Image & Verse

it is forth from this fog
begins my journey

midst snares of habit
and chaos of distraction

provocative intrusions of impulse
their steely grip resolute
tug t’ward frenzy’s edge

yet clarity struggles
to find foothold

a tentative purchase
from whence a life
is launched and guided

confusion an insistent helmsman
steering a frantic manic course
and I a captive captain

blessed and cursed

set upon a wondrous quest
of worried fascination

ever charting port to port
troubled sea to troubled sea
on fragile footing

steadfast to overcome
to overcome
to always overcome

keys
especially car keys
reside in an alternate universe

not everyone is aware of this
but it is true

keys can crossover into our realm
and will
reluctantly
but this requires of us
a rather detailed ritual
involving cursing
combined with scowling
and at times shouting
the gritting of teeth
some degree of fist clenching
frantic lumbering from room to room
perhaps adding arm flailing
the turning of circles
and rigid glances to the heavens
to demonstrate earnestness

this generally is not sufficient
to recall the keys immediately
so
genuflecting becomes a major component
followed by deep bowing
to gaze suppliantly
under chairs
sofas
beds
desks
and dressers
large appliances
small might also be considered

be aware
it is not wasted endeavor to peer into the fridge
as it has been known to elicit positive results
though not often

keys still a no-show

then lifting of seat cushions is recommended
it appears to increase the power
of this prayer of reunion
tossing can be included for drama
some keys are drawn to drama

if still no sign of keys

then transition to the opening
and slamming
of multiple drawers
large and small
deep and shallow
wooden
metal
and synthetic

don’t forget to include the bathroom
as keys sometimes choose to reappear
in most unusual and exotic places

still no keys

then move to the pocket searching phase
jackets
shirts
trousers
walking shorts
it seems the more clothing types one addresses
during this portion of the ceremony
the more effective it is in summoning the keys

the rite may also need to include
the repetition of a number of ceremonial elements
already completed

it is not clear precisely how many must be repeated
so
this particular part of the ritual
is a bit of trial and error
very frustrating
but sometimes essential in conjuring keys

occasionally so is retracing
portions of this journey of petition
the exact requirements
for satisfying this backtracking
is also ambiguous
so
use your best judgment

in fact
one must remain aware
this is not an exact rite of entreaty
so
perseverance is highly recommended

if the keys are distracted
or otherwise engaged in their alter-realm doings
it may be necessary
to include a pilgrimage to the garage
to perform an in depth laying on of hands
in scouring the car

often this will stir the key’s attention
and bid them come
for they spend quite a bit of time
when in our realm
in close relationship with the car

if all else has failed to beckon forth the keys
it may be necessary to solicit the cooperation
and participation of a loved one
to then repeat the entire ceremony

if one resorts to this partnering
as a part of the search and retrieval ritual
it is important to honor the chosen loved one
with praise and gratitude
and certainly gifts are not out of place

please know
at times it is necessary to make such offerings
prior to securing cooperation of a loved one
especially if one did a poor job
bestowing ones thanks and admiration
following a previous such ceremony of discovery
in which the said loved one jointly participated

this is not sacrilege
and occasionally will bring about early success
in calling forth the keys

once the keys make their appearance
it is tradition to exaggerate ones relief and joy
extolling the virtues of the keys
careful never to scold
exclaiming their importance
and to boast promises
proclaiming how you will stay closer
and better in touch with the precious keys
understanding
that this pledge of fidelity and improvement
is completely ceremonial
and will have no real impact on the future

my keys

my car keys

where the hell are my car keys
I’ve looked everywhere

well
obviously not everywhere

I can’t keep track of things
better find Kathy

thank heavens for the gift of voice
makes her more difficult to lose

unless we’re in Costco

woman enjoy a special gift
the gift of invisibility
my keys share that gift

if it’s not the keys it’s my wallet
if not my wallet — my notes
a pen
my watch
that phone number

a book
the tickets
my eye-glasses
those personal receipts

some damned thing is always lost
my life is search and rescue

drives me up the wall
and everyone around me — crazy

except Kathy
patience personified

what would I do without my wife
wouldn’t be only my things that were lost

outside my window
midday celebrates
alive with September sun
and the scurry of creatures
warmed by late summer

nature
in splendid voice

the chuff of tree’d red squirrel
blend with the song
chirp
and trill of birds

chickadee
goldfinch
western bluebird
and others

fly
flutter
and flit

cracking the black-oil sunflower seeds
that spill from their feeders
under the patient eye of a red-tailed hawk
casually calling
from the top of a Sitka spruce
swaying in the crisp blue sky

woven into this sonic tapestry
the muffled belling of a deer
wandering in the safety of the old-growth
whispering in these foothills

the quiet bark of a neighbor’s dog
echoes through the basin
up along the stream
signaling its curiosity
reminding me we have friends nearby

the soothing rustle of leaves
large and small
stirred by the breezes
waft through this valley
smartly punctuated
by the staccato of conifer cones
that fall from time to time
wrested free by chickaree
and chipmunk
chattering high in the Douglas fir
busy with their forage

wap wap wap

they strike the ground
and bounce off our roof

closely followed
by the scamper of their liberators
crunching their way
to the heart-meat of the cone

the delicacy
that elicits this furious industry

I sit by the open window
with tea
and fascination
mesmerized by all I behold

intoxicated
by the heady fragrance
drifting in

cedar
pine
fir

lily
rose
morning glory

grasses
loam
and more

a rich earthy bouquet

I breathe deep
exhale
free a smile

and marvel

whomp whomp whomp

a mystery
voiced in the thump of blades
pounding urgently overhead
stirs my imagination

perhaps a screech of tires
a metallic crush
the scattered crackle
of fractured shards
were the precursors
of this percussive intrusion

suddened upon me

maybe a violent soul
forced an aberrant will
upon innocent unsuspecting
to be foiled by fate
or foolhardy valor
and now flees on foot

pursued overland

approaching
even as I wonder

or lurching blooms of rolling fire
leap from fir to fir
rushing wind-driven

hotly tracked
by the dousing smother
of this mechanized savior
thundering on high
intent to squelch the roaring destruction
feverishly consuming
the tindered old-growth
that surrounds this place
in which I dwell

whomp whomp whomp

the churning growl
and relentless roar
circling, circling, circling
in dopplered pulse
worrying aloft

drawing me upward
in fascinated speculation
anxious conjecture

until it slowly fades
trailing off into the afternoon
my curiosity in tow

leaving me
once again alone
in daydreams

•

his rant can be heard above the bustle of the homeward privileged
coarse ramblings from the rancid shadows
as fetid hands lift flame to spoon
and bring to boil the milk of his deliverance

he glides cold steel into the froth of sweet promise
still warm with transformation
to impale his demon with the blessed dagger
as silver-white dreams carry him away

gone – long before the battered wound will coagulate

•

I bring my hand
gently to your mouth
quiet your voice
for I am certain

if you loose your words
into this twisted world

they’ll be distorted

if you raise your song
over this deafened land

it will be lost

should your truth escape
into this barren place

it will die
of loneliness

if you free your love
in this frigid time

there will be no place
it can find warmth

save here
within my hand

our first guest is Salvador Dali
his work’s ‘out there’ but it’s not folly
he sees life in abstract and paints with great flair
he’s taken his work where few artists would dare

may I present Mr. John Lennon
you might know the band that he plays in
clever and candid what he thinks he will say
I think he might make a difference one day

please greet Mr. Kurt Vonnegut
he cuts to the truth quite literate
his writing is brilliant, his mind so alive
hope you get the chance to read Slaughterhouse Five

this gifted woman’s Joni Mitchell
much talent and wit – she’s insightful
a beautiful mind with a magical soul
the white queen of wisdom and sweet rock’n’roll

the man to my left’s known as Ghandi
his courage is truly beyond me
he rejects violence — it’s peace he does seek
confronts anger with patience — but he’s not weak

this lady’s Amelia Earhart
she’s bold and brave – yes, she stands apart
she’s committed to a great undertaking
solo trans-global’s the flight she’s soon making

our last guest is seated beside her
a beat poet – meet Gary Snyder
honest and spiritual, incredibly smart
his poems about nature stir the mind and heart

this dinner party’s purposely small
and I hope that it satiates all
so relax and enjoy and after we’ve dined
there’ll be one final course, a feast for the mind

nostrils singed by scalded air
too hot and thick to breathe

haltingly
I fill my lunges
to bake them in sustaining breath
this inferno to endure

skin weeps

salted droplets trace my spine
baste my neck
gather in the hollow
of my labored chest

hesitant in its struggle

bitter beads bloom and seep
from beneath the smother
of matted soak —
ooze down fevered slope
into my eyes

…and sting

molten sphere in steaming sky
glares down

incessant

energy expires
desires evaporate

thoughts grow sticky
coated in midday

tasks at hand
plans to make
will wait

life roils slowly
simmering deep in summer

even dreams are scorched