Day 190

My first poems were sent today. YAY!!!

Eric D. sent me these yesterday. I will open my posting today with them.

Seckel Pears

The seckel pear tree,
ancient in our backyard.

Half-dead,
it bore fruit,
every summer,
hanging high.

We gather from the ground,
the ready harvest,
undamaged by its
free-fall flight,

piling high
the mottled grey galvanized buckets,
the white enamel bowl
with the bright red rim,

We carry them inside;
wash and pare;
cutting and coring,
requiring the strength
of grown-up hands.

Sugar-water syrup
boils on the stove,
stickysweet and hot,
sensuous domestic perfume.

Everything ready
for the canning;
the only way to eat
the rock-hard fruit.
Packed into
regimented rows
of quart jars
with mason lids.

In each
a stick of cinnamon
cracked in half.








New Hampshire Lake

It’s Summer
August hot
and brilliant.

They’re all here,
every stripe
and species.

They speak Russian,
English,
Spanish.

They fuss at children,
yell at girlfriends,
kiss their spouses.

And apply buckets
of sunscreen.

The array of plumage
vibrates life;
polyester and spandex.

Evidence of shortage,
as most wear
too little for their own good.

They don’t mind,
So why should I?

Instead, they float,
they swim to the dock,
they fall asleep
and turn
bright red,
like the lobster
they dream
of eating.

They bathe
and talk
and scold.

And when it rains,
they shrug,
and head for home,
sad this last bit
of radiance
should be tarnished.

And they will try
to remember it
without rain.




This is Dingo. Dingo is Emma's newest friend. He will keep her warm this winter. He's a doll. He's a rescue dog and is 7 months old and fits right in with Roy.



So Eric D. sent me the first poems to be added into July. I hope others follow suit. Meanwhile I will just add some words, but mostly photos.