River Flows

Published initially on Hello Poetry in 2012. Slightly edited in 2023.

A river runs as rivers run
Just where it wants to go
You can build a dam
Canal or trench
But you cannot stop the flow

And if divert it you succeed
by cutting route through stone
there will remain a trace
of where it's been

and the truth of course be known

Chickadee

You are not large

you're kind of small

for a hawk you'd be no meal at all

perhaps that's why

when feeder's filled

you're the first

back where the seed has spilled

before the Jay

before the sparrow

before woodpecker

with beak long and narrow

among the birds

you stand quite tall

as it appears

you've no fear at all.

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

Busy Bees

This lunchroom's like a beehive
with a billion bees in flight.
The only time it's quiet
is when they all go home at night.

Tremble Little Polliwog

Tremble little polliwog
the pond's Great Bass is nigh
and if he should to catch you up
you certainly will die

But wait, ahead some reeds so stiff
that should you wriggle in
could be as strong as prison bars
and protect from tooth and fin.

Dangling Wanderer?

Sugar ant on bathroom floor

By the shower, near the door

You wander here, you wander there

Up and down most anywhere

You do not notice, above your head

An eight leg’d wolf hangs by a thread

And next to him suspended there

Are friends of yours dangling in mid-air

They do not move, wrapped so tight
Asleep forever, oh endless night

But as descends the hungry bug

You wander left, under the rug 

Butterflies

Butterflies are evil
Butterflies are bad

They pollinate your flowers
They swoop down at your head

They are too many colors
They're way to fragile too

I wish they'd all just fly away
I don't know what to do

My sister says I'm silly
My brother says I'm chicken

But if asked to name a scary bug
It's butterflies I'm pickin'

Boogers

Boogers can be roundish
They can be more plate-like too.

If you are real nice to me
I may pick you one or two.

Sharp "E"

I'm dreaming

I'm sketching

I'm drawing for fun

I'm a flower

A rhino

A giraffe on the run

I'm a black line on paper

A squiggle on screen

I am things that aren't real 

I am things that are seen

I'm at peace when I draw

I'm at peace when I write

I am happiest with pen in hand 

My imagination takes flight

The Chase

A ball
A firefly
A tiny little frog

A bad guy
A plane flight
A run-a-way dog

An AMTRAK to Boston
A movie uptown

The sunrise in morning
The sun going down

No matter the purpose
It's best when you match

The thrill of the chase
With success in the catch

Maurice

Today held the moment Maurice walked away
striding off cross a far distant knoll

Where is it that he's going we can only suppose
is a forest a closet or hole

He changed everyone of us before he departed
set our thoughts free to roam near and far

We sit filled with joy for we all are assured
Max still knows where the wild things are

Pencil, Pencil

Pencil, Pencil
pointy thing
through you to paper
my thoughts do sing

Pencil, Pencil
is it wrong
the more I write
the faster you're gone?

Indoor Stars

Above me squares with many holes
can steal my concentration
as I look, holes turn to stars
and I look for constellations

Pointy Thing

Holding tight to counter's top
a side of holes but it won't stop
with one bent arm that goes around
and spiral teeth where wood is ground

Vacation

When we went on vacation

We traveled far and wide

We looked inside of buildings

We poked around outside

But in D.C we were saddened

While by a Washington so tall

We noticed that there were no stores

In the National Mall at all

Duck Sniffles

I dreampt I did a stint or two
In a rescue home for ducks with flu

I had to help it was god's will
I'd be working there today but still

A duck sneezed and shot bird flu missiles
Will I awake with Mallard sniffles?

What To Do?

What to do? What to do?
I do not quite know what to do.

Should I write about a shoe?
I do not think so, what to do?

Should I write about some cheese?
I do not think so, oh puh-leeese.

What to do? What to do?
I still do not know what to do.