Two Garden Poems

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.

.

This
brilliant
poem shines
with no knowledge, the words
empty of meaning, without any
usefulness, a dogwood
blossom the
light breeze
blows.
.

.

.
The
calla
lilies’ curved
yellow horns, the pink-tinged
yarrow, the rich red of the Asian
lilies -- I pick the plump
strawberries
in their
midst.

Daoist Poem

First Movement

Follow Dao
Look for Dao in every situation
In the writing of this poem
In the selection of words
Words that travel
From my mind to your mind
Like migrating geese
Leaves floating on streams
Passengers in flight
From one city to another

To realize Dao
Remove the obstacles
Even your mind

Birthday Poem

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Happy

birthday, wife:

simply stated, I know:

our love grows stronger yearly: kindness

knows kindness: what matters

more than that,

you know?

Now and Then

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The
future
can be known:
watch children at school: watch
what they do: the future that forms them
they will form: they become
the future
before
long.

.

.

.

When her
hearing aid
squeals, I recall tuning
the frequencies on old radios:
I wonder what she hears --
what sweet songs
she knows.

Damn Spot

Ms.

Palin,

those of us

who understand the need

for informed, open-minded leaders

think you should stay away

from public

office.

Out.

Flag Day Birthday

Born
quondam
on Flag Day,
I never understood
the reason for displaying the flag.
To celebrate life well
one must fly
beyond
days.


Will
the dead
march the streets
on Flag Day to protest
this nation’s rape by the greedy men
who bury their millions?
The dead roam
this lost
world.


Hang
the flag
from a pole,
from your porch, from morning
until the moon makes it wave goodbye:
hang it upside down, too:
drape it all
around
you.

Orange Alert

...

Dorothy.
call Glinda,
please: we need a new Oz.
The munchkins have gotten out of hand.
They gutted the old Oz
then ate what
remained.