Bear

Should you befriend an ursine thing
It’s best beware what it may be:
For some will kill and some will maim,
But others are in fact quite tame.

So if you barely know the kind
Of ancient arktos you may find,
The answer’s here for all to see
About the fabled wolf of bee.

If in the hemisphere of east
Then do not fear the mighty beast;
You’ll find that though they’re omnivores
They much prefer the greener stores.

The size may range from large to small,
And one’s in fact marsupial!
They all like bugs and bits of plants,
One loves bamboo – another ants.

If to earth’s west you then set forth:
Then quickly check if south, or north.
Down south he’s wise, be-spectacled,
And lives in trees – or so I’m told.

The further north, the further worse,
So stay away from there of course.
You see, they share their coats around,
To mix up those by whom they’re found.

The grizzled brown is sometimes black,
And sometimes called the Kodiak.
The bruin black is often brown,
And Ted refused to shoot one down.

The one who has a coat of white,
Lives in a place of dwimmer light.
The brown is also sometimes seen
To have a pale and moonlike sheen.

To make it tough, the brown will quest,
Across the world from east to west.
Which makes the trick of hemispheres
Not all that helpful or that clear.

With all these kinds, what should you do
If one is looking down at you?
First, question why you went outside,
Then ponder that you’re ‘bout to die.

You should re-work your whole life plan,
And think about its shortened span.
Loom large and do not run away,
Then all that’s left to do is pray.

08.08.23

Nursery Rhyme for November

Crickle crack and crackle snap
Around the old gumtree
Leaves fall down on bones and ground –
The bones that once were me.

In and out and up and down
The brains go in a web,
Try and find their own way out,
But soon they’ll end up dead.

Fall and rot we go our way
Just like the fall before,
Soon to feed another crop
Remembered nevermore.

11.10.22

Peace Was

Gunshots, cannons, loud alarms.
I quickly panic; swing my arm:
Down upon the button, smash!
And for a moment pause the clash.

Then a squall breaks out below,
I hear the children, there’s been snow.
They rush and yell, I want to sleep,
But my wife the blanket keeps.

I step out, the floor is hard,
And likely colder than my yard.
Shirt and pants, the jacket next,
Socks and boots, no time to rest.

Stepping out onto the lawn
My children rush, I slowly yawn.
The silence of a winter’s freeze,
Though not my bed, brings me ease.

11.1.19

Spider

A simple twisted silken thread
Is running down from over head.
It indicates without a sound
That there’s a spider on the ground.

I stoop to search with caution slow,
Afraid of what is found below.
For though a giant in it’s eyes,
I wouldn’t want to be surprised.

There! Swift across the floor it darts,
Now! Jumping quick – I feel my heart.
My hair stands up, I glance in fear.
It’s run away – I know not where.

09.25.19

Murmur’s Entice

Glowing moon floats gently high,
Stillness fills the cooling sky,
Silence grips the shifting breeze,
Softly now; you’ll wake the trees.

Steal along with ne’er a sound,
Treading light upon the ground.
Else the shadows will come near;
Thirsty for the taste of fear.

Darkness creeps, just out of sight,
The moon provides a dwindling light.
Snap of twig and creak of stalk,
Betray the spirits subtle walk.

Misty noises float about,
Mired in the thick of doubt.
Is that scraping really there,
Muddied by the thinning air?

Don’t look back, don’t try to run;
Deeply breathe, and feel night’s yawn:
Wind that stirs beneath the boughs,
Bringing hints of lurid growls.

09.18.19

Eclipse

The earth along its course

Divides the constant light;

Ne’er Sun nor moon can force

Their fulgence through the night.

 

Yet as the sun and moon

By fate are torn apart,

Together they are hewn

And each reveals its heart.

 

The sight of blood on high,

Is beauty made of grief;

An emblem in the sky

Of what you are to me.

 

For though the moon and sun

Are riven to the core,

And sundered one from one,

A beauty forms once more.

 

We watch the moon turn red,

A rose encased above,

The stars a diamond bed,

Beneath the sign of love.

 

01.28.19

Woodland Storm

Roots crisscross in blind display;

Quickly rain each crevice fills,

Feeling through the dirt and clay,

Giving life in joyous rills.

 

Sending creatures to their homes

In warmth to wait and listen –

Thunder laughs and slowly roams

To warn of lightning’s glisten.

 

Soon the storm from woodland flees;

Drops come dripping to the earth,

Breathing faint the gentle breeze

Filled with scents of life and mirth.

 

07.24.19

Seasons

The heat is here and men work hard to live.

They hope the year will quickly have an end,

And spring will come with rain and joy to give,

But now all life feels cursed and won’t relent.

 

In fall the life that dies and leaves this earth

Is gone for good till spring with joy returns.

The year will end as sadness turns to mirth,

But now the grass is gone and flower burns.

 

In dark the death is done, and trees are bare.

All life has left and cold has come to stay.

It seems that spring will ne’er again be here,

And life will fail before the new spring day.

 

The Spring has come and life returns at last!

The year is new and death is now the past.

 

04.19.12

True Spring

In Spring there is new life that is released;

It roars and flows and down the stream it runs.

Its breath has come and dreaded death has ceased,

Now turn and look the dawn is quickly come.

 

The lion wakes and roars upon the chase,

The world is clean and flowers now are grown,

The King of Kings is in his rightful place,

The quest is done – the ring is now o’er thrown.

 

But life is short and quickly ending is,

As withered fading grass at summer’s end.

The crawling creature, twisted serpent, lives

To see the King in bloodless body spent.

 

And yet in death is hope, though spring be iced,

For life returns upon the spring of Christ.

 

04.12.12