animals gathering

illustrator: JRZ

 

The Owl and the Pussycat
by Edward Lear
I
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
   In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
   Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
   And sang to a small guitar,
“O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
   What a beautiful Pussy you are,
      You are,
      You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!”
II
Pussy said to the Owl, “You elegant fowl!
   How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
   But what shall we do for a ring?”
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
   To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
   With a ring at the end of his nose,
      His nose,
      His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
III
“Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
   Your ring?” Said the Piggy, “I will.”
So they took it away, and were married next day
   By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
   Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
   They danced by the light of the moon,
      The moon,
      The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
 
“The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear. Public domain.

Matryoshka Love

In I Go
Discoveries I Make
Five Layers Under

Five years unfold.
I see more to trust and enjoy!
FIRST There was the black aura which led to mystery.
SECOND There was the music which played on guitar, ukulele, and keyboard.
THIRD There was the careful scheduling which brought your wife’s frenzies to rest.
FOURTH There was the concentrated listening which made every in-law and relative feel valued, appreciated and known.
FIFTH There were your parents who bring simplicity and order to all of us.
They elevate the details to tributes of love and esteem.
They designate cat fur exotic, the cat hospice the Taj Ma-hal
Insects become et-cet-er-as!
BRING THEM ON, ALL THE TINY MINISCULE DOLLS. I’m listening

Discovering Woodstock, NY

Love is like the grass, but the heart is deep, wild rock. DH Lawrence

Drove from Hudson to Woodstock
to Upstate Movie Theater
to view Redford’s film “The Company You Keep”
http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/2r0l6TBszwo

Arrived 2 hours before the show
to see George Conant playing keyboard on the stage.

He invited us to come to theater
on Sundays, around noon to hear the live house band.

The heart of Woodstock is musicians.
Poems on Tuesdays, bands every night.
The vocalists can’t commit to every rehearsal
Too little control over the deep, wild rocks.

George learned piano, but plays guitar and bass;
Staging with the ghosts of past Woodstock Gatherings.

“Where should we eat?” I ask,
“And can we bring back a fish taco for you?”
Mexican restaurant with jalapeno lights and 100 masks
from El Salvador and Guatemala.

“No charge for tickets” George offers.
“Food costs more than ticket fee.”

“This is our last 35mm film showing” George announces.
“Digital from now on.” Gray heads marvel at the speed
Of media’s rocketing through the deep, wild rocks
Into 3D.
We’re spellbound with the film, and Woodstock’s stage:

Deep, wild rock dreams
for young and old
pull our heart strings!