My Hat (Dodoitsu)

Small people with big wide eyes
Little hands point to my head
Grown-ups too smile, laugh and point
My squid hat does that

Over Time

Over time
the scar ripped through the ground
ragged and with menacing edges
becomes less so
dust settles in the tear
nearly filling it in
edges are worn smooth
and after a while
two people
one on each side
can meet again in the middle

Imperceptible (Haiku)

Warmer days and imperceptible green buds creep from dry grey sticks

Date Night (Haiku)

sound like I've no walls
to separate me from marsh
frog date night full swing

Crushed (Haiku)

For months crushed by snow
Limbs broken, lie in a pile
Yet buds signal life

Monkey Trap (Kyoka)

Monkey won't let go
with hand around unseen fruit
in pot tied to post
monkey is forever trapped
against his self interest

Outlet (OneWord.com)

OneWord.com is a great exercise. The site gives you a new word everyday and you have 60 seconds to write something about it.

An outlet means power
either the power to make things work

or

the power to buy cool things
on the cheap

Minuteman

This is the original poem that was expanded into "Minutemen" which I've posted previously. This poem is being used by a teacher in California, and set to music, in a play about the American Revolution to be performed by 5th graders. I couldn't be happier.


Standing in the dewy grass
I hope and pray that they will pass
But they may not
but come to stay

I know not
If I die this day

The Redcoats come a thousand strong
their battle line is wide and long
What's ordained I can not say

I know not
If I die this day

We stand apart but look across
to the other line and toss a look
of nervousness then pray

I know not
If I die this day

Commanders yell, Commanders bark
their orders all along the park
but then a shot rings out and in
the confusion, it begins

Minutemen

Standing in the dewy grass
I hope and pray that they will pass
But they may not
but come to stay

I know not
If I die this day

The Redcoats come a thousand strong
their battle line is wide and long
What's ordained I can not say

I know not
If I die this day

We stand apart but look across
to the other line and toss a look
of nervousness then pray

I know not
If I die this day

Commanders yell, Commanders bark
their orders all along the park
but then a shot rings out and in
the confusion, it begins

Standing 'cross an open field
neither of our lines will yield
one line of blue the other gray

I know not
if I die this day

Often seems we've fought in vain
and 'long the march have caused much pain
I've left good comrades along the way

I know not
If I die this day

My brother serves 'neath Mile's Flag
I serve beneath a diff'rent rag
and if I kill him what's to say
I know not If we'll die this day

Commanders bark, Commanders yell
and call us to the gates of hell
then all at once morn's silence splits
as men are shredded, torn to bits

My craft rocks gently through the sea
and towards the beach on which I'll be
to face a wall and see Death play

I do think
I may die this day

"Keep your heads down" Sergeants call
as on us squalls of lead rain fall
some will succumb and fall away

I do think
I may die this day

As we close on Norman sand
to bear the brunt of Swastic hand
around me tough men kneel and pray

I think that
I may die this day

Commanders shout, Commanders scream
and seconds turn to awful dream
then a bump and ramp unfolds
and for many luck no longer holds

Desert sand fills hair and ears
It seems I've been at this for years
It's over now fore Death holds sway

I know that
I will die this day

The day was normal as it could
we took precautions as we should
but life's one IED away

I know that
I will die this day

Soon I'll be with others who
have given up their own lives too
for keeping our home country's way

I know that
I will die this day

And through these fading eyes of mine
I see generations who've crossed that line
and as colors fade to gray

I know that
I will die this day

All I feel are grains of sand
that arid winds wash 'cross my hands
what happens next who's to say

I know now
that I died this day.