neither sticks nor stones
or catapulted pavers
can sever one’s soul.
only words spoken
in anger wield that power;
ever guard your tongue.
worthwhile advice yet
spoken much too late to save
me from my nature.
Peace, people!
Category: Poetry
Moon Me
Count me in
When the full moon rises
I’ll change my tune,
Play hard to get
You’ll try to chase me,
But my heart will make
Me too strong for any
Mortal man to catch.
Don’t Tell Me
Don’t tell me your
Secrets.
I have plenty of my own.
Don’t tell me your
Rules
I’ll just break them.
Don’t tell me your
Fears
Lest they trigger mine.
Don’t tell me you’re
Sorry
Unless you truly are.
Waffle House Musings
Sunday morning bustle
Booth or counter
Plastic menu
Decisions
Decisions
Pecan waffles
Bacon on the side
Hot coffee with sugar
Beyoncé’s voice beckons
All the single ladies
Waitresses chime in
Shoulda put a
Shoulda put a
Ring on it, my man
Elderly diner shakes
His scrawny moneymaker.
Delighted customers clap,
Cheer, and whistle
Their support
Bravo
Bravo
Bowing deeply
The old man sits as
My waffles and bacon arrive.
Peace, People!
Hot! Hot! Hot!
The Daily Prompt asked, “Do you like hot and spicy foods, or do you avoid them for fear of what tomorrow might bring?”
I like my food hot.
Spicy.
Gratuitous heat;
The kind of heat that
Makes me wipe the
Sweat from my
Brow as I eat.
Any residual suffering
For the sake of spiciness
Should be borne with
Stoicism and great
Quantities of
Pepto-Bismol.
E.T.: The Earnest Terrestrial
Among us walk men
Of a most serious bent
Earthlings quite earnest.
Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.
There also are those
With more frivolous outlooks
Inclined to amuse.
Jim Varney in his role as Ernest T. Bass in Ernest Saves Christmas.
Such as this Ernest.
Who contrary to his name
Was anything but.
Swing Batta
Bottom of the
Ninth.
Pitcher’s team has a
One run lead.
He spits.
Sunflower seeds,
Shells fly,
On the mound
Surveys the bases
All around
Steps down and
Spits again.
Runners on
First and second.
No outs.
Top of the order.
No outs!!
Pitcher takes the
Mound.
Fire in his eyes.
Catcher signals 1,
Moves his glove
Low and inside.
Pitcher nods.
First pitch–
Batter tees off
Catches ball’s
Bottom, pops it
Straight up.
“Infield fly!”
Yells ump,
“Batter’s out!”
Ball dribbles to
Mound.
Pitcher catches
Runner off second,
Tags him
Trying to get to
Third.
Runner from first
Caught in rundown
Between one, three, and
Six.
Triple play
Saves the day.
Good game, good game!
Let’s go to Dairy Queen!
Studly and I coached Little League softball and baseball teams for many years. One of the most difficult aspects of the sport for kids to understand is the infield fly rule.
It took me awhile to understand it, too, but I think I’ve got it now:
If there are fewer than two outs with runners on first and second, or first, second, and third, and a fly ball is hit that can be fielded by a player in the infield, the batter is automatically out and runners advance at their own risk. Basically it’s protection for the runners, but try explaining that to an 8-year-old batter whose ball goes uncaught and is called “out!” Tears often ensue.
In the words of Tom Hanks,
Peace, People!
Link in the Chain
My link looks very much like the
Links on either side. Weld line
Slightly off-center, but solid;
Strong. Meant to hold fast when
All else fails. The weakest link is
Still much stronger than no link.
Human-forged or machine-made,
Iron, steel, gold, silver, brass,
Shared responsibility. 
Marking Time
I. I’m good at that stuff
Marking time like a pro, so
Watch me do nothing.
II. Count on someone else
To worry with the schedule
I’ll be marking time.
III. Who might benefit
From time marked yet unwasted?
Lizards, cats, and me.
Peace, people!
Crazy Cat
Zip into the kitchen
Stare at your bowl
Meow for a treat
Stretch!
Tear into the living room
Skid on the tile
Take an urgent bath
Spot your tail
Make a run for it
Around and around
Stop and scratch
Behind your ear
Take another bath
Find the highest point
Make the leap
Pace lion-like above the fray
Before jumping from
Counter to floor
Attack your sister
Act alarmed at her hisses
Raise a paw to ward her off
Take another bath
Collapse on the rug
Sleep.
Our cat Patches is an odd mixture of paranoia and sweetness. She’s sure that every thing and everyone is out to get her, but she is convinced that I am her Mama. It’s a pretty cool gig.
Peace, people.
Praying for Eyebrowz 