HOME

Amazon and Bodhi
Glad to see me,
And I them.
Strawberries blooming,
Grape and blackberry vines leafing,
Blueberry bushes happy,
Fruit trees flowering,
Time to plant
Tomatoes,
Lettuce,
Green beans,
Okra
And such.

Minds,
Fertile soil
Await planting.
What will your garden grow?


Addendum: This concludes the series on my spring travels to North Carolina. I am currently on my third, consecutive, fall trip to New England and, no, it is not a foliage tour. I'm having a love affair with Maine, its coast, Vermont and upper-state New York. Cuba and Bath New York are in my sites today.

LAST NIGHT

On the road,
Truck stop,
Long, hot shower,
Oiled
Aching regions
With peppermint,
Nature's balm,
Then to bed,
In my backseat nest,
Eight hours later,
Ready to roll

BREACH MENDED

I went to the Grand Ole Opry, once,
After the Gaylords raped it.
Half-the-time I paid for,
I listened to semi-harmonic humans,
Sing "Cracker Barrel" commercials.
I swore I'd never eat there again.
Alas, on this trip,
My resolve vaporized.
I was hungry.
They promised good country cooking,
And it was.
Atlantic haddock grilled to perfection,
With fried apples, cornbread and a veggie.
So much for my proclamations,
Hunger levels the playing field.

FINALLY

Two lanes,
Moving good,
Hallelujah,
Amen,
Pass the biscuits,
Some jelly too.

GRIDLOCK CONTINUED

Movie,
Finding Forrester,
Quote,
"Those who can write, write.
Those who can't write, teach."
I'm not a teacher.
The rest is open for debate.
Unless it's good,
I don't want to hear it.
Opinions are like rectal outlets.
Hopefully, everybody has one.
If not, they've got a big backlog,
Just like this traffic jam.

GOING WEST

Into Knoxville,
Twenty miles of gridlock,
If I'd known,
I'd put up a hot-dog stand.
Frustrated travelers,
Me included,
While waiting,
Cobweb formed on dash.
Fine for speeding, $500,
What about loitering?

DETOUR

Headed west to Knoxville,
I-40 detour,
All around the countryside,
A hundred miles or more,
Six months ago,
Half a mountain fell.
Tennessee's half clear,
Christ Almighty,
When will North Carolina finish theirs?
My backside hurts.

THE PASSING GAME

She's hot to trot,
Sniffing up my back side,
Go on Fast Mama,
Teen lounging in back,
On cell phone,
Thank you God
For the silence

COUNTRY

Old barns,
Do you ever wonder what they've seen?
Sweating men,
Broke-down tractors,
Women calling, "Supper,"
Kittens,
Children playing,
Chickens and eggs,
Hay,
Horses bedded,
Cows milked,
Colts born,
Calving,
All and more,
I suspect.

LOG CABIN

Saw log cabin,
Built with Tinker Toys,
Lived in real one,
In Alaska,
Hauled water,
For drinking and bathing,
Outhouse,
Wood stove for heat,
Summers, garden flourished,
Falls, picked wild blueberries and cranberries,
Watched for bears,
They like berries too.
Life,
Simple,
Peaceful and
Content

SUNDAY MORNING

Passed old church with steeple,
Remembered Sundays with Grandmother Ollie,
She all powdered and smelling good,
Me in my best dress,
Singing those old gospel songs,
Her country twang,
My young voice,
All was right with the world.

MERRIMENT

On the beach,
Six children
Digging,
Running,
Laughing,
Squealing,
Building castles and
Greeting the surf.

Oops,
Mom patrol,
"Settle down,
You're having too much fun."

ON THE BEACH

Abandoned, yellow, plastic starfish smiling,
Passed on to waving toddler.
Pampered child crying,
Enjoying being inconsolable

Bikini body show,
Strutting wares,
Muscled surfboard daddies,
Looking cool

Nippy, at eighty-three,
A true beauty queen

No perfect shells for me,
But shards tumbled smooth,
In dancing patterns, and
Glistening hues of ruby-red,
Gold-to-brown, gray and white

BRUNCH AT THE CAUSEWAY CAFE

Menu reads:
Good home cooking,
Breakfast all day,
Big fat biscuits,
Omelets with scallops, shrimp and grouper
Lunch,
Seafood, wrapped or sandwiched,
Gumbo,
Vegetable plates of okra, zucchini, fried-green tomatoes and more

Betty, wizened waitress,
Face tells she smoked too long.
"How big is a grouper," I asked?
"A red fish," she says. "He's a pretty big boy."
"She is too," I say.
Betty smiles.

Cat, short for Catherine,
High school senior,
Waiting tables,
Plans on college,
Maybe Wake Forest
Or, first,
A semester in Africa on mission trip.

"Africa's more fun," say I.
"College will always be there."

On exiting, feels like home.
"Be back later," I say.
Cat and Betty nod.

NORTH CAROLINA BEACH

Arrival,
Ocean greets me.
"Welcome back."
Birds aflutter
Over balcony crumbs,
Long, hot bath,
Yoga stretches,
Seaside serenade,
Bed more comfy than my rumble seat


Addendum: On this trip, for speed and economy, I slept in the back seat of my vehicle.

ON THE ROAD

Third day,
Hey there,
Sporty, black roadster speeding by,
Running the trot line?
I have a heavy foot,
Raw elbows,
Aching back,
Sore cheeks and
Swollen feet.
Rush on ahead little buddy,
Sweep the trail for me.

LOOK OUT

Oklahoman headed to ocean,
Sea in nostrils,
Truck Stop Mama,
Gas,
Bathrooms,
$10 showers,
Parking well lit,
Sleep in car,
Good to go


Addendum:
All blogs since 8/8/11 were cosmic downloads during two solo, spring drives to North Carolina. The series continues with my ocean visits and return drives.