23.4.12

Image: The swan taking flight

 

113) No time to be stayin in bed a layin’

I gotta mind places to find

Not a hard task where to ask

A receptionist who got the gist

Googled where I wanted to be

And printed of a map for me

Then by the river conditions right photograph a swan beginning its flight

Rung my friend to greet and decide where for lunch to meet

Drunk my coffee in the morning sun now get my little road machine

To the filling station for gasoline

 

114) Images captured in bronze or stone

In the Umlauf garden shown

Pieta depicting both death and sorrow,

Child sucking toes hope for tomorrow

Mother and child depicted there, image of war, loss and despair

Childs eyes cloudy or clear, living in hope or in fear

Image of refugee, futility of war for all to see

A look of helplessness and despair, wondering if the world will care

Ballerina not out of place, figure of beauty and grace

Poetess looking up as if seeming to seek inspiration or just dreaming

Angels wing as if ready to take flight skater twirling with delight

Upon the lake we find lovers in each others arms entwined

Naked without a care oblivious to anyone standing there

Christ crucified across from empty seat, at the time thought defeat

But we all know the story, the third day when he rose in glory

Young girl no arms but the sculptor still shows he maidenly charms

Rhino, wild boar, beast of burden and colt almost alive as if ready to bolt

Spirit of flight uplifted arms and eyes, ready for the freedom of the skies

While Icarus, the legend we know, falls to the earth below

Looking over all like watchful sentry, Christ on donkey, his triumphal entry

All this and more so sublime

In the Umlauf gardens, captured moments in time

 

24.4.12 - 115) Wakin’ from my sleepy heaven the clock showed 10 past 7

Soon showered and towelled down, breakfast the head downtown

To the visitor centre I’m goin’ places to visit I need to be knowin’

So I’m not sittin’ bored an’ blue, git out and find something to do

 

116) By the junctions they sit or stand, some with notice in hand

Homeless, jobless, quite a range asking for any loose change

Yet it can be surprisin’ to find one or two enterprisin’

For a few dollars they clean your automobile windscreen

You can’t miss them as you drive, simply tryin’ to stay alive

Downtown Austin may show its past glory

But the roads in tell a different story

 

117) After the bustle of Downtown tranquillity I’d seek

Off the Capital Highway at Bull Creek

Sittin’ listenin’ to the river flow watchin’ the butterfies hoverin’ low

Rocks by the creek edges, water power carved out ledges

From the small valley the water reaches

Flatlands like dried up stone beaches

Still nature showin’ plants through it growin’

From the trees like a machine gun burst rat-a-tat-tat

Woodpecker at one with his habitat

The creek low but clear, now time to get outa here

Gonna go down the road some more an’ see what else nature has in store

 

118) Tranquillity still chasin’ next stop Wild Basin

A wilderness park where more time can be spent

Collectin’ my thoughts for tonight’s event

An’ seein’ what can be seen before rejoinin’ the poetry scene

But it was there I’d find I’d left most of my work behind

On the table layin’ at the motel where i was stayin’

Back there I found them parts one and two, and my bag of props too

Not quite the day I’d planned but at least I’ve got things in hand

 

119) The Ruta Maya the first time as a featured poet with my rhyme

How it all came back when last year I read without fear

Memories of the day, I read and gave a pen away

To a fellow scribe, using it as a bribe

Saying don’t in the background lurk, get up here and read your work

Four hours of music and word

Old poems we may have heard before, new poems from our latest score

Whatever it’s still a delight, when folks get up and recite

 

120) Open mic goin’ well poets with stories to tell

Some about food some downright rude

Listenin’ to ‘em comin’ over loud an’ clear, an’ meetin’ folks I met last year

Poets with that Texan drawl, beginning with “Howdy y’awl”

And a pleasant surprise when they decide to improvise

Then later the place’ll sway when it’s time for the music to play