Craps was the game he played
Once a month
Took a round trip flight
Lauderdale to Nassau
Carried his cash in an old bag
Stood most of the night
At the table
Sometimes won
Sometimes lost
His demeanor
Always stable
Just a way to unwind
The game
Cleared his mind
Standing top of hill
Screaming that you have control
No one can hear you
Of course I’m employed
Work one full time two part time
Middle Class has died
The scholarly
Highly compensated
Inside the beltway
Statistician
Made his prediction
Based only on raw data
Unfortunately
Completely neglecting
The emotional human condition
Leading to a wrong embarrassing prediction
Sweet corn on the cob
Boiled
Topped with butter and salt
Ice cold lemonade
Sitting under ficus tree
Lazy day
In the shade
Morning drizzle
Listening to Shakuhachi
Pruning bonsai trees
Barefoot simple dress
The Brasileira plays guitar
On front porch swing
Watching dry waterfall
No running water just rocks
Bird rests his mind
Snowshoes beef jerky
Don’t need lower 48
Free will solitude
Starting motorbike
Morning ride along A1A
Sea air soothes me
Winter cold snap
Honeybell oranges soon ripe
Gastronomic delight
Note to readers: Poem refers to Florida winter gardening. Just a bit of cold gives citrus a kick of extra sweetness.
Tropical storm gone
Angry Atlantic Ocean
Snatching my surfboard
Loudmouthed old blue jay
Cold hungry this morning
Eyeballs empty seed tray
Midnight bandits
Raccoons having koi dinner
Sashimi by the pond
Walking gravel road
Hot thirsty totally lost
Followed by thin dog
Spiders crawling on wall
Rain stopped bananas will grow tall
Rooster calls
Bought old pickup truck
Hitch up house on wheels
Let’s see America
Cool under palm tree
Young man repairs fishnet
Continues tradition
He was a flash in the pan
Never took a break
Mind turned to mush
Like a milkshake
Always full speed
Crunch
Crunch
Buzz saw
Cut down the trees
Now
Sits every day on his worn chair
Wondering
How did it all disappear?
Boots places on stoop
Morning garden duties done
Time to watch moss grow
Late night
Walking cobbled streets of Prague
Had one too many pilsners
Met a street performer
On the corner
Done for the night playing his violin
After an hour of shooting the breeze
I asked my new friend
Why is it that you are so at ease?
He replied:
“I play for spare change
I’m the only one who needs to be pleased
Some people call me lazy and completely crazy
But
Too much ambition would no longer be fun being a musician
I accept who I am
No need to try to be on top of the highest mountain”
Hurricane zoomed by
Gigantic mosquitoes missed ride
Toads are happy
Nippy morning
Fly fishing for rainbow trout
River moving slowly
Stack of unread books
Winter storm lighting fireplace
Cozy bookworm
Butterflies all gone
Clouds completely cover sun
Nukes killed everyone
Garden vegetables
Mixed with herbs in slow cooker
Love is in the home
Grabs everything she can
Does not need a permanent man
Prowls clubs along the beach
Fuck
Shower
Brush teeth
Walks out the door
While her lover sleeps
Next Weekend
Repeat
Digging holes
Planting
Mulching
Watering
Coconut trees
Natural endorphin release
This is all I need
Drinking hot chocolate
Watching snow fall on rock garden
No rush to leave
Unforgiving heat
Camel marching on the sand
Desert tests the man
Fruity pipe smoke engulfed the room
Surrounded by shelves containing damp dusty LPs
The cynic
Whispered into my ear
“Old people change their mind like the wind”
Heliconia
Queen of tropical garden
Hummingbird’s best friend
Hit the reset button
Stability is a bore
You love me
But
Obviously
Need more
Hit the reset button
Simple life
Has you down
Safe
Always sound
Everything in order
You
Desperately
Crave
Continuous disorder
Hit the reset button
Danger
Turns you on
Swim away
My beautiful swan
Compose
A new song
Hit the reset button
You look at everything
As a winner takes all competition
Compromise
Much less frustration
Give it a try
Relationships
Would not become
Permanent goodbyes
Lake Okeechobee
Sitting with cane pole
Catching panfish
Wearing straw hat
Smoking pipe
Faraway
From the hype
Calm yourself
I know it is extremely difficult
However
Try your best
Stop
Blaming others
For your sorrows
Hit the beach
Jump
On a skateboard
Ride
A boogie board
Pull out
Old long surfboard
Check out
Gorgeous tan ladies
Wearing
Brazilian bikinis
Sip
Pina coladas
Forget
Martinis
Thread the needle
Sow your oats
Next morning
You will wake up
And
No longer
Feel like an old goat
Her hands dirty
All day
Working the fields
She is proud
Yet
Does not pretend to be superior
Brutally honest
Simplistic
Clear noncompetitive eyes
Smile super wide
No mask
Nothing to hide
Mahi Mahi
Spare ribs
Jumbo shrimp
Spiny lobster tails
Hushpuppies
Buttered corn on the cob
Special coleslaw recipe
Bucket of rice
Topped with Cajun hot sauce
Case of ice cold beer
Hot Florida summer sun
Barbeque
All weekend long
Watching the water
Run down the drain
I understand your pain
Drop the bum
Move on
Go have some fun
Grab your backpack
Hop on a jet
Southeast Asia
Is
An exotic place
To hang out
And
Forget
Soon
You
Will be laughing again
Fresh
Happy
Wiser
Starting over
Without him
The Hermit Poet's Ramblings 