King Kevin
Rides a kangaroo.
King Kevin
Dines on kumquat stew.
King Kevin
Looks a lot like you.
He does not know what else
to do.
Poor king, poor king, poor king.
Alphabet, Schmalphabet – K, k
2
The Pirate’s Lullaby
Hush now, child, now go to bed
Now close your eyes, rest your head
For now we end our day.
And while you sleep, the pirates creep
Into the town and up the street
To carry you away.
And you shall be a pirate king
A king of endless isles
The gentle rain shall fall on you
The lazy sun shall smile
And yours will be a bonny ship
And bonny be your crew
And singers who sing of wondrous things
Of treasure maps and golden rings
And birds that swim, and fish with wings
And the dreams that are dreamed by pirate kings
Shall sing of you.
The Chinese Dragons 3
III.
It is a dragon that swallows the moon.
A dragon delivers the rising sun in its jaws.
Knowing nothing of despair or love,
While its heart remains hidden it cannot be killed.
An Apology
O spider, dear spider, why did I ever shrink from you in fright?
I am sorry now I did, for now I know it was not right.
O spider, dear spider, please watch and keep me safe tonight
Only do not come too close, please; only mind you do not bite.
The Chinese Dragons 2
II.
In the time before men the dragons ruled the air,
Spurning the ground,
Fearing nothing, not even the sea.
Evil by their birth,
They were most noble.
Alphabet, Schmalphabet – P, p
Plink, plank, plop
A house without a top.
The dog’s all wet
The cat’s upset
They wish the rain would stop.
Plank, plop, plink
Puddles in the sink.
This rain’s gone on
So very long
It should stop soon, I think.
Plink, plop, plank
The goldfish in the tank
Just swim and stare
And they don’t care.
Plink, plop, plank.
Ghost
in again out again, up again, down
again come around
tapping the window, rapping the door
vanishing before
leaving a shadow, remaining as a doubt
in the dark gone out
The Chinese Dragons
I.
The Chinese dragons have faces like old men
Grow stronger the older they grow
Lie by telling the truth
Can ride the slightest wind to invisible heights
Are beautiful in motion, hideous in repose.
Bubble Story
Here's a fat thing, a bubble. Air bobs it. It flirts with light, sucks blue from the sky. It wants to wander, but where? There's no wind to show a way. Without a goal to vex it, it stays a toy, untroubled. A dog comes nosing, smelling soap, then yelps and shies. The bubble spits a rainbow as it dies.
(photos by RolandasJ, carterse)
Sean’s Big Mouth
Sean, Sean, swallowed a fire
Swallowed a bath to put it out
Sean, Sean, opened wider
Swallowed the bathtub, swallowed the house
Sean, Sean, Sean got tired
Mother said It’s time for bed
Sean, Sean, Sean expired
When he swallowed his own head.
Bag of Anything 