April 14, 2021: Dinosaur Victoria

               Dinosaur Victoria

There was a friendly dinosaur
                  That came through a tunnel in time.
                  She was thrashing around under the floor.
                  I didn’t know, really, what was in store.
                  Was she a burglar committing a crime?

 

I knew that a burglar wouldn’t make such a noise,

So I called to her, but she wouldn’t talk.

I had tables and shelves there that could be destroyed.

It was time that my wits must be deployed.

I yelled, “Stop it!” and heard her squawk.

 

I opened the door to look downstairs.

She was sad, and her skin had turned blue.

It had been a long time since she’d smelt the air,

And she had no family with whom she could share

What dinosaurs like to do.

 

I opened up both of the cellar doors,

And she was grateful to wriggle outside,

Even though it was about to storm,

She rolled over the sidewalk, and danced on the lawn

In movements dignified.

 

I think she used to live in a swamp

Because her face and her feet were so mucky.

As the rain poured down and she continued to romp,

Her scales started shining like glowing lamps,

And I could tell she was feeling ducky.

 

For a year or more, she stayed in our yard,

And became the best of my friends.

Though we held each other in high regard,

She yearned for the future, though it might be hard.

I don’t know how her story would end.

 

She’s an adventurer from back in the past,

All alone, but full of good will,

Who showed that more than the fossils can last;

Who offered a hope which I did not ask

That I can find her tunnel still!

 

April 14, 2021: "Two Bears" by Hafiz in "The Gift", page 123

 Two Bears

Once
After a hard day's forage
Two bears sat together in silence
On a beautiful vista
Watching the sun go down
And feeling deeply grateful
For life.

Though, after a while
A thought-provoking conversation began
Which turned to the topic of
Fame.

The one bear said,
"Did you hear about Rustam?
He has become famous
And travels from city to city
In a golden cage;

He performs to hundreds of people
Who laugh and applaud
His carnival
Stunts."

The other bear thought for
A few seconds

Then started
Weeping.

April 13, 2021: Don't Refuse

Don’t Refuse
 
Do you ever feel
  As though people are using you?
    You know, you’re not alone . . .
Do you ever feel sad
  About those that are losing you
    When they look at your wonder and groan?
Do you ever wonder
  What it I that’s confusing you
    When you’ve got your whole life to own?
Why do you feel
  That the world’s just amusing you
    When it’s hard as a rock and you’re chilled to the bone?
 
It’s up to who?
  And when are you through?
    And how do you know what you’ve got to do to be loved?
It’s what is the use?
  I’m a circus recluse
    In the chains of a freak.
    Let me loose!  Let me loose!
In a cold, dark cell, I wait for the noose.
 
Or is it that the toll of the iron bell is to
Break the evil spell,
Drag me from my shell,
Tear me out of a hell of a lot
That I don’t know how to use?
 
When I’m free from the wall
  I’ll led you to choose –
You who thought I had only to lose!
But you’ll know if I find you.
Please don’t refuse to be loved.

April 13, 2021: With that Moon Language by Hafiz in "The Gift", page 322

With that Moon Language

Admit something:

Everyone you see, you say to them,
"Love me."

Of course you do not do this out loud:
Otherwise,
Someone would call the cops.

Still, though, think about this,
This great pull in us
To connect.

Why not become the one
Who lives with a full moon in each eye
That is always saying,

With that sweet moon
Language,

What every other eye in this world
Is dying to
Hear.

April 12, 2021: Physical Synthesis of an Idea

Physical Synthesis Of An Idea
 
Deep inside a cave, a chemist has synthesized
A special form of joyful, ecstatic love.
He spends day and night creating more and more of it
In different grades and colors.
He makes it into mortar to brick a wall around his home.
He pours buckets of it into his swimming pool.
He paints it onto his face, and no one knows him.
But they love him!
He mixes it with his lamp oil
And burns it!

 

April 12, 2021: "Refuge of Nocturnal Birds" - Salvatore Quasimodo in "Italian Lit. in Transla.", pg. 335

 A Refuge of Nocturnal Birds

High on a cliff there's a twisted pine;
intently it listens into the abyss
with its trunk curved down like a crossbow.

A refuge of nocturnal birds,
in the deepest hours of night it resounds
with the swift fluttering of wings.

Even my heart has a nest
suspended into the darkness, and a voice;
it, too, lies awake listening at night.

April 11, 2021: Two Little Children

Two Little Children
 
Two little children, far from a home
Where their parents had turned into strangers.
It was late in the night when they set off to roam,
For they thought it the lesser danger.
 
For water, they followed a lazy stream
Where bushes and grass grew tall,
And though defensive birds would dive and scream,
They couldn’t be seen at all.
 
They had a salve to keep insects at bay.
They didn’t know what they were after.
They were only trying to make their way.
The wind in the trees seemed like laughter.
 
Laughing at -- or laughing with?
Up rose the friendly sun.
The two were the heroes of a made-up myth,
And were out for survival . . . and fun!
 
They’d travelled several days so far,
Using Sarah’s fearless madness.
She found a whole bag of food in a car.
How they danced in their grateful gladness!
 
But even with food, they at times felt forlorn.
Could their journey be sustained?
Doris’ shirt had got dirty and torn,
And the clouds were threatening rain.
 
So they made their way towards a friendly farm
To find a place they could sleep.
They slipped through the gate of a simple barn,
And lay down next to some sheep.
 
A boy came out with a bag of feed,
And asked them if all was well.
How long had they been there?  Were they in need?
He told them that he wouldn’t tell.
 
He only wanted to hear their tale,
And he seemed like a really nice guy.
“Eventually,” he said, “The law will prevail,
But I’ll try to help you get by.”
 
At least they had someone to whom they could speak
From a family that seemed so fine!
They hung around for about a week,
‘Til they decided they’d had their time.