Quid Pro Quo

The blackbirds are too many nowand fierce today. Even thoughI hurried to hang the laundry on the linebefore the sun…

A Guppy’s Dream

My pond’s overrun by guppies again, and at perhaps 2000 gallons, it’s not a small one. . . . a…

When I see a poem coming down to around, say, 24 lines,I begin to consider whether I’ll compose it as…

For cutting and weeding there’s nothing I like morethan my small sickle, its 3-inch serrated bladeeasy to maneuver speedily with…

I remember the dawn’s first early light,silhouettes of darkened heads bob love,no secret anymore, amore in paradise,no strangers to me…

My friend calls to tell me a co-worker,rushed to Queen’s Hospital the night before,had undergone an emergency quadruple-bypass. The others…

The dependance uponwhat a great deal her life lenta small gray dogthere a statue nowstanding over her asheshonoring herafter Greyfriars…

My neighbor kid’s been helping me tie up some dead branches. Finished, I’m drinking a beer, he a passion-orange juice…

For me it was like picking up a can of teargas,then huffing it – remembering paint and glue and you.Not…

After One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest came out as a movie, Jim was madder than a wet poultry dentist.…

People can be such drive-by critics, those looking for value.But maybe I prefer that, not being seen, comparedto rubbernecking quick-stoppers…

I quit watching the clock some time ago. Factssuch as my age, or what day or month or yearit is often escape…

I recall the manapua,my favorite steamed char siu buns,half-moons and pork hash.The box half full or half empty? When that…

My cousin makes the best lemon meringue pie ever. One reason has to be the magic lemon tree that growsbehind…

I always drove between Oakland and Madison non-stop, except for food and fuel, no naps, 24 hours straight on the…

“Isn’t that cute?” “Uh huh.” I’m sure it’s a question of time, that love may conquer all, but behind my…

Congregation I was one of them, gathering together to ask the Lord’s blessing, every Sunday singing with the rest, how…