droning lawn mower
noise I try not to hear
breaks summer silence
lawn mower drone cuts the silence in half
I can pretend not to hear it
or pretend I like it
I pretend it is a wishing machine
granting wishes all along the road
and I am the next house
lawn mower is all he has
we hear it roaring twelve hours a day
he is a seventy-year-old epileptic man
it is all he can drive
I am grateful he has this
Down that back road
that heads out of town
across the railroad tracks
past the water treatment plant
in a mobile home park
where howling dogs are
hooked with logging chains
to blue plastic
55 gallon drums
I see your eight kids
playing in your front yard
some in diapers
some in tidy whiteys
all of them shoeless
and shirtless
8” tall grass
littered with broken toys
beer cans
whiskey bottles
cigarette butts
a lawn mower with three wheels
an old refrigerator
and a couch
with the cushions missing
your driveway filled
with your shiny red
Ford F250 truck
fishing boat
motorcycle
an empty box
that held an 80” TV
leaning against
your overflowing
trash can full of used
lottery tickets
and PBR boxes
not everything can
be blamed on
the government
Her children thought something about their father was off
They did not know what it was
Having never thought of dementia or Alzheimer’s before
They attempted to tell Mom their concerns
She refused to see anything weird in her husband
He’s a bit slower, that is all.
She had jammed herself in the middle of a bread pan of denial
Finally, she had to admit there might be something.
After he sat on a riding lawn mower for three hours
But did not start it
Because he had forgotten how
PS The key was in the lawnmower
The cottage with its black window frames and white pebble dash glows in the
summer sunshine.
The hum of the lawn mower can be heard cutting the green lawn dotted with
dandelions and daisies.
In the orchard the blossom is on the fruit trees.
We have apples and plums
Summer snowflakes flowers around a tree with their heads bowed in
sunshine.
Butterflies and bees dance amongst the shrubs.
Forget-me-nots are scattered around the cottage gardens.
Candles are laden on the horse chestnut tree.
The birds are calling that summer is here.
Dad's wood that he liked so much, is green.
The trees with their leaves and branches create archways as you wander
along the paths.
The wood is still and quiet, a place to reflect and remember dad.
His sculpture is next to the summer house.
Bluebells underneath the canopy of a tree.
Summer will turn to autumn and the garden will have lots of memories.
He sneaks into the yard.
Being outside isn’t that hard.
Until the lawn mower revs up.
And the sound of a dog starts to erupt.
He decides maybe home is better.
He’ll even put on his sweater.
But he finds he has wandered too far.
He’s afraid of being hit by a car.
He runs to the closest house.
Out comes a lady in a blouse.
She gives him some food.
Which eases his mood.
He decides not to worry about finding his way back.
He’d rather enjoy his snack.
Until his mom knocks at the door.
Only to hear him snore.
Feeling betrayed by her own cat.
She takes him home and that is that.
shed will smell like grass
lawn mower will get a break
i'll miss exercise
bustling birdsong
garden hymns, lawn mower
breaks peace
in the summer of 1997
Twelve year old Ryan Tripp made a 3, 366 mile journey
across the USA raising ten thousand and four hundred dollars
for a sick baby living in his home town.
He took this trip on a twenty-five horse power mower
from Salt Lake City, Utah to Washington, D.C.
He was followed by his adoring parents and grandparents
in pick-up trucks, insuring his safety.
The thick numerous shoots of grass have come out,
no more snow shovels til late autumn comes about.
I hear the robins chirp as they tend their nests,
wait....the sound of a cranky lawn mower chugging
to life from its winter's rest!
Quickly, dear, go out and mow before everyone else
does!
our yard needs to look perfect, 'cuz-
the neighborhood spring lawn mowing wars have
just begun,
it's quite serious, not so much fun.
Yard envy is so common in our subdivision,
The HOA "Yard Of The Month" prize brings derision.
If the young couple who just moved in across the
street think their landscaping is the best,
my roses and begonias will put them to the test.
Hubby can't start the riding mower,
he's cursing its parentage midst dandelions
and clover.
The other men in the cul-de-sac are already
halfway done,
as their wives bring out iced tea for them
under the strong sun.
Well, well, tomorrow is the neighborhood
block party,
I've already made an array of warm weather
dishes so hearty,
My potato salad and baked beans will surely
be the envy of the other cooks,
it is in the good 'ol American spirit-
to compete and be a smug schnook! ~
leaves by lawn mower
shattered across open yard
gathering their thoughts
Mulched into the ground
giving some life to old soil
tattered scattered leaves
What is your excuse for not writing today?
Come now, is it…“my Muse has gone away?”
Or …the feeble.” I just have no inspiration?”
A feeble excuse for a lack participation.
Here is a tip tp get your creative pen to flow.
Once it begins to move, it is your show!
Like a powerful lawn mower, the pen will go.
Look at you~creating, writing and all aglow.
12/29/2023
sapling oak
grows under the giant oak....
lawn mower
The Reflection
Just inside the John Deere sales and service store
A short man with an orange stocking cap stood
He was just standing there looking at a display
The strange thing was he did not move with closer observation
It seemed he had no lower body, whoa!!
The more I looked my brain is analyzing the situation
Then I saw more clearly, definitely it wasn't a man
It was the zero-turn lawn mower on the outside of the building
The reflection on the window, sending out the wrong signals
Related Poems