Final Soup

figs keep ripening even after frost
otherwise the season's at an end
last tomatoes to peel and freeze
last green beans in a final soup

so a life will be renewed after
darkness light if not as bright
when we believed gods magic
meanings bedded in our being

mysteries remain prevail upon
waking the dream is still alive
improbable journey to the top
of the mountain through woods

Only Ask

1.
tormented by tipsiness bad
housekeeping how to put it
frat boy not to offend let go
let be time work its magic

2.
going slightly faster than anyone
else get ahead of my own thought
where are you right here only ask
each bit subject to reinterpretation

3.
now we know it's not too late
lost slang added to vocabulary
love simply you and me times
past our lingering anticipation

Luck Holds

things work out often it's
worth making plans then
something happens then
something else and soon
you have a life that goes
on as long as luck holds

Left Behind

do you have it with you
without a doubt I know
what went would come
inside against the rain

that said he scratched
and farted left behind
again anticipated ruin
rued the random day

others were stranger
still we were glad to
be here now that you
expanded to the max

Steady Energies

three books to edit bliss in nearness
weeks as long as days of practicing
Brahms the form reveals its nature

overlapping rhythms supported on
constant breath permits liberation
steady energies uncounting hours

I could if I would and I will go on
imagining the story sonata shaped
development before recapitulation

Moving On

change comes the wireless miracle whips through
we vibrate feed back chaotically catch our breath
although the volume of air is suspect we breathe
in ragged unison remember the form and move

somewhere our fellows meet in parks and rooms
practice going on forever possible if time stops
let the past catch up before moving on because
you know the words mean something different

meaning is lost and found between thin pages
corrected against an evil reader takes it personal
blames the innocent for being does his best to
say what it is to be surrounded and still himself

No Escape

pattern innate pleasure completion
elusive satisfaction recurrence not
unending after all there's no escape

a certain weekly rhythm is natural
prescribed there's no escape begin
again Monday even staying home

contrive to maintain it plan days
swims lunches tai chi musics do
plenty free body lets mind dance

Wait Calmly

now that everything is perfect
what do I want to do wait calmly
for the inevitable collapse
that surely and celebrate play
music live stories tell my truth
love my life companions dearly
drink the seasons one by one

Jam Enough

last ripening figs tiny artichokes
the bountiful land must rest we
put things up for winter potatoes
tomatoes berries beans spinach
pickles jam enough for a future
better when you've grown it

Wrong Road

my country was never sane and now
it's broke the system out of control

too far down the wrong road can't
exist without our self-created need

if I could live more simply I'd be
happy calm here now already am

it's the young that matter their own
children's future grinding own look

up the stars inform us their hidden
violence silent no one there to hear

here the cries are with us always
stop wars share the plenty with all

Every Minute

am I still alive still doing this speeding
down a country road listening to Vivaldi
every minute a surprise that I survive it
years of struggle and discovery banked
still I do go on another instant revealed

Bloody Face

I don't rejoice when anyone is injured
must less killed not even the monsters
let them live to regret their evil deeds
as do the rest of us who are relatively
good let them live out their sorry days

the wrong symbol doesn't help bloody
face wretched rat-hole misled minions
rightly fearing retribution lock him up
make him live like anyone with guilt
weak stupid none to blame but himself

Grape Jelly

Grammie knew how I follow directions
not having eaten grape jelly in years my
peanut butter sandwiches feature buck-
wheat honey whole grain bread times
having changed not always for worse

Concord grapes appeared irresistible
bunches pendant from the arbor I used
to climb atop Grammie's to pick them
ours not so sturdy but it also produces
green and red seedless it didn't initially
jell resorted to pectin hope for success

Full Credit

plan anything so complicated press ahead with practice
existing enough main squeeze receives armed welcome
moments later saints inspire expedient virtue one more
temporary understanding reveals how a thing can work

I'll figure it out tomorrow stay positive find my balance
in the drift and roll with fellow ruers full credit equally
complicated intersection quasi-selves free of all theory
good will seekers played hard to get together yet we do

Brimming Over

sensory overload how can anyone take it
Beethoven Pinter honey cinnamon chill
nights descending days brimming over

I do what I can not much now slower if
you listen closely the murmurs editing
Jimmy endlessly revising my own life

help me more if I could stand too little
input ricocheting references attempted
bliss recursive slogging on like always

Together Again

continue up the hill to the cathedral
and then I woke up it was after eight
hours later than it might have been I
barely had time for yoga a leisurely
Sunday breakfast shower and shave
before Mozart and Schubert drive to
Portland see a play eat a pastry and
here we are together again glad of it

Stop Here

if the future is over and the past forgotten
what is this moment for can you imagine
what it was like to be young and believe

this may have happened before but not
in the same way the end of the world no
fresh idea and now it's hardly a metaphor

am I finished have I written enough to
stop here with nothing explained what
is the lesson I still am required to learn

Doing Nothing

"What is imposed upon us by birth and environment is what we are called upon to overcome." (Saul Bellow)

is there something virtuous I should be doing
or is it all right to idle away the evening after
Schubert in a hayloft that's virtuous answer
emails fix my harpsichord even be creative
whatever it takes instead of doing nothing
essentially letting time pass without filling
too many people to be always busy doing
making interacting I do enough but never
as much as I could if I would focus better

Stolen Wealth

who knew better than you
what good could come of
evil deeds well meant it
isn't brain surgery rocket
science we all can think

I agree with everything
necessarily said out loud
however crudely printed
signs cry forth sincerely
telling the people's truth

would it could be tidier
the criminals dress well
neat clean cold-blooded
take comfort for granted
connive in stolen wealth

a better way is possible
greed unconscionable a
warping shame on them
for taking more than their
fair share and all else too

Surprising Leaps

it's a matter of getting the words down
then you can translate them into French
no perhaps Dutch would sound better if
I knew I would tell you everything good

you would be my friend forever thanks
for that we never need to be apart each
complete enlarged in the nicest ways if
we touch heads and let the feeling flow

the style is the person being Beckett
involves surprising leaps mordant wit
a pessimistic stance my own delight if
I could I would and generally try to do

Being Loved

if private virtues could mend the public weal
we would be good and that would be enough

even if I am fair the world is not the word not
strong enough to resist Narcissus fading away

if there were an answer he would have given it
before I asked being loved my favorite excuse

Still Water

"…memory, by introducing the past into the present without modification, as though it were the present, eliminates precisely that great Time-dimension in accordance with which life is realised." (Proust)

yes we will be staying for cake
although we don't really like
cake it's too sweet yummy
gooey dark chocolate cake is
more idea than real with milk

or is the memory of liking it
all that remains is redefined
sameness is illusory like still
water moving subtly in more
dimensions than you imagine

Dancing Words

roasting barley toasting oats ah
lovely granola nourishing tasty

dancing words sow fresh ideas
if chickens eat up all the seeds

sow more pay attention listen
think what might work better

this may not be the only way
change ripens for the harvest

Your Part

perfect surface last longer than new
smells sneak up on you disgusting
things happen who express nothing
else flee to something silly freedom
weather just weather you go out or
under plastic point made of chaos
counting on everything working
whether you do your part or not

Natural Flavors

red yellow green tomatoes peeled blanched
frozen for winter soups stews sauces bountiful
garden lavishing us with goodness green beans
potatoes apple sauce our dinner who can mind
chickens help with extra thank us with eggs

granges reviving possibility of healthy lives
hard digging diligent planting harvesting key
virtues rewarded natural flavors improved by
closeness feeling the season shift stove lit
long sleeves warm pants freezer filling fast

What We Mean

where were you when I wanted to go on
without hope or regret wondering whether
I was thinking right or missing the point

I would appeal to a higher power whoever
knew better would whirl me away before
any more weather or witnesses intervened

I would have told you everything I knew
before I started forgetting which nymph
was turned into a fountain and by whom

we're both still here in other words for
the same thing but not exactly needing
more vocabulary to say what we mean

Graphic Evidence

how to be cool ignore the media
will never sell you what you need
to know more what they can think
if you have wits left after all that

it may be too late if it is what then
do something march object profess
call it what it is plutocracy run for
your lives encompassing its ruin

how to be someone living in this
age aging with the falling graphic
evidence no wonder wheel of fire
fells tall firs and fairly lives to tell

Busy Minds

too much to think about flips over into nothing
books magazines blogs how can I bear to miss
other busy minds doing the dance so beautifully

Living History

how to find my way
who am I anyway
who made me thus
do I have a choice
choices yes but real
choice not really no
made by own doing
atop family culture
I am living history

Fading Away

our parents were social we are not
belonged to the best clubs and the
Episcopal church had the same seats
for the Philharmonic every season
entertained and expected reciprocity
when I was a boy my family's doings
were reported in the society magazine
girls in our crowd were the debutantes
we dressed and went to dancing class
and thought we were superior beings
knew how to live and could afford it
thanks to loans against inheritances
saved even me before fading away