Civil Conundrum Continued

NOTE: In honor of National Poetry Month, each Sunday this April, I plan to post a poetry performance from the archives.

"The Bible Says" rounds out my contributions to the 2012 Robert McCurley-led poetry/photography project "Civil Conundrum" in which Randy Foster and I had the pleasure of participating.  Not only did we present the project at The Arts Company in Nashville, Tenn., (most of) the pieces were also featured in an exhibit at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center and in the pages of the anthology Filtered Through Time.

Civil Conundrum Clips

NOTE: In honor of National Poetry Month, each Sunday this April, I plan to post a poetry performance from the archives.

This set of poems represents a portion of a collaborative project initiated by photographer Robert McCurley, who asked my fellow poet Randy Foster and me to write pieces based on his Civil-War-themed collection, Civil Conundrum.  This performance was held on Feb. 11, 2012 at The Arts Company in Nashville, Tenn.

Tea and Poetry

NOTE: In honor of National Poetry Month, each Sunday this April, I plan to post a poetry performance from the archives.

This video features a couple of pieces about Earl Grey tea, a moment captured during the "A Poet and a Politician Walk into a Coffee Bar" tour my friend Randy Foster and I did in the Greater Nashville Area.  Enjoy a spot of tea with a side of poetry, circa 2011!

(The tree bark gleamed)

The tree bark gleamed
with fresh raindrops as
the squirrel scurried home.

Happy International Women's Day!

Setting the Record Straight, Practically Speaking

Straight women who dress
comfortably and practically
don't dress
comfortably and practically
because they have
"let themselves go"
or because they have
"given up on men."
Straight women who dress
comfortably and practically
dress comfortably and practically
because they want to be
comfortable and practical.

Gay women who dress
comfortably and practically
don't dress
comfortably and practically
because they
"don't want to be women"
or because they
"want to be men."
Gay women who dress
comfortably and practically
dress comfortably and practically
because they want to be
comfortable and practical.

The Life Span of Love

from having butterflies
to sharing houseflies
to watching fireflies in our twilight

Teatime

every sip
every drip
a present
to yourself

watch it steep
inhale deep
stealing moments
for yourself

black, green, white
pure delight
with a friend or
by yourself

Snow Garden

Our yard was a garden
of snow and our father
was the gardener. He
made snow forts and
an obstacle course of
sorts for my sisters and
me in the front yard one
winter. It was an exciting
adventure, and a little
bit scary, but I felt safe
knowing that Dad was
guiding the sled and
guarding the fort. I still
remember his laugh
that day as we squealed
with delight, holding tight
to the orange, plastic sled.

In Honor of Mary Oliver (September 10, 1935 – January 17, 2019)

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

-- Mary Oliver, "The Summer Day"

My One Wild and Precious Life

My one wild and precious life
does not belong to my
parents or predecessors
nor to my
pastor or priest or preacher or pope.
My one wild and precious life
does not belong to my
president
or to my
principal
or to my
peers
or the
privileged pillars
of my
patriarchal society.
My one wild and precious life
does not belong to
politicians
or to the
"pretty people"
or the
power hungry
or to my
pocketbook, property or prosperity.
My one wild and precious life
does not belong to a
painful or problematic past
or to
perfectionism
or my
propensity for people pleasing
nor to a
profession, promotion or pursuit of prestige.
My one wild and precious life
does not belong to
purveyors of prejudice
or to
peddlers of propaganda
nor to the
principles that someone else holds.
My one wild and precious life
belongs to me
to protect and preserve it,
to pursue peace,
to practice compassion,
and to progress as the particular person I was put on the planet to be.

(I remain rich)

I remain rich
as long as I am surrounded by
books, music and art.

(Miles Davis on tap)

Miles Davis on tap
grape juice in the stereo
a New Year's Eve day

(Christmas cat)

Christmas cat –
bedside greeting
begins with a pounce

(sampling of the city)

sampling of the city:
snaking post office line
10 days before Christmas

How My Sister Discovered That I Was in Love with Her Best Friend

"You would NEVER
do that for me," she said
in a huff, half shocked;
half outraged after learning
that I had treated J.J.'s
soup bowl like an underwater
hunting expedition --
navigating around the
diced carrots and potatoes,
green bean cuts, petite
peas, navy beans and
conchiglie to fish out
the kidney beans
that J.J. despised
so much. I shrugged
my shoulders, smiled
and stared at the floor
for a few seconds until
J.J. changed the subject,
wondering if we would
see snow that night.

Thanksgiving Traffic

Three miles in an
hour and a half --
bumper-to-bumper
interstate congestion and
stomach indigestion,
angry drivers with
hungry kids, no
exit in sight, and
no explanation.
Arrivals delayed;
hugs and hand-
shakes on hold;
dinners postponed.
It was easy to get
irritated and impatient,
until we saw
the white sheet
on the ground.
Suddenly, we were
thankful for the
fume-filled air that
we were breathing.

(the leaves mimicking)

the leaves mimicking
the sound of raindrops in the
wooded autumn hills

(eyes widen)

eyes widen:
brilliant, cranberry-
orange-colored foliage

(morning tea after)

morning tea after
the morning rain
drop after drop

Happy National Coffee Day!

the smell of a coffeehouse:
one of the things I fell
in love with in college

(Two squirrels and two robins)

Two squirrels and two robins
scampered away through the trees
like Noah's ark escapees.