Feet fly down an intimate street
blindfolded you would know it’s beat,
the sound of solid roots.
Suddenly stirring full of tears
you haven’t seen her face in years,
that city is in cahoots.
Still can’t visit the timing’s wrong,
you’ve been away for far too long.
When you’re homesick? You know.
It’s sad that only tragedy
calls people back so easily,
family ties will show.
I tell myself book it today
don’t indulge another delay,
grab a seat in first class.
Stop dancing around a reason
you fly cheap in the off season,
don’t let this moment pass.
Spicy
punk and crazy;
I’m spooky off-season;
October ignites a wildfire,
now free.
Off Season in Gallipoli
April’s bus from Lecce unloads
at the fabled fish market. It’s closed.
The only hint of June’s full fare
is one slight stall. No one lunching there.
The streets are open; we stroll at will
by a weathered or a white-washed wall.
Look at the moored boats. The slips are full.
No one paints or mends a sail.
Not one child with shovel and pail
works the beach. One man and his bull
dog play a game of pitch and fetch.
Cameras out; this is the daily catch!
The mercato. Shop? No dice!
but its facilities have no line,
leaving time to lick Italian ice
or to enjoy the local wine
and for the uncluttered spell to weave
until it’s time to leave.
its a game
they call a name
to play to win
make you grim
they run and hold
its the superbowl
its the reason
its
KICK OFF SEASON
Off Season Santa
Cajun Santa won’t ever be seen
Buying Christmas candy in New Orleans
He has a whole group of Elves back in the swamp
Making Cajun candy for the kids to chomp
Summer time Santa in his cutoff jeans
Stirring a big ol pot of rice and beans
Here comes Mrs. Clause with her fishing pole
She wants to head down to the Crawfish hole
Christmas Cajun Santa has toys on his back
Summer Cajun Santa totes a crawfish sack
The mud bugs have been cooked the Elves have been fed
Time for Cajun Santa to slip off to bed
He took his ball cap off of his head
He looked at Mrs. Clause, This is what he said
We can rest now, I love you honey
But I think this year I’ll help the Easter Bunny
Mack Toler
If you ever need a reason
To go someplace out of season,
I’ll supply a few and you can have your pick.
Traffic’s almost non-existent
But if you are still resistant,
Here’s another reason that might do the trick.
Crowds are somewhere else a’swarming
So while others are conforming
You’ll have sidewalks to yourself to stroll and browse.
You can park without compunction
For the cops would rather function
When the masses challenge what the law allows.
Since off-season, stores are closing,
You’ll save money, I’m supposing,
Though perhaps you’d wish that there were more to buy;
But you’ll spend your day relaxing.
Stress will wane instead of waxing.
If you’ve never done it, now’s the time to try!
In Atlantic City, something that is great
is getting a hotel room at an off-season rate.
November through March are the months that are slow.
Take advantage of cheaper prices. That’s the time to go.
From Philly and New York, AC is easy to reach.
There is practically nobody on the boardwalk or beach.
While it is cold and windy on the outside,
it is warm in the casinos with no reason to hide.
There are also good restaurants and shows on the inside.
However, there are always gamblers trying for glory.
Going home broke is still their same old story.
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