The Poetry Marathon

In my humble opinion, patriotism

… is a heartfelt emotion
stirred up by love for country
stirred up by love for Constitution
stirred up by love for others

… does not compel others
to love like you do for our nation
to love like you do for fellow citizens
to love like you do for law and regulation

… is all-encompassing
it embraces all who do not look like us
it embraces all who do not think like us
it embraces all who traveled to be with us

frantic leaping
o the leash
put it on put it on put it on
jumping with joy jump jump
it’s a tussle to get the clip on the collar
finally, door open dash out
survey all that is to be seen
put nose into the air into the wind
snuff snuff deep sighs happy sighs
deep snuffs to get the scent of what’s there
let’s go and she dashes forward
the leash goes taut and i pick up my pace
to keep up with her pace
little legs moving back and forth
little hips moving side to side as we
move along the sidewalk
sometimes tail up looking forward
most of the time she keeps nose to ground
criss-crossing the sidewalk
abruptly stops and i almost trip over her
a pause to take in the smells then off again
we walk … she walk-runs, I walk very briskly
have to watch her when she stops to sniff deeply
before I know it she’s rolling in some intoxicating odor
walking walking running running walking running
up and down the street
alongside the curb
looking for that spot of spots to do her business
finally she halts and crouches into that familiar squat
a little hunched ball for number two
or stretched out with tall straight out for number one
she looks at me for approval
good girl good girl

There is a tree that stands alone
At the end of a stream
Which empties into a large body of water
Bigger than a pond, smaller than a lake
The tree is a cottonwood
The last of its kind along the stream
Over the years, one by one, a dozen
Leafy companions were uprooted
For one reason or another
Now this last sentinel of the meadow watches over its domain
Slow moving waters pour into the large pond
Water creatures have found life
Birds, squirrels, and insects make their home
In the tree—its branches welcome all life
I used to climb that tree in my fearless childhood
When the dozen other trees marched away along the stream
I would climb the highest—scaring my friends and siblings
I enjoyed the sway and rustle when the wind blew
Upon the landscape
Many dreams and fantasies came and went with those breezes
Many decades have flown by but the tree still stands
And so do I—we’ve weathered the passage of time
We stand alone, but not lonely

A simple pleasure that only cost 25 cents a gallon was a drive to anywhere
We would pile into the family car skirmishing for the coveted window seat
We cranked the windows down, the car-generated breeze kept us cool
Making our eyes water, but who cared— we were in the car
The journey took us through industrial sites and neighborhoods of black and brown
Through citrus orchards not yet turned to asphalt and concrete
A stretch of winding two-lane highway took us to the top of South Mountain
Where we would find a picnic area that gave us a view of the valley
A picnic of charred hot dogs, potato salad and a slice of cold watermelon sated our appetites
Washed it down with a jug of lemonade or tepid tap water provided by the park system
We clambered over the boulders, played hide and seek, threw stones until exhausted
No one cared where they sat on the way home

It was Sunday and it was summer

My dreams are like clouds written on a sky-blue whiteboard
My clouds are forever moving, changing as they stretch across the firmament
My dreams have accompanied me since childhood, an escape from that reality
My reality of today no longer needs escaping, but I still have those dreams
My dreams are sails on my boat of life, seeing me safely from port to port

Life was simple
So I thought
At the time

When I look
Back there were
Many stormy episodes

Unbidden these scenes
Surprisingly played out
In my mind

Prevalent and troubling
These memories arrived
At unexpected moments

But I survived
All seven of
Us survived them

Like chaff driven
By the wind
We were scattered

Solo and in
Pairs going out
Taking separate highways

Decades have past
We lost one
Of our own

By his own
Hand he took
His pain away

We mourned separately
Alas our grief
Generated no reunion

It was just
Another stormy day
But not simple

As a creature
Of habit I
Don’t like detours

I take pleasure
In the mundane
Routine of life

During my youth
I woke with
Eagerness for school

Did my chores
Ate my breakfast
Caught my bus

Went through the
Day with enthusiasm
Relished each class

The last bell
Sent me to
Work at A&W

My day ended
With the evening
Meal and homework

I listened to
My sister expound
On her crushes

Before I could
Close my eyes
And find slumber

You’re Chinese!
You’re Chinese!
You’re Chinese!

The words stung
Even though
They were true

I’m Chinese
I cried to
My mother

She said yes
You are and
That boy’s not

I ran back
Boasted I’m
Chinese, you’re not

The boy cried
And ran to
His mother

My heart swelled
I went home
I’m Chinese!

as you retire
we acknowledge your
years of achievements

fancy paper, fancy
words, fancy frame
but heartfelt gratitude

we wish you
well with a
cake bidding adieu

signed a card
wishing you much
happiness, success, contentment

keep in touch
see you around
this not goodbye

as the days
weeks, months pass
your memory neglected

there is no
keeping in touch
seeing you around

we return to
the reality of
work until retirement

and once again
we will repeat
the fancy goodbye

I
now know
what heartbroken means

Ireland
my seventeen
year companion passed

In
my arms
breathing her last

Eyes
unseeing no
longer sparking life

I
clutched her
to my breast

I
cried tears
my heart breaking

Her
lifeless body
laid to rest

Ireland
forever in
my heart – RIP