Saturday, November 30, 2019

Photo Essay: Waking up to heavy snow. Vol. 3.





The long road
to where I've been --
no thaw is long enough.





Clouds
playing leapfrog
over eternity.









What holds up the trees?
What holds up the mountains.
What holds up the clouds?







Melt water --
a sluggish black
python.






Snow on branches --
it'll fall away
before the sun does.











Wet brown leaves --
a vexing trail
to more wet brown leaves.

Photo Essay: Waking up to heavy snow. Vol. 2





Wearing a white cap --
the wood pile
waits politely.






Everything disappears
to make way
for the snow.




Heavy white branches
blocking my path --
stop, and consider alternatives.






Branches
thread through the sky --
weaving snow dreams.







Pothole --
destined for
a lifeless curse.



Photo Essay: Waking up to heavy snow. Vol. 1





Blending into itself
heavy snow can't caress
so smothers the trees.







No sparrows
wait under the bush --
they're fasting elsewhere.




Is this
white on black or
black on white?







Suddenly the sun comes out -- 
and white
is a different color.

Verses from newspaper stories by Philip Rucker, Katie Mettler, and Joe Heim.




IS THE PRESIDENT WORKING HARD, OR HARDLY WORKING?

@PhilipRucker

When you're in a pickle
and you want to wiggle out,
just look very busy 
and then travel all about.
Voters will think "What a guy!"
and cut you lots of slack;
giving you the cover to
stab others in the back.
When it has blown over
and the mob is backing down,
then relax and go back to
the antics of a clown.

*******************************

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER BIGGEST BLACK HOLE EVER.
@kemettler

Black holes getting bigger,
comets whizzing through the sky;
seems like it's the End of Times --
yet I don't want to cry.
Even with impeachment
looming like the Crack of Doom,
I'm thinking new recliners
for my cozy living room.
Why let cosmic anarchy
destroy my comfort zone?
Life keeps getting better,
now my pizza comes by drone!

****************************

LEWIS AND CLARK STATUE TO BE PULLED DOWN.
@JoeHeim

Statues used to hang around
for centuries, at least;
nowadays they slip away
as if they had been greased.
Warriors, explorers, and 
a host of others, too,
are deemed to be insensitive
and must go toodle-loo.
If I commissioned statues
I would only order those
impressionistic gewgaws
that nobody will depose.

God's Doctrine.

Image result for dallin h oaks
Dallin H. Oaks



God’s doctrine shows that all of us are His children and that He has created us to have joy.
Dallin H. Oaks


The joy of simple snowfall
or the bliss of children's song;
these are forms of happiness
for which we all should long.
Knowing we are children
of a Mother/Father great
ought to keep us loving
and removed from ev'ry hate.
Basic to our cheerfulness
is trusting that the love
of God will keep us warm below
and exalted up above.

The Night Before Impeachment (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore.)

Image result for retro santa




'Twas the night before Impeachment, and in the White House
Trump was a-snoring -- along with his spouse.
The subpoenas were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes they'd burn up right into the thin air.
The staff was all nestled in cubicles grey,
fearing what Trump would do the next day.
The ghost of Abe Lincoln did wander the halls,
making a racket with his chains and his balls.
When on the South Lawn there arose such a clatter
it woke up the Prez -- and his wife, for that matter.
Off to the window they flew like a flash --
hoping 'twas Russians with plenty of cash.
The moonbeams did play on Marine One, which sat
awaiting the President's next strange format.
When what to their wondering gaze came along,
but a member of Congress a-singing a song.
She warbled like something by Bela Lugosi,
so Trump recognized it was Nancy Pelosi.
She sang out the names of her fellow subversives,
writing them down in the snow with great cursives.
"Hurry up, Nadler -- Doug Collins, stop lagging!
Scanlon and Lofgren, keep up with the nagging!"
Then like a witch with an aerial broom,
Pelosi flew up into Trump's own bedroom.
She was dressed in faux fur, from her head to her toes,
and she sniffed at the Prez with her cherry red nose.
She was lean, she was gaunt; a rather grim sprite.
She gave dear Melania quite a bad fright.
With a wink of her eye and a deep feral growl,
around the poor couple she started to prowl.
She spoke not a word, but continued to stare --
until the Trumps thought they would lose all their hair.
Then laying a finger aside her bright nose,
she gave a quick laugh and up the chimney she rose.
She grabbed an e-scooter on K Street North West,
but as she took off she got THIS off her chest:
"Happy hunting to all who this night want to see
the end of this scandalous Presidency!"


Friday, November 29, 2019

Verses from today's New York Times. *** Warren Wealth Tax Has Wide Support, Except Among One Group. *** In Afghanistan, Trump Creates Confusion Over U.S. Policy on Taliban. **** Suddenly, the Chinese Threat to Australia Seems Very Real.




@bencasselman  @jimtankersley

When you want the votes to snitch,
just announce you'll tax the rich.
Voters love the siren call
that makes billionaires all bawl.
Once you're in the catbird seat,
voters become obsolete. 
Then the plutocrats will thank
you with money in the bank.

****************************
@MujMash

One thing our president can do
is take a stance and with it screw.
You never know from day to day
just what he'll think or how he'll sway.
His mood swings make all divas look
as boring as a blank notebook.
Just like the weather, get in line
and watch Trump go from rain to shine.

************************

@damiencave  @jamietarabay

Aussies now begin to wheeze
when they think of the Chinese.
They like trading with 'em, but
seems they want to undercut
what Australia stands for, mate,
and a rigid state create.
They don't play fair dinkum, no --
they would change the status quo.
Strangle them with tighter leash,
till they tire of baksheesh.



Photo Essay: White Haiku.




Bleached mountain --
Hard on the outside,
crumbling on the inside.







Snow in a pot --
cold reason
stops all growth.









Whitened woodpile --
sleep,
until the crickets dance.









Frosting
where a tree
once stood.

Verses from today's Washington Post. ** An alien comet from another star is soaring through our solar system. *** She invited a stranger to Thanksgiving by accident. This was their fourth holiday together.. **** Trump makes surprise visit to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, says he has reopened peace talks.




@sarahkaplan48

O interstellar visitor, while we are tracking you
might it be that you as well will take us in your view?
Perhaps you will observe our wars and follies and decide
to keep the heck away from us and in the cosmos hide.

************************

@KnowlesHannah

Feed a stranger, gain a friend;
this should be a bigger trend.
If the world made holiday
from suspicion's cankered sway,
and together had a meal --
don't you think we'd better feel?
Even just a plate of beans
might provoke some peaceful scenes.
"I'm having sardines from a can --
come and join me, my good man!"

***************************
@missy_ryan  @PhilipRucker

Presidents will visit troops
when their rating at home droops.
Serving turkey to a squad
camouflages actions odd.
Shaking hands with brave Marines
always pleases Philistines.
But it won't work this time around
if Mr. Trump will not pipe down.


IMG_20191128_065742821.jpg

Happier Outcomes.

D. Todd Christofferson

D. Todd Christofferson


When I was a young man I found sin was overpriced,
and mercifully I was led into the Church of Christ.
Since then my choices to obey have always led to joy;
outcomes have been happy and this old world don't annoy.
I still am apt to stumble and my weaknesses are legion,
but I know that I'm headed for the Lord's own festive region!

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Photo Essay: Early Haiku. Vol. 4





White on white
fades to nothing --
fades to everything.






Tethered outside the glamour --
but then,
aren't we all?






They have trained her
to jump up and beg
for her dinner.









When business is slack
he crushes ice
and sucks on a piece.







You can't make a circus
without
breaking the ground.







Smiles
become monstrous
inside the big top.









New Mexico --
I was looking
for a barbershop.

Photo Essay: Early Haiku. Vol. 3




What's in back
matters more
than what's in front.





The crowd --
determined
to have pleasure.








Driving by this sign --
the engine light is on
and the brakes are soft.






I spent years
near the elephants --
this is the only picture I took.





How blue is a circus sky?
You'd have to ask
the grass.


Photo Essay: Early Haiku. Vol. 2




Grinning rascal --
Have you got one honest reason
for that smile?





A pink shirt on a woman
with brown skin --
rose petals on honey.










Everyone deserves someone
to pull the curtain back
for them.








A circus tent
and a circus girl --
a fleeting sweet ache.







Roustabouts stab the ground --
What are they having
for lunch?







Clustered at a flea market --
ceramic angels
leave a hollow blessing.


Photo Essay: Early Haiku. Vol. 1.





The blue door --
a red wheelbarrow stands on its head.
Expecting applause?



The cold empty bleachers
prophesy
the death of my circus





A pink tub full of rocks --
A shadow woman --
The story of my love life.




When you look for a pattern --
there is no pattern.
Only time. 




Why are there 
no
START signs?



A parking lot
on Thanksgiving Day --
Distant and stale.







In the world
but not defined by it --
snow on pines.




Fallen squirrel's nest --
a brown world
unmourned.