On The Rocks

The Ice Cutters, 1911 ~ Natalia Goncharova 

tinkle tinkle tiny cubes
scotch on rocks 
come get it, Rubes
stir it .. mix it
drink it down
raisin' hell all over town
tinkle tinkle tiny cubes
filling ice bags
for the Boobs
'tis the season
so they say
drink too much
 a price you'll pay

No Smoking Allowed

image ~~ r.a.d. stainforth

problem is 
they suck kids in
with images of
bad boys
 naughty girls
cigs dangling 

sexy from pouty lips
cigs for a boost
cigs to lose weight
cigs to look cool
parents, teach your children well

Waiting

Under Windsor Bridge ~ Adolphe Valette 

he stands, shoulders hunched

against a bone chilling mist

waiting for his ship to come in

for his life to begin
how did he arrive at this place

what twist of fate

brought him to this pier

alone .. with little to show

for a life half over .. half lived

he stares with unseeing eyes  

waiting for the ship 

that will never come

A Cruel Disease

ALS~ an impartial disease 

She forms words
in her mind

brilliant, succinct

words she cannot speak 

[ her mind intact
her body failing ]

ALS ~ a cruel disease

motor neurons misfiring

muscles wasting

iron converting to rust 

no way out 

no happy ending

disintegration  

unstoppable 

ALS ~ a merciless disease

On Fire

once I looked into your eyes
I knew the flame of love burned bright
I failed to kindle that flame 
as some might

given the chance
I would look deeper
  find the flame 
that is burning there
within your heart

Behold the Tooth Brush

Behold the lowly toothbrush

basic tool they say
for cleaning teeth and brushing gums
to keep decay at bay

I suspect if you are just like me
you hang on way too long
to brushes filled with germs & mold
and that's just plain old wrong

We must hear what dentists preach
replace our brushes often
two weeks, three weeks you should know
they begin to soften

Be careful where you store that brush.
no dark enclosures - cases
your toothbrush needs a place to breathe
dry air - open spaces

Take heed of what I tell you
listen to what I share
if you don't .. I promise you this
countless hours in your dentist's chair