A white wash of striated clouds
stretch expansively
across the arid desert sky
where Joshua trees commune
lifting up crooked cactus-like arms
towards the searing sun.
Massive layers of brown boulders
jut, forming endless sculptures
hidden places where the ancients
made their penitence with words
swept away by unforgiving winds.
Shadows shift under the arc of the sun
where nervous roadrunners dart
startled lizards seek shade
great hawks circle with outstretched wings
and tortoises amble as the hours crawl by.
Two lane highways trail into the horizon
toward snow capped mountain peaks
lined by nameless telephone poles
and tumbleweeds that roll aimlessly
across storefronts and sleepy
rundown towns in disrepair.
Yet the mystique of the Mojave plains
still remains an inviting oasis
of refreshment and contemplation
where time stands still
beneath the stillness
of the midnight stars.
12/5/2022
Categories:
roadrunners, earth, nature,
Form: Free verse
Pecos Bill rode herd in the vast forlorn.
His quiet Paint gobbled buttered popcorn.
A tornado, in a fit,
Came for a whirlwind visit.
“Paint, meet Curley. His back I will adorn.”
Bill grabbed his rope and threw a loop with hope
And saddled the whirlwind so Paint could lope,
Leisurely grazing along
While Bill sang a peaceful song
Though the twister used top spin, Bill could cope.
Whirly raced north swift as antelope might.
Picking up barns, tossing them left and right,
Heaving a freight train five miles.
Bill hung on with joyful smiles,
“Almost beats chasing roadrunners at night.”
Bill rode that twister into a broke nag,
That lay city curbside limp as a rag,
A sadder, but wiser storm.
Where his horse Paint, true to form,
Whinnied by the nag, wanting to play tag.
A jolly sheriff saw Bill ride in view,
He chose at least three tickets to issue:
Parking in a tow away;
No emissions valve that day;
Driving a twister with no license too.
Tale Tales 1 Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Jeff Kyser
Date Written: 3/14/2022
Used Poetry Soup Syllable Counter
Categories:
roadrunners, adventure, animal, city, horse,
Form: Limerick
Until There Are None
In Vegas there used to be…
Seagulls on light poles
Lizards on walls
Roadrunners in backyards
And now there’s none at all
Wild horses and wild mules
Are vanishing fast
Conservation and good intentions
Make sure they won’t last
Used to be tumbleweed
Blowing into town
Now too many houses
No tumbleweeds to be found
Smog has dimmed
Our once bright sunny days
Now our skies are limned
In L.A Haze
It’s the nature of things
To ne’er remain the same
But that good things should vanish
Is a crying shame
Nothing’s meant to last forever
Not even our torrid Vegas sun
My heart will repeat only
so many more Beats
…And then there will be none…
121 words
Categories:
roadrunners, adventure, destiny, environment, farewell,
Form: Elegy
The Ole Roadrunner
(For Sara from Uncle Johnny)
June 2015
Want to tell you a story
Bout a bird that can run.
He can fly up in trees, but
To race is more fun.
He’s a runner at heart
He lurks like a trickster
Darts out on the road
Goes faster and faster.
He’s sleek and he’s quick
Keep watch and don’t blink
Out he will jump
And be gone in a wink.
Not easy to catch
Roadrunners are wary
To chase is to fail
Ask Wile E Coyote’!
Birds like to sing
To cheep and to peep.
This one is different
He likes to Beep.
So when out in the car
Keep your eye on the road
If you see something running
Might be this Ole Bird.
Beep Beep!
Categories:
roadrunners, bird,
Form: Light Verse
Packrat Hell
Life choices
What to do?
Shoot ‘em
Desert Heat
Life choices
What to do?
Install A/C
Monsoon Storms
Life choices
What to do?
Dance naked
Rattlesnake Skins
Life choices
What to do?
Load gun
Roadrunners Knocking
Life choices
What to do?
Say hi
Lightning Strikes
Life choices
What to do?
Stay inside
Flooded Washes
Life choices
What to do?
Get boat
Cactus Fight
Life choices
What to do?
Call 911
Booming Thunder
Life choices
What to do?
Duck - laugh
Summer Tans
Life choices
What to do?
Cover privates
Poolside Refresher
Life choices
What to do?
Drink Micheladas
Categories:
roadrunners, environment, funny, life,
Form: Chastushka
Though Santa never responded to pleas
There was just one gift I wanted each year
A horse that could run at the speed of light
A bold little gal, I never had fear
With two high school friends, I went a ranch
To ride in 103-degree heat
Through the bramble bushes and prickly pears
Upon little “Misty” I took my seat
The Mustang Adoption Program’s success
Sparked ranchers from Tucson, Arizona
To give a home to a rust-colored mare
Many miles from my home near Daytona
Cryptic white markings graced Misty’s neck
Like words in Native American code
“She’s so small,” I whined, hoping to ride fast
But no matter, to the desert we rode
Even the roadrunners were envious
When Misty gained speed and hit her full stride
Warp speed! I clung to the saddle horn
As Misty passed larger horses with pride
My hat fell on a cactus, sweat filled my eyes
My life flashed before me, quite a surprise
It seemed like she had wings as we flew
Don’t be quick to judge a horse by its size
*For Gregory Paul's "Favorite Animal" contest
Categories:
roadrunners, fun, horse,
Form: Rhyme
For years, you have been trying to catch that elusive bird.
In your cartoons, we have never heard a single word.
Warner Brothers decided to give the late Mel Blanc a break.
With no dialogue, there were many foolish steps you would take.
That Acme Company must have made a fortune off you.
You failed at every single attempt you would do.
Each fly ball you hit never left the ballpark.
With rockets, catapults, and bombs, you kept missing your mark.
The lousiest luck hit you in each episode.
That roadrunner kept zooming down the desert road.
With each failure, you kept coming back the next day.
Give it up, coyote. Roadrunners do not taste good anyway.
Categories:
roadrunners, funny
Form: Rhyme
Far from the roaring crowds and choking cities,
As the sun sinks slowly down the mountain,
Darkness gathers in her womb, long luminous shadows
dance lively about the August brilliant full moon.
Giggles of the butterflies, laughter of the eagles, roar
of the bears, shouts of the roadrunners, echo everywhere.
The corn standing tall, bulging, bursting, blowing gently
in the warm night breeze. We hear the whispered cry
of the corn say, "It is time, please."
All butterflies, eagles, bears, and roadrunners gather
from near and afar, to take part to harvest, to share
with great care.
The clans have been reunited
And the corn has been reborn.
Categories:
roadrunners, native american
Form: I do not know?