1705. Managing Appearances Over Ice Cream

On that last day
They went
For ice cream
Together
He requested a cup
She ordered a cone
Inwardly he groaned
About how
It might look
To a casual
Observer
As she ate
She was careful
To do nothing
That would raise
Any eyebrows
She cautiously
Withheld
Any flirtation
As it was clear
He wanted distance
And hoped none
Would think
They had any
Remaining
Relationship


Dating

1810. Barack Obama's Promise

Our first black president
Signals a bright day
For an America
Whose people needed
His message
Of hope and change


Life in San Francisco

1869: Palin: A Post Turtle

And I quote:
"Sarah Palin
Is a post
Turtle"
As proclaimed
By an Alaska
Citizen
And reframed
By an illustrious
Princeton
Alum,
John Bunzel.
To define
"Post turtle,"
He replied:
"She's like
A turtle you
See
While driving
On the highway
Perched
Precariously
High
Atop a post.
You know
She didn't
Climb
Up there
By herself.
She doesn't know
What to do
In the situation,
And you
Have to wonder
About the dumbass
Who
Put her there
In the first place."
No other
Commentary
Is really
Necessary
To discuss
The governor
From Alaska.
Many thanks
For these words
Go to John Bunzel,
Princeton class
Of 1946.


Life in San Francisco

1867. Crisp Green Where It Should Be

Today's
Brilliant
Beauty
Warm sun
Fresh
Cool air and
All the trees
Still a crisp
Green
Make it
Momentarily
Impossible
To remember
Stocks
Are falling
Like winter
Leaves


Life in San Francisco

1866. Painted Silk Sky

Lavender
Blends
Into soft
Orange
With the moon
A cradle
For the night's
First star


Life in San Francisco

1865. Sari Sunrise

Sari silks
In my memory
From a friend's
Indian wedding
Mirror
Brilliant
Sunsets
And dawns
Making a woman
Their center
A star


About Women

1864. Eery

Empty airports
Short
Lines in stores
Clear driving
On the highway
The easy feel
Of an economy
Sliding deeper
Into catastrophe


Life in San Francisco