Daily Archives: December 4, 2004

Blow Thou, Winter Wind

Blow thou, winter wind, on my shutters and doors,
knock down happy scenes outside department stores,
and lay your hand over the acres of trees
picked before their prime and chopped off at the knees.

Set loose your ice knife blade and cut through the night,
send glad-handing carolers running in fright,
wreak havoc on fake snow and decorative sleighs
and overwrought, wasteful electric displays.

Blow on, winter wind, separate wheat from chaff,
and I will smile merrily, and even laugh
when your icy breath on the window panes rasps
and rattles lawn ornaments and dry bird baths.

Send all the leaves, dried out, their chlorophyll gone,
to rest on the self-righteous manicured lawns
of those who would well-wish just once every year;
Blow on, and once all of the garbage is cleared

keeping blowing until you have gusted your fill.
Blow ye most triumphantly, blow as ye will;
and then, when your efforts have cleaned off the swill,
meet me at the top of some sad, lonely hill

to lend me your strength — let it fill up my lungs.
Together, we’ll seek out new songs to be sung,
and gather fresh myths to raise our kids among
that see the world once more as vibrant and young.

04 DEC 2004

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Two Murders

Two murders I witnessed in opposite trees
across the canal, voicing cacophony;
a trial of wills between territories
resulting in blackened skies, as the light breeze
of morning and rain brought a chill to my knees.

Not often such numbers are gathered this way,
suggesting an omen to christen the day
accompanying storm clouds hung heavy and gray,
their pregnant, expectant rough edges in fray
awaiting the hour when havoc would play

on all thoughts of picnics, or sunlit parades.
I watched as the black wings formed out of the shade
there in the tall cypress where their nests were laid;
and just for a moment, felt cold and afraid —
then sipped from my hot cup of coffee, just made,

and drew on my pipe, let the thick smoke surround
my head, and then slowly, not making a sound,
rose from my chair, let my feet feel the ground
cool underneath me, and looked once around,
and thought of myself, quite small and unprofound.

Two murders I witnessed in opposite trees
this morning while killing time quite patiently;
and though it was quite unrelated to me
I pondered some moments on the irony
that such things should happen, and that I should see.

04 DEC 2004

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