channeling the islands

On a lark we sailed
the borrowed blue trimaran
from Santa Barbara
out for a day of snorkeling
in the kelp forests
rimming the south cape beaches
of Santa Cruz Island,
holding our masks
as we splashed over the side
our big frog flippers
glinting sunlight in early July,
plying those sublime
netherworlds
strand by translucent kelp-strand
in a trail of outbreath bubbles
until you chanced
upon an opening
and the startled flash
of seabream by the silver thousands
turning from you
& oceanically gone

murphology #131

If you ring me
Please make certain
I'm square in the middle
Of something
Can't be put off

16d carpenters

(for Alistair)

He forgot his lunch
Now I have to give him
Half of mine

yes, fate?

As it turns out
Yes it is possible
To subsist
On the accidental largesse
Of a society
Hell-bent on widening its wealth--
But- did it have to be MOI?

trouble

I lean over
To pick up my droppt keys
And the night's imagery
Comes awashing over me,
Faint runs
Down chalked playgrounds
Or camping by simple tombstones
In breezy May:
Then I recognized
What trouble I'm in,
Somewhere on the high seas
Sans paddle or compass
Knowing that numbered are my days-
Yet charmed unspeakably!
By saffron morningtime
Streaking the eastern
Ramparts

Toe-Stepping

After he honked behind me
At the ARCO Station
I turned to look at his wife
Pointing to her watch:
Get Done Fueling SOB!
Was the scowl on his face--
Incensed at the moment
Now I feel only amused
That someone gave me their toes
To step on

bike-bliss

     Finding a secret source of bliss
Brings always a smile to your face:
Like the one I've found
Tooling out backroads on my spoke-spun pony:
Gliding through long canopies of oak leaves
On a splendid June morning,
     Heading in particular Nowhere:
Down county roads like Auburn, Orion, or Ponderosa
Neglected by most traffic:
And instead of clicking down to low gears
Getting off the darn thing
     And just pushing it
Up those shady pavements:
Best of all, doesn't cost a dime!