Is it irony
that we honor the Bison
for surviving the bounty?
~
This picture and your
poetic question stir our
hearts and bring remorse.
If you invited
poets and politicians
to lunch what would you serve them?
~
For these dinner guests:
the milk of human kindness;
big ol’ slice of humble pie!
When celebrating
those venerated mothers,
what aspect most worth noting?
~
Though we can’t choose our
mothers, each can choose what in
them they venerate.
If life’s a gamble,
should we still bet even
when we don’t hold such great cards?
~
When playing roulette,
bet even to play longer:
there are no cards in roulette.
I just have to ask,
Since the writing’s on the wall,
In whose glory shall we bask?
~
All glory goes to
the graffiti artist who
just wants his words heard.
How will we know when
we’re truly in our dotage?
By then will we even care?
~
The CEO says,
“If you spend your time seeking
anything but cold hard cash.”
Why do we see grief;
why thorns instead of roses;
when beauty is everywhere?
~
We must make room for
it all – grief, thorns, and roses-
pain and beauty everywhere.
So, my poet friend,
what do you do when not one
word crosses your worn-out brain?
~
Close old eyes and breathe.
Imagine a place of peace.
Look for its pieces nearby.
Does a real wise guy
have the answer, or just know
how to ask better questions?
~
A wise guy has all
the answers. A wise man knows
when to ask the right question.
Are owls really wise
just because they keep up that
constant questioning?
~
There’s more to wisdom
than asking the same question
until the answer changes.
When catching our breath
after a creative sprint,
how can we keep our pens sharp?
~
Putting them down for
a brief time can sharpen pens
and replenish wit.
Is writing poems
this election season just
fiddling while Rome burns?
~
Poets may put out
the fire when voters are
asleep at the switch.
Walking in the woods
always fosters inner peace.
Why is that the case?
~
Don’t ask me, ask that
bear. He just dined on several
walkers thus inclined.
When what we see is
not what we get is someone
running for office?
~
Either that or else
ad-men are having their way
with someone’s breakfast food.
When a two year old
greets heads of state in his robe,
can he have a normal life?
~
Robed or unrobed, two
year olds greeting heads of state
say goodbye to normal life.
Any suggestions
on how elders can best cope
with youthful indiscretions?
~
Just harken back to
your many youthful follies
and remember, you survived.
Why do words alone
fail to snare the attention
of the common man?
~
Perhaps the common
man is wise enough to know
words don’t always make it so.
If Shakespeare was right,
why do we insist the fault
lies in the stars, not in us?
~
Shakespeare placed his faith
in “Deus ex machina”;
and so, therein, lies the fault.
When considering
exploitation of heaven,
shouldn’t we explore it first?
~
What? And ruin our
hard-earned reputation of
looting before we look?
Once we’ve poisoned our
land, air, and water, will we
seek refuge in yonder stars?
~
If history repeats,
we’ll be seeking yonder stars
for resources, not refuge.
If compassion can
help the world be safe, why do
we resort to force?
~
Some say “might makes right”
but taking force from the fight
lifts compassion to new heights.
Who defines courage,
Those who observe bravery,
Or those who brave through their fear?
~
Those whose song springs from
the heart and who carry on
from there are called courageous.
When minds are drowning
in fear-filled chatter, how
can we rescue them?
~
Turn off the spigot,
let the hatred drain away,
and remember that we’re loved.
When Russia rattles
sabers and candidates blab,
who’s on deck to keep us safe?
~
When leaders falter,
we the people must lead them
with reason and open hearts.
If Donald advised
us to choose wealth or wisdom
which would out-trump the other?
~
The wise man would choose
wisdom, the wealthy man wealth,
the rest work too hard to choose.
Do you agree that
apathy and silence is
synonymous with consent?
~
Indeed, this is true,
which is why we must create
a stir, vote, and speak.
During big winds should
we slow our breath so as not
to add to the disturbance?
~
When big winds blow hard,
we must shout all the louder
to be heard amid the din.
Is there greater joy
than witnessing the union
of two young people in love?
~
That joy could increase
on the day we see the love
of two bring forth a new life.
As the days pass by
will we increase in wisdom
or just put in time?
~
If we put in time
on the quest to seek wisdom,
days will pass, assuredly.
Has the risk of frost
finally passed us by at last,
or will frigid hearts prevail?
~
The greatest risk might
be when a frigid heart is
joined to a hot head.