Signifying nothing

Blood on tooth and claw Go find your separate peace Waiting in the dark

Netflix, I am sad. Returned Up the Down Staircase, Unexperienced.

While I was awake at my normal 5:30 am this morning, by the time I left the house, I felt I was running late, given that I had to go back inside the house three times to collect all the various items I feel that I need to accomplish the day.  Oh no, I can't forget my phone.  No.  Oh no, I can't forget that letter I have to mail.  No.  Oh no, I absolutely cannot forget my bus pass, or I shall have to pay my way to and from work. Oh no. So by the time I actually managed to lock my door, and head out across the slush, I knew that I would miss my connection, and, therefore, be 15 minutes late. Oh no. So I made my way as quickly as I could in my dress shoes (it was an important meeting day, after all) across slushy sidewalks, and strove not to slip.  The snow that fell last night seemed to be testing my mettle, and by the time I reached the intersection at the bottom of the hill, I was 4 minutes behind schedule. Oh no. Now 4 minutes may n...

When I was a kid, a favorite joke of my older brother was to wake us all up on April first with the exclamation "It is snowing!"  Now growing up in Utah, the possibility of snow on April first was entirely possible, but usually spring had taken root in the land: the lawn was greening, trees were cracking blossoms and birds were assured that winter was pretty much behind.  Of course we kids always fell for the joke, and sprang out of bed to see the miracle of one last welcome blanket of purity over the land, only to see the green lawn and the budding trees accompanied by the laughter of my brother.  There were only a couple of times that he was wrong, and today would have been one of those days.   April first snows make fools of us all, and it has been snowing hard here most of the day. All in all, it has been a particularly cold winter.  March is usually a transitional month where spring begins to stir in the land.  Trees begin to bud.  Birds fi...

Catkins in Early Spring Originally uploaded by Theorris My new house causes me to walk farther to reach the bus stop each morning. My walk, however, leads me past various interesting trees and plants. The other morning, I noticed that one of my gnarly favorites had set its catkins out. I stood, taking pictures of it, and nearly missed my bus. As the city flew by, I wrote the following: Cat paws on brown twigs, Warm against early spring wind, I forget my time

I failed to expalin That signigyingnothing Is one long poem

Pen in hand, brushing White petals from my shoulders Her kiss is gentle

Five simple candles, Gaudy with sanctimony, Punish me with fear.

It is snowing and I sit by my window reading a book of winter haiku. Here is a haiku by Miura Yuzuru Snow on top Lengthens The height of the gateposts. Here is one by Ono Rinka A winter shower driving down-- Turmeric flowers In full bloom. And, finally, we have Nozawa Setsuko Heaven and earth Convulsing in the same breath Let fall a tremendous snow. I've always liked to sit and watch snow. It is a good diversion. One feels so much comfort by snow, even though it is, of course, cold and treacherous. It covers the world, making it all fresh and new, yet at the same time killing the last remnants of fall. Roads are slick. People fall on concrete. The snow falls in swirling, beautiful patterns, smoothing even that out. It is calming to sit by the window as the snow falls and read. So I take up my pencil and write in the margin next to the three poems: Snow falls quietly As I read by the window Words settle my mind.

And why wasn't I informed of this contest: Salt Lake Tribune - A supple muse ? Ah well, we shall have our own contest. Please enter your Jell-o brand gelatin-inspired haiku in the comments. Here be mine: Carrots suspended, You jiggle green and orange Mighty lime Jell-0! Next poetic project: "A Valediction Forbidding Jell-o"" A S virtuous men pass mildly away, And whisper to their souls to go, Whilst some of their sad friends do say, "Now his breath goes," and some say, "Jell-o." (My apologies to Mr. Donne.)

The box elder bug, An unlikely commuter, Flutters to the door.

While sitting on my front porch this evening, I was struck by the contrast between the metal bus stop pole complete with its "BUS STOP ELIMINATED" placard and the gentle brown complexity of the tree next to it. I decided to sketch the scene. The sign has its flag-like blue and white UTA metal sign at the top, with its friendly-looking bus, and UTA contact information. Below are the confusing plastic signs indicating that the route is being changed, and then finally, on the bottom, that the route has been eliminated. Here the friendly bus has been crossed out with a disturbing red naught--an "O" with a slash through it. The metal pole the signs are attached to is galvanized and full of holes. It is firmly sunk into the grass of the parking strip by the corner of my lot. The sidewalk runs peacefully by, unaware that it will no longer feel the weight of people waiting to be transported somewhere out from under the shade of the tree that grows a few feet away. M...

What was that song they Just made me sing? Please, not “Pour Some Sugar on Me!”

The Cigar smoke hangs Sordidly over our heads Breathing is flavored

Meat market simply You go and you sit and watch Never caring. No.