Long Woodshed Poems

7. Playing With Fire
My mom IS quite clear on the dangers of fire,
But if boy'S hooked on flame, then it'S hard to obey,
There'S a longing for “MATCH GUN” (6) that most boys acquire,
Small'S the chance...

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Long before you were born, long before your great grandfather was born, in the time when magic was approximately eight times more plentiful than it is today, there lived a family in the remote part...

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When I read the Prodigal Son story
I do my best to find my own story
empathizing with both brothers
as victims of injustices
learned through self and other punishment
and economically dominant political control
by others,
heavily investing in self-victimizing images.

Then...

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Several years of my childhood I spent with my aunt and uncle
who lived in an old rectory in Northern Norway
It was a hard time, much work, little food never time for play or entertainment
My aunt...

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It all comes down to peer pressure when you’re still in your teens.
You want to keep up with the Jones’ and you’ll go to any means
to put yourself into the limelight and be a member...

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One fine day while shovelling snow from upon my sidewalk
I noticed a huge hairy dog on a big shiny white rock
He wagged his little bushy tail and ran with jolly up to me
and lifted up...

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Eyes furtive carry the reflected sheen of aluminium paint that is smooth a chrome flood
On the tin roof of the woodshed seen, with moonlight awash, awaking the dreaming scene.
The light has the tint of coyote’s...

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“Oh my, the weather out is real nice!” Said the Papa Turkey.
“Hey Mrs. Gobbler get the kids. Lets go for a nice Fall stroll.”
“Line up now. Listen to your Ma.”
The rafter of little poults wobbles...

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Let us honor where possible all of earth's fools
Who remind us that others view us the same way,
Who might also be brothers,  if not on this day
Or the conflict this moment, prove friend in...

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The languid days of summer passed so fleet - autumn's almost here.
Alas, I've fiddled around and left so many things undone, I fear.
Now, I must hustle about and cease buildin' castles in the sky,
Ere the...

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Youngsters laugh at our "good ole days"
No Ipod’s, cells or weed
Mom didn't give you credit cards
She bought just what you need
Most kids had a paper route
If they wanted money to spend
Your parents were your parents
Not...

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My granny was only twelve years old
When she got her first tattoo
She was kind of a rebellious child
Back in nineteen twenty-two

She hid that thing for a little while
'Til her daddy finally got wise
He took that...

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Postcards of a ghetto life,
facts of being black
It's a common assumption in the hood
that you know how to talk smack
Lay the whip of indignation
smack dab on a hater's back
Twist the insult in deeper,
than give the...

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THE BLESSING OF HAVING A MOTHER


We've all been blessed to have a mother
Though she may be living or gone
But the impact she had on our lives
Will still go on and on

It was through her gentle...

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…MORNING TIME

Every morning at four, I hear the slamming of the woodshed door.
The rattle of the poker and the smell of wood smoke, wafting  through the air.
It rolls its way up the stair to...

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Malaise is a Feeling like Trump

Malaise is just feeling; you're feeling it too?
So many seem troubled, don't know what to do.
But knee-jerk reactors can't pass any test,
Their movements (more spasm) refuse to divest,
Of any advantage...

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We are a jelly jar full of pencils new in town.
From Europe we came heads up, points down.
No fancy names, we shared the same woodshed
and thanked Welches jelly for this practical bed. 

Lead was a...

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Winter warms me. 

It’s not the fire
or the quiet cat on lap. 
It’s certainly not,
the harried, hurried holidays.


The shroud of
same-making snow 
    (the compost pile is the car; 
   ...

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Staring up to the star lit sky
wondering why
time seems like
it is standing still
my heart is playing violins
every interval
dying crossed my mind
I vaguely recall any fear of it
never seriously considered
what I be leaving behind
always taken out
to...

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EARTH DAY 2021

Buy it a hat it’s going bald.
Today I bought DIRT….
top soil (allegedly)
sealed in plastic,
sold by the bag.
It claims to be infused
with microorganisms
and other good stuff.

Grandma Kelley used to tell us
“you’ll eat a peck...

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They got a dog and all was well
But the cat came after, straight from the bowels of
Well….

The dog had been generous with her time.
The cat took no prisoners.
Thought she was fine.

Cat put up her nose...

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