~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Without warning, they came
twelve jackrabbits rushing across
ice-kissed mesquite,
their ears shining with stars,
their hooves kicking up constellations.
Santa grabbed hold real tight,
his red hat flapping
like a startled roadrunner.
The reindeer back home
would never believe this~
Wow! How Texas moonlight
turned sleek fur silver,
how the rabbits wove
between prickly pear and oil derricks,
delivering joy in wild, bounding leaps.
By sunrise, they disappeared~
leaving just tracks in the Chihuahuan dust
and one lost jingle bell
nestled in the Texas sage.
*“A jackrabbit is a type of hare known for its long ears and powerful hind legs. Unlike rabbits, jackrabbits do not live in burrows and are typically found in open areas like deserts and grasslands.”(Source Wikipedia.com)
I have this small birdbath
in my backyard
apparently the talk of the
whole Bird-town -- not much
larger than a good-size hubcap,
one would think it was Lake Erie
size takes on different perspective
in the desert; like a prairie dog
is fat pheasant to a snake -- a jackrabbit
seldom fast enough for a hungered, blood-thirsty
coyote once targeted -- even a cartoon Willy would
shed his cartoon ink, in the real desert~ life here, first
is all about drink.
Seeing a hawk diving,
a jackrabbit running from
deadly shadow – I am reminded
that, the desert is no place for casual,
pointless strolls~ the cactus a still sentinel
only for its barbs. A near rattle tells me,
beat-it!
Remember to look over your shoulder
Before moving to the left lane to pass
And if nothing is coming, move over quickly
After signaling and press on the gas!
After this maneuver move to the right,
And maintain your speed up, don’t slow
Or, the one you passed will eagerly fight
For fast-slow-fast-slow, simply doesn’t go!
Good driving manners are appreciated out on the road,
So, move along like a jackrabbit, don’t drive like a toad!
written January 21, 2022
jackrabbit leaps
among the wildflowers
sweet clover awaits
a twig snap
from the cliff -
bobcat
treetops glint
in sunlight -
jackrabbit leaps
footpath
between the trees -
hoot owl
a twig snap
from the cliff -
bobcat
treetops glint
in the sunlight -
jackrabbit leaps
footpath
between the trees -
hoot owl
Jolly jolly jackrabbit
Hopping down the aisle
Nesting in my flight jacket
With a happy smile.
Gimme gimme milk duds
Gimme gimme fire
Bathing in the soap suds
Singing in the choir.
Hey ref, you blew it ...
you made the wrong call!
Are you nuts ... crazy wrong,
or just trying to incite the crowd
Incensed people are calling 911 on the phone,
looks like your days of breathing air won’t be long
For goodness sake,
even Stevie and Ray
can see you made a mistake ...
for crying out loud
That call cost us the game,
you zebra chump!
And these drunk monkeys
are gonna go off the chain,
so watch out
It appears your track weight
looks a little plump
Right now you’re adrenalin tired and breathless,
but you had strong lungs
when you blew your whistle jackrabbit fast
If you’d made the right call though,
present grudges woulda stayed buried in the past
But the judgment bell’s been rung —
and your fancy car on fire, down by the docks,
is now taking a saltwater plunge
seashake jake
headlights blinding
screeching yellow eyed owls
ran me over
I washed up with anchors cut in
whiskey drenched promises
holy swans humming hymns of sun-god gratitude on ole beach
mashing sweet tooth’s hungry bone dry night
madame itch invisible escorts me to her
scarlet’s pistol packed slo boat ride
shadow stained fingers fire blank heart bullets
across splattering bug--eye screens
funeral strip-tease captains blow the rapture foghorn
pools of energy
teetering like a nasty wind waltz
playing jackrabbit on the wayward buoys
passing grotto tombs
seashake jake toss that quiff.. get out to that sweet mean drift..again
tookie winfeild was a friend of mine
from way on back down the way
back in my river days
mean old man with a heart of gold
ugly old geezer with a silver tongue
ole tookie could talk a mile a second say nothin at all
ole tookie was as crazy as a jackrabbit in heat and twice as slick
used to see that ole codger strolling on the avenue
with some young honey on his arm
carefree as sin and twice in its debt
yes sir...ole tookie was a friend of mine
back in the day we ran that river
like it was our private playground
mean old man with a heart of gold
ugly old geezer with a silver tongue
both barrels for the lookers
and a bottle of shine for the sippers
yes sir back when i was young that river was ours
they found old tookie winfeild up on the river
frozen to death in the dead of night
took to drinking up there by his lonesome
and shouting at the moon
aint no good ever come from no crazy man
least thats what they say
but old tookie was allright
in his own crazy way
mean old man with a heart of gold
ugly old geezer with a silver tongue
he was a friend to many a poor boy
down the old river way
Where the sky meets the earth and the highway goes on and on, a white satin ribbon snaking across a sea of brown. You can see far into the distance with no trees to obscure your view. No billboards mar the landscape, no skyscrapers rise out of the ground. Rolling hills, tumble-weed, yucca, sagebrush and distant mountains range on forever. Herds of antelope roam freely, wearing coats of butterscotch and whipped cream.
Artists leave their signatures, huge metal sculptures drawing the eye, many miles in advance. Anticipation grips you as you wait to identify buffalo, roadrunner, jackrabbit, Brahma bull or horse and rider.
Contemplate a life so different from your own, experience the serenity as you roll along with so little effort, feel the fulfillment, the contentment, the embracing freedom.
.
albino ~VIEW~
Persian tailed jackrabbit
ebony awaits
---
.
January breeze
snowbird, whistles on tree top
where did x-mass go?
by;p.d.
The gravel grinds
Beneath the tires of my car.
Bumpity bumpity bump,
Air rushes under the car
For a split second
Until the old rubber
Hits the pavement once more.
All the houses are behind me now,
The gas station too.
The town is in my rearview,
Fading into the background.
Outside my windows,
There is nothing
But the empty desert
And the scattered creosote.
A snake here,
A jackrabbit there,
My speed slows.
I am in no hurry;
I'm going nowhere in particular.
Just like this road,
This strip of dirt in the sand,
This road that leads
To Nowhere.
The highway air feels good today
Heat a risin’ like a mirror
The rattlesnakes on a low bake
Desert sand rides on the warm wind
Nature’s soundtrack like bees abuzz
A soothing hypnotic siren
A mind numbing song stuck on play
Haunting thoughts keeping well at bay
Birds of prey circling the distance
A jackrabbit rattles a bush
The taste of a cool water drink
Refreshes a dry whiskey throat
Back astride the motorcycle
Racing toward the sinking sun
An appointment with a beauty
For a Las Vegas rendezvous
Daydreaming of bright neon lights
And hotel room champagne hot tubs
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