how can a butterfly flutter by windward

how can a butterfly flutter by windward

when all else in the world is heading south?

the vehicles unnaturally going uphill

i peddle a little harder to reach this bench
 

but the butterfly's flight so soft and light

when even sparrows up blue winds fight

egrets rest after doing their best

Han waters pushed down like a steamrolled vest

 

i know how a butterfly works it out

she has no resistance and harbors no doubt

like winds of Chuang Tsu bend the branches

unlike weighty cattle on western ranches

 

if a butterfly had a voice i would hear her sing

like the love from my daughters erase life's sting

all the merriment the orange butterfly brings

like my son and my lover's wind under my wings

 

10-23-13

 

 



you may see an evil black devil in me

you may see an evil black devil in me
streaks of red blood dripping down my face
but I am King Jorma from the land of Hot Tuna
as anarchy's too scary in this place

that this shirt even fits me is a testament
to the life bike-riding the Han has meant
totally black Converse, my blue suade shoes
soften my flat feet and rout my gout

a Halloween event at the bushiban
for kids to enjoy the English-mon
what is spooky is why i look kooky
with classic branch broom accoutrement 

wearing it now, hours from the party
enjoying the river, laughing hardy
wrist-band black, Wobbly black cat
even my shorts and socks are that

if there were a party for adults
where costume and mayham result
i wouldn't be in it,heartburn would thin it
i just couldn't stand that tumult

10-25-13

gray egret

gray egret with head perpendicular to body
standing as stiff as a driftwood branch on rock
Han ripples white-crested splashing around him
grey egret, flys, skirts mist to further up
one gray egret like a black-sheep bird
wonders not why it's not lily-white
missed its chance to mate in flight
yesterday when egrets played
hop-scotching chasing dames away
in time for nests of rice stalks slashed
in clear-burned paddies nestling down
potatos growing in the ground
stedfast gray egret beyond the river-ocean
strange gray egret beyond familiar notion
can forget the narrow-minded egret
and then he sees one atop a mild breeze
float and sail through the wind
float and sail through and through the wind
spread those wide wings sail wide and wide

10-18-13

the grass-blower approaches

make haste,
the grass-blower approaches
racing the northerly breeze
pushing Han waters ever faster
tumbing bags of Doritos by
slowing vehicles up wind hilly climbs
lizards lose their hiding places
bottles show their ugly faces
so sad to see no hay sacks in sight

hark,
i hear a buzzing like bees
from gas tubes of blowing motors
even swooping gnat birds fly off
riverside sparrows sip off their cough
the harbringer blower sweeping the road
leaves on my sandwich, dust in my eye
before i start to cry
i must be on my way

10-15-13

now that i'm here, it's been a year

who measures time counts the days
the islands of life transitions
progress or regress by standing still
accounting laurels recognitions
counting words in literature
like money in the bank
possessions in the home
bottles of wine we drank
number of loves or lovers
days you get up and do it over
mornings you stay in bed
crises when you're rudely interrupted
and back in the saddle again.

now that i'm here, it's been a year
twelve thousand miles uncovered
back for the flood to clean up the mud
off to Japan despite Suzanne
New York half-summer, couldn't be dumber
up to Albany, Newington, Quebec
people i love and will never forget
sought Duquene in the Pitt of the burger
sweet Intercourse Amish crossing
down in the dungeon the home i'm divorcing
smoking an ounce, eating, not flossing
teaching dear children is my pleasure
reading and writing at my leasure
loving Leona timeless, priceless
who measures time?
goodbye to the thankless

10-14-13

as the sun goes down on Saturday

as the sun goes down on Saturday
the evening could be cozy
with wine and cheese and warm affection
perhaps a film or non-talk TV
nachos cheese tequila white lightning
or even some place to go
a scooter ride or perhaps a stroll

we could get on a train to another town
bed-up 'till morning and then move around
or ruin the night suggesting it

i want to fly into a cloud
blind to the other side coming out
what can i do and what can i see
i love you so much i'll wait for thee
whatever you feel we'll make it real
doing nothing is the biggest deal

10-12-13

this is Taiwan's patience

pirate hideout rendezvous
bury booty, patch a sloop
trade with natives maybe stay
live to plunder other days
stormy haven, plant a seed
hunt and gather, build some huts
start a plantation
cash crop colonizers
Portugese and Chinese
Dutch, and wily Japanese
never a country or a nation
Sinification, Japanification,Americanization
who are the Taiwanese?
tell me please, tell them please
collecting these for centuries
Pacific island
superstitious
warm and friendly
and so delicious
so Han waters run
through draughts and typhoons
many influences
o'er rain forests and plains
many moons
this is Taiwan's patience
and will remain
this is the hood, this is for good
for those who home here
living as we should
for carpetbaggers and capitalist business
for colonizers and communist traitors
be on your way, suck my fist!
don't patronize her
we learn to resist!

10-10-13