Category Archives: Poetry

Waking up in June

January 17, 2018

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

Waking up in June

Hey Koolaid, get your summer on
Morning dew, I don’t back down.
School’s out, summer!
Playground, dayground, butterfly garden
I can swing so high the chain goes slack
Squealing on the breath-catch dizzy-down.

Ready or not, here I come!
Barefoot and coppertoned, hear my rally:
I’ve got a pool pass, wanna see it?
Olly olly oxen free
Jarfull of night and firefly
I don’t see no streetlights;
I can stay out late ya know

Twenty-five cents buys a fresh box of crayons
Didja wanna know a secret?
Look inside:

I’ve got a million colors.

—

98 words

This has been an edition of Friday Fictioneers, hosted by the talented Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s photo courtesy J. Hardy Carroll. To read more stories inspired by the prompt, click here.

A tidbit for you….I am actually in this picture and so are two of my daughters. The place where this is taken is one I’ve gone to for forty years and this particular ride has always been among my favorites. It’s rare thing (and growing rarer) to have such tangible connections to one’s childhood. And nothing says childhood to me like a poem I wrote several years ago, so rather than write something new, thought I’d share a drawer-poem.

As always, thanks for reading.

Karen

A Gaelic Prayer, translated

January 17, 2016
Sunday Photo Fiction Prompt

Sunday Photo Fiction Prompt

Oh Caileach Bheur,
that froze the lock
that turns the tumbler
that fires the engine of my use:
release your deathgrip,
hoarbreath,
ice in eyes.
Lift the snowshroud
from the bone howl,
and bring back sweet Beltane.

Or, as other men may say it:

Goddammit car, just start already.

—

This has been an edition of the Sunday Photo Fiction prompt and further evidence why I should not be allowed to write poetry.

To read more flash fiction inspired by the photo, or to submit your own, click the blue froggy button:

A Poem With a Four-letter Word

January 9, 2016
Embed from Getty Images

Some days I only manage to write about how much I hate writing. Seems like there was a time I liked it, but it may have been a dream. Now you’ll see why I generally only let the dog write poetry:

Fuck that
which froze the rime pretty on the vine
stole Sundays
summoned ghosts
and plundered fair sleep.
Fuck that
which left the children lack
did slipshod the moneyjob
and inflated my dreams beyond all proportion.
Fuck that.
I will not write.

So there

 

 

Waking up in June

June 13, 2015

Two things:

1. I’m on vacation!

2. A poem:


Waking up in June
Hey Koolaid, get your summer on
Morning dew but I don’t
back down.

School’s out
fools out
fun
Watch me swing so high the chain goes slack
squealing on the breathcatch dizzy-down
higher than you.

Sundress,
fundress,
run
Race me to the corner
no—the pool
no—the end of the world
I’ve got all summer to beat you.

Popscicle, bicycle, flycycle
Barefoot and coppertoned, hear my rally call:
I’ve got a pool pass, wanna see it?
Olly olly oxen free!
Jarful of night and firefly
I don’t see no streetlights. I can stay out late ya know
Twenty-five cents buys a fresh box of crayons
Do ya wanna know a secret?
Look inside:

I’ve got a million colors

 

 

 

Still

March 25, 2015

I missed last week, and this week’s entry to the Friday Fictioneers is light at a mere 41 words. But I really, really mean them.

 

PHOTO PROMPT ©David Stewart

PHOTO PROMPT ©David Stewart

when the chairs are folded

and the stands laid flat
and every last instrument
is fitted forever

each to their own velvety case

and the night quiets to crickets
and jasmine blooms unscented on sleeping wind
i will love you

still

 

 

To read more Friday Fictioneer 100-word takes on this photo prompt or to enter your own, click the blue froggy button.

 

Thanks Rochelle & David Stewart & all the Friday Fictioneers.

Behold, the Dog

December 21, 2014

Seems like every year you can find a new crop of amazing gadgets to choose from: devices to entertain, to aid in our quest for fitness, gadgets that watch over our homes and those that just generally weird us out. And, as the age of Robot Butler grows ever closer, it’s easy to believe this technology solves all our problems and makes the world a better place. It doesn’t.

There is an affordable technology within reach of nearly every household. Technology 30,000 years in the making. Behold, the dog.

Emma, Queen of Kind. She has never had a mean thought about anyone. Well, except the mailman. And that plumber. But her instincts may very well be right.

Emma, Queen of Kind. She has never had a mean thought about anyone. Well, except the mailman. And that plumber. But her instincts are probobaly right.

The dog is alarm clock, home security device, therapist and health coach.

Forget Fitbit. Counting your steps and monitoring your heartbeat is for sissys. The dog is personal trainer–motivating you to get out in the fresh air daily to walk or run. Dogs will lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, while elevating levels of serotonin and dopamine. There’s even evidence dogs can detect cancer and children raised in a household with dogs are less likely to have allergies over their lifetimes.

Dogs can provide 24-hour a day surveillance and protection of your property. Homes with dogs are less likely to be burglarized.

shamed dog

The dog that ruined Christmas

Look, I know I complained when mine ate the Christmas ornaments two years ago and then followed up with the shit/chew combo on my son’s mattress. But she never deleted 4,000 music tracks off my mp3 player for no reason. So forget the devices, the gadgets, the latest trending brand and get a dog. You don’t need no pedigree.

Still not convinced? Look, Time magazine put out a list of top ten gadgets for 2014. So let’s compare some of your options this holiday season:

  1. Ring Video Doorbell: When someone rings your bell, you can see who it is on your phone. Look, dogs have been providing full service home security since 28,000 BC. Doorbell. Pfft. Give me a break. Dogs will alert you when a creepy guy walks slow past your house. Can the Ring Video Doorbell do that? I didn’t think so.
  1. iPad Air: Did I mention my dog never ate 4,000 MP3s? Nuff said.
  1. Jawbone UP3: Fancy fitness wristband. But can it lower your blood pressure? Asked and answered.
  1. Mophie Space Pack: adds 64 GB data to your iPhone 5. Okay, yes, I just bought it. Shut up. Move along.
  1. HERO4 GoPro: video camera for ideal for an active lifestyle. Actually I’m not going to touch this one either, it’d be a great accessory for you and your DOG. Put it on your dog!
  1. iPhone 6 Plus: No. Just no.
  1. Oculus Rift Development Kit 2: Virtual reality simulator. Real reality is better—when you have a DOG.
  1. DJI Phantom Vision+: a remote-control helicopter spy cam. C’mon. Instead of spying on your hot neighbor, save yourself $1,100 and get a dog. Playing Frisbee at the park with your dog has been attracting the opposite sex for as long as there have been Frisbees. Hell, dogs were bringing people together long before Frisbees. Get thee a leash and directions to a park. You’ll see.
  1. SmartThings starter kit: The age of the Jetsons has arrived. It will have hot coffee waiting in the morning, turn on your crockpot and lock the doors. And while it can tell you when your kids get home, can it play with them? Not even.
  1. Apple Watch: The dream of the wrist computer realized. But do you really need to spend more of your life hunched in front of a computer screen? The dog offers smiles, fresh air, home security and unconditional love. Top that, Apple.

img_5409So, if you have 5-15 years of space and time in your life, make this holiday better for you and a shelter mutt. Available in sizes, shapes and colors to suit any fashion sense. Visit your local shelter today.