Once A Year

Snow.
Another foot or so.
And after you have shoveled
The winds begin to blow.
But night has overwhelmed you and so to sleep you go.

Cradled in your bed, fits of dreams begin
Until the nightmare shakes you
And wide awake you scream.
For all your work has come to naught, nay sorry this I say
The foot of snow that yesterday was cleared with force so fierce
Has come to haunt your every joint
And break you piece by piece.

Ode to Easy

When I was young, a little pup
I had such difficulty getting up
I flipped and flopped
And slid some more
Till I had polished the entire floor.
You see, my ears were verrry long
And often twirled me round and round
Till one fine day I lifted up
And flew ten feet, then did not stop.
That’s Easy! I cried aloud
And soon I flew to parts unknown
Where people looked and cried aloud – that’s Easy!
As I waved right back.
I traveled far, I traveled wide
Collecting friends from every side–
Australia, Paris, New York, Berlin
How glad I was to be invited in
To homes of thousands, and to share
My life and antics everywhere.
So Easy I was to everyone
So Easy it was to make having fun
As Easy as life can be for one.
I showered my love on all I met
I shared myself with nay a care
I’ll Easily see you again, I’m sure
I’m in your heart, forever more.

My Nebbish

Well, said I, it’s right as rain
As snow fell down the window pane
“And almost spring,” the Reinbear said
As he rolled and tumbled out of bed.

I think you’re wrong or quite mistaken
I’m sure I would remember that
If spring were here, then I would cheer!
And cry “Hooray!” and be quite gay.

“It’s not too late to do a jig and herald in the woodland sprigs”
And so the Reinbear danced and sang
While snowflakes followed him around.
He did not care if it was cold, or blustery or grey,
He knew that nestled in his heart
Spring was just a little way.
He’d wait for it, for blooms and sun
For all his friends to come and run
Along the river, down the lane
He knew that Spring was when they came.

“I’ll take a nap” the Reinbear said
“And when I wake I know I’ll see
The sun and grass, all green and bright
And spring will be a sheer delight!”

So in December when all was cold
Dreary, dark and dank,
I hurried quietly into bed
And slept and dreamt with Reinbear near
Till snow turned into rivers clear
Of daffodils and crocus blooms
Sparkling in the azure blue.

The Beetle and the Gnat

“The sand is very sandy,” said the beetle to the gnat.
“Well that’s a very silly thing, for everyone knows that,”
The gnat retorted to the beetle, who’d dug a beautiful hole
At the very very very edge
Where the ocean had taken hold
And filled the hole far sooner than he ever could have told.

The beetle stood so very still and then began to cry.
Seeing such great sadness, the gnat thought to reply,
“I’ll help you dig another, if you’ll only let me try.”
For the gnat was very sorry for the beetle’s predicament
When faced with miles of sand, just where should he begin?
Why, by the boardwalk! Yes of course, the gnat decided so
They took their shovels and their pails and began to heave and throw
The sand into the air, where it landed in a pile
And grew so tall it seemed to them to be a hundred miles.

It grew and grew until the sun disappeared from view
It grew and grew till moon and stars could not be seen, tis true!
So dig they did for several months
Till England’s shores were seen
And France was next
And Italy
So far away from home
That soon the two unhappy souls put down their pails and hoes.

“A hotdog I would like right now,” said the beetle to the gnat.
“Oh do put on some sauerkraut,” and with that the gnat did shout
“But they are far away, you know, on the ocean’s other side,
Where first we started shoveling,” and both sat down to cry.

“I wish the stars and moon would shine their brilliant, dazzling light,”
“I wish we’d never dug a hole before thinking what was right,
For had I thought ahead back then I’d never have proceeded
To dig so much and so obscure the light I cherished near us.”

The beetle did agree with this, and thought it could be righted
So in the night they blew and blew,
The sand fell left and right
And in a day or two or more
The stars began to shine
And soon the sun did light the dawn and with this they did smile.
“Let’s just hold hands, sit down again, and dream of piles of sand!”

©2016 Ellen Kostroff

Ah! Snow!

oil painting from the Sand Lake Ambulance collection-for sale

Ah! Snow!
Those tearful winds do blow and blow
Blow round and round
Above the ground
And only they know where they’re bound.

Oh! What wonders are!
No snow did settle on my car
But seem it did to parry first
Then hurry with determined bursts
And blow and blow determinedly
Into my neighbor’s yard, you see!

‘Tis sorry I be for his grief
To shovel snow, so many feet
But next time I shall not escape
From winter’s rage and stormy fate.
Yet pleased I am that for today
I may remain in bed and safe!

It’s party time!

Eleven p.m.
I’m sure you must know
I’m never this late
I’m usually asleep–
I live in the woods
With nary a peep
From fish or from fowl
Though they usually don’t howl
Like the coyotes do
Or the resident screech owls
That lurk very near
Yet rarely appear.

So I’ll turn off the lights
And tumble to bed
I’ll say my good nights
And sleep pretty tight
Till the mice start to party
At 4 in the dark
And I pull up the covers
And wait for daylight!

Oh my, sigh…

Brought to tears

my heart does cheer

and thoughts of how you  appear

to mellow my response

in ways I may enhance

a quality of life

so often rife

with war and woe

though this I think you  know

my feelings are sincere

I must reply

I am not tied

by land or sea or sky

and will admit

with fitting wit

I’d rather live than die.

Life, filled with discord

Oh Jane.
Your life, filled with discord, rolls by
A paranoia unprotected
Your life
So convoluted you cannot know
What pain is real and what is not.

Jane, you are a true and beauteous moment
Of god’s own glory and nature’s bliss
Of loves’ lost and loves’ awaiting mist
Of minds beliefs and minds believing grist

You can surrender, though you would not admit
What your own mind tricked to assist
The venomous regions
Of life’s beguiling twists
That you alone have seen the coming end
Of wife and husband
No love, I can assure.

Find God in funny places

Find God in funny places; under the bed, under the carpet, in the carport, hanging from the ceiling. Take care where you vacuum. When I first found God hanging from the ceiling I was inclined to call the police. I thought it was suicide, I mean, how often had I heard “God is dead,” and here was living proof, right in front of me. You’d think the light fixture wouldn’t hold him. But he must be light as a feather, because as I untied him he spoke so softly I thought I was imagining it, saying “I am not dead. This is only a test.”

Partial lapse 2.1

How you sleep, I don’t know you in this sleep, this sleep you sleep so well. While I kiss you, feel the warmth of your cheek, the breath that slowly escapes. I inhale the scent that lightly clings to you after a night’s sleep; the scent that defines you, makes you one with me.
You turn around, your old bones stretch, lean your head against my thigh under the blankets. I have been up for hours. Sleep evades me, echoes of previous days haunt me, dreams of car crashes, waking into sanity/insanity. Night, day, night, day, waiting for what. For sleep. A good night’s sleep, a solid, complete sleep, dawning to a bright beginning.
Not for me. But for you, there, softly pressing your head against me. For you.

About About

About, aside, align, malign
She said it all
Hooray!
Today, tomorrow, not too much sorrow
She said it all
Hooray!
She cannot fly, but sure she’ll try
She said it all
Hooray!
Infinite, finite, interior twilight
She said it all
Hooray!

———-

Fog, eternal blog
Blunder, eternal thunder
Wander, eternal wonder
Hunger, eternal thirst

Dog story – part 14.1

Good morning New York.
Too many times I open my eyes and I’m without you again…

You wander around, nose to the ground …I’ve heard it all a million times before. Anticipation. Waiting. The greatest times are out the door, no time to wait, let’s get there straight. Now.

Dog down on the job – part 14

Whoa, what just happened? That sure was fast! Here I am, waiting patiently on the steps for my mistress’ return (what else is there to do all day, yes, well, sleeping, which feels so good…). So I thought to fulfill my household obligations, you know, the watching, herding, protecting aspects (not the cuddling, please…) With that in mind, and a quick bound, or rebound (I missed the first step the first time), I applied myself to the vigilance required for perusing the passing parade beyond the window, waiting, waiting, waiting…

Now waiting and watching are worthy professions from where I come. Thus it was not without some chagrin that I must express my embarrassment at having missed a prime suspect, my reason for being (she hasn’t taught me French) and with hopes, I remain at my post…Adieu!

Lapse of the mind – #2

Tear out the telephone. Then deal with screaming people, complaining, cajoling; you need a phone, we need you to have a phone, its not healthy; what if something happens, what if…
So what if, so what. If I had wings I’d fly. If I had sense I’d put the dog in the car and leave. Leave it all. House, friends, family, bills, taxes, job, no job, just leave. Alone, always alone. Before life, during life, after life.
Now after life. That’s funny. Memories of “before” life? Is today real? Grim. Yesterday is nonexistent. One chance. One breath.
Loved ones, friends, acquaintances, strangers go to war, die. Endless bloodletting in another land. Bloodletting on our streets. Empathy, nonexistent, empty words. Death is benevolent, the last refuge.

Fall into winter – dog sleeps

Fall into winter. Yes, fall into winter. Not spring ahead, no running here, just falling. Even the swamp won’t let you forget what’s in store. Cold just thinking about it. No wonder the dog wants to stay in bed. Brrrrr… So today he remains quiet without knowing I can speak as well, or well I am that I speak for him for good as he (or not?). Another day, anon, a new photo to take for the morrow.

Dog bed-time story – part 13

I’m beleaguered by thoughtlessness. Why, I must be invisible most of the time. Or she only considers me a bed-warmer. No sooner than I hop up on my (her) bed, than she’s stroking me, running her fingers through the fur on my chest (how sensual…), as if I didn’t know she only uses me when she’s cold-no love lost here. Yessiree-bob, I can accommodate her, why not? No one else is running up to bat, hands out, offering a home, hearth and haven.
Heaven knows, heaven sent she may not be, but heavenly is the feeling I get tucked under all those blankets on a cold November night. Wouldn’t you like to snuggle up to someone your own size? Someone to press your body against, bury your head in their neck, take in those pheromones? Oh, oh, you say I’m naughty, inhaling her essence, but forget not, my greatest sense is my nose. Just come a little closer, I know who you’ve been with today…you can’t lie to me…maybe your partner…
Yes, it’s ten minutes to eight, and already her eyelids are drooping…guess I’ll have to pick up another day…

Crime scene – part 1

Late swallows, the jaws crashing, crushing, snapping, popping, rise, and hasten upstairs, endless tomorrows, a dog who knows no control, the pooling of saliva,, nauseous with recounting.
Avoidance is not relief. Years have proved that method inadequate.