Friday, September 9, 2011

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

Thursday, September 8, 2011

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.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

HOMEWARD BOUND

Book draft complete,
Met with Ivey,
A living legend,
Artist extraordinaire,
Like sitting at the feet of
Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir,
Listening

Addendum: During my first trip to North Carolina in 2009, I met Ivey Hayes and his art, both of which resonated with my center. I saw that Ivey had captured the heart and soul of the African People in American, especially the African woman. At that time, Ivey and I agreed to collaborate on a book about his art and life. This piece was written in 2010, at the conclusion of my last visit to North Carolina. The book, Ivey Hayes: The Art of Living, is ready for publication and will be available in early 2012.

SEA GIFTS

Anne Morrow Lindberg,
Thank you for your Gifts from the Sea.
I came to find my own, and
They were everywhere,
For seeing eyes and
Listening ears.