HEADING FOR VENEZIA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Young Syd, a squirrel with adventurous spirit most keen,
Bought 1925 roadster, a vintage touring machine.
With top down, tail flapping in the breeze,
The goddess of freedom he was sure to appease.
Popular was he, once featured in ‘Roadster Fanzine.’
Oh how Syd loved the roadster’s crushed velvet seats
Sinking in them as he raced down the city streets.
Waves to all the she-squirrels, feeling outta sight
Spends his dough dancing with them on Saturday nights.
Low on cash, Syd uses his roadster delivering food for UberEATS
That’s when he meets the she-squirrel named Aretha,
a singing diva who always orders lots of pepperoni pizza.
*Oh these city streets move way too slow, don’t you know.
Let’s go riding on the freeway! Drop the pedal, Syd. Go, go, go!
So they cruise onto better-than-ever street heading straight for Venezia.
One score minus two, on my own,
a strange invitation to dine,
green behind the ears, all unknown,
Mrs. Johnson, how can I decline?
Why this interest she has shown?
In her world, wasn't I misplaced?
Rough and crude, just barely grown,
amidst her femininity and taste.
Among her furnishings and photographs,
my pulse raced. I thought, "this is it".
I've not heard this new way she laughs.
It feels sinful and illicit.
I felt her fragrant, silky touch,
while before me falling down
(as painted fingernails clutch)
her flowing hair and gown.
I can't forget the dim lit room,
dressing table, bottle of perfume.
Last night we danced in sweet romance,
we burned like the midnight sun.
Your wanton kiss was utter bliss,
our hearts fused, then beat as one.
By candle-light I held you tight,
lust played our favorite song.
Our bodies moved, sizzled and grooved,
seduction's magic so strong.
Our two minds raced as my lips traced
the smooth contours of your skin.
Fingers kneaded as eyes pleaded
for hunger to glide on in.
Burning, shining, redefining
the power that pleasure holds.
Deep and slow, two bodies aglow,
our rhythm was liquid gold.
Desire ached as our flesh baked
and ecstatic rivers flowed.
Our bodies screamed and our eyes gleamed,
for delirium... We rode!
The love you gave, the love I crave
reached inside and made me whole.
Each sated breath, each little death
hurt so much it healed my soul.
An angel glanced at me today
and as an angel's glance should be
it pierced my cloistered heart so deep
so ceased it for a moment's beat
and yet it also raced, this heart,
that angel owned since yet we met.
For whether 'tis the early dawn
or present clouded sunset days
my angel owns me with her glance
Waiting to catch the bus I looked around.
Our eyes locked momentarily.
I knew he felt it too. But as I boarded
I tried to ignore this deep unexplained feeling.
So, I sat and just stared ahead.
Stop it I said to myself, but my eyes wandered to his
My heart raced, then he was next to me.
Silently reaching over he kissed me.
A stirring passion engulfed our desire.
The bus stopped, and as I stepped off
I saw her smiling face as she greeted him.
Without looking back, I walked away.
With a tingle of a stranger’s silent kiss on my lips.
I thought how random but then smiled.
I'm at my keyboard as I remember
a long ago dawning of September.
Who would have thought that a once youthful lad
would encounter summer's end and be glad?
He enjoyed all the freedom and the play,
given a boy on each extended day.
But now, was ready to return to school,
a sentiment not oft' considered cool.
To see the posted list, to school he raced,
to find out in which class he would be placed.
and know - would he get the nicest teacher,
or the one like a black lagoon creature.
ROY'S RIVER RIDE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Roy rode
river's rhythm,
raucous ripples rising,
rubbery raft, raced the rapids
riding 'round rocks, rambunctious, rollicking.
Reveling, rascal, river rogue
rushed by reeds, rollicking
rambunctiously.
Roy rode.
A tiger cuddling in my lap
my dog observed
mouth agape
I said to my dog
nail your jaw together
Beware lest the ground it does scrape
But instead Fido barked
and off raced the tiger
bounding way beyond the landscape
My brave barker said to me
That’s why they say ~
Getting rid of a tiger’s ‘dog’s play’
The cattails and frogs were less than amused today
By mallard duck, dressed so weird down by the bay
Duck named Tuck was getting ready to dive
Bees laughed at him, and raced back to their hive
Damselflies and dragonflies flitted around merrily
They liked ducks who acted silly and prissily
Did you see his suit? It is from way back in the day
Is he going to dive? Do you think he’ll find his way?
These were all thoughts zooming around the bay
His pink inner tube was ridiculous, by the way.
Jump already the marsh said to the crazy duck.
But he chickened out, this duck named Tuck.
**A Bird in the Hand**
From my childhood, I cherish the sweet memory of holding a sparrow in my hands. Its heart raced wildly, igniting my curiosity. Gazing into its small, beady eyes, I couldn't help but smile as it chirped and whined, pleading for freedom.
Yet, in its desperation, it bit down on my thumb, yearning to escape and explore the world. The realization struck me hard.
“Yay! You better let that bird go before it pecks your nose,” warned Nana.
That day marked a turning point; I gently released the little bird, whispering, “Up, up, and away, dear friend. I truly apologize.”
In that moment, I learned the importance of compassion and letting go.
Line of Inquiry
- track where lies the fulcrum of the fragrance of a rose, then likewise find within, your soul.
People murmured, she’s the rose among the thorns
When they saw me playing with my brothers, not alone
Same line was heard more often around
When I raced with little boys, just to get a crown.
Then, I always sang the prayer song of my mother
Asking God to make me grow and bloom like flower
I felt God’s abundant care as my bud bloomed
Into a rose in my community started from home.
As first child and single rose who’d dawned so early
Petals’ exquisite hue displayed more prominently
As floral leaf burgeoned, sprawled... satiated their eyes
My doubt on fragrance, can they smell or feel me inside?
Then, I sang my own prayer song with fervor in my room
Asking God to help me track, diffuse my fragrance’s fulcrum
After a while, I felt God’s unceasing light and reply:
My child, my love's generosity with joy's in your soul, shine, emit, fly.
They called it a seat,
but it was a cradle of fire—
metal-wrapped, bolted shut,
no window,
just the hum of wires
and the memory of old Moscow snow
still clinging to your pads.
They fed you well
and fastened you in
with practiced hands
that trembled only later.
You blinked once—
trusting, calm—
a good girl ascending
where no stray should go.
The capsule ticked
like a settling house—
soft clicks and mechanical sighs,
a shifting weight.
You floated slightly,
snout twitching for air,
wrapped in the smell
of aluminum and heat,
no wind, no scent of rain,
no footsteps coming—
only the pulse of Earth receding.
Your breath grew fast,
then faster still—
in a cage of heat.
The tether drew tight,
your heart raced wild—
then slowed,
then stopped.
The straps dissolved
as your soul slipped free—
a wisp of fur,
a flicker of light
curling through circuits
into the stars—
and no one called your name.
They never brought you home,
but I see you sometimes—
a pale arc before dawn,
falling neither fast nor slow,
the ghost of a girl
who once chased shadows
beneath the rusted cars
of Moscow.
she had only asked him to come in for a cup of hot strong coffee
an innocent gesture in her mind maybe an interesting exchange
of thoughts on philosophical matters like love death and existence
yet once they had smoked a first cigarette the smoke clouds parted
like sea waters of Yam Suph in the form of spiritual enlightenment
candles flickered and incense filled the room with sandalwood and musk
serenity and pheromones diffused hardship fear loneliness and inhibition
passionate silence of words merged with quivering lips in fervorous action
and the pulse of their hearts raced in crescendo surely missing a few beats
velvet skin like cinnamon bark feverishly exposed unlimited desire
an immaculate conception of wisdom arose from instantaneous Karma
and twenty years later they still need no picture guide on how to make love
"the clouds parted like the pursed lips of desire" and that meant the world
Two young princes, both bold and loud,
Each quite certain he made Mum proud.
One wore armor, shining and bright—
The other wore socks that never matched right.
One shouted, “Charge!” and raced with a roar,
The other said, “Please, there’s mud on the floor.”
One liked dragons, fire, and swords,
The other preferred snacks and crossword boards.
They fought (of course) like princes do:
About who was taller, or who smelled like stew.
They argued on horses, they argued on feet,
They once had a duel with spoons in the street.
One wanted wars and epic parades,
The other liked naps and quiet shades.
But every time the kingdom was stressed,
Both young brothers did their best.
For though they bickered night and noon,
They howled at the same jokes under the moon.
And deep in the palace, it’s widely known—
They shared one brain... just loaned on loan.
So here’s to princes, brave and absurd—
Who ruled with laughter, not just the sword!
The clouds were moving swiftly
across the darkened sky
The howling wind raced through the trees
the leaves were flying by
His heart was beating like a drum
that pounded in his chest
Trying to release the demon
long ago at rest
His body started to convulse
it shook without control
In one more minute he would lose
the last part of his soul
Transformed into a savage
with no logic and no reason
A cursed abomination
he is doomed through every season
Now the man is gone
and in his place there stands a beast
The darkest part inside of him
once hidden, now released
The creature howled out at the moon
a tear was in his eye
Because inside the monster
lives a man who still can cry
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