My Blue Friend

That shiny, royal blue, ’92 Toyota Tercel

Fresh off the car lot

Gave me many years of freedom.

She and I went into the belly of the USA

With just a map and gas.

Many nights I rested

In her cramped front seats:

My home when I couldn’t go home.

There were rules about comings and goings

At the parents’ place.

My Toyota and I were responsible

For driving the staff

Of the Late-Nite Drive-thru team home after work.

We would crank the Madonna

And cruise the empty streets

At 3:30 in the morning.

My car’s back seat

Was an embarrassing garbage dump

For paper cups and food wrappers.

My trunk was a survival kit:

Shovel, firewood, blankets.

When the repairs on her

Finally got too exorbitant,

I admitted defeat and sold her

As a “Mechanic’s Special”

To a man and his son.

At least I got to say goodbye to her.

“My Blue Friend” – Commentary

            The idea for the poem “My Blue Friend”, came from a request for a poem about a memory. I chose my little blue Toyota Tercel as my memory because I had her for 17 years. She was my first experience of responsibility and freedom. One of the techniques I used is alliteration (example: “92 Toyota Tercel”). The imagery of the garbage in the back seat is representative of the way I was forced to keep my room spotless, I rebelled by keeping a messy car. The Madonna music is rebellious also and represented a need in me to break free of my parent’s controlling tendencies. The poem is free verse so there is no rhyme or reason, also a rebellious thing to do. Driving to places unknown is an adventure. Many people try to “get away from it all” by going to strange and wonderful new lands, as an escape from life. Traveling has been put on hold since Covid arrived. I guess we have to come to terms with ourselves and find escape in our own backyards. There is peace there, and safety. Don’t worry, it’s not forever. You really are your own best company. Find yourself, and come out a fresh, new you. You will surprise yourself with the results.

Line Up At London Drugs

I’ve got what I came for:

Cover-up, cat food, and

My weekly mags.

Now,

Which line to choose?

Tills 2 and 6 are open.

It would be smart

To go to the smallest line up

But then,

I look at till 2

And the first person has

Fifty or sixty

Tid-biddly little things

To ring through.

I decide on till 6.

Such, slow, service…

The lady in front of me

Smells like she’s been

Sampling perfume.

After a patient, long, dull wait,

The till

Flashes, whirs, and dings,

And it’s finally my turn.

The bored cashier goes through

Her automatic spiel:

LD extra card? Bag? Debit or credit?

So many questions!

Just give me my order

Let me get out of here!

As I finally step out of

The confines of the over-lit store,

I feel freer and

Able to breathe again.

However,

I will probably go back

Next week

For another joyful

Experience of

Standing in

A London Drugs line up,

Waiting to pay.

The idea for “Line up At London Drugs” came from a request for a poem about an experience in a place. One place that I frequently go to is London Drugs. My insight for the poem is that everybody must learn patience with life’s little aggravations, like standing in a line up at London Drugs. I kept the poem simple and spoke from a single voice of a frustrated customer. I used sound alliteration (example: “Such, slow, service”) and onomatopoeia (example: “flashes, whirs and dings”). The images used (example:  The lady in the line up that had sampled perfume) represents how most people are selfish and don’t think of others comfort ahead of themselves. The perspective that I had was that we as a human race are bound by habit and convenience, as is represented by my reluctant return to London Drugs, even though there are other places to get the same products from.

Endless Universe

The galaxy looks milky when seen through

A high-powered telescope from earth’s sphere.

The particles spinning out in our space

Are a cloud of dust and materials.

These are created from exploding stars

Pipping, and popping into existence.

Asteroids and shooting stars zoom around

Colliding with other heavenly bodies.

The planets have little moons orbiting,

While comets separate the skies into

Paintings of both lightness and deep darkness.

A dark, airless interstellar matter

Stretches across the Endless Universe,

With the creation of a new cosmos.

The Universe is a big place. I wish I could see more than what my fading eyesight can see. Space is a monumental exhibition of continuous light displays that can be better seen by telescopes. Somewhere out there is life, which is amazing. It makes me think about where we came from originally. I hope that whatever life is out there is friendly. I hope we can communicate and have peace with the alien life we find, as humans boldly go out into the Cosmos and populate other worlds. I hope that humans can better utilize the resources we find, because Earth is buckling under human wastefulness of the environment here at home. It will be a long time before mankind can make the outerspace journey. It has begun, but won’t be realized until long after we are gone. Here’s to visionaries like Eton Musk, who are willing to make the dream come true. Here’s to the future and the possibilities that await us.

Busy Little Black Ant

Busy little black ant under your heavy load,

Where does your steady trail take you?

The tree’s roots are where your family lives.

Colony teamwork has built a network of

Winding tunnels and gaping miniature caverns

Far beneath the ground.

There, you raise little rice-like eggs

That are the next generation’s

Diligent members of the ant community.

I watch and learn

As you go about busy errands

Oblivious to the giant world about you,

Your little ‘Empire’ rules.

The idea for the poem “Busy Little Black Ant” came for a request for a poem about a creature. My insight was to compare the ant’s industrious work ethics and sense of family and teamwork, to the quality of life that I experience. Some of the techniques I used were the simile (example: “rice-like eggs”) and the metaphor of the “busy little black ant” who is personified by giving him a family and a home. My structure or focus was how life can be organized and orderly just like the “winding tunnels” and “gaping miniature caverns” system that the ants have created for their home. The giant’s world relates to the universe and how big it is. We have no control over it, only over ourselves. We must do what it takes to make life go around.

How to Answer the Ringing of the Cordless Phone

To answer the ringing of the cordless phone

Is like having a bumble bee stuck in your hair.

When the phone rings with a Brrrinngg,

You first need to find the receiver.

Once located, press talk,

Hold the handset to your ear,

And with a cheery “Hello!”, greet the caller.

After your time together,

Bid your farewells and press end.

Maybe you’d prefer not to answer at all?

Let the call go to the answering machine,

Like a baseball umpire,

The machine never misses a call.

                The idea for the poem “How to Answer the Ringing of the Cordless Phone” came from a request for a poem giving instructions on a task. The cordless phone is a big part of my life that connects me to the outside world. I am an expert phone talker so felt I could help with instructions on how to answer the phone. I used similes (examples: “like a bumble bee stuck in your hair”, and “like a baseball umpire”). I also used onomatopoeia (example: “Bbrrrinngg”, the sound the phone makes.) The image of the phone is universal for communication. The answering machine is representative of having the option to take time out of life if you need to. The perspective is that the phone can bring people together across distances to join hearts and minds across the miles.

A Silver Faucet

A silver faucet

Bursting with a warm

Stream of clear liquid

Saturates

My dry, straw-like hair.

I add

Bubbly shampoo

And

Creamy conditioner

That lathers

Into a cleaning frenzy.

The mixture froths

And all the bad stuff

That smells like

Stinky socks

Washes down the drain

With a greedy gulp.

As a fluffy towel

Dries my hair

To wet dampness,

Daily routine

Wakes me up

And

Refreshes me,

Getting me ready

For a new day’s

Life experience.

The idea for “A Silver Faucet” came from a request for a poem about a favorite daily routine or activity. My insight is to wash away my troubles and clean my soul by the simple act of washing my hair. I enjoyed writing this poem as it is fun to weave words and say something so simple in a creative way. Some of the techniques I used include sound alliteration (examples: “greedy gulp”, and “stinky socks”), images or metaphors (example: “a silver faucet bursting with a warm stream of clear liquid” representing bountiful blessings showering down from spirit), and my structure or focus was cleansing life, mind and hair. The perspective that I had was ‘out with the old, in with the new’. It is how I prepare to greet the day everyday.

The Alligator Teeth Keys

My alligator teeth keys

Jingle metallically

And flip the lock mechanism

Of my well-oiled deadbolt

With a clankity-clink.

Controlling the entrance to my

Individual and private space,

The lock offers

Solid security

Against pesky prowlers and

Other unwanted visitors.

Left to lock

And right to open,

The powerful turn of the

Alligator teeth keys

Welcomes me home

To a personal place

Of kitty whiskers, pretty rocks,

And reading materials,

This is truly

My place in

This world.

The Alligator Teeth Keys – A Commentary

            The source or idea for “The Alligator Teeth Keys” came from a request to write a poem about an object. I chose keys because they are an image or symbol of ownership and responsibility. In the case of the home, the key can control who enters your home. It can also be used for other things like the mailbox, the car, or any other locked object. My experience writing the poem is a need to express my individuality by having my life in my own control as is demonstrated by having my own keys. The techniques I used include the use of sound alliteration (example: “personal place”) and onomatopoeia (example: “clankity-clink” of the deadbolt). The tone of the speaker is to be relieved and to be able to relax and not worry about outside invasions. The structure or focus is on having the keys to a place that is safe and secure, while also being free to have independence in adulthood.

Grandmother’s Stew Pot

Grandmother’s.

They come from an era of crocheting and knitting.

Skills that my generation

Labours to learn.

Maybe because grandmothers didn’t have TV’s or computers

Is why they perfected these crafts.

Grandmothers are also legendary

For their family dinners

That they create from scratch.

Todays cooks use shortcuts

And try to mimic down-home cooking

With food that is often bland and missing

That loving touch

Of a Grandmother’s kitchen stew pot.

I have always admired the older generations. They went through life without computers, cel phones, and many other things that the younger generation takes for granted. It’s important, I think, to listen and learn from older generations, as they have wise words of wisdom and lots of life experience. Same goes for the younger generation. They could teach their elders to learn new skills to better cope with today’s changing technology world. I think it’s important that everyone has the chance to share their stories. The stories should be written down so that the memories that are around history will not be lost. So many people, when I ask them if they have written stuff down, just shrug and say nope, and carry on about their day. Everybody has a story. What’s yours? Write it down before it is lost to history.

Seeking Perfection

The perfect day

Starts with

The perfect moment

That your

Perfect smile

Brightens up

Your perfect eyes.

And

The perfect words

Come out

Perfectly

As

Time ticks

With

Perfect precision

Into the

Perfect ending

Of a

Perfect night

That leaves me feeling

Perfectly

In the most

Perfect way.

I have found

Perfection.

I am a Virgo and, as such, I am a perfectionist. I am grateful and observant of the perfection of Nature. She has her own patterns of form, color, smell, and size. When I walk, I am conscious of the bounty and sights of my surroundings. I notice every little thing around me including people and dogs, flowers and trees, and of course the wildlife like squirrels and birds. After a walk outside, I always feel relaxed and in tune with life. I think that getting outside for any length of time is freeing and good for you. One thing that I really enjoy is reading poetry aloud and outside. The Sky seems to listen and watch. Try it sometime. You’ll see what I mean.

Night Out

The elegance

Of luxurious dinners

And marvelous shows,

Allows us to dress

In our finest

As we sample

The nights’

Entertainment.

The company

Is stunning

And charming,

As we take

Our time

And

Prolong

Each moment.

The enjoyment

And perfection

Of an evenings’

Outing,

Makes the blessing

Of time spent

Together

 Into a memory

Of fun times

That,

Like a glass

Of fine wine,

Can be savored

For its value

Over and over

Again.

In these times of Covid-19, It is important for us to remember the good times. There was a time, only a year ago, that we were free to come and go anywhere we pleased. And we were allowed to see anyone we knew at anytime. This time we have now puts strains on relationships, not only to the dating scene, but also to the family scene. A person really gets to know their family very well because they are all cooped up together. I just thank goodness for telephones and the internet. They have allowed me to keep in touch with those I can’t see. I have been using my time as wisely as I can, writing lots of poetry and taking a course at school. I should have my next book out in the summer. I hope you are taking care of yourself and also reaching out to those who might be isolated and lonely. You could be someone’s lifeline. I encourage you to start writing your story. Thanks for reviewing my blog. Viva la Poetry!