The Leaning Tower
-o-
Perceptions
It’s all about perceptions
Orientation
Crooked yet straight
Dizzy yet alert
Slightly off center
Yet still standing
Making a statement.
The Surface
—o—
We operate
You and I
We nod, we converse, we agree
We go about our business
On the surface
`
The chinks
They show on occasion
But we conceal them
Expertly shroud them
On the surface
`
And those who dare
Peep beneath
They rear aghast
At the rife ugliness they see
A cauldron of noxious brews
`
Of voices falling on deaf ears
Of conflicting emotions
Of affections forgotten
Of relations trivialized
Of promises broken
`
Yet it all appears just fine
On the surface
`
A perfect day in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
—o—
Grumpy
After a long work night
Battling my instincts
To fall asleep at the wheel
Or run through the red light
No I can’t hit the bed yet
It’s friday still
School drop
And chores, endless chores
Milk’s run out
And yes apples,
Can’t do without those damn apples.
I prowl around
In a half daze
Dumping stuff
In my recyclable cloth bag
Green is my middle name
`
Then disaster strikes
At the checkout counter
With all my effects on the floor
On display for the world
To see and ridicule
And just when I was ready
To pitch and scram
Before the tears sprout
Like from a ruptured dam
I felt a gentle tap on my arm
It was the grocery clerk
Always in attendance
With a warm smile on her face
I sighed with relief
Everything will be fine
Because of little Ms. Sunshine
Love Is…
—o—
Love is innocent
Love is pure
Love is tough
It can endure
Love is a rock
It stands the test of time
Love is tender
A sweet surrender
Love is honey
Yet it can taste bitter
Love is desire
Sets hearts a twitter
Love is work
May take years to master
A genuine effort
Can unravel this twister
Love is weird
Hard to comprehend
It is a riddle
A never-ending maze
Love is pernicious
Most fall victim
Remedies are simple
A look, a touch, a dimple.