They dock at the old ferry landing,
drip fern-water and quartz dust,
pull shapes from a memory
nobody can name.
The news calls them pioneers.
The city calls for volunteers:
one hundred credits a shift,
hazard pay if you stay after dark.
We line the streets in plastic ponchos,
swing buckets of bleach
at whatever falls from them—
glass teeth, velvet skins,
the small, sad faces they wear like necklaces.
The mayor cuts a ribbon made of hair,
offers a key to the city
that dissolves in the taker's hand.
Still, the parade lurches on:
a hollowed calf that leaks birds from its eyes,
a choir of mouths stitched into a winter coat,
a gloved hand, walking on its fingertips,
asking directions in sign language.
We clap.
We wave flags.
We rinse the sidewalk behind them, smiling.
We stay because the escape pod is too expensive.
There was never room for us anyway.
The loudspeakers keep saying:
Welcome home. Welcome home. Welcome home.
No one had seen Rudolf for weeks
He was wanted via loudspeakers and flyers
"This is the moment where everything changes", Santa Claus said
Christmas Eve was approaching, there was nothing more to do
It came news from the University Hospital of Northern Norway
Poor Rudolf, lay for three weeks with a broken leg
Swelling and loss of movement - it was just hopeless
The plaster cast was heavy - he couldn't fly home
Rudolf was sent home by air ambulance, in a comfortable bed
On Christmas Eve he sat in the sleigh together with Santa Claus
Even with a broken leg he was able to overcome the obstacle
Rudolf's red nose has become a symbol of Christmas for everyone
If only hospitals were gospitals
And when admitted,
Elvis was blaring on the loudspeakers
Singing gospel songs that not only heals
The heart, body and mind
But also, the soul!
When I first came
To South Korea in 1979
To do my Peace Corps duty
In a rural country town,
I thought that the old name
Of Korea
“the land of the morning calm”
Was absurd.
Korea was a noisy place
From early morning on.
Cars, horns, radio TV blaring
People talking to crowds everywhere
At night people drink and dine.
And loudspeakers
Blasting you awake
At 6 a.m.
And during elections
Sound trucks everywhere.
Now 45 years later
It is my home
No longer a noisy
Chaotic exotic place
Just home.
Reading fridge magnets; surprised how interesting,
the world is when stamped into rubber decals.
Rome, Ankara, both Buda and Pest.
Watching a colorful rolling diorama,
pictographs tumbling over a flat white-scape.
Images recalling airport loudspeakers,
beeping taxi cabs and swaying camels.
I nod at a graphic depiction of a flight of pelicans,
bombing Florida,
imagine Sarasota sheltering under torrents of guano.
There is a decal from Mongolia, the magnet reads:
“Welcome to sunny Ulan Bator!" China is reduced to a
bowl of rice with dragons swooping for crumbs
much like London pidgins.
The Roman colosseum nudges Egyptian pyramids,
old lovers, slowly crumbling away.
I don’t see one for Ohio; maybe they only sell them
in Michigan…for target practice.
The fridge is a travel guide for those that sip morning coffee,
and wonder should they even get dressed today.
Ukraine or Russia
I was in the Soviet Union once, sailed through the
the Dardanelles into the Black Sea into Ukraine
The center of the town, a pompous avenue void of cars
Loudspeakers played military marches to strengthen the bond between the ruled and the rulers
The older seamen were looking for prostitutes, but there were none, it was a drab place that appeared as if it was grieving
It was a bit hazy, (I was so young,) I think we were at a naval club both men, and hefty women who wanted me to sit on their lap, they also gave me white wine, very sweet cakes, and a cigarette with a long paper filter.
The next I knew we were in Island, a wintry chromatically democratic land, where white wine was illegal.
The spring carnival will soon be arriving
With exciting rides and strange exotic shows,
Loudspeakers will blare with old disco jiving
Flickering neon lights causing nocturnal glows.
With exciting rides and strange exotic shows
Featuring the weird and impossible stunts,
Flickering neon lights causing nocturnal glows
Barkers and showmen, workers, and grunts.
Featuring the weird and impossible stunts
Parents shielding children from scanty-clad girls,
Barkers and showmen, workers, and grunts
Steer them to Ferris Wheel and Tilt-a-Whirls.
Parents shielding children from scanty-clad girls
Enticing naïve bumpkins to enter the tents,
Steer them to Ferris Wheel and Tilt-a-Whirls
Where good times are had with better sense.
Parents shielding children from scanty-clad girls
Loudspeakers will blare with old disco jiving,
Steer them to Ferris Wheel and Tilt-a-Whirls
The spring carnival will soon be arriving.
HONORABLE MENTION
written March 30, 2022
"Carnival Time" Poetry Contest
All Poetry
July 10, 2022
Entering any favorite mall,
A row of seats you wence recall
mega signs displayed everywhere
why, you can't help to stop an stare
First, you notice those folk gathered,
in seats all around a booth of glass
an author about to be a star, record, what mattered
long last, she or he can Publish in front of class
He or her turns on greenlight "OnAir", all go silent,
she is up-to-bat, she knows this is her Debeu
that crowd waits patiently, at that moment
loudspeakers come alive, 'SPEAKER' wants to interest you
Mr. or Mrs. tells you to keep your seat, quiet to imply
During this time editors scramble as papers fly
beats that Photobooth, in years gone by
beats that Photobooth, in years gone by
Their story-tell envokes all emotions, to touch our heart,
all five senses are somehow wakened...
realizing this Publishing Booth, On -This -Spot
has potential, why, virtually real pride has emerged
As this fevered vision comes to pass
these saviors with their plagued feet
grinning lips bereft of truth and teeth
sorely hunger for our wealthy carcass
Armed with a legion of noisy mosquitoes
billboards, loudspeakers are screaming out
glossy party programs from north and south
hide in shiny boots ulcers of a leprous toe
Heaven on earth, Utopia upon this earth
fills this polluted air with a fog of expectations
empty bellies, potholes and dry taps yawn in frustration
to these aired slogans trampled in to their death
Beggars in suits trail along with their plates
marching in crescendo to galled pipers tones
crumbs will buy souls truly branded ill fortune
whose chalked fingers met no lettered slate
To the royal banquet of a nations carcass
strewn by violence, greed and poverty in plates
chokes off earnest prayers that arrives so late
as our rotten saviors gasp, sigh and pass
Awed we stare at their remains in animated shock
choking upon their loot they run out of sheer luck.
Frozen stadium comes alive
as dancers two by two arrive.
Change room bustles and voices cry
from past peer bonds, friendships revive.
Stretch limber legs, how hard they try
warm ups, touch ups, but passers by
can sense the tension, feel the heat
as ice dancers get set to fly.
A buzzing roar, the rhythmic beat
pound of patrons impatient feet
loudspeakers pitch, music proclaims
and so the first in pairs compete.
Graceful motion, perfection aims
of ice and fire, of silk and flames
for love of country all will strive
to bring gold to Olympic games.
Sometimes a unwanted sound
Known to bounce all around
It goes up and down
Is it pollution?
Earphones or earplugs is the solution
It volumes can be controlled on the radio or television
Played on loudspeakers gives it an longer extension
It can block, distort, change or interfere with the meaning of a message in both human and
electronic communication
In a broader sense it still is considered to be information
It can be heard on a short-wave loud or low
Like light and water it has a continuous flow
Noise is also used in the creation of 2D and 3D images
In any electronic circuit, there exist random variations in currents or voltages
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