Autumn meant cooler days—
picking apples from the trees
or helping pack them
in boxes.
Mostly Granny Smiths:
firm, green apples
made for hot apple pie.
Red Delicious came
with their built-in stand;
Jonathans carried a blush
and a crisp, sweet bite.
I remember seasonal pickers
high on three-legged ladders,
canvas bags strapped
across their shoulders,
paid by the weight
they carried down.
Each apple was turned
and lifted from its branch—
stem intact,
next year’s bud
left safely on the tree.
Above us, Mount Canobolas—
an extinct volcano—
gave the orchard
its rich, dark soil,
roots drawing sweetness
into every apple.
Conquer and divide
Truth is put aside
Freedoms continually denied
Propaganda is how they've always lied
A world through armies forever homicide
The time has now come to stem this evil tide
Spread the word of love that comes from deep inside
Heal the wounds of separation of a gulf that's far and wide
Each individual come together a loving collective we must urgently decide
The water rises, the lotus stem rises too, its natural law.
The most popular educational trend
Courses labeled as ‘STEM’
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Offerings that lead to destruction and wrath
Nuclear fusion and fission they aid and abet
Not to mention ‘AI,’ which’ll destroy us all yet
The more ‘modern conveniences’ we have, the more harried we are
Ask folks who bicycle, glad they ditched cars
Perhaps we can teach the next generation
how best to avoid war through negotiation
Failing that, mankind seems doomed to stagnation
Toupee, or not toupee,
that is the question:
whether 'tis nobler on the head
to suffer the slings and arrows
of outrageous alopecia
or to take wigs against a sea of baldness,
wear them as a buffer,
the whips and scorns stem,
and by opposing end them.
Ay, that's the nub.
With apologies to William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)
Knots-besotted
(too canny for a granny)
as sailors go (and they will)
of which I am (still) one
(when day is done)
I can bend a bowline
(from stern to stem)
with the best of them
(just so's you knows...
the rabbit out of the hole comes
'round the tree runs then back down goes)
and tie (not hit) a reef (or square) so fine
or (none too sheepishly)
yank a sheepshank
in a (fairly hefty) hank of line
also (if it's not too late)
do a (non-binding) figure eight
(with half a minding) to stop the rope
from sliding (I hope)
(and/or) fraying
to (defray the cost)
for new cordage paying
(in time a stitch)
yet there's one more which
(so all's not lost)
(clever clogs) calls a clove hitch
she plucks pink petals one by one till there none
a stark bare stem with beauty gone and empty
would that she could glue them back but it is done
and now no soft and secret silk will tempt thee
even the green, moist, straight stem bends in the sun
and there are fresh new flowers full and plenty
a vast field of flowers frilled and frenzied sought
yet only this can tell if he loves you not
Sharp and poisonous
Prickles mistaken as thorns
Natural defense.
Known for arms of a lovely lotus stem,
Visage of moon’s sleepless silver,
Eyes like smiling lilies in lake,
And smile of a full moon’s sliver,
To win as wife, a woman of such fame,
Who’d not greatest of gamble stake?
__________________________
Translation |11.08.2024| free verse, woman, beauty, moon, adventure
The Sanskrit verse:
keertim mrnaala-kamaneeya bhujaam anidra-chandra
ananaam smita-saroruha chaaru-netraam |
jyotsnaa-smitaam upa-gataam dayitaam iva svaam labdhum
na kah param upakramam aatanoti ||
Hypnotized by their looks,
Caught me like a fish on a hook,
They glow as bright as the sun,
Their smile lit up with fun,
Their voice is like music to my ears,
Bright, loud, soothing. All theirs,
I’d take an insult for them,
Like in the Ruff. They’re a gem,
Are they really worth falling over?
For them, I’d need a 4 leaf-clover,
If all is fair in love and war,
I can’t do this anymore.
I am an ephemeral purple flower, a rare variety,
named as most beautiful!
Did that arouse adoration to a mother’s heart?
She chose the name for her baby in the womb,
She thought, my name suits best for her girl
Who was going to arrive soon!
My name kindled her imagination…and she
remembered the Princess of Malawa in disguise,
the enchanting dancer and heroine of Sanskrit classic...
Prince Agnimitra enamoured by her
beauty, grace and talents - happy ending to the historical
Romance, although after gripping intrigue!
Part of my name indicates a garland, usually
used for worship ….to the mother I symbolized
all the traits - kindness, strength, wisdom, and grace...
she wished her daughter to possess!
barren is the stem
feather-like daffodil seeds
blown into the wind
Some long stem yellow roses I bring.
This is just a little offering.
It's a little treat
They're for you, my sweet.
You're a woman that makes my heart sing.
Lily, light and frilly,
On the may day break;
She mounts upon the hill
Engulfed by the morning dew,
In gaeity she blossoms wide and fair,
Beset upon the breast,
Of yellow, green distended bed.
Oscillating with the glorious wind,
Pleased to be a fleeting flower;
Neither deploring nor resenting,
It's petite existence,
Coming to approbate, life is short but fair,
Gradient, soft and delicate,
A momentary dream in tune.
toddler faerie on a tulip stem
giggling at every little bit of wind
sitting in the dark, enjoying a breeze
listening to humming bumble bees
toddler faerie sitting in the dark
hears an owl and a meadow lark
a firefly comes by and flashes his light
filling toddler faerie with sheer delight!
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