Zan's Poetry #1-
Bug
Empower
Under The Weather
Last of
Five
The Helper
The
Fish
Oaxaca
Serbia
Mitla
A bug.
That's it, a bug.
To me, a bug.
Big,
Ferocious,
Behind the glass at the Art Museum.
A bug - nevertheless.
To empower, to gain
A measure of control
Of the world around
And of ones self
The quest that man
Has ever seeked
To follow a star
However bright and tempting
Where for we follow this star
And come to conflict
With all that is good
And are bad on the alter
Of all that is bad
Who is sick,
Who is well?
How we feel,
Who can tell?
What's a virus
What's a germ
What's the difference?
Who can tell?
Snuffy nose and
Running eyes
Makes us feel
Not too well.
Broken bones
Are also bad
Arms that are tied
Up close in casts.
A little cold
Is just a 'scuse
To loll in bed
And 'tention get.
But oh, the flu
Is really wicked
Oh the chills
And oh the fever.
Drink the juice
Take the pill
Keep very warm
And sleep 'till morn.
Got rheumy eyes
And runny nose
The body aches
As well the head.
Shake with fever
Twist with pain
Hope that someday
I'll be well again.The last of five
Is off to school.
I took her to college
With conflicting feelings.
Pride and Contentment
To have such a girl.Not selfish pride
Like God Condemns,
But gladness
That my time on earth
Has been worthwhile.Five descendants,
All good, all different.
Calm and contemplative,
Strong and solid.
Out on the edge.
My heart in my mouth.But nevertheless bringing
Breathless pride and
Joy in my heart.
The first was Lisa
Then Noelle
Chris was nextAnd then a long pause.
Leading to Scott
And then: Melinda
All are different…
All are good.Now I am here
At UCI
Starting the last
Fresh new adventure.
Melinda the runner
Anxious to learn
Sophisticated, naïve.
Anxious to learn.
Liberal, conservative
Finding her way.A train is coming
It is the helper
Coming back
From its task
Pushing freights
Over the pass
They often wave
When they see
My bright red car.
Sometimes I click
My radio key
And send a signal
Into the air
I really shouldn't
As I have no right
To be on the air
That is theirs.
They just passed
To go and wait
For the next
Heavy freight.My nephew is off to get the boat,
That we might go and tempt the fish
To take the fly, that little bright thing,
That looks it's made of fur and string.
What fish would so be well deceived,
That it would grab that little hoax.
And what silly game it is to see,
That lo the man that I must be
Plays games with fish at sea.
The boat doth come, and nephew too
And off we go to fight the war.
We take the rods, so long and tidy,
Made by makers adroit and able.
Oh, these tools are all we need
Their cost alone the fish will heed.
And flies in boxes blue and white,
To suit all waters, fish, and times.
And lots of gadgets, some of which
Are puzzles yet for what they do.
Do not forget, if fish you want,
The hat must perch upon the head
Fair warning first the prey to have.
Ah now we go, we tell the girls
Don't cook ...Mexico,
Serbia
Oaxaca
A place very different
From Home.
Colors gay
In the old sense,
Song and dancing;
The cool heat of the tropic mountains.
Fiesta with the sun overhead
Mild people from before
The Spaniards conquered.
And mierda.
Shit.
Montezuma's revenge.
That too passes.
Time.
Cool morning.
Hot noon.
Heavy Rain.
Cooling evening.
Cool morning.Mad, mad dog
Biting man
Man biting dog
If he can
Mad, mad dog
Biting man
Pull his teeth
If you can
Bully
Hitting
Smashing heads
Bad, bad Bully
Shame on you
Hit the bully
Poke his eye
Make him hurt
And hope he cries
Don't hit bully
He's my kin
You're the bully
It's a sinMitlaThe Mitla bus
Rattles down the road.
Bones jar, teeth rattle,
And stomachs churn.
The city passes, giving
Green fields with oxen plowing,
Replacing the crowds.
Back in time
To the stones of a time
Before the Spaniard came
To kill and change
Before the inhabitants
Became Civilized.