For Dear Life
the aphid sees itself
as it hangs
eye candy,
for the lady birds
like a ripe emerald
pendulant around
the apple of the throat
a repulsive delight
sees itself
suspended
by spindly feet as
a dew drop reflects
the circumstance
of holding on
by a straw,
recognized
for what it is,
by human passersby's
05.19.2024
Aphids on the Underside challenge @Last
Whither
and whether,
wherever I go
whatever I am
I am set in wind
I am in season
yes I am, always,
in heat of winter
on the outskirts of Argentina
I'm in season, even
in the cool Swedish tundra
midnight sun unsettling
mid May to middle July
and in Amazonian
August droughts
my umbrella's
still held up
in demand
for the
current
rainy
season
05.18.2024
Personify the four Seasons challenge @AJAY9979
Life
take it
and I don't mean
"the Good with..."
but take it
bald faced eagle
and lying
upside down
pick at it
as true
carve it
sprawling
raw
into
the 'morrow
to the bone
that's some thing
like old Styrofoam
permanent marker'd
with personal initials
in boil, dribble
and in regret,
as it crumbles
in vice grip
of mind's
mother
feedin' vultures
and know, in the arrow
Death will take me,
broken,
but it will never
have you.
05.10.2024
The best way to live in a broken world challenge @putski
In the Beginning
The deity board
conferred...
and in a second,
most honorable,
Unity concurred:
...give the world
in due judgement,
behind its closed
parameters,
on the scales
of Natural Law,
from zero to many
--one star--
stellar
up close
in probation
to herald the day
and illuminate the ways,
in deflection of dark,
as by reflected lights
--one star--
as especially ours,
to orbit around
and count down,
to pull in the shadows
and color night panels
--one star--
as lynch pin hovering
and it wasn't reward
or something borne
nor penance owed...
when the session closed
as public service does,
it was just, and it was,
just as it was...
one, among others
05.08.2024
One Star Review challenge @AJAY9979
Dedos
these five have got me through life:
There is the delectable Napolean, that hitchhiker that gives thumbs up or down, in judgement... he is uno though we count him last;
There's the "first" in command, the Capitan, that keeps the index on the exploits of every other unfortunate hand;
And Middle hombre, of course, who's keen to stand, alone at pertinent times, when every other fingerling in shame lies down... he's a good member to have;
Ring master is not one to be cow towed; he's not yet had the noose around the neck tied, and if he sports a little bling every now and again, it's as show of resistance;
And then there's Pinky, he promises not to cry, though he knows heart of hearts, he'll be the first to go, if any one of us does... in compromise, or sacrifice;
But these five together
give and take
brothers
in one dominant hand
its mirror, useless as a band
or handcuff
in a dance with death
only one will lead, Life
in battle, and our retreat
Enemigas y amigas,
los dedos ...
construyen
la casa ...
que soy yo,
en la guerra,
y la resistencia
... a la Vida
Cinco de Mayo 2024
Party of Five Challenge @AJAY9979
The Haunted... What?!
"Somethin' the matter?" wriggled Carlyle, scootching closer to the stranger, along the bus booth bench, a slight drizzle catching the polycarbonate wall siding, separating bodies from the elements, while admitting a hazy view of the city dimming.
"What?!" said the old dog, his whiskers so profuse the chap couldn't tell if he'd been spoken to, at all. He certainly didn't feel sure, not with that big word ones use when they're disappointed already, asking if you "understand," or if you've, "understood."
He could picture ole Mrs. Tibby, with her massive arms crossed over chest and belly, looking down, frowning, with a treat in her other hand. But he weren't mad much.
"What's the matter?" he tried again with genuine small pup sincerity, twisting his head to mirror the lean of the fellow next to him. Surely, he was looking right at him now. Must have seen his mouth moving up and down, and figured he'd been talking to 'em all along, side by side.
The old timer's eyes gave a little glimmer of seeing, and he once again stuck his nubbly claw in his ear and gave a firm wiggle.
His jaw dropped.
"'What?' my ear--- It's haunted!"
05.02.204
The Haunted... What? challenge @AJAY9979
...City Streets You Used To Walk Along with Me...
My music feed has been mostly radio. Muesli as such, with the premix and hodgepodge invitation for infiltration of the psyche. I speak of the random input of compilation by dj. Music not sought out, and I recognize it, Life like, not controlled by me despite having some dials to twist: to the left or right; up or down; on or off. A bit more treble or bass if my equipment was up to snuff, which varied widely. To call up a song-- on demand-- that was a power of disc/cassette I just didn't have for a very long time. By which I mean purchase, not in dollars, but in the means to go fetch.
Let it be known, I grew up in the official Boondogs.
Pointing the antenna took considerable learned skill.
As did capturing songs on mix tape...
Residing on the East coast mountains, it would seem that the feed would be mostly from the Tristate area, and predominantly NYC as largest hub.
I listened to AM and FM. The AM very poor in connection and rapidly changing. Staples were actually WMU (*that's Western Michigan University Public Radio) based NPR, and Temple University Radio (*a Philadelphia broadcast from what I was later "informed" was a black leaning school, from former professor...). NPR is where I tuned into for classics, but also to find occasional wonders like "Who Shall I Say is Calling?" which when unattributed prompted a flood of questioners and the All Things Considered main guy returned shortly with a statement of apology to listeners.... Guess they didn't really think we were listening....
https://youtu.be/6VHQq-XTSEk?si=4Bw1KWcYayrSYSLZ
Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah & Songs from his Album
Early morning public university radio played stuff local radio didn't like Euro Beat tunes and stuff in foreign languages (French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Scandinavian). I'm still looking for that fun foreign accented tune with English refrain... hey, hey, supergirl...
One of the first cassettes I ever owned, given to me for Christmas, fresh, age 10 was:
https://youtu.be/TIQyAitAcPk?si=oJslHOtysCtoQmiehttps://youtu.be/LCzgsZi_zfg?si=2oH_bAFb9klWkOGR
Beats International - Let them Eat Bingo
Jazz, funk and swing, especially electroswing are my blood type. And that's where Temple University radio was a sustainer. One of my first vinyls insisted on, later:
https://youtu.be/HFz1RbQg9gE?si=OTnrFDsMmVL-BRkw
Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out
Sure, I listened to local pop radio as well, and Casey Cason's Top 40 weekend countdown, and it was informative to a time... until Clear Channel swept through and started buying up stations and stacking the same cue of tracks on rerun. No matter what local station you tuned your dial, it seemed suddenly Clear Channel was sitting on it, and playing the same stuff over and over and even in the same damn sequence day after day. Maybe I listened to intently or too often; it really seemed a blatant take over of the airwaves. And I stopped listening.
I started buying CDs, and now mp3s.