Fog on Golden Gate

Dawn was a Cyclops eyed volcano boiling
Across the bay, washed in earthbound clouds
Cars were swathed in dreamlike cotton candy
And in the city; buildings wrapped in shrouds

Stoplight of sun burns on hazy highway of life
Blinding daily drivers on their halted commute
Swallowed by fog’s vaporous tendrils gripping
Mechanical gypsies circumnavigate their route

Ancient morning has grown a beard like snow
From hairy smoke and steam along the ridge
White blankets drift across the highway below
Enveloping as they float; both river and bridge

Tug horns in harbor sound for ships in mist
The black and white world is a Bogart movie
A pink smudge of rouge stains the dreamy distance
Until taillights appear with makeup on cue

Waterfalls

Intrepid waters; swiftly toss;
Silver leap frogs on green moss
Velvet cushions on round stones;
Streambed carpet; cold and soft

Armored crayfish; speckled, dark
Dart quick beneath the shaded rocks
There the crusty crustacean hides
Until the sun with clouds collides

Gurgle; trickle; skin and bone
Plopping bass of a hollow log
Tumbling tenor of foamy stones
Ghosts of gravity; waterfalls

The Moonlit Sea

At night the wind blows warm
across the rolling waves
Washing in the speckled foam;
tired tourist footprints lay
Jellyfish in sequined gowns
upon the ballroom floor
Twirl electric tentacles
and sparkle down the shore

Bright stars come to wash their faces
in the moonlit sea
The rumbling crash of salty surf
sings like a melody
The soothing ancient song of time;
the vast primordial womb
Every creature in the brine
joins the chorus of the tune

Starfish upon the ocean floor
salute their heavenly sisters
And march to edges of the shore
to view the scenic vistas
Sand dollars roll to spend themselves
in midnight blue casinos
While hermit crabs in borrowed shells
payroll the rumbling Reno

Take a chance to dance, romance;
the gamble is on love
Bets are heavy in the sand
as in heavenly lights above
Hang your wishes on the stars
with each romantic notion
The moon will find you where you are
like fishes in the ocean.

I Like to Watch the Ladybug

I like to watch the lady bug putting away her wings
Beneath her polka dot umbrella and such silly things






I like to see the bumble bee carrying heavy bags
Yellow sacks of pollen hanging from his sturdy legs





I like to watch the writing spider waiting for a fly
Wondering if his diary will record my passing by







I know I might sound simple as a child who needs no toy
But miracles have meanings in the things that I enjoy

Men of Boats

Men of boats go down to the sea;
Calloused hands and watch caps with nets
Salt crusted line of clinging barnacles
Slapping the water like a lover’s stomach

Stale cigarette smoke trapped in cold air
Exhaled by red cheeked brave in clouds
Swarthy scarred by frozen sun and rain
Intent and heroic; more hungry than proud

Soldiers go down to battle to fight;
Poets to till rich fields of dreams;
Lovers to love and laugh or cry
Men of boats go down to the sea