Tag: weather

Thunderstorm on the 4th

is there anything
sadder on July the 4th
than a thunderstorm?

unused, the fireworks
await clear skies for glory
and rockets’ red glare.

distant crack sounds near
weather or firecracker’s boom?
bombs bursting in air.

  
Peace, people!

Playground 

sixes and sevens charged headlong,
vying for first place in an
imaginary race to the monkey bars,
and the seesaws, and the slide.

Texas panhandle playground, dirt-covered
unkind to bared legs on cold, windy days
while archaic dress codes demanded
dresses be worn by little girls.

disregarding weather, firm, yet kind
educators shepherded their charges into
stinging maelstroms of gravelly sand.
it was for teachers’ sanity no doubt.

some days impromptu games of
following a self-appointed leader
consumed recess time, effectively
socially sorting first graders at play.

teeth were sometimes lost as children
clamored for a spot on the merry-go-round;
noggins often took bumps and lumps
slipping through monkey bars.

tears weren’t uncommon; neither was blood.
rules were simple: don’t push,
no tattling, leave the teachers alone.
tough, necessary playground lessons.

I lost one of my first baby teeth on a merry-go-round just like this.

 

It never occurred to us that monkey bars might be dangerous!
 
Teeter totters a.k.a. seesaws had all sorts of pinch points and other fun dangerous accoutrement. note: there are more trees in this photo than in my entire town .

   

Weather Vain

I’m standing in

My closet

Trying to

Decide what to

Wear.

I have not

Checked the

Weather.

I go to do so

On my

iPhone,

But I notice

There are unread

Notifications on

WordPress, and

Facebook, and

Pinterest.

After reading one

Particular post I

Realize I must

Google the population of

Guatemala before I

Forget so I can

Update a future

Article, and then

I go back to the

Bedroom closet to

Dress for the

Day.

That’s when I

Realize I still

Must check the

Weather

On my

iPhone.

Repeat as necessary

Until dressed.

 

 

Surviving the Winter in Tallahassee 

Nineteen days ’til spring.
Someone please tell the flowers
They have bloomed too soon

Four hundred plus hours
Winter’s hand stays in command
Do calendars lie?

We suffered our share
Of thirty degree days, at
Least three by my count.

Today though, sun reigns
Warding off the brisk chill of
Florida’s winter.

And those who survived
Are made stronger still by that
Which has not killed us.

A little sarcasm on this Tuesday. Forgive me for basking in this beautiful day.

Peace, people!