PRIDE Open Mic Night

I plan to read three poems at this year's PRIDE Open Mic Night, as a part of Holland's 2023 PRIDE celebration.

Thursday, June 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Herrick District Library

300 S. River Ave.

Holland, MI

 

Join us!

(My heart feels like it)

My heart feels like it

has been hollowed out by a 

steely ice cream scoop.

(I danced with a bumble bee unwittingly)

I danced with a bumble bee unwittingly
during my afternoon walk
very carefully.

(My heart feels like a)

My heart feels like a 

cavernous chamber housing

only broken glass.

Poached by an Egg

Finished the last of
the hard-boiled eggs
this morning and
stabbed my thumb --
the shell shards
actually drawing blood.
I never knew
Easter eggs could
be so violent.

(a fine Sunday morning flapjack breakfast)

a fine Sunday morning flapjack breakfast

including one, petite pancake

for the pup

Apparently, Americans Like Their Men to Look Like Grown Adults and Their Women to Look Like Teenage Girls

Why is it that,

when a male is young and thin,

in hindsight, we say, "Ha!  Ha!  He looked like a kid!" --

while, at present,

after years of filling out,

he "finally looks like a man,"

while, at the same time,

when a female is young and thin,

in hindsight, we say, "She looked fantastic!" --

while, at present,

after years of filling out,

she "has really let herself go"?

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.

For What It’s Worth

When a musician dies,

I read their obit,

buy one of their records,

and study their story.

I want to honor their life

and their work,

their life's work

and their life's worth.

(the smell of a coffeehouse:)

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

(Miles Davis on tap)

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

In the Company of Angels

I keep the photo in a box,

the box that my grandmother

gave me one Christmas,

the box that holds a single

glass angel ornament with golden trim.

I tuck the picture

underneath the angel

for safe keeping.

The photograph captures

the Christmas that you

spent with us 18 years ago

in Nashville.

This is the first Christmas

that Grand is no longer with us,

and the first Christmas 

that the two of you,

complete strangers,

will somehow keep each other

company.

(Christmas cat –)

Christmas cat –
bedside greeting
begins with a pounce

Confessional

I have a taste
for the dark side.
And my two-fisted
drink preparation
gives me away
every time.

I make it a double,
now that one
simply doesn’t
cut it anymore.
My tolerance has
increased, as has
my thirst.

Does that make me
a junkie,
an addict?
Perhaps.

I’m not ashamed
of my need
for that extra shot.
It makes the day
tolerable,
worth living,
and I’m not afraid
to admit it.

You want me to
own up to the truth
for my
own good?

Well, fine.
I’ll shout it
from the rooftops.

I’VE TAKEN TO STEEPING
TWO TEA BAGS AT ONCE!

(ban on "bored" meetings:)

ban on "bored" meetings:
espresso, shortbread cookies;
jazz records on low

(cat in a frenzy:)

cat in a frenzy:
from the window --
watching falling leaves

(eyes widen:)

eyes widen:
brilliant, cranberry-
orange-colored foliage

(five neighborhood birds)

five neighborhood birds

chirping neighborly

from rooftop to rooftop

(You're like a rabid)

You're like a rabid

porcupine -- impossible

to safely engage.

Seasonal Criminals

There's something about
summertime sandals --

they're too much

to handle

when it comes to

the stench that

sweaty feet and

leather create.

My nostrils don't

celebrate or salivate about

the smell that emanates

from the partnership

that perpetrates

heinous crimes
against olfactory.