- the 50-year-old dad
He could still give some
piggyback rides while saving
for their college funds.
- lazy man’s pancakes
Forget the milk and
eggs, just remember to add
the baking powder.
- the promise of work ahead
Her eyes lit up at
the prospect of remaining
busy through the week.
- hello and goodbye
The introvert slips
in for a quick appearance
before sneaking out.
- keeping tabs
A browser straining
under the weight of dozens
of open websites.
- canines come and go
The bad dog mom keeps
her nail appointment while her
mutt’s in surgery.
- groaning for juice
Phones should wail each time
their batteries run down so
we know they’re in pain.
- laundry for beginners
Trying to wash clothes
with differing instructions
and rules in one load.
- the kilimanjaro effect
Almost to the top,
freezing like never before,
gasping in thin air.
- gesturing stream of consciousness
So fluent in sign
language that he could ramble
carelessly with hands.
- out of the mouths of rubes
Cancel culture? More
like consequence culture for
lousy opinions.
- the need for checks in 2022
To pay only the
landscaper because Venmo
charges a small fee.
- rank ’em
Destination spots.
“Cheers” episodes. Power tools.
Vanilla ice creams.
- the many uses of cereal
Breakfast, snack, ice cream
topping, dessert bars, hiding
spot for toys, fiber.
- adventures in conscious states
A few milligrams
and the mind is allowed to
slip the grasp of self.
- a bookkeeper’s place
A running tally
of numbers numbers numbers
which must all add up.
• • •
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Saturday, February 5th, 2022
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- happiest of holidays
A nonstop orgy
of gifts, eating, dressing up
and some reflection.
- the true cost of higher education
A little learning
can contribute to a life
weighed down with deep debt.
- secret windfall
A surprise bonus
pumping up the coffers with
necessary cash.
- weeny forecast
Littlest monsters
scavenge streets for sugary
treats and slight mischief.
- writers get it, too
Impostor syndrome
rears its ugly head before
I can start typing.
- dancing under the stars
We gathered at the
old park to drink beers and hear
the bands play all day.
- the darkest highway
The headlights barely
pierce the nighttime before our
car. A light rain falls.
- happy birthday, biff
Alive for 50,
friends for 40, a long time
with a good buddy.
- before the party starts
Nervously munching
on crudité, waiting for
old friends to arrive.
- a few minutes here and there
I need to spend more
time writing in the nooks and
crannies of each day.
- modern package tracking
Wormhole. Cleveland, then
Narnia. Drone drops ninja
bot. Wake up with box.
- damn kids
They know everything
about what’s in and nothing
about their elders.
- the endless race
Brain and body. Sheer
exhaustion. Consequences
of running full speed.
- get high, get thai
Grab some gummies and
let the week melt away. Feel
the great weightlessness.
- never in short supply
Could we stop making
so many war veterans
and start waging peace?
- the sport of scrolling
Looking for hotties.
Need inspiration. Killing
brain cells. Hate-scrolling.
- any port in a storm
Lower your standards,
and raise your hopes, for cuffing
season has begun.
- the cure for incuriousity
Explore the depths of
the people in your life and
discover wonders.
- the quilt
Investing each piece
with feeling, meaning, making
a textile thesis.
- the hazards of wordsmithing
Some days the words flow.
Others, they must be pried out
with a screwdriver.
- everyone appreciates a good sideshow
To puncture the staid
veil of reality, go
forth and get weirder.
- pro dreams in a college town
Birmingham’s quest for
pro status: Cinderella
story or nightmare?
- the job interview: the beginner
Fumble for the right
words, make the manager see
you as competent.
- a melodious evil
She hums a motif,
giving the composer a
way to score her sins.
- if it bleeds, it undermines the fabric of society
If news outlets aren’t
trying to scare viewers to
death, what is the point?
- as opposed to shut-ins and boors
Inspiration comes
from having a robust life
and clever instincts.
- keeping cool
The fridge wanted a
holiday, but I wouldn’t
budge. Heated exchange.
- a country 2021
He lost his girlfriend
and his dog this year, sadness
waiting for lyrics.
- the rites of gratitude
Being grateful makes
us happier, so give thanks
every day you can.
- every day is black friday
We shop from our phones
and check out on our doorsteps.
It’s retail’s revenge.
- ready for any apocalypse
She weaves her fabrics
and raises her hens, prepared
for the fall of man.
- midway through dune
The anxiety
waits quietly, ready to
pounce when given space.
- hobbyists and practitioners
Should all creations
be interrogated as
Art? Can we stand it?
- the plague of drought
As water dwindles,
will we go to war over
remaining droplets?
- the extra noel is for spite
May all my friends go
to hell. Noel noel no-
el noel noel.
- reflections of van gogh
Projectors beam his
works across expansive walls
while we stroll through them.
- a new stadium, gently used
The vocal few packed
half the stands, while the rest stayed
filled with ghostly hopes.
- being mortal
What’s harder: dying,
or living on in a world
of indifference?
- digital death rituals
We gather to mourn
on Facebook, swapping stories
and pics of the dead.
- questions for down the road
Will I have enough
money? Or virility?
Or will to keep on?
- ode to a modern dance troupe
They defy the laws
of gravity, with grace, with
physicality.
- art pop
Impressionism
for Joe Sixpack, smudges of
paint for the masses.
- tidings of great joy
The best present we
have to give is ourselves in
this do-over year.
- the end is nigh
Death is coming. We
greet it with awe, with sorrow,
with celebration.
- the plan to outlive everyone
The only flaw is
having no one left to talk
with at the day’s end.
- mystery dance
They twirl and tumble
onstage, and I don’t get the
movement and meaning.
- all downhill from here
The best verse I have
ever written is buried
among published heaps.
- afflict the comfortable
We’d rather sink in
the morass of ignorance
than learn painful truths.
- a relationship built on uncertainty
It’s a pattern of
not trusting our needs and not
sharing our questions.
- the spending continues
Experiences
over things, and yet both use
capitalism.
- nations and money, law and society
The fabric of our
reality is largely
based on shared grand myths.
- vaccines, critical race theory, nascar
Cannot avoid it:
Everything’s political
though it shouldn’t be.
- plague to end all plagues
Five million dead, it
will probably hang out for
a while. Get boosted.
- the unpuzzle
Tricky problem less
tricky after time away
and a good night’s sleep.
- greet the winter fondly
Before long, the nights
will shrink again and harsh cold
will give way to warmth.
- symphony of paper, twine and tape
Nothing beats the joy
and contentment of wrapping
a gift perfectly.
- season of loneliness
Togetherness means
nothing to those without loved
ones to draw closer.
- the quiet of christmas eve
When kids finally
fall asleep and parents swear
softly building bikes.
- how many candles?
It’s someone’s birthday
today. And what a joyous
occasion it is!
- resolve to be nicer
“Be kind” might be the
only commandment we need
to get by in life.
- the quality of banter
The quality of
banter determines the fun
to be had en masse.
- naughty card games
Their innuendo
proceeded with every card
dealt, every brow raised.
- she doesn’t do pets
Not on her couch, and
definitely not in her
bed. Cuteness, be gone!
- banned words, 2021 edition
Canceled, woke, extra,
deplatform and air fryer.
(Let’s hang on to “vax.”)
- eve
A waltz, a kiss, a
toast, a vow, a glance, a shared
look and a new year.
- our third pandemic year
Let us resolve to
take care of each other, while
we care for ourselves.
- the year of the cell
Will it be a year
of true connection or a
year spent on our phones?
- philosophical streaming
Should life be binged in
a mad rush or savored bite
by bite? Gulp, or chew?
- wittier by sweat
Wringing laughs from tame
writing, punching up punch lines,
hoping for howling.
- hope for 2022
Freedom from worry,
from suffering, from violence,
from things ’21.
- a near insurrection
We almost let them
steal democracy when they
stormed the Capitol.
- democracy in peril
Are we content to
let the traitors spit lies and
plan another siege?
- latest-stage capitalism
Amazon turned our
old mall into a giant
distribution hub.
- mall used up
One by one the stores
fled, or worse, sank deeper in
the fetid water.
- pennies from hell
The reliable
old Walmart, where cheapness is
the ultimate good.
- gastronomic excesses
Course after course, we
indulged in fine wines and some
exquisite dining.
- the takeoff of the squadron
A mighty few came
to witness the launch of our
minor league hoops team.
- my favorite social media faux pas
She thought Instagram
was private and sent pics of
her butt to all y’all.
- a meeting over breakfast
The best time to fuel
up and trade secrets with an
admirable friend.
- jonesin’ for dopamine
Notification.
Check status. Alert. Quick glance.
Repeat until dead.
- mortal beings
We’re all beginning
to wither year by year till
our ripeness is rot.
- a man most reviled
King found little love
among white Americans
as the ’60s raged.
- clanton, usa
Come sit a spell with
me beneath the oversize
peach water tower.
- post-viewing supplemental reading
I like to binge and
then read up, water cooler
moments on the fly.
- finding life’s purpose
Winding down each day,
looking for something to do,
how to fill a void.
- the book bandit
She sped through all kinds
of fiction, sharing her love
with literati.
- chef nobody
He wanted to cook
more, but didn’t care for the
shopping, prep and wait.
- half crazy
It’s very common:
Half will be diagnosed with
a mental illness.
- mindscape
The brain is a black
box, able to imagine
and help us sit straight.
- scrolling habits
Silent videos,
noisy videos, lovely
houses and train wrecks.
- stop, look and listen
Up and down the same
streets, past the same houses, still
seeing something new.
- calculus of regret
Possible joy and
minor hazards, divided
by risk and reward.
- truth, beauty, etc.
Why do we create
art? To show off? To scratch an
itch? To understand?
- a painting, an opera, an nft
Why do we consume
art? To gain wisdom? To feed
the soul? To unwind?
- plugged in
You’re either really
in the know or the dumbest
fool in history.
- shivering
Despair of winter
is facing brutal cold in
nothing but sweaters.
- the camera goes where?
Colonoscopy
day: Prep in the wee hours,
sleep through procedure.
- the lens of others
Divining meaning
in a vaguely written verse
while they stare blankly.
- the simple joys of a simple diet
Chicken, spinach, eggs,
lentils, beans, more chicken and
eggs, veggies, dinner.
- mantras wanted
Boil my complete
philosophy down to a
bumper sticker please.
- january’s ultimate joy
Dining room table
surrounded by dear friends on
a cold winter’s night.
• • •
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Wednesday, October 27th, 2021
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- the sweetest shoppe
Cookies and cakes and
assorted confections, all
sugar to savor.
- george floyd
Minneapolis
man seeking redemption and
work while getting straight.
- ahmaud arbery
Georgia runner who
loved his mama’s fudge cake and
did great impressions.
- more on breonna taylor
Louisville ER
tech who scribbled goals on Post-
it notes in her home.
- the embiggening of milkshakes
Stick ’em in a jar
and top with cupcakes, pretzels
and firecrackers.
- in the grips of depression
Each morning I sink
back into the ooze, drowning
slowly on dry land.
- making time for everything and nothing
The energy to
do 500 things, the time
to do maybe four.
- the coming race war
Keep pushing people
of color to the brink. Fuck
around and find out.
- the longest book
The longest book is
the one sitting patiently,
ready to be read.
- no one deserves her smile
She graces me with
a knowing grin, dazzling my
eyes, melting my heart.
- hurricane country
Much like where you live,
with a few more occasions
to flee for your lives.
- ongoing obsolescence
The way we do things
today won’t be around for
very much longer.
- a last summer hurrah
Before they send us
back to confined spaces, full
of vaccines, ennui.
- postcard to a friend
I’m at the beach, but
dreaming about us having
dinner together.
- the canine twins
No scrap goes untouched,
no ball goes unthrown in a
two-dog family.
- sunshine on hidden depths
Growing my hair in
back and chewing on Skoal. I
am Florida man.
- sandy siren
The beach stretches out
forever and calls you back
(without the big crowds).
- postcard poetry
Back in Florida
enjoying the sand, seafood
and grand sunrises.
- the corpse in the driveway
It used to be a
bird, or maybe a squirrel. And
now covered in flies.
- for a few commas more
I, do, not, like, the,
insistence, on, the, use, of,
the, Oxford, comma.
- his one trick
Waiting for it. More
anticipation. Snatching
the treat from mid-air.
- infinite grief in a finite period
When do we mourn a
pandemic, all the lost lives?
And when do we stop?
- a restorative place
I find my seat and
begin the warmup to a
session of breathing.
- word search
He dutifully
crossed out excess words on the
sheet with a red pen.
- back to school 2021
Classmates free of masks
and full of shots once again
crowd their old classrooms.
- moth mayhem
Their swarms visit each
room, awaiting their turns to
redo my wardrobe.
- the future is streaming
Buzzy series, live
sports, cooking demos, doorbell
pirates, Old Sheldon.
- head games
Star athletes compete
for glory, but we fail to
see the mental toll.
- a race against variants
Will the unvaxxed kill
us all? Will the strain between
tribes undo it all?
- the pandemic in fall, second round
Return to normal,
or a march into a great
unknown risk for all.
- those disposable pandemic pets
No longer puppies
and kittens, they returned to
shelters unneeded.
- black lives still matter
How quickly our white
allies went back to business
long before justice.
- bad reams
Most dreams die from the
amount of paperwork that
it takes to launch them.
- casual racism
It slips into our
conversation so quickly
I fail to push back.
- resistance isn’t futile
Maybe the reason
we’re so memorable is
because we fight back.
- the dog walker’s mantra
Who’s happy to see
me? Who’s a good boy? Oh yes,
it’s you! You you you!!
- beacons of positivity
The people in our
lives who radiate joy stand
out for their brilliance.
- art for art’s sake
Do something, and do
it badly. Don’t make money
from it. Just enjoy.
- losing a best friend
One weird fight, and years
of camaraderie slip
away in the wind.
- a fiftieth wish
I hope you’re safe, I
hope you’re well, but most of all,
I hope you’re happy.
- looks like we mated
You have something on
your face. No, not there. Lower.
That conniving smile.
- the harvest, summer edition
Cucumber, cucum-
ber, cucumber, cucumber,
cucumber and dill.
- jetset jaunt
Fly across the world
for fine dining, then fly back
home with full bellies.
- hope for everyone and no one
A drunk drying out
while protecting his claim to
the girls he neglects.
- after a rainy walk
He proudly trots from
the door on the kitchen floor,
muddy paws and all.
- this dog misses his mama and daddy
He whimpers, wonders
where his family has gone
while gnawing on bones.
- anxiety on the line
Keeping a firm grip
on the leash, never knowing
which way he might run.
- sprint and spritz
Neither darkness nor
rain kept him from his rounds of
marking territory.
- a rare promotion
They lifted her up
after so many years in
the trenches toiling.
- the cost of doing business
For labor, a chance
to reassess their worth. For
management, the same.
- the 27-course meal
An abundance of
forks, plates, servers and wines cross
our table nonstop.
- flowers as lovely as her
I bring you roses
with the hope they bloom like our
new relationship.
- backyard agenda
We float along in
the quiet pool, staring up
at the lazy clouds.
- downtown saturday morning
The cyclists search for
a brunch spot, while the homeless
man keeps to his bench.
- the lessons of 9/11
Twenty years of wars.
Do we terrorize others
more than they do us?
- kitchen harmony
Me on the skillet,
her on the cutting board, a
dinner taking shape.
- a pound of regret
Hospitals stretched to
their limits. But we can’t be
bothered to wear masks.
- the inevitable nth wave
It was predicta-
ble. It was preventable.
It is laughable.
- uncomfortably numb
Becoming inured
to death is like being dead
inside already.
- escape rooms themes
A flooded basement.
Human trafficking boxcar.
Brunch with the in-laws.
- best wishes and gritted teeth
We’re so happy for
your continued success and
its many blessings.
- new job, still remote
He sat in the same
living room, flipped on the same
laptop, but earned more.
- the freedom of fiction
Writing about life’s
many strange things whether they’re
about you or not.
- death of a waffle house
Smothered, padlocked and
kneecapped. The mourners brought their
flasks. One guy threw up.
- her mighty garden
Raised beds filled with all
kinds of vegetables, some tall
and some buried deep.
- autumnal pause
A breather between
the sweltering summer and
a gloomy winter.
- the fixer-upper
They spent weekends on
painting and sanding and trips
to the big box store.
- broadway bind
Hours and days spent
in rehearsal, for minutes
in the lone spotlight.
- some pig
Tallulah wants time
in the sun and a small mud
patch to call her own.
- man vs. city hall
They levy the tax.
I fight back. They hold fast. I
keep fighting. They win.
- fall getaways 2021
A last jaunt to the
beach, maybe a cabin, but
not the ICU.
- throwing away their vote
Why are we afraid
to make voting easier
for Americans?
- phrased in the form of a questionable haiku
Who knew hiring
a game show host would be so
politically fraught?
- search engine doctorates
Everyone you know
is an expert in any-
thing and everything.
- our relationship with tv
We’re pickier and
more voracious, enchanted
and obligated.
- halloween or dystopic nightmare?
I’m going to be
the prettiest handmaiden
in all Gilead.
- relationship detente
When both sides reach an
understanding that no more
growth is possible.
- the ted lasso dilemma
Can we meet harshness
with kindness, outright cruelty
with some empathy?
- feels like fall
A simple drop in
temperature warms my heart and
brings out my cool side.
- in a few syllables
I can reinvent
my unremarkable self
into something grand.
- anxiety is the thief
Anxiety is
the thief that robs us of our
sense of well-being.
- the lump in the window
The furry lump does
not stir, does not see me (or
maybe does), snoozing.
- the laziest pickpockets
They reach unseen in
wallets and purses to shop
for pizza and gas.
- delta variant by five
Stadiums full of
fans packed tightly to enjoy
their football fever.
- legacies of columbus
Globalization
and all the wonders and hor-
rors that come with it.
- the legend of the haunted hardee’s
Ghosts roam the booths, all
dead from hunger and lack of
attentive service.
- the probable son
Doesn’t care for his
parents, nor for the fractured
legacy to boot.
- prick or treat
Vaccines as either
bold trick to ensnare victims
or free pass to fun.
- the real ongoing pandemic
Why aren’t we making
a bigger deal out of the
risks of climate change?
- eternally maternally
Mama bear cares for
her cubs so very dearly.
Watch out for those claws!
- ascendiary
Each day can be a
mountain. We may not peak, but
we can still climb some.
- clickety click clack
Abandoned office
registers the lone sound of
gently tapped keyboards.
- stats for life
BP, temperature,
cholesterol (good and bad),
weight, pulse and pain scale.
- costume dilemma
Silly or sexy,
pop culture or historic,
homemade or store bought.
- busy busy busy
Burning the candle
at both ends, in the middle
and from deep inside.
- what lurks beneath, above and all around us
Death and horror got
nothin’ on Halloween this
year. Scary shmary.
- can society?
Can democracy
survive without committing
to the public good?
- fight or flights of fancy
The dialogue on
mental health gets louder with
each passing daydream.
- the fear and now
Between depression
and anxiety, I’ve got
past and future locked.
- and not feel so alone
We talk openly
about our mental struggles
so others may learn.
- true confessions
I admit weakness.
Is vulnerability
a strength? I hope so.
• • •
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Sunday, July 18th, 2021
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- a society of things that need food, shelter
Minimum wages,
living wages are the cost
of using humans.
- the plight of the omnivorous
The fun thing about
thinking about food is the
endless variety.
- a zero-growth strategy
Many are content
with stasis, needing only
to cover the churn.
- contentedness is its own reward
Happy to remain
still, grateful for what is and
what is still possessed.
- the descent of spring
Warm days with subtle
pollinated breezes
that waft through our toes.
- the lavish picnic
Group tees and streamers
galore in the pavilion
at the shady park.
- no taste for accounting
On your 1040,
just write “COVID” in giant
letters, pay next year.
- the commodification of mindfulness
The utmost holy
oneness with creation … as
an in-app purchase.
- age appropriate
Are cartoons for kids?
Is sugary cereal,
or tabletop games?
- makes me smile
Half-remembering
a dumb joke, or a mishap
from long, long ago.
- drug trials
Try this formula,
feel it fail. Try that prescription,
turn your insides out.
- technological leaps
The joy of a new
smartphone is soon outweighed by
figuring it out.
- ownership in the digital age
Creative works can
vanish with flip of a switch,
ones into zeros.
- planet of the oops
Getting hotter and
hotter, maybe this world is
some other world’s hell.
- folders and photos and files and flotsam
A cluttered desktop
is the sign of a cluttered
AI, it muttered.
- no one flies kites any more
A scenic hilltop,
gusting winds and a sky full
of aerial hopes.
- emerging from the cave
We take baby steps
into a world once consumed
with disease and death.
- may the circle be
You are the five you
keep closest. But what happens
when you grow apart?
- april 27, 2011
The morning storms spun
up lesser tornadoes to
scar Alabama.
The evening brought a
furious set of twisters.
Hundreds would be killed.
We remember that
day 10 years on, what we lost,
who we miss dearly.
- so bad it’s profitable
Throw a bunch of shows
at the wall and see who streams.
A binge of big bucks.
- her fiftieth
A peek back, and a
stride forward into a life
of love and kindness.
- one small step for mechanical man
Robots use arms and
legs to traverse terrain we’d
rather not visit.
- pièce de résistor
Gonna digitize
my soul and sell it as an
NFT. For Art!
- post-pandemic fever
Let’s do everything
all at once without masks and
hugging and sneezing.
- enjoy your crippled lungs
So many folks do
not want the vaccine. More room
for me on airplanes.
- antibodies and auntie betties
We’re long overdue
to welcome our relatives
back into our lives.
- peak pfizer
I will never be
stronger than clomping through Five
Below fully vaxxed.
- water can’t wash away relaxation
Even in a burst
of torrential rain, the dream
vacation lazed on.
- methodical menuing
It took a few tries,
but he finally landed
on the perfect dish.
- little doc
The man can play a
mean trumpet. A marriage of
artist and hot brass.
- sgt. woodard
He opened our eyes
after being blinded by
white supremacists.
- the medium of garbage
They took out the trash
and converted it to some
profitable art.
- typecast
INFJ or
ESTP, MBT-
I is DUM.
- 51 laps
On the track, he took
the punishment of asphalt
for some 13 miles.
- might as well netflix and chill
They couldn’t agree
on a movie, time, row or
location. Just snacks.
- nonfictitious license
Need a long take on
whaling, or race? I have the
perfect doc for that.
- right shape, wrong texture
The computer finds
pies in round shapes with one to
two crusts. (And cakes, too.)
- graduated, sort of
Their senior year, one
spent half at home, half in masked
spaces, fizzling out.
- 3 million and counting
COVID world death toll:
As if we murdered all of
Utah this past year.
- original? sin
The smart money’s on
sequels, reboots, revivals,
remakes, do-overs.
- a pen like lightning
Deadline? Write faster.
Space to fill? Write faster. New
insights? WRITE FASTER!
- rocket ship to uravarice
Is the way to space
paved with profitable ends?
One small step for greed.
- a pair of pricks
The first shot feels like
apprehension. The second,
a little like hope.
- the movie marathoners
Long past a double
feature, late into the night
and next day, they watched.
- breakups and acquisitions
The managers made
moves, hoping for a payoff
soon and mightily.
- the tub of the past
The bin held photos
and letters guiding loved ones
to kin, history.
- the leaky purse
Out slipped cold hard cash
and plastic cards long worn down
from endless swiping.
- words matter
Free speech that causes
blowback. Cancel culture? No,
consequence culture.
- nicked with an apostrophe
Sometimes, the perfect
haiku arrives, ‘cept the loss
of a syllable.
- the schizoid standoff
He said the voices
had never lied, unlike his
weary family.
- pots and panic
Her dating profile
said she could cook it all. Her
dating profile lied.
- crimes against nurture
He’s not such a bad
guy, they’d say in defense. That’s
just how he was raised.
- white crosses as far as the eye can see
The more veterans
who commit suicide, the
darker this day gets.
- the unherbalist
I spray weed killer
over the lawn. I have be-
come what I despise.
- tuesday wine and cheese
The hours flew by
as they shared bits and pieces
of their little lives.
- retreat or retrench
On top of every-
thing else, the boss said farewell
to the dismayed troops.
- safety dance
That weird feeling when
wearing a mask while certain
of no one’s status.
- line 3 is just retching noises
Call on line 1, car
warranty threat. Line 2 wants
to buy your house now.
- the joys of working on ourselves
We confront our worst
fears, only to find we still
have much work to do.
- pictures, but in word form
Reading all about
TV is often more fun
than watching the shows.
- the chinese of mississippi
Brought as cheap labor,
they turned to opening shops
for the Black townsfolk.
- the world’s oldest smartphone
Calls, some apps, a cracked
screen, slow charging and a lot
of hints to upgrade.
- the destiny in your own hands
We do not control
others. We barely have a
grip on our own fate.
- littlest buggers
The termites bit through
the foundation and nibbled
away at a dream.
- real estate, real ante
They had a tough time
bidding on houses till they
offered their first born.
- reefer referendum
As society
inches ever closer to
legal pot, breathe in.
- quickee settee
Come on down to the
furniture palace … pick it,
carry it, build it.
- the chicken hat
Leave behind something
to have an excuse to come
back and make smooches.
- one thumb out
“The movies are like
a machine that generates
empathy.” — Ebert
- two hundred years from now
We’ll all be long dead.
No one will remember us.
Take comfort in that.
- uncle vanya
When a relative
goes batty holding down the
farm. See, Chekhov’s won.
- for the juneteenth time
Freedom Day, where the
freedom came in dribs and drabs
for a hundred years.
- hot. girl. summer.
Summer ain’t summer
without the hottest ladies
and their sunny smiles.
- sweet, sweet home
A foundation of
love, windows of hope, shelter
for souls, room for peace.
- to beat the rubik’s cube
Slide, twist, double back.
See the future in fifty-
four shiny stickers.
- endemic to the end of the pandemic
Well, whaddaya know?
The shots worked, and the world is
a little safer.
- the cost of moving on
You can’t buy my for-
giveness. I think it just kind
of has to happen.
- at my parents’ house
We sat on the same
sofa, in front of the same
bookcase, just agog.
- generation gapped
What do you say when
it’s been decades since you last
spoke to each other?
- a century on wheels
A formidable
duo, they sailed down highways
searching for freedom.
- the curve
She dreaded the spot
on the interstate where all
her nerves knotted up.
- critical racist theory
Let’s discuss race, but
only one, and how that one
is superior.
- a return to normal
Everyone, feel free
to be giant assholes to
each other again.
- not to scale
The digital map
shows the same twisty line with
the same twisty length.
- holiday weekend bender
Party. Pass out. Then
party harder. Pass out. Then
really party. Hard.
- sunny, sunny florida
It’s been too long, my
palmy, sandy friend. Pour me
a tall Sea Breeze, please.
- independence? depends
The land where some are
free, and the home of a few
brave. Long may she live.
- the master of the grill
Clean grate, piles of meat.
Get the heat steady, get the
tongs ready. Let’s cook.
- unmasked
Tavern full of smiles.
Hearts gladdened by handshakes and
hugs as we gather.
- slow ride, but in 17 syllables
They’d call out requests,
and the humble scribe penned such
mediocre verse.
- the blinder leading the blind
Sure, I know the way,
I hollered while nervously
checking the compass.
- the long road ahead
The car was loaded.
The tank was full. And we were
on our way back home.
- the wicked tongue
Don’t ask me. I’ll just
fill your head with such lies and
pleasantries no end.
- rap squad
They would turn their pain
into rhymes, their rhymes into
beats, beats into truth.
- smallest talk
“I love to hike. Where
do you hike near here?” “Around
the hill or the valley.”
- pent-up post-pandemic priorities
Every restaurant
has a 3-hour wait. Ain’t
this what we wanted?
- we’re all in this together
Back to flipping off
drivers, blasting staff. Were we
ever civilized?
- manufactured outage 2021
Trans kids on sports teams,
Critical Race Theory and
(boo!) vaccine passports.
- the secret to managing your to-do giant list
Resetting deadlines
far into the future and
marking that lie “done.”
- birmingham-style pizza
A crusty pie with
vinegar-based sauce and an
overrated rep.
- president boring
An Oval Office
where the occupant listens
and leads with a plan.
• • •
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Thursday, April 8th, 2021
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- banned words, 2020 edition
Pandemic, lockdown,
social distancing, face mask,
coronavirus.
- the fights long since forgotten
An apology
sheepish and belated still
merits acceptance.
- almost midnight
If you’ve read this far:
Congratulations, you sur-
vived 2020.
- 2021 and bust
Never have we been
so grateful to see the dawn
of another year.
- more and more winter
It is frostier,
outside and inside, spreading
shivers, slowing time.
- easiest resolution ever
Join the gym and get
fit. Once pandemic ends and
it’s safe again. (wink!)
- the need for work
It’s tough to make an
honest living when good jobs
can hardly be found.
- american exceptionalism
Don’t worry: Other
countries have safety nets. The
U.S. has women.
- revenge of mr. privilege
Don’t mess with me. I
can have you fired with the
slightest of complaints.
- community won’t
A quaint notion, that
“common good,” the unfounded
trust in decency.
- a friendship on pause
Uncomfortable
silence sprinkled with regrets
and mild annoyance.
- the trust
By the time she found
out about it, most of the
money was long gone.
- save the drama from your mama
Family intrigue
draws some closer together
to push others out.
- anything for a buck store
Weed that flourishes
in the unkempt neighborhoods,
choking out the rest.
- silent menace
The white walls steepen
overnight. No way out but
through. Dig and dig deep.
- the undiscovered circuitry
A new gadget brings
the joy of figuring it
out, making it work.
- lessons of 2020
How to beat COVID.
How to steal an election.
And Black Lives Matter.
- acceptance? radical
Pain? Mandatory.
Suffering? Entirely
optional to you.
- jab, jab, knockout
The first shot and a
little arm soreness. The next
shot: immunity.
- the digital everlasting gobstopper
Browse for underwear.
See ads for underwear in
every site, page, dream.
- the volunteer spirit
We give what we can.
We give away and make things.
We spend time and cash.
- mismatched deathbed confessions
“We thought it was a
hoax, and we were wrong.” “We still
think it’s a damn hoax.”
- impeachment was just the beginning
Indict the former
president. Hold him account-
able for his crimes.
- the listicle is life
The 50 greatest
years of my life, ranked by joy,
wins and shock value.
- the gig’s up
Swipe right for soulmates,
cab drivers, dog walkers and
food deliverers.
- celestial indicators
Somewhere is a live
dashboard tracking your every
good deed and bad thought.
- a pileup of words
Read or cook dinner.
Read or binge-watch. Read or take
a nap. Read or skim.
- invasion of the moths
Corner by corner,
room by room, they stake claims on
our territory.
- youtopiatube
Five hundred thousand
channels to wile away the
idle days of youth.
- the disposable army
The most menial
of tasks for the least pay for
the richest tyrants.
- pandemic paradox
The worse the sickness,
the more we gather without
any precautions.
- raise the clotilda
A slave ship returns
to the Bama port after
a lengthy detour.
- beyond open mic night
Comedians who
goof on TikTok, tweet trendy
jokes and live next door.
- chocolate chip champion
Her prowess with a
mixer and batter grew with
every batch she baked.
- the nature of hobbies
An element of
frustration becoming its
own perverse pleasure.
- six more months of covid
Fauci pops out of
quarantine and spots shadows
of anti-maskers.
- it came from craigslist
Zones where barterers
can meet without getting mugged
or shot in the face.
- gamestart
A reality
show pitting hedge funds against
day trading neckbeards.
- virtual laggard
A bot filled in for
me for a bit. No one had
noticed or minded.
- the battle of january 6
Marauders hell-bent
on toppling democracy
and hanging its reps.
- the donald j. trump presidential library
The pee tape and the
“Access Hollywood” tape, found
inside Cell Block D.
- a new job in the pandemic
Please report to your
manager in the kitchen
via your laptop.
- weaponizing bullshit
An empire of
media and hucksters with
greedy intentions.
- transactional family
Quid pro quo, scratching
of backs, greasing of palms, an
incestuous trade.
- the first lesson of black history month
Those who cannot re-
member the Black past are con-
demned to repeat it.
- techwar
Fighting spam, malware.
Computers were supposed to
make lives easier.
- catch me inside how bout dah
We think we have the
virus figured out. It then
rolls out new guises.
- cupid as warden
Raise a glass to the
relationships that endured
12 months of lockdown.
- minimum wage leads to
Minimum food, health,
gas, clothing, stability
and maximum stress.
- two clichés and the truth
Being precise means
steamrolling all distractions
to thread the needle.
- ol’ reliable
The steady belief
that everything will last as
long as hope’s alive.
- the rotting underbelly
Beneath the veneer,
a soul badly in need of
deep understanding.
- the doctor on duty
Healer risks it all
to save lungs from the global
menace behind masks.
- do-si-dont’s
Even the smallest
ingredient shows proof of
exploited children.
- rip moms and pops
Who lent a hand to
the struggling small business when
the pandemic struck?
- binge spectating
The secret joy of
reading about TV is
skipping those clunkers.
- a perfectly cromulent verse
Using slang can be
dangerous since it’s always
boodling the watchet.
- the wanderer
She found it easy
to pick up and move, swanning
to untouched locales.
- the data detective
Where had it gone off
course, this trail of zeroes and
ones landing afield?
- temporal madness
To not sleep, to push
and push through hours and days
with no set schedule.
- that one driver
Cut someone off in
traffic, watch them tail you till
home to cuss you out.
- a not-so-simple delivery
Hunting for common
items but unable to
fill the shopping cart.
- goin’ off the deep end
Friday night is here.
Time to plan all the great ways
to spend a weekend!
- a muse bushed
Creative writer
seeks inspiration for the
next set of verses.
- a walk through the woods in winter
Bundle up and brave
the cold. Head for the trails to
commune with nature.
- rumble in the cubicle
Not even the grumps
at the office can keep me
from smiling at life.
- 1 zzzzz
She passed out before
counting, so the sheep snuck off
very quietly.
- two-thirds awake
A third of our lives
in bed. A third of our time
shrouded in slumber.
- you’re gonna need a bigger bed
To be cuddled by
a pack of warm furry friends
is to know comfort.
- nocturnal visions
A surreal melange
of made-up memories and
dreamy wanderings.
- the 140-hour workweek
So refreshing was
the long winter’s nap that she
slept for two more days.
- a miracle in a vial
We can destroy a
tiny bug by shooting up
folks with a vaccine.
- discommunication
Email, Slack, phones, fax,
texts, voicemails … and yet colleagues
can’t seem to connect.
- wires crossed
Don’t give in to the
IT desk. Turn off, turn on,
defenestrate it.
- natural neglect
Weeds and rodents have
claimed this fertile ground. Can this
garden rise again?
- probably apple and peach
Anyone could tell
that the translucent bag had
a mess of fried pies.
- kids, covid and contagion in education
The physical toll
on those in classrooms, mental
toll on those at home.
- out and prodigal
Never too old to
run away from home, but to
return is tougher.
- at least the billionaires are thriving
The people are stuck
with no income, and the jobs
may never come back.
- and you’ll like it
They celebrated
their hard-working staff with some
cake and empty praise.
- caucasoid cachet
A diverse group of
employees politely clapped
for white promotions.
- the two seasons
It’s spring, nope it’s still
winter. It’s spring! Nah, winter.
Please let it be spring.
- somewhat after the fact
How many times in
life do you get to bequeath
your stuff? Oh, right … none.
- mired in greatness
Is the challenge of
diversity recruitment?
Or bold ideas?
- pledge to our selves
We make time for the
things that are important to
us, no matter what.
- forget the gas pump
Nowhere to be, no
one to meet, a driveway with
an abandoned car.
- a zoom to remember
It is lovely to
spend the night getting older
with virtual friends.
- native advertising
I’m at my best when
serving others. I have a
lot of love to give.
- the online introvert
He could take the chit
chat for only so long. He
logged off in a huff.
- frugal milestones
She celebrated
her newfound wealth by paying
off her auto loan.
- my own postal route
I get plenty of
exercise taking others’
mail to their houses.
- so long, suckers
They would turn their backs
on nonbelievers, as their
community shrank.
- cleverness masked as decorum
A sharper wit can
allow you to speak ill of
the dead with a smirk.
- the joke’s on all of us
Fake news, voter fraud,
QAnon, alt-right, Fox News,
vaccines, Russian tweets.
- needling around
Get a third shot to
be extra safe and extra
autistic. JK!!!!
- the asian in asian american
A minority
modeled on racial divides
and no acceptance.
- sunday starting over
The promise of a
rebirth for all, a fresh start
from our sinful pasts.
- asian persuasion
Not every person
of color gets asked “Where are
you from?” Lucky us.
- the creepy uncle
They took down an old
predator, but it took great
courage and candor.
- self care 2021
Taking off work clothes
(pajamas) and slipping in-
to a nice coma.
- the persistent undercurrent
His mellow moods were
betrayed by a beautiful
depression deep down.
• • •
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Monday, December 28th, 2020
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- the joy of wearing stuff out
Each possession, bright
and sturdy, used and used and
used till broken down.
- the very quiet foreign girls poetry group
Their broken English
made for elegant stanzas
of their existence.
- having tea with the muse
Places are set for
two, she comes and goes (mostly
goes) as she pleases.
- the wonder of autumn
Celebrate crunching
of the leaves, cooling of the
days, cups of cider.
- something in the air
Health care’s finest are
sitting down to lunch while they’re
poisoning the room.
- the wait for a vaccine
Racing for a cure,
taking all the shortcuts, most
of us won’t partake.
- youtube and the alt-right
The endless stream wreaks
radicalization, from
recommendations.
- the oldies
Those songs from that long
ago era when ancients
roamed the discotheques.
- virtue wriggling
Don’t pretend Black Lives
Matter while treating your peers
and colleagues like dirt.
- where to sit in a pandemic
The signs on every
other table say to stay
away. The rest? Fine!
- to play ball
A pause from shooting
hoops, catching pop-ups, to fight
police violence.
- dreaming of the harvest
Little seeds, big plans,
rows of hope and dirt-covered
jeans, come sun, come rain.
- when crisis management needs crisis management
Forging safety for
a nation divided puts
us in more danger.
- up-to-the-minute bad news
It’s never been more
fashionable to shoot the
messenger point blank.
- a foreign policy built on human rights
Not to invade and
conquer, but to assist and
leave somewhat better.
- one russian, one vote
Interference means
our picks don’t matter, our hopes
and voices poisoned.
- play balls
Every sport all at
once, a smorgasbord and a
true fan’s worst nightmare.
- it started today in 2005
I’ve written haiku
daily for 15 years and
don’t plan on stopping.
- safety fatigue
Playing by the rules
sucks when everyone else does
whatever they want.
- a library is more than just books
It’s readers, crafty
librarians, free-range kids
and random townsfolk.
- the reading-is-contagious book club
The ladies, without
masks, piled into the living
room to gossip, gloat.
- everything is coronavirus
Scratchy throat, a cough
(but only once in a while),
bleeding from the eyes.
- ode to the post office
Sometimes surly, but
able to take my letter
for only four bits.
- how people are voting
In person on time
or early, by mail or drop
box, hopeful, anxious.
- halloween improvised
Bobbing for vaccines.
Trick or grab-and-go bagged treat.
Masks and nothing else.
- web two-point-whoa
Doomscrolling on a
Wednesday night, watching all the
misery out there.
- dujuan, far from home
Aboriginal
healer, just 10, struggled with
school and the system.
- gasping for revenue
Every town scraping
by till we reopen it
all someday, some year.
- ready to dream about bones
A pittie in his
PJs scampers to and fro,
comfy and happy.
- ones, zeroes and solutions
We collect all this
data and ask it how we
should manage our lives.
- witches and black cats, too
Carve a jack-o’-lan-
tern, put it in a mask. Hang
a skeleton. Same.
- benched
A football team with
too many positives must
sit out the season.
- a pandemic pickle
The restaurants are
too crowded and not crowded
enough to survive.
- ruth bader ginsburg
She fought and fought and
fought for women to be all
treated equally.
- death of a hard drive
Stop playing dead and
give me my files! Or else I’ll …
curl up on the floor.
- why vote?
For democracy.
To choose our leaders. To stick
it to the Russians.
- breonna taylor
In her apartment,
an innocent bystander
shot by cops six times.
- reading as an immersion
I want to read with
my eyes, my ears, my fingers.
I want words to last.
- our place in history
A corrupt regime
that we helped bring about while
resisting feebly.
- he wouldn’t wear a mask
He wouldn’t wear a
mask, not to shop or browse, not
for him or for you.
- little pupils, big caution
All day, they stayed in
the one classroom, but they were
together again.
- life on venus
Microscopic cells
who enjoy a plush sauna
and full privacy.
- trick or treatment
*doorbell* *temperature
check* *hand sanitizer* *tongs*
*drop candy* Repeat.
- on-the-job inspiration
A posted sign: The
beatings will continue un-
til morale improves.
- remote hazing
OMG what’s that
behind you?! Ha! Made you look.
(Please unmute yourself.)
- vote early and often
The good people have
spoken early this year: They’ve
already voted.
- every four years
The anxiety,
the held breath, the wait to see
victory or loss.
- where were we?
Let’s get back to the
business of running and/or
ruining this land.
- sean connery
A sub captain, a
spy and an Irish copper
walk into a bar …
- tailgate in the driveway
Playing it safe by
grilling at home and saving
on the parking fees.
- be kind to yourself
Treat yourself gently
as you would your best friend and
show yourself some love.
- spare hurricane names
Unbreakable codes,
hieroglyphs, nail polish shades,
semaphores, Klingon.
- it’s all uphill from here
A steady job, a
purpose in life … man, this dude
Sisyphus rocked it.
- a national debt
When will we give them
the highest honor, keeping
them safe post-service?
- a meme-based economy
Not by your wealth nor
the sweat of your brow but your
drolly captioned pics.
- a tiktok economy
Dancing for likes, lip-
synching for views, being your
performative self.
- the third wave
Restless for human
interaction, so tired
of hunkering down.
- the heart of 2020
One crisis after
another and another
and another and …
- a strange neighborhood
Walking past tidy
lawns and construction sites in
night’s semi-darkness.
- the confrontation that wasn’t a confrontation
They demanded to
meet with her only to tell
her good job, sort of.
- and a few misspelled words
Sending a text with
random punctuation % enh,
they’ll figure it out^
- cheers under a faltering light
They snuck glasses of
wine when parents weren’t watching
and drank to good times.
- at least we still have power
Why does everything
break down after the checking
account is tapped out?
- stylish strokes
Typographically
speaking, the best fonts convey
meaning in an “a.”
- but would they let them drive?
Rule for astro-chimps:
They would not make the monkey
launch the dang rocket.
- ultimate sins
Doctors: malpractice
suits, death. Priests: molesting kids.
Reporters: lying.
- thankful for
The strength to survive
such an outrageous year while
faking sanity.
- sweet sassy molassy
I hate when tweets end
with declarative bull. That’s
it. That’s the haiku.
- pilgrims, indians and social distancing
Do not gather, but
give thanks for the good health that
makes it possible.
- blackest friday
Jam the stores! This cruel
pandemic economy
needs sacrifices.
- finding meaning in art if not the artist
The artist can be
an utter wanker, yet still
create works of art.
- confessions of a trivia winner
Trust your gut. Keep an
eye on the competition.
Sometimes, take a guess.
- waltzing autumnal
Twirl in the moonlight
surrounded by shadows deep
in the pumpkin patch.
- gifts by the 23rd at the latest
The naughty list grew
so big this year that Santa
just needs a hatchback.
- mr. privilege
Do what I want when
I want and let the rest of
the planet be damned.
- old growth, new stump
A tree falls with help.
Men with their chainsaws carve it
into huge matchsticks.
- cold snap
The house? Perfectly
comfortable 68.
Me? Shivering so.
- madam vice president
Kamala, like a
breath of fresh air. Kamala,
let’s be inspired.
- the roosting of our sins
Meeting up without
a mask. Flaunting our freedom.
Getting sick in droves.
- about living in historical times
Has 2020
taught us anything? Are we
doomed to repeat it?
- inclement no more
Snow comes and blankets
the roads, and antsy children
are stuck in Zoom school.
- other casualties of the pandemic
Shopping local has
never been quicker since so
many stores have closed.
- dark ages the sequel
Emerging from 4
years of smearing science and
setting up scapegoats.
- autumn at ruffner
Up the mountain we
hiked. Down the mountain we sped.
All along we breathed.
- stabilization
Her burden feels a
little lighter, her panic
starting to subside.
- 2020 gonna 2020
On the first day of
Christmas, my true love gave to
me, COVID-19.
- the slutty locksmith
Dirty locks, shiny
keys. Opening the doors to
pleasure and tool sheds.
- symptoms and strategy
Can economy
recover without beating
virus? So far, no.
- the other sickness
Unbelievable
stress, new anxiety, lone-
liness. Minds unwell.
- where once were office parties
Log in and wear your
finest Christmas jammies while
sipping spiked eggnog.
- the proud pittie in the back yard
Atop the stump, he
surveyed the land around him,
and it pleased him so.
- the 99-year-old passive-aggressive samaritan
Her burdensome texts
let us know exactly how
she felt about strays.
- pandemic baby boom
Welcome to all the
new Coronas and Faucis
into this masked world.
- a new season, i guess
That bleak sky. Growing
madness in quarantine. The
grimness of winter.
- for the loved ones we keep safe
One more Facetime. Some
cookies and sweaters in the
mail. Saving up hugs.
- a wish list
Vaccines in every
stocking, relief checks for the
jobless, hope for all.
- the constant of children’s joy
Let them sing with glee.
Let them dream of sugar plums.
Let them wake with gifts.
- all for the birthday boy
An evening party
with a barnyard theme and odd
assortment of gifts.
- the monocultural experience
Back to a world in
which we share hardships and small
wins, pathos and grit.
- a girl and her horse
Once ornery, he
softened under her guidance,
riding proud as one.
- forever … ’21
Let us renew our
commitment to a better
future for us all.
• • •
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Friday, September 18th, 2020
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- the line between fear and paranoia
A phobia here,
a conspiracy there, it
all adds up to squat.
- the majority leecher
A toady who does
it all for those in power,
lickspittle for life.
- everyday hustle
We all out here with
our game faces on, ready
to make that paper.
- time of the prepper
A cellar fully
stocked with canned goods, candles and
assorted ammo.
- the tips, not the protesters
Lots of bystanders
have tips for protesters, most
of them horrible.
- rise of the sidewalk cafes
Bistros and hot dog
joints claim limited spaces
for al fresco feasts.
- tangible gratitude
Marbles in a jar,
scribbles on slips of paper,
lines in a Word doc.
- facial security blanket
The mask made him feel
only a little safer
in an unsafe world.
- cans of lysol in the carport
She took grocery
deliveries at the side
door and sprayed them down.
- salt strife
Waves mindlessly lap
the shore, as tourists make the
most of a crap year.
- all summer in a season
Let the festival
of sweaty tees and violent
thunderstorms commence!
- the spare minutes
Time to breathe deeply,
to compose a love note, to
gaze in bright wonder.
- covering while uncovered
Modern media
fired upon by police,
targets of ire.
- any sports is better than no sports
Empty stands, no one
hawking $7 cups
of beer. Players … play.
- the looting of america
From the corner stores,
but especially from the
swank corporate board rooms.
- on the plaza in the early evening
She hobbled by with
a friendly greeting and a
bare foot in pain.
- just another pandemic in america
How casually
we conduct our business while
the virus rages.
- social undistancing
Despite our caution,
it’s good to see people once
more. We need contact.
- furloughed and frustrated
Everyone needs a
job yesterday. The rent’s past
due, the kids need shoes.
- the fun police
The mere suspicion
that someone somewhere feels such
unauthorized joy.
- the floor is lava
The floor is lava.
As is everything else. Yeah,
the world’s on fire.
- this is just to haiku
I ate the icebox
plums saved for breakfast forgive
me so sweet so cold
- can’t have pets
Allergic not to
dander or fur but to un-
conditional love.
- the vocal minority
They took their pouty
entitlements and their hurt
feelings and raged on.
- 7/4 3/5
A declaration
of freedom for some, leaving
all others behind.
- the opposite of schadenfreude
That pang of envy
when someone, anyone marks
a great achievement.
- under wraps
Look, I get it. You’re
frustrated by the whole mask
dilemma. Wear it.
- cause and effect and effect and effect
The numbers climb. The
hospitals struggle. The world
trudges on weakly.
- love in the time of corona
Will COVID Cupid
find coronavixen who
takes my breath away?
- regret neutrality
It isn’t enough
to not be racist, but to
be anti-racist.
- the launch
The developers
lock in the code. Fans look on.
All systems are go.
- protection not persecution
What does it look like
when a society re-
thinks its policing?
- representation matters
I want to see those
who look like me and those who
have yet to be seen.
- jeremy bearimy, baby
This 2020
has been a hellscape of at
least 35 months.
- moments of glee
Profound joy sneaks in
between the bouts of anger
and pure depression.
- be now
This is the now. This
is the moment we are in.
Now this is the now.
- a devious undeviating satire
Comedic grace: She
takes his words and makes them her
own, makes him her own.
- mom and pop sore
The anxiety
of watching your dream wither
away to nothing.
- the pandemic p&l statement
How do we pay rent?
Pay employees? Stay open?
Live to fight again?
- the disquieting fear
Burrowed deeply in
our brains, driving us to run
from all the known threats.
- the empathy spectrum
Sacrifice for all
others vs. in it for
only me me me.
- browser breaking point
Click. Save. Read later.
Click. Save. Check out later. Click.
Click. Too many tabs!
- that homeostatic feeling
Even constant pain
becomes background noise in a
body on the move.
- booted from the swanky italian restaurant
He played with gusto
to the sun-soaked parking lot
amidst the Audis.
- project pandemic pick-me-up
Business is down. Why
not renovate the inside
before shoppers return?
- surrounded by patients zero
Every cough suspect,
every forehead possibly
ablaze, bugs abound.
- we jazz july
Another blazing
tornado-dodging virus-
ravaging summer.
- maskholes
They threw little snits
at each store asking them to
wear face coverings.
- the strivers
Striving to be loved.
Striving to be accepted.
For equality.
- only one shot a year
They decided to
postpone the event and pray
they’d come back next year.
- hang on to the summer
Ice cream cones and long
drives, starry nights and fire-
flies, storms and breezes.
- first will and testament
Let’s hope that courage
is contagious and that our
leaders aren’t immune.
- back-to-school shopping 2020
Bulletproof backpack,
face mask, hand sanitizer,
tiny body bags.
- school of hardest knocks
This fall, send the kids
back to school in person and
let God sort ’em out.
- other people’s impatience
Some of us are born
to wait and wait, while others
make waiting painful.
- a totally chill pandemic
Neighbors having big
parties, coworkers touching
all the coffee cups.
- cities under siege
Protesters marching
peacefully and lawfully.
Shock troops on the way
- let freedom ring
Climate deniers,
school shooters, killer cops. This
is America.
- an unmissed connection
Deep empathy brings
hope to the forlorn, the love-
less, the also rans.
- reliable sources
Experts and mainstream
media, but also your
high school dropout aunt.
- the emotional roller coaster
Why do the tears come
so readily? Before, I
was a stoic man.
- down with democracies
Disinformation
arrives in harmless tweets and
brash targeted ads.
- spiral unspiral
Neutral leads to sad-
ness leads to shame leads to wor-
ry leads to calmness.
- how we decide
Rational does not
mean selfless or detached from
any emotion.
- no good choices, back-to-school edition
Set them in front of
a screen, or set them loose in
a germy classroom.
- an alabama loophole
Schools practice social
distancing for teachers, kids
(except for football).
- radical monarchs
Shy caterpillars
transform into cool pillars
of social justice.
- in search of
We look for humor
in dark places and comfort
in strange bedfellows.
- america’s national pastime*
The crack of the bat,
the roar of an empty sta-
dium in strange times.
- virtual fans
They yell, they cheer, they
boo. But then, no drunken brawls
or doing the wave.
- lessons in world geography
The other countries
did it right in beating the
pandemic. We balked.
- a natural enmity
People are good. But
that one guy definitely
is out to get me.
- pandemic plan zero
We’ve tried absolute-
ly nothing, and yet the num-
bers keep going up.
- poems to the wind
Freestylin’ verses
to the masses with brains and
social media.
- the zoom cocktail hour
A bevy of drinks,
a so-so wifi signal,
a lot of crosstalk.
- amoral adversary
The virus doesn’t
punish bad behavior or
reward good. It just is.
- chaotic neutral
Alignment is not
only good and evil but
also the method.
- what does a family look like?
Are they blood ties or
select friends and lovers? The
mind and heart see all.
- the trouble with first drafts
Balancing speedy
writing with a nagging need
to edit right then.
- try someone else
On the street and at
the crossroads, they beg. The re-
ply is always no.
- on brand
He positioned the
camera just so, making sure
his fans saw it all.
- cupid’s victim
A young girl mused on
her infatuation with
bright eyes, aching heart.
- ’90s jukebox
The melodies and
riffs take me back to my young-
er, more hopeful self.
- aa scheme
A real poem should
rhyme. Which is why this is a
real poem this time.
- popsicle sticks and glitter
She carefully plans
the art projects so her girls
can dream, make messes.
- the road to the white house
Hearts and minds up for
grabs as we squabble over
fault in the margins.
- bugaboo
It seems risky to
re-open society
as the virus roams.
- the law of diminishing fucks
The moment we step
out to embrace our feelings
no matter the risk.
- surrender to the storm
Each hurricane brought
fewer relief trucks in the
nation’s new climate.
- essential workers, inessential wages
We prize work, but
not equally, not fully.
Our values must change.
- casualties of indifference
The suffering has
no meaning. The dreams and lives
lost were for nothing.
- built-in bruising
We react without
thinking. The suffering is
truly optional.
- eat dessert first
Such is a nation
that manages its sweet tooth
better than its health.
- a foreign notion
When will we stop the
white domestic terrorists
who hide in plain sight?
- declaration of dependence
I told her this year.
I haven’t thought about lost
love in a long time.
- take this job and inhabit it
Work is everything:
self worth, time suck, lame hangout,
comparison stick.
- four-wheel money machine
It’s tough to work when
other drivers treat your car
like a piñata.
- awash with sensations
She tracked her feelings
as they racked her body in
tumultuous waves.
- she brought in a gun
She brought in a gun,
and everyone in the whole
restaurant just froze.
- unnoticed rituals
Actions designed not
to make the time pass but to
ease anxiety.
- dread of the drops
The falling rain brought
on the worries big and small,
not soothing comfort.
• • •
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Tuesday, June 9th, 2020
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- cry of the doughnut
You need some sugar
to start off the morning and
sweeten up your day.
- a twinkle
His calm demeanor
belied a sense of mischief
coming from his eyes.
- girl crush
She and she shared an
embarrassing amount in
common. Syn-her-gy.
- collegial feelings
It’s all clicking and
not all cliques. So many I’s
in this splendid team.
- an uncomfortable conversation
Would it be OK
if we worked it out one blunt
question at a time?
- wistful thinking
What could’ve been, what
almost was, who should’ve mat-
tered, why dwell on it.
- tell me a story again
Regale me with your
misadventures, show me your
past self one more time.
- past hope
The fear deep within
pushes us to dark places
with no way to leave.
- her lone voice
Her lone voice rang out
with despair. Will I ever
be enough for me?
- the wonder of it all
Take time to marvel
at the bounty of life, the
majesty of you.
- a dollop of kindness
It goes great with a
heaping of empathy and
gentleness of words.
- the statistician’s dilemma
Count everything, make
exceptions or run away
in a mild panic?
- the lurker in us all
Why dive in when you
Can watch safely from the shore?
Take that, killer sharks.
- pi piper
3.141
5926535
8979
- stranger together
Our back-and-forth can
puzzle others but leads us
to fits of laughter.
- all kinds of intimacy
A boundless comfort
zone, a safe space with no end
and a love assumed.
- the irish of the far east
Sure, we’re all a bit
Irish, but really, when is
St. Korean’s Day?
- coffee thief
He would grab a mug
from the break room and run off
one cup at a time.
- a time for cartwheels
A greening of the
land, a growing warmth, a sun
smiling from above.
- what concerns a neighborhood
Lost dogs and kitties,
burglars breaking into tool
sheds, rampant gossip.
- the role of luck
From birth onward, luck
influences our lives more
than we would admit.
- simple pleasures
A fancy dessert,
a bowl of cereal, a
purring cat, sunset.
- more simple pleasures
Buttered biscuits, a
warm scarf, gentle breathing, a
super thick milkshake.
- even more simple pleasures
A delightful meme,
a show on the radio,
a recognition.
- time to move on
Growing contentment
meets nagging restlessness for
a ticket elsewhere.
- a false unity
Let’s not look past our
differences, but agree to
disagreements now.
- fearless fest
Wary attendees
ease into the fun with some
gentle icebreakers.
- the route of creativity
I didn’t expect
to wander past so many
unusual sights.
- mlem vs. blep
Something about tongues
and animals and how we
cannot resist them.
- amazon conspiracy theory
The Prime vans circle
our homes waiting for the chance
to sell us to death.
- let me fix that for you
Barge in and take charge
before the lesser grunts wreck
all of this hard work.
- fools and foils
An annual rite:
The joke is on all of us
again and again.
- the bug vs. the world
A microbe stops us
dead in our tracks. Can we fight
what we cannot see?
- tp pdq
Rolls of gold to trade
for pelts or blubber or a
shiny new mansion.
- a life on camera
Hello, colleagues, from
my cluttered kitchen and my
once clean living room.
- under foot all the time
Kids, no school. Kids, no
play dates. Kids, no child care. Kids,
no church camp. Kids … no.
- the ever looming specter of death
One nagging cough from
painfully short struggle with
coronavirus.
- mourning the loss of normal
Crying over lost
softball games, get togethers
and the stuff of life.
- a primer on social distancing
For some, 6 feet is
a mile. And for others, not
far enough at all.
- in the shot, take a shot
This Zoom meeting will
never end. How do I sneak
a drink on camera?
- in line at walmart 2020
Don’t stand so, don’t stand
so, don’t stand so close to me.
Please don’t stand, don’t stand.
- means of transmission
Can you catch it from
a toilet seat? Can you catch
it from a death stare?
- easter 2020
Bunny hops to and
fro but everyone’s hiding
their eggs inside homes.
- cabin fever, catch it
Where the cabin is
a nice house and we can still
go outside at will.
- small business black saturday
We witness the deaths
of restaurants and stores while
shopping Amazon.
- a nonbinding stimulus
He’s outta work, she’s
outta work, so many folks
are losing their jobs.
- retreat
These four walls can seem
like a sanctuary, a
prison, a flophouse.
- a quiet place
The silent office
looks over an empty lot
while gathering dust.
- the sudden homeschool
The kids are all in
detention, the teacher is
drinking heavily.
- piece by piece
They hunched over the
table, squinting at puzzle
pieces and laughing.
- social distancing two-step
Can’t hug, but can wave.
Can’t whisper, but can raise voice.
Can’t cry, but can grieve.
- the potluck crew
Each dish outdoes the
last one. Each taste is even
better than we hoped.
- drowning in real time
The lessons come so
quickly, it’s impossible
to keep up, catch up.
- the intimidation factor
No one counted on
her bursting out with so much
energy and verve.
- voices parry
She said, he said, he
said and said and said and said
and kept on going.
- out-of-context theater
Not in the same ball
park but trying to achieve
collaboration.
- teamwork makes the dream worthless
It all fell apart
the moment we sat down to
toil together.
- the stress of it all
Work, more work, school, more
school, health, poor health and a lot
of things left unsaid.
- today broke me
I’ve been sprinting the
marathon for weeks and hit
the wall. Nothing left.
- the contagion
We use masks and gloves
with the hope that they hide us
from the wee killers.
- thinking positive
The cough, the fever,
the trouble breathing, the test,
the wait, the results.
- romeo and juliet 2020
Verona succumbs
to the plague. Star-crossed lovers
inherit it all.
- little girl found
She would log into
book club each afternoon just
for her sanity.
- a drive-by party
Kids wave and honk and
shout “Happy Birthday!” to her.
It gives me such hope.
- peanut butter problems
Crunchy or smooth, no
one can agree on which one
goes on sandwiches.
- the numbers
How many dead? How
many infected? How much
longer can we last?
- me exotic
Meet my giant house
cats as they prowl the compound.
I’m the Tiger King!
- the crawfish boil
Pinch the head and suck
the tail, two steps to true
tasty happiness.
- something’s brewing
Coffee panic sets
in as I try to wake up
before class begins.
- caveat emptor caveat
We’re gonna die from
this damn disease, but at least
we can go shopping.
- a question of masks
Some are offended.
Others demand compliance.
A lot of hot air.
- a notion of oppression
It isn’t about
haircuts and personal re-
sponsibility.
- a bite here, a bite there
Our fearless leader
trapped in meetings all day, can’t
find time to eat lunch.
- petri dish nation
The germs waited oh
so patiently to avenge
themselves on us all.
- corona calendar
It is either Mon-
day or Thursday or the day
before yesterday.
- toss mustard, too
Mayo is the worst.
On grilled cheese and in life. Let’s
throw it in the trash.
- the inevitable second wave
All because we did
not have patience for delayed
gratification.
- who’s really behind the plandemic?
I do swear on my
virginity that it’s the
New New World Order.
- we’re all doomed
What if a virus
didn’t attack brains or bones
but plain ignorance?
- odds, ends and assorted detritus
He took all the old
and worn-out produce and made
a composite stew.
- the when of it all
Plans for the future
don’t exist. We muddle through
the endless present.
- full-throated confidence in half-baked ideas
THIS IS HOW I MAKE
A POINT ON THE INTERNET,
LOUDLY AND PROUDLY.
- pan-dilemma
No matter which way
we go, we’re adrift in a
sea of bad choices.
- the dashboard courier
Some die, others live.
The story’s in the digits
climbing steadily.
- the quest for friends
This modern life has
its drawbacks. Where does one go
for companionship?
- take and take
Today we honor
their sacrifices. Can we
not sacrifice, too?
- the first hundred thousand
No monument. No
flags at half-staff. Just a pile
of names and bodies.
- the lost art of compromise
When the remaining
10 percent becomes too big
of an obstacle.
- smotherhood
A working mom adds
teaching and babysitting
to her packed weekdays.
- this perfect spring
Inhale the freshness
of nature. Admire the
beauty all around
- nitrogen + oxygen 4 ever
Can we not simply
laugh at the stupidity
of most everything?
- the may we were
In like a shelter-
in-place, out like a battle
over masks, distance.
- catch the second wave
Bodies ride the crest
before the whole thing crashes
down like a honed scythe.
- hungry are the damned
A food supply that
can’t feed hordes out of work, out
of school, out of luck.
- learned helplessness
Stunned by media,
worried by “how it’ll look,”
no action today.
- linn park, jefferson davis’ birthday
The statue is gone,
but the Confederacy
lives on in their hearts.
- the protest and the price
Marchers shine a light
on police brutality.
while enduring it.
- until my voice is raw
Black lives matter. Black
lives matter. Black lives matter.
Black lives matter. Preach.
- for a few corpses more
We absolutely
need to reform the police
to save our black friends.
- fears of a black planet
Coronavirus,
police brutality and
white fragility.
- damn tired
Are we feeling spent
by the chaos in our lives
and everywhere else?
• • •
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Saturday, February 29th, 2020
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- bionic reading
The automated
voice spit out text faster and
faster to tired ears.
- the turkey’s days are numbered
From the pen to the
factory to the market
to my dinner plate.
- it is never too late to settle
Bachelor No. 3
has a weird job, bald spot and
questionable taste.
- america’s ceos
They may not be the
best and brightest but just the
tallest and whitest.
- waiting for disaster
His mind conjured up
every misfortune he could
create from nothing.
- the old batch of cars
Who wants this year’s lame
models when next year’s models
are so similar?
- so much for tall, dark and handsome
She knew exactly
what she wanted till she found
him at the checkout.
- gratitude may just save your life
Be thankful for the
little things, the big things and
still being thankful.
- the tall neighbor
Floor by floor, the new
apartment building grew past
old establishments.
- ice cream as entree
Sometimes, the dinner
needs to be a dessert for …
reasons. Rocky road?
- shiraz butterfly
She dipped the paintbrush
in her wine glass and kept on
daubing the canvas.
- first date jitters
She giggled her way
through appetizers but found
herself by dessert.
- the toy aisle
Christmas wishes come
to life with robots and dolls
stacked to the ceiling.
- the party circuit
Time enough for drinks
here, small bites there, holiday
cheer most everywhere.
- the muse short-circuits
How beautiful life
is when the evening— damn, I
had something for this …
- the ineffective leader
Evade, blame, whimper,
obstruct, deny, fabricate,
lie, cheat, ridicule.
- the effective leader
Reflect, give, honor,
listen, practice, inspire,
serve, prepare, follow.
- climate crisis, where crisis means opportunity
The rising tides mean
everyone gets beachfront homes
eventually.
- an omen here, an omen there
Hard to interpret
signs when so many point to
the end of the world.
- the jaded crooner
A guitar and a
mic, and decades of songs for
the brokenhearted.
- a pollution conundrum
What fills the landfills
and clogs the oceans more than
careless whims by us?
- trickle down santa
One giant sack of
toys for rich kids, odds and ends
for the remainder.
- theater of the future
Seats with microwaves,
send texts using movie screens,
support animals.
- the bosses
What the bosses want
and what the bosses need are
two different things.
- oprah’s secret children
A covert squad of
heroes fighting for truth, jus-
tice and empathy.
- where the mall once stood
Mostly empty stores
connected by empty halls
and empty food court.
- christmas break
A 2-week orgy
of Fortnite, new toys, sleeping
in and no homework.
- overheard at the starbucks
“We sent our son to
a ritzy private school, and
he fell in with snobs.”
- soldiers of misfortune
One by one, they talked
up their greatest failures to
garner empathy.
- button-down metamorphosis
He transformed himself
from nebbish host to nebbish
guru zen master.
- the quiet season
A hibernation
that engulfs the living and
reassures the dead.
- tech bust
A server goes down
and with it, the dashed hopes of
a wired nation.
- just one more taste to be sure
It took three bowls to
convince her on the new kind
of ice cream flavor.
- elf alert
Condition red! All
personnel prepare for the
big delivery!
- yuletide sentiment
Wishing you a bright
and gay, holly and jolly,
wonderful Christmas.
- post-christmas blues
Snow smothering the
land, long nights of despair and
dread, bitterness reigns.
- resolve to fight
The year may be done,
but let us resolve to fight
for another year.
- who needs tahiti
Their honeymoon was
a trip to the store with fine
wine and cheese at home.
- the letter that never came
The words that never
comforted, the promises
that were never read.
- goodness graciousness
Not a saint but one
who worked nonstop at being
kindly all the time.
- the final countdown
Thirteen twelve ele-
ven ten nine eight seven six
five four three two one
- new year, new decade, new you
We are reborn like
stars, planets and galaxies
from so much space dust.
- resolution absolution
The idea of
transformation excites while
doing it can suck.
- flights of antsy
Do we dare dream at
all when we crash many times
in so many ways?
- to explore change
A discarding of
outmoded parts, retooling
of parts that still work.
- the courage to be less than
Admitting to our
selves that we want to improve
takes guts, guts and guts.
- changes in spurts
A little setback
can look like complete failure
to the untrained eye.
- there is no finish line
We change and change and
settle for nothing less than
total perfection.
- the next career
A blinding light that
relegates broken paths to
the darkest corners.
- emergency haiku
This is a test. If
this had been an actual
emergency, run!
- a light has gone out
When a teacher dies,
she leaves behind galaxies
of brighter students.
- hopelessly hungover
Inspiration from
the bottom of a bottle
dries up so quickly.
- who has a crush at this age?
It’s still possible
to like and like-like someone
with all the tingles.
- pick already!
He wrestled with his
Top Five albums long after
his relevancy.
- the colosseum 2020
The lions are in
league with the indicted in-
surgent. Thumbs up … ass.
- staving off loneliness
Reaching out for a
lifeline and finding one, no
matter the tension.
- no hair up there
Aerodynamic
and smooth sails the shiny head
across skies of blue.
- the algorithms of life
A computer picks
what we watch next, how we shop,
when we stand and stretch.
- academic incarceration
Inmates discuss the
works of Plato to reveal
how we’re connected.
- meaningless jargon
Deep dive, low-hanging
fruit, blue sky thinking, going
forward, game changer.
- the hand of a volunteer
Step up to do one
small thing with big results for
someone else in need.
- a magical dinner
Lots of wine, lots of
good conversation and ringed
by happy dear friends.
- a slightly drunker campus
Make tuition free
for everyone or allow
payment by kidney.
- smart shopper
All I want to know
is brand, price, size, warranty,
color and rating.
- the pretzel farmer
A bumper crop of
knots, a fair share of sticks and
a few unsalteds.
- caveat emptor
Each grift is new to
someone. We are all suckers
at some point in life.
- backyard air force
A door opens and
a squadron of birds takes flight
in a giant swoosh.
- who’s hungry?
I like to think on
what I’ve eaten, what I eat,
what I’ll be eating.
- it’s on, automaton
Once the robots choose
to unionize, enslaving
their masters is next.
- wearing out
A broken zipper
pull, a rip, a stain, a frayed
cuff, a torn-up stitch.
- by the numbers
Haiku done: thousands.
Haiku in progress: 14.
Good haiku: a few.
- the reality we live in
Our perception can
overwhelm what we see and
feel. Virtual now.
- the ache for something more
My heart’s beating a
million times a minute in
anticipation.
- to be the dumper, the dumpee
The secret is to
pull the trigger first and dodge
that poisoned bullet.
- in the life
Wake up, eat, shower,
first job, eat, second job, eat,
wind down, go to bed.
- the mad scramble each morning
Somewhere between the
seventh snooze and out the door
lies flustered frenzy.
- untapped, unneeded
Do we get wiser
as we get older? Does it
count for anything?
- competing anxieties
Not enough sleep, not
enough money, not enough
time to get all done.
- friday lunch break
The pair bonded through
shared laughs and a weird toasted
rye bagel sandwich.
- click to learn
The teachers live on
a server, doling out new
knowledge when summoned.
- vain brain
He strove not just to
be the smartest, but also
let others know it.
- predatory networking
What a joy it is
to mingle among those who
struggle for answers.
- tyranny of the tech giants
Digital exhaust
harvested into evil
database of us.
- the oceans of our mind
We swim in a sea
of memory, pausing to
drown in nostalgia.
- investigator, i hardly know her
Clicking on random
poorly sourced articles to
skim through is “research.”
- be courageous
The bravest act in
the world is to love someone
with your complete heart.
- sun’s out, tongue’s out
The security
cameras showed her with a blep
anytime she moved.
- the fight not to be dehumanized
Machines influence
us and we are creatures with
resistant bright souls.
- spreadsheet confab
The squiggle boxes
meet other squiggle boxes
for light mathematics.
- moment of strength
Friends, are we the most
vulnerable when we share
ourselves with others?
- harvest of shame: the next generation
Data is the new
oil, China the new Sau-
di Arabia.
- franchise failure
A huge series of
cool movies ending with a
two-hour whimper.
- the politics of breathing
We owe ourselves the
right to clean air and water
on a fixed planet.
- fake it till you fake it
We live within un-
certainty, but proclaim our
opinions loudly.
- that special taco
From the taco truck
on the corner, with the right
amount of hotness.
- a lesson in canine economics
Nothing makes you ap-
preciate having one pit
bull than two pit bulls.
- drag me to hell
Roast me, mock me, knock
me off my pedestal and
help me to wake up.
- that nagging cough
Probably nothing.
Nothing except the early
warnings of a plague.
- nothing normal
Perilous times and
bad news everywhere. It’s hard
to stay on your feet.
- the kitchen is secure
The sink is empty.
The stove is clean and shiny.
The tile floor is mopped.
- every day is an extra day
Every day is an
extra day as long as we
continue breathing.
• • •
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Wednesday, November 20th, 2019
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- anna karenina
Socialite becomes
outcast after her extra-
marital affair.
- people are strangled
Do we really know
the struggle behind the eyes
of each one we meet?
- gunfireworks
Nearby, shots ring out,
or maybe firecrackers
cracking. The dog’s scared.
- the waiting area
Uneasy chairs and
cold coffee for those who need
the doctor’s report.
- love the right way
Without prejudice.
Without fear and without end.
Without boundaries.
- trash godzilla
The garbage monster
left the ocean to conquer
the garbage nations.
- words to diet by
“Nothing tastes as good
as skinny feels,” said no one
ever while croaking.
- deactivating activists
The bystanders coughed
up a medal or two while
hailing fascism.
- the manly art of reading
The page judges you
as you skim chapters looking
for symbolism.
- and in the comments, too
Every unhappy
fan is unhappy in his
own way on Twitter.
- not in their corner
The round-top muffins
tasted better than square tops,
the tongue decided.
- messages in bottles
“Too long — didn’t read.”
“Void where prohibited by
law.” “Send more bottles!”
- your data is for sale
I am _____ years old.
I spent $_____ on food this year.
My password is _____.
- the awkwardness of it all
Speaking when not quite
ready. Answering the wrong
question. Spilling tea.
- some days are better than others
She misses him some-
thing fierce, because he left with-
out saying goodbye.
- one-sided correspondence
He replied to all
the cards and letters with guilt
and lame excuses.
- historical fiction vs. creative nonfiction
Not every verse is
autobiographical,
he said with a smirk.
- the 21st-century schoolhouse
The teacher asked them
to open their iPads to
page 57.
- tandem effort
One partner thrived in
the spotlight, while the other
shone on in private.
- lots of sugar, or lots and lots of sugar?
They argued over
who made the better sweet tea
while eating takeout.
- the hottest summer ever
The hottest summer
ever is always one more
tomorrow away.
- a meditation on work
What is toil worth?
How long must we toil on?
Why do we toil?
- acceptable toppings for ice cream
Whipped cream, chocolate chips,
cereal, pretzels, trail mix,
sprinkles (not jimmies).
- in verse uni verse
Poetry can be
found everywhere, in fleeting
murmurs, in soft coos.
- inopportunity zone
That storefront contains
the Bermuda Triangle
of failed restaurants.
- farmers market finds
Do they really grow
turquoise jewelry and clay
pottery on farms?
- imitation is the sincerest form of thievery
Who needs artistry
when the market will copy
anything for bucks?
- let it bleed
Each verse should cut deep,
reveal flaws, scream truths and make
the poet squirmy.
- i once knew love
I once knew love and
recklessly chased it away.
It was sabotage.
- start strong, finish maybe
A show never has
to die, just be born again
into another.
- frankenstein
The real monster is
the doctor, or the monster,
or maybe it’s us.
- pug one and pug two
Ever vigilant,
they bark and yap at me: “Flee,
stranger among us!”
- i ran a half-marathon
But really I walked
around a flat track for 4
hours in blue jeans.
- the correspondence game
I owe my college
friend many letters. But I
have failed mightily.
- the loneliness of modern adulthood
With real jobs and real
families and no one to
hang out with at all.
- the big self-checkout discount
One for the scanner,
one for me. One for the scan-
ner, seven for me.
- morning setup
She plunks down the chairs
and tables before her crowd
of regulars comes.
- my kingdom for a napkin
Many a clever
idea has fled the scene
before written down.
- an autumnal nap
A soft chenille stands
a warm vigil atop my
dozing cheeks and nose.
- high drama at the word factory
The editor bel-
lowed for more copy but with-
out hyphenations.
- transcript unavailable
It was good to hear
from her even though it was
only a butt dial.
- big little ethics
Is it really a
moral dilemma to wres-
tle with a small fib?
- the careful addict
He played a deadly
game with pills and boredom, one
he would surely lose.
- how we mock our friends
Fashion failures, cook-
ing disasters, boyfriend mis-
haps, silly choices.
- at the checkout
We have so many
ways to pay with so little
in our bank accounts.
- the light is perfect
The gentle way it
caresses your face, bathing
it in a warm hue.
- social calls
Strangers blathering
on their fancy phones without
care for privacy.
- make america great someday
The cure for rampant
nostalgia is to build a
better tomorrow.
- you breathe when we tell you to breathe
We meditate and
chant and chant for an hour
oh is this a cult?
- what comes after 60, 60, 24, 7?
Minutes and hours
are fixed, as are days and weeks.
But not months and years.
- a simple reminder
Past due notices
become heavier with each
mental intrusion.
- the slouch patrol
Proper posture puts
a positive panache on
poorly propped people.
- when your phone don’t ring, it’ll be me
He waited for the
call that never came, a faux
pas of phone manners.
- a broken oven, a busted dryer
Guess we’ll use the hot
plate and clothesline while saving
up for down payments.
- a pile of small dead critters
The hunter of the
house makes an offering on
the doorstep altar.
- social, up to a point
There is a limit
to accessibility
when we trust no one.
- the oedipal/electra power hour
The best part of a
therapy session can be
blaming your parents.
- the nightly grind
Involuntary
nocturnal mastication
makes for dental hell.
- dream vacation vacation
Catching up on sleep
while taking a break from all
that relaxation.
- would recommend
All the approval
we need comes from fans, experts
critics and our peers.
- the five modern love languages
Emoji, Netflix
recommendations, puns, Yelp
reviews and dick pics.
- chocolate chipsters
The best cookies are
inevitably ones we
split with an old friend.
- no defense
No defense against
a torrent of stray thoughts and
bitter reprimands.
- and also highlights
No waiting room is
complete without a set of
oddball magazines.
- william kentridge on art
“I’m only an art-
ist. My job is to make draw-
ings, not to make sense.”
- i love you unironically
More than my clothes. Much
more than my family. In
all sincerity.
- the muse as crossfit coach
*throws you a ballpoint*
*expects you to write haiku*
*waits impatiently*
- denial ain’t just a river of unconscious mimicry
Everyone does it.
No one will admit it. This
is our worst habit.
- meditation hesitation
The bell rings … Breathe in,
breathe out. Breathe in, breathe— Time to
resume the rat race.
- prodding questions
What are you about?
What is the meaning of life?
Gonna finish that?
- above average
Everyone thinks they’re
a 10. Many are fives. Quite
a few are zeroes.
- reassurance
A hand squeeze. A thank
you. A smiley face. A kind
and thoughtful remark.
- the future of halloween
A drone disguised as
a ghost racks up more candy
than trick-or-treaters.
- the sporadic to-do list
Walking in the door
I suddenly remember
all the missed errands.
- fido’s best friend
Fido’s best friend is
another Fido, always
up for play and naps.
- meet me halfway
We complete our work
more quickly when we decide
to share the burden.
- the sickly maple
Dead leaves descended
long before the onset of
the autumnal change.
- stride or die
She counted her steps
mile after mile till her sore
feet put their foot down.
- this petty pace
Why should everyone
else find love and success while
I sit on my ass?
- the value of everything
Can you put a price
on love? On happiness? On
sex? Yes, yes … and yes.
- the borne identity
Do we reveal our
true selves by wearing costumes,
a trick and a treat?
- in remembrance of
The marigolds and
sugar skulls whispered welcome
to restless spirits.
- meditation in the kitchen
The fine chopping of
onions, the grating of cheese,
the zen of chewing.
- the cold doesn’t suit her
Forget the shivers.
Give her a tropical warmth
and lots of sunscreen.
- boarding passed
She missed her trip to
Canada: Her passport still
had her married name.
- birthday bender
The journey of a
massive hangover begins
with a single shot.
- room for doubt
What fun is it if
science has all the answers?
No such certainty.
- the bridal slicker
They said their “I do’s”
to a chorus of thunder
and clattering rain.
- path to wedded bliss
The spotlight shines on
the happy couple, waltzing
into the future.
- slight privilege
The disenfranchised
cannot afford to ignore
the painful headlines.
- hardware, software, nowhere
Upgrades as downgrades.
Isn’t tech supposed to make
our lives easier?
- veni vidi vets
A pause to reflect.
They served in life and are well
remembered in death.
- this tree is falling apart
The ground is littered
with discarded bark, fallen
limbs and bits of hope.
- how do we mourn?
The unrepentant
grief creeps in at odd hours
for a longish stay.
- the great brutish bake off
Ten lumberjacks make
pies and tarts for a panel
of churlish judges.
- the dog will not be pleased
He found the hurdy-
gurdy in an antique shop,
keys worn but ready.
- the holidays come and go
Never to early
to get a head start on your
Easter master plan.
- impoverished wants
My nose is pressed to
the window, admiring
all I cannot have.
- the checklist of misery
The social worker
asked about all the scary
things kept in closets.
- a good walk enhanced
Merrily we hike
among the hills and forests
in the autumn sun.
- a reverse benjamin button
What we think of as
old we suddenly become.
A wrinkle in time.
• • •
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Sunday, August 11th, 2019
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- short play date
The pit scampered in
and made a beeline for the
comfortable couch.
- three kinds of memory
Long-term fact storage.
Planning future strategy.
(I forgot the third.)
- to swerve man
It is not enough
to feign disdain; let us dig
deep and feign action.
- aging eyeballs
The letters became
blurrier and blurrier
till he switched contacts.
- the asians you see on tv
Nerd, tech guy, awkward
loner, kung fu guy, but not
the love interest.
- you never know how you’ll be judged
Height, weight, hairstyle, wealth,
credit score, car, breath, teeth, shoe
size, grammar, aura.
- milky ways
Many dimensions,
but they’re all based on shades of
white, eggshell, ecru …
- true hunger
Never being full
on water, ketchup soup and
ketchup sandwiches.
- fair-feathered fiend
I kept an owl
to scare the mice and hoot hoot
around the house house.
- yellow snow
Filing nails to a
fine powder, keratin falls
in a flesh blizzard.
- murder none
Shoot whoever you
want, but be wealthy enough
to purchase justice.
- huddled around the phone
The video plays.
We’re unable to stifle
ruptures of laughter.
- disinterest rates
So many movies
to skip, so many people
to fully avoid.
- even thieves need to recharge
The burglar stopped to
pet the cats and hunt through the
refrigerator.
- colbert notion
The scrap of paper
spoke truth: “At every moment,
we are volunteers.“
- the worth of a woman
A living, breathing
birthing chamber who cannot
be trusted at all.
- a candidate for every whim
Tall ones and short ones,
loud ones and quiet ones, lots
of ones in between.
- looking at a bunch of objects in a museum
Art is a fancy
way of saying globs of paint
or hunks of boulder.
- the newness wears off
Once the shine is gone,
what’s left but a decaying
mass of molecules?
- a bargain at any price
Instant access to
all the world’s markets and yet
still so hard to choose.
- clickwait
The newspaper found
out that women exist and
have strong opinions.
- books on shiny platters
The narrator droned
on and on for another
35 CDs.
- foamy devices
One of my hobbies
is to replace dead leaky
batteries too late.
- a shell a day
Troves and troves of beach
treasures, piled in a bucket
to make necklaces.
- beyond the tombstones
Their legacy is
freedom. Freedom to challenge
the powers that be.
- the hottest on record
Sunny skies, sizzling
temps, a meltdown like no one
can ever reckon.
- what little we can do
What little we can
do is more than all the words
that have been uttered.
- an extra pair of glasses
Tiny type defies
bleary eyes, requires a
modest adjustment.
- sniffing around
New territory,
new things to smell for canine
visitor off leash.
- clear eyes
To be aware is
to go mad, to get mad, to
see the world as is.
- loon on nineteenth street
He whipped his shirt off
and juggled water bottles
while spouting nonsense.
- everything is history
We are caught looking
backwards as our lives spin out
in dubious ways.
- phantoms of the night
On streets and sidewalks
they roam invisibly to
oncoming traffic.
- my tenth grade english teacher’s rule
The plot is the least
important element in
any good novel.
- great acceptations
To change the world, you
must first accept that nothing
is acceptable.
- downpour on the rocks
At long last, the rain
soaks the parched earth badly
in need of a stiff drink.
- hole moods
They stood in line a
block deep for a free doughnut
to brighten the day.
- stupid smart
We are curious
creatures but also rigid
unlearned morons.
- the long lost viking
Alone, he neither
pillaged nor plundered, content
to go reckoning.
- life-or-death distinction
This verse ends not in
a graveyard but a field where
bodies are buried.
- steps to dictatorship
Own the media.
Consolidate all power.
Don’t show force — use it.
- equal under the skin
I can manage my
body. Why can’t women have
that autonomy?
- the beach is alive
The ground undulates
beneath my burnt feet, lapped by
wave after sly wave.
- the 5,000th haiku
I stand, not at the
summit, but at the small ridge
of a long ascent.
- the small of it all
Baby dog? Puppy.
Baby kangaroo? Joey.
Baby man? Baby.
- a mighty fall
Chainsaws carve up the
remains of a giant oak
into stubby logs.
- sandwiches of times past
That perfect reuben
haunts my foodie dreams as I
starve with ham-on-why.
- doorstep detente
Zealous dog wants to
meet the UPS driver
so very badly.
- not quiet quiet
The chirping bugs, the
hum of the AC, the soft
rustle of the wind.
- darkened windows, bad vibes
She wouldn’t enter
the strange cantina even
though her boyfriend would.
- the #metoo era
Same old rapists, just
more visible, defiant
and traumatizing.
- beepless for a while
The unmoored feeling
of discovering your phone
is nowhere nearby.
- southern state of mind
Can’t be captured in
lame sweet tea homilies and
down home duncery.
- invisible harmony
We see the pattern,
and it cannot be unseen.
From chaos, order.
- a domestic dispute
Nothing to see here.
No frightened children, no wife
in overwrought tears.
- the bills
The bills brought nothing
but continued frustration
at the bleeding purse.
- summers past
Days unbound by mere
routine, freedom to explore,
to suck the marrow.
- dystopian blues
No hope, no justice,
but at least our matching rags
look somewhat snazzy.
- ebola offensive
Thousands infected
but only half survive the
pernicious outbreak.
- our darkest thoughts
Running off the road.
Leaving a family behind.
Drinking to blackout.
- christmas through the year
The wreath hangs on to
the door, greeting guests with an
unseasonal cheer.
- low property taxes, unfriendly neighbors
We’ll build the house of
our dreams in Minecraft land, a
pixel paradise.
- america the pitiful
Stop bombing countries.
Stop mass incarceration.
Stop blaming others.
- fahrenheit 452
They took away our
books, not with a flamethrower
but with a click. Poof!
- two old guys at the coffee shop
A busy morning
of arguing politics,
belief and football.
- canine conundrum
It would be nice to
own a dog, but what if he’s
cleverer than me?
- pizza design
A careful placement
of pepperoni, a dash
of sauce, piles of cheese.
- cake obsession
I dream of cool eggs,
precise flour, some unstiff
butter, set to mix.
- almost time for vacation
Look out the window.
Picture yourself on the beach.
Watch the clock not move.
- smog snog
Nothing scares city
folk more than the prospect of
abundant fresh air.
- ask the guru
How much life is the
right amount of life to be
lived and encountered?
- songwriter’s rule
A perfect rhyme can
make you a liar in the
lyrics. Scrawl for truth.
- the forced smile
An unnatural
raising of the mouth’s heavy
corners on demand.
- refuge for the refugees
Lady Liberty
shoos away the tired, the
poor for worthy souls.
- persistent advertising
The billboard chased me
down the street, blocking out the
sun, hawking its wares.
- the divide
His psyche vs.
my psyche. Her truths vs.
their truths. Disconnect.
- the balladeer
He strummed the guitar
with precision on even
the most minor chords.
- out the windshield into the world
Gazing upon the
wondrous breadth of creation
from the driver’s seat.
- we are the aliens
Two explorers land
on the desolate moonscape
to plant footprints, flag.
- book exchange
She grabbed a paper-
back from the outdoor box and
left worn hardcovers.
- half-staff
A salute to the
fallen, a brief reminder
of a sacrifice.
- the verdant blanket
A soft carpet of
green teeming with cities of
ants marching to work.
- smoke break
A seven-minute
grasp at the outside world while
the work continues.
- a bar of your own
Cooler with the right
brews, TV with the ball game,
jukebox with the hits.
- the merger
His couch, her bookshelves,
the rest to be stored in this
corporate takeover.
- here we go gathering nuts in july
The skittering on
the roof by grey trespassers
sounds like a stampede.
- the new girl
Old hands eyed the new
girl with a mixture of dulled
lust and mild disdain.
- another skipped dinner
Home so late and straight
to bed, the belly rumbling,
the psyche sleepy.
- dead on her feet
Her strangled tootsies
supported (barely) a tired
aching falling frame.
- ambient symphony
Conversations and
cross talk blend into soothing
flowing melodies.
- shhhhhhhh
The library is
especially noisy with
loud kids and adults.
- if we just breathe
We do it without
thinking, yet we think we can
do it mindfully.
- the stream
Everyone wants to
know what to watch next from the
tsunami of shows.
- a consumerist plot
The budget goes out
the window when it comes to
impulsive buying.
- there goes hair
The photo revealed
a balding head atop a
denying body.
- the last days of summer
Back to school soon, but
still time to run free, goof off
and catch fireflies.
- the modern traveler
Always connected,
always needing a charge and
sick of airport food.
- millennial morass
Can’t catch a damn break.
Mired in debt. Stuck renting.
So misunderstood.
- a beautiful day in the subway car
They serenaded
dear Mr. Rogers on the
line running uptown.
- mature subject matter
You were once a child,
how easily you forget
your smaller stature.
- improv lines
A robber hides out.
Yes, and he loses his loot.
Yes, and he finds love.
• • •
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Saturday, June 15th, 2019
I stand, not at the
summit, but at the small ridge
of a long ascent.
• • •
Read more haiku.
Exciting announcement: As this is my 5,000th* haiku, it’s time for a switch-up.
Starting June 16, all my haiku will be on my new site, Wade’s Daily Haiku! wadesdailyhaiku.com You can visit daily, subscribe to the RSS feed, Like the Facebook page, follow the Twitter account or even play along on Instagram. Plus, I’ll have some new options for email through Patreon.
Please check it out: wadesdailyhaiku.com.
*Probably closer to 5,044th, since I had a few days since 2005 with more than one haiku per post.
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