Several days of rain

are coming to rescue us

from May’s record setting heat.

~

That may be a start

to drown this late springtime drought

that’s been stunting May flowers.

What if our whole world

is the neglected Habitrail®️

of some sullen cosmic kid?

~

We can imagine

many reasons to explain

the mess we find ourselves in.

In contrast to all

his late night rantings, the birds

fill the morning air with song.

~

Nocturnal jabber

remains the actions of a fool;

ignorant of coyotes.

Having just eclipsed

yesterday’s heat prediction,

what new benchmark shall we set?

~

One thing is certain:

under Trump, benchmarks like these

will bigly occur.

It’s not even June

and already it’s ninety.

Wonder what summer will bring?

~

If I had to guess,

I’d say we’ll crack a hindered

before summer can arrive.

Stayed up late with friends.

Up early and on the road.

Some choices are worth the work.

~

Satisfaction comes

when we are willing to do

what matters the most.

Those renegade calves

are strolling the neighborhood

again looking for mischief.

~

With luck, the mischief

slinking, howling, through my woods

won’t find a path, yonder way.

Springtime insects swarm,

seeking a new home in mine;

some housemates, I just don’t need!

~

I am one hundred

percent sure they share the same

feelings about us.

It may take some time,

but if we remain open,

wisdom might creep in.

~

These day, what creeps in

bears zero resemblance

to wisdom or intelligence.

Every now and then

we two poets lose our pens,

but we’ll pick them up again.

~

Work writing speeches

overtook poetic poise

and drained the ink from my pen.

If we’re rooted in

ourselves, we won’t be pulled off

course by other travelers.

~

As well rooted trees,

we can tolerate the gust

of all but the fiercest blows.

Unexpected guests

bring perspectives from afar,

demonstrating unity.

~

Separated by

distance but united in

mutual sharing.

Sometimes sleepless nights

are more a blessing than curse,

but last night was not that time.

~

In times like these, night’s

quiet is often filled with

negative rumination.

While it’s still dark

the birds ready themselves for

their usual sing-along.

~

Night birds wake early,

warming up the orchestra

so songbirds can greet the day.

This cool spring rain borne

on a northwesterly breeze

brings a sense of harmony.

~

And refreshment to

all who have been thirsty for

a much cooler song.

I’m a visitor 

on this planet and I’m glad

I had a chance to stop by.

~

It’s nice to visit,

sightsee, and meet the people

before moving on.

Virginia welcomes

you home with a spring bouquet 

of pink peonies.

~

New York sent me home

with a head full of mucous

and a hint of yankee charm.

I could not tell how

different New York City smelled

til I caught the scent of home.

~

Rural Virginia

and New York City -vastly

different in so many ways.

Someone should tell him

the less said the better, but

he’ll talk over them.

~

It’s not he can’t hear

what the other people say,

he just finds no value there.

The unsleeping city

wakes beneath a turquoise dome

where the sky had been before.

~

I would rather live

beneath an ever-changing

sky than an unchanging dome.

May’s opening act

occurs beneath a full moon,

a play of shadow and light.

~

A moon that never

finds a path to light the way

through these canyons; steel and glass.

Testing convention

Broadway’s eternal hallmark

holds the door open. Always.

~

Broadway’s door opens

to all that’s old, all that’s new,

and to all that’s tried and true.

It doesn’t matter,

rain or shine, birds and squirrels

continue to dine.

~

They’re independent

of market economies.

Oh how I wish, so were we!

Views from the train

provide unique perspectives;

Surreal Americana.

~

You don’t have to ride

trains to see how surreal

America has become.

Now that leaves return

and sight lines are foreshortened

these open woods feel darker.

~

Yet at the same time,

with the leaves’ return, the place

also seems brighter.

When things go awry,

regardless of who’s to blame,

accusations fly.

~

And when things go well

so many proclaim that they’re

the ones who deserve credit.

With Saturday comes

a chance to rest, but then I

looked at my chore list.

~

Mowing the lawn paused,

replaced in priority

by surprise tractor repair.

Rain stains horizon.

The sunset interrupted.

Somehow, its beauty enhanced.

~

A deep truth expressed

in nineteen words and three lines

thanks to my poetic son.

Sunshine and birdsong

and just right weather – April’s

perfect offering.

~

And as evening comes

sun sets into gloaming

presaging coming summer.

On this Earth day, we

must remember we can be

a force for change, you and me.

~

The earth is our home.

Let’s cherish and care for it

as long as we can.