100 Short Poems
Parade
A carnival of marching bands, motorized floats and mounted riders
spills down the broad avenue between the cheering, happy throngs.
Sleek and sequined majorettes toss and catch their batons in unison.
Clowns with huge shoes and large handbags gift children with candy.
The delighted mind can't help but want one like it to jazz up every day.
Harbingers
My window panes rattle. Outside
the clouds are speeding elsewhere quickly.
Bare tree branches wave as if crazed.
Brown leaves scud along the ground.
From the west, a cold front is pushing in.
Early adventure (Kennebunkport, ME)
All unaware of the dangers involved,
how could two exploring boys resist
the weathered rowboat with oars found
becalmed in the tidal reeds and rushes
beside the river running rapidly out to sea.
Recollection
Stepping innocently at first
down the decades of my life
but unable finally to find a narrative -
my mouth and memory both now
filled full with the bitter.