It was time for them to face the out of doors.
Five weeks ago, I planted them indoors as seeds.
Yesterday, I planted the little tender plants in the garden.
By nightfall, they were being beaten by the wind and
rain, and it seemed that their likelihood for survival was
dim. Today, I proped them up, providing a little stick to lean on until they get strong. I am certain that they will be strong and grow to produce some good produce for my family.
In a couple of months, our little garden will be filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, basel, and celantro.
042425PS
I like walking to the store.
Every day I buy a bit
Of what I need, for home supplies.
Or maybe I just look around.
I like walking back to home.
On the way I might observe
If my neighbors are around,
Or maybe left their TV on.
Sometimes kids play out-of-doors
On the lawn, where their energy
Is safely ignored by all
Except by each other, and their dog.
Reposed in shadows
within a realm of colors
dusty rose gown blurs.
All the flowers she adores ~
as gold love's beamed out of doors.
Green and purple blooms
are always in her warm face ~
'til she sinks in grace.
Exquisite pinks golds and blues
fade out, as plum night ensues.
I am a Great-Grandmother
My Tee shirt tells me so
I only wear this shirt to bed
As I do not want others to know.
If I wore it out of doors
I think it would look pretentious
Some folk know I have many flaws
I find this contentious.
I could have been a grand dame,
Or maybe a diva of some note
I would have a great grand name
If I had married an emperor who captained a boat,
I was not born for greatness,
Or true grandness of any kind
Being grand
It could not be further from my mind.
After I married, I had children,
Five in all
Some of them had children
Seven at the last call,
The children call me Grandma
Mama for short
I became Grand overnight
Something I thought,
Would never happen to me
But then, those children grew up too
And had babies of their own
Which filled me with awe and delight
For the love shown
To these cuddly bundles of joy,
Two adorable, great little boys
Who have made me
A Great-Grandmother
Which I hope I will prove to be
One who sets an example to all
Who comes after me?
Fast asleep in a reclining chair, woke from slumber, by crashing thunder
Suddenly the lights go out and the TV flickers in and out
Darkness comes about, silence of the TV seems to just shout
Dazed and confused, looking for a source of light to use
Stumbling all about stubbing my toe, ouch!
Whipping winds and heavy rain broke out a window pain
Wind and rain come gusting threw
Blowing over a lamp that can't be used
Frighten dog and a scaredy cat whimper and cried
All the while looking for a place to hide
Shoring up the window blocking out wind and rain
Out of hiding comes the cat and Great Dane
Freezing weather out of doors, inside the fireplace roars
Cuddled up with my cat and Great Dane, here I'll stay until
the storm is contained
No need to creep in surreptitiously
as if you were not longed for
You turtlenecks and warm wool socks
are dashing in or out of doors
Sensing that I'd tired of green
your refreshments I adore
Crisp burnt-orange and fiery red
leave me thirsty for some more
Though soon you'll trade the dew for frost
replace iced tea with hot
Precious Fall: Take center stage deservedly
~ for 'creepy' you are not
With Waheed they had roughly dealt,
The bitterness still deeply felt.
Enroute did Celts him with stones pelt
And he's like the hit with strong belt
"Let's watch him smile and fail to melt"
He won't for all The South's veldt!"
Black Tourist facing Racist Celt:
Any time out of doors would melt.
Begged he had all Celts and down knelt
But they had his feeling not smelt...
Waheed guessed he'd his feet planted
Where both right and left aren't wanted.
I was thinking the other day.
What if the President came to stay.
As I set and fiddle my finger.
These questions began to linger.
I would welcome him with open arms.
Impress him with my humble charms.
Should I serve him a simple meal?
Or maybe prepare him a feast of veal?
Through I like him quite a lot.
Do I make him sleep on a cot?
If I let him sleep in my room.
Must I make it smell like French perfume.
Remind him it's not his bed to hog.
He will be rooming with my dog.
Can I put him out of doors?
Make him do my garden chores.
After he is done with that.
He could clean the box of my cat.
He'll split wood for the fire.
Help the wife change my pickup tire.
Sweep mud off the old front stoop.
Then shovel out my chicken coop.
Perhaps we could find the time to talk.
After he takes the dog to walk.
I could have him wash my car.
Maybe.... It's just a bit too far.
Should he find the need to shower.
Pray he does not take an hour.
When he visits, It will be mine to boast.
I will be the perfect host.
When I think about the LORD and
His having a plan for my life,*
I rejoice that He cares so much-
His everlasting love so rife
When a young girl on the farm
Life was hard but it was charmed
As children there were no stresses
Lots of joy with little guesses
We could come and go at will
Over the valleys, through the fields
Stop to wade in the shallow creek-
Never did make life seem bleak-
We could stop to talk to the cows
They had names they knew somehow,
They would stand still chewing their cud
Contented cows liking their woods
Nature taught us such lessons
Consistency with few possessions:
The rivers run; the birds in flight;
Sun and moon rotate day and night
Our family taught by doing chores
Both inside and out of doors
Where the blue cornflowers swayed
As we worked the day away
I think about the LORD and
His having a plan for our lives,*
I rejoice that He cares so much
In His everlasting love we abide
-Evelyn Pearl Carpenter Anderson
*From Jeremiah 29:11"
hot days unlikely
as colored leaves fall pretty
indian summer
though glimpsing the fall
late summer's still at the gate
love songs in the trees
beautiful encore
a rich hued, bloom revival
in surprise sunshine
laughter out of doors
though the green dream is fading
autumn elopement
Summer's heat and the great 'out-of-doors' will be passing soon,
giving greetings to the beauty of Autumn, starting in September.
The syllables of 'Sep-tem-ber' roll across my lips so soothingly.
Each year, I say to her tenderly, "I only which that you could stay".
But like every Spring in the month of May, September slowly goes away.
Always rejoicing to see her come, I'm never ready for the exit of her calm.
082522PS
How delightful to sit at a table
Out-of-doors with a friend having lunch,
Catching up on the latest since last time,
Trading stories between every munch.
With a breeze and a sun-block umbrella,
Watching all types of people pass by,
It’s the loveliest way of connecting
And I guess you can understand why.
dark allure
brash charm
her movements an acrobatic show
mannered rhythm
like her arched back of individualism
my black cat
stealing affection
or holding me at bay
complicated, contradictory creature
with hinges of ease
by the window, she stares at crows cawing
a chatter of secrets
quietly rehearsing a staged assault
like the release of dreaming
feathered intrusions from an other worldly out of doors
twitching whiskers to alarm
her presence
cheekily visible
fur soft, a sheen that elevates her
like the gentle soothing scrub of "purrs"
added to my comfort
a shared commitment
our glue
Poem written March 31/2022
Revised January 5, 2023
Another Springtime Chore
By Franklin Price
03/08/2022
I wrote of springtime yesterday
Of the flowers, birds and bees
And of the leaves and blossoms
On the bushes and the trees
Of the gardening and raking
That is needed out of doors
Not the things, I may be buying
At the Lowes and Walmart stores
This morning when I woke up
And my bare feet hit the wood
The dust I felt beneath them
Was anything but good
It was the house, reminding me,
Of the Springtime cleaning fun
For the vacuuming and mopping
I have been the chosen one
Barbara always did the dusting
That was always what she did
I may have to search the internet
For the lowest dusting bid
For she's no longer with me
To help me with the Springtime dust
I know she's grinning from above
I'll try to do it if I must
I guess we'll see just how it goes.
It may be Fall before I'm done.
I can also hear her laughter,
Although I'm having all the fun
It’s not my fault if you get stung
While wearing no shoes out-of-doors
It’s not my fault that you got pregnant
Because you lifted your pinafore.
It’s not my fault things didn’t go well
And you passed up that opportunity
It’s not my fault you walked away
Sick of your lover’s insipid importunity.
It’s not my fault it’s not to your liking
Because you want everything your way
It’s not my fault you didn’t pay the rent
And, you have clearly abused your stay.
Lots of things simply aren’t my fault
But then, some are…clearly by default.
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