orange liqueur

summer grass has gone to seed
basil is purple with end of summer
somebody is going to die
I'm really scared
Robert lost a foot and his sight
Dick can hardly breathe
my heart's going
things break

I have an old sugar bowl
cream colored with flowers
one flowered plate from an old set
a tea pot without a lid
a cracked cup

we're a matched set
blue eyes, freckles
children running in the street
lined up at the table at lunch
I made Sunday breakfast
bacon crisp, eggs
hot enchiladas from the corner
Daddy breezing in from his walk
eight bowls of oatmeal in the morning

skates at Christmas
race down the sidewalk in the cold evening
sparks fly
red wagons
deliver the fat
Sunady paper
share the comics
sweet peaches from a neighbor's tree

we sit at the table talking
hands cut the air
vintage cloth
bright pitchers of milk and coffee
orange liqueur in the sorbet
I'm really scared

bucket

water bucket red
on garden deck with dipper
plants stand tall thirsty

There are a number of stories in The Five Books of Moses of God favoring younger sons: Cain and Able, Jacob's sons, Joseph, the youngest son. The custom among ancient Israelis, as in many cultures, was to favor the elsest son. I think the reasons those stories are told and stories about elder sons taking their rightful places are not is that it was ordinary for elder sons to inherit land and blessings. When a younger son is favored, that is worthy of not. Each time the story of a favored younger son is told is unique. The story is told because it is noteworthy for its own reasons.

chair

old green kitchen chair
carved wooden dowels form back
worn seat curve welcomes

I've been out of touch for a while, but I haven't noticed anyone noting that Bill Clinton left the biggest budgetary surplus in history, and Dubya managed in eight years to turn it into the biggest deficit we've ever had. Maybe I just missed it, or maybe I'm missing something else, but I think we need to note that fact. Personally I'd like some sort of explanation other than voodoo economics since the Republicans seem to be still pushing the same economics on the theory that they can save us from the Bush Depression.

Birth Pangs

Nothing happens
eternal silence moves nothing
no light, dark
no absence or presence

but One
God does not speak
suddenly (time) dense dark something is
spinning

silent, minute cosmos
explodes, expands
rushing into existing nothing
things coalesce

God looks on
interessted