Posts for June 11, 2021 (page 6)

Desperate for an icon in pre-post-War Depression,
America fell in love with the singing cowboy–
alone on the plain, yodeling to his herd–
so much that Hollywood stepped in. 

Suddenly, each studio had an iconic ranger,
his accompanying band in matching Nudie suits–
Roy Rogers, Gene Autry love and shoot
with impunity; ridiculous plots solved by song. 

One of my favorite country-western tunes
was written by Cole Porter (of all people),
covered by everyone, including pop Bing Crosby:
“Don’t Fence Me In,”* early agitprop pop country.

(If I could make a political statement, I would–
American Exceptionalism and erasing native folks
to simple prairie threats were part of what
they’re selling: a good-natured empire, vigilante fantasy.)

*I recommend the Roy Rogers version but Bing’s has the Andrew’s Susters, a plus.

In the Berea Coffee & Tea Co.
Elihu brings a flower.

I am deadheading my petunias.

Every morning, Elihu brings a flower,
gives it over to the owner,
entertains a stranger.

I am deadheading my petunias,
rain discolors their heads.

Every single morning, Elihu brings a flower,
does not ascribe reason to his why,
teaches more than could be
taught to petunias.

I am deadheading the petunias,
(made it my job to talk about why;
for my own understanding, words, I multiplied)

In the Berea Coffee & Tea Co.
Elihu brings a flower.

I am deadheading the petunias,
keep their feet damp, heads dry.
I know to repay Elihu in silence,
under a sky of wise birds

Elihu brings a flower.
You know.
I do not ask him why.

Tell the barista what you order,
and she’ll tell you who you are.

Every cortado drinker
pretends at genius.

Older men order black coffee
and sweet pastries;
they are no pretenders.

Those who appreciate a London Fog
can tell you what it means
to achieve balance.

Whatever I want to write? Well
to start
you are beautiful.
Inside and out
from all I’ve seen tonight
and
I think we could be
wonderful friends
and
maybe more
if the hopeless romantic in me
is allowed to have a word.

And you are
rays of sumlight where
the clouds have been so thick
for such a long time.
If only you knew
the hurricane
that has ravaged me of late,
but
I am also fearful
you may be
only the eye of my storm.

I’ve been listening
and
I have heard
your current focus
is on your career right now
and
nothing else
and
I just want to say
don’t let anyone,
anyone tell you
you are wrong for making that choice.
Just
a word of caution
if I could
because I have known people
who have regretted that choice.
Be careful
not to limit yourself,
because the right guy
will hardly be
an obstacle to your dream.

But
I’ve also gathered
it might actually be
something you say
to nip
persistance in the bud.
I’ve seen the way
you cozy up a little closer
to that other guy.

And that’s okay
because
there is more than one way
to be attracted to another person
and
I would never want to ruin
such a beautiful friendship
by chasing something
clearly not meant to be
yet.
In the meantime
you
and our fledgling circle of friends
have introduced joy
in a way
I haven’t experienced
in such a long time
and
that is so much more precious
than any future
that may never come to pass.

Time passes so slow  
I can hear the wings of butterflies.
Seconds ticking past,
each one moves me closer to an end I cannot see.

It gets closer and faster. 
Around and around, 
Dizzying moments twirl me in a dervish frenzy. 

I’ve missed years watching the second hand.

overhead a perfect V of geese
I pick up the headlines
democracy unravelling

cascade over slick rocks
plunges from high cliffs
to a shallow, frothing pool.

can you track
a single drop
until it splashes?

a trick I’ve learned,
follow that drop
and when it hits,

pick another at the top
and follow it, in quick
succession.

(you should
sit down for this)

repeat it several times.
such exercise will render
for the eye, an illusion.

instead of water falling
it is a wall of writhing
white snakes woven,

or a cauldron boiling
tiny tempests, swirling,
or a textile of silk ribbons

interlaced, to flutter
simultaneously
backward, also forward,

ending where it emanates.
source of dependent origin.
allow it. let the mind

be lost a while. listen.
hear the myriad rush of
of ten thousand incantations.

Red Cabernet, Sauvignon,Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Merlot,
Chardonnay, Sauterne, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Zinfandel, 
Bordeaux, Muscat, Gewurtztraminer, Chenin blanc

Grapes plucked from vines,
Fermented,
Pressed,
Aged,
Bottled

Sommelier uncorks
Swirls the liquid,
Smells the bouquet,
Guages the body
the tannins, the acidity
Slowly sipping

Makes me mellow
with my fellow
Giddy with only two
Serious and subdued
Floating flawlessly 

Like words on the page
Instilling a tone, a thought,
a moment in time uncorked
by the poet.

In all of nature, when it comes
to making good use of the skills
evolution has provided so far, 
this much is obvious: despite
(or because of?) what we think,
we are an exceptional species.

Dead last by such a wide margin
it boggles the overgrown mind.

     black and white cats
have an affinity for me

     my own cat, age three
sits in my room waiting

     he looks out the window
eyes open in receipt of me

     i sit on another person’s bed
curled up with white and black

     sleeping beside my pillow
his eyes stained by allergies

     and they love this human
and i love them just as well

     and they all seem to have a goal
a sacred scheme to protect me