Work
by Curt Hinkle
Writers
poets especially are
notorious, insatiable, always looking
for something, anything
eyes and ears open for anything
they might use
Like patient sharks circling
vultures soaring above any new idea
Like werewolves sampling the breeze
sniffing for their next victims, quirky characters or snippets of snappy dialogue
Planning their next assault,
or, unstuck in time, re-planning a previous assault
Loping long lupine strides through dubious woods to outwit a pitchfork wielding mob of readers
Scratching under every log for fat juicy beetles of out of step motivation,
their sticky tongues slurping up termites of plot twist ideas
Ravenous eaters,
every ant into the fire
to be rendered up
as Work
Red Admiral
Poem and Painting by George Asdel
Going through life
as an Admiral,
the top naval officer,
with bright red-orange
and white chevrons
glowing on your wings.
Do other butterflies
salute you?
Do they dip their wings
as you pass by?
Do you know you are
a butterfly?
Your brown spiny
caterpillar eats stinging
nettles. You drink
from blooms on the
sharp thistle plant.
Venessa atalanta,
may you be wise
and just in your
command.
|
Little Man
by Betty Finocchiaro
On the threshold of kindergarten
His voice resounds
as though pulled
from within an
echoing cavern
Almost four feet of
determination
he laughs out loud,
eager, finding joy
in all he sees
A new day, soft
chattering from his room
The train's set
leaving the station
traveling his imaginary route
to a magical land
no soul can enter
except
through the little Train Man's mind
The wonder of this Little Man
who jumps and starts
as though his pockets
are filled with frogs
Alive, as in a rainbow
bursting with color
The imagination of a wizard
He gives new meaning to
childhood wonders
Obstinate to tears
Resolute to have his way
Resistant to his daddy's will
Finding the softness
of mommy's arms
Bedtime comes too soon
for the notable little boy
carried to bed asleep
on his daddy's shoulder
Three Haiku
by George Asdel
Leaf silhouettes dance
Shadows on Mulberry tree
As morning winds blow
Out the closed window
Songbird sings in summer heat
Calling for springtime
Striped caterpillar
Turns to Monarch butterfly
Spring turns to summer
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