geology gold
found in mud, driveable hikes
Denver makes beauty
Shaped
geology gold
found in mud, driveable hikes
Denver makes beauty
science
The Heart of Colorado
too perfect to leave
we book another joyride
through windswept canyon
no crowds choke here
to see daunting morphed-rock views
of painted cliff sides
a slice of heaven
carved by river, rock, blue sky
hot springs and hot tubs
small town gifts await
behind jeeps, the off season
we become locals
Guinness chocolate cak
miner’s offer: hidden gems
found buried in quartz
night ends with moonrise
a ghost peeking over peaks
as full as my heart
unadvertised grunt
standing, waiting, buses, crowds
in national parks
yes, the view is grand
if streams of tourists wait
rather than push, shove
green river bottom
whiny pine cone crunching walk
patience slowly comes
what will they recall
twenty years, many paths hence?
the waiting canyon?
or jubilant chants
away from home, friends, phones, games
(they make their own games)
it’s all a game, right
to see nature carve her art
humans: dumbfounded
Thirteen
you said that before
the phrase defining rim walk
(how short, flat, this hike)
one day they will know
that we live thirteen hours
from the Grand Canyon
thirteen million years
of miracles waiting here
beyond this short hike
they’ll remember this
(and Eiffel, Spain, Porto, love)
all we’ve given them
the hike will seem short
flat, greenway, wheelchair-friendly
so easy, this life
thirteen years a mom
they’ll remember this spring break
miracles in view
Interaction
list to last the week
highest group gets me the gold
held accountable
all papers graded
impossible standards met
you can’t challenge me
i will surpass you
snarky remarks tucked within
so you can’t see me
’cause i’m a winner
downtrodden made me stronger
in the end, you’ll see
Shakespeare’s sonnets sing
across these four centuries
hear them sing along
alas, their voices
really bring us together
let us listen. Well.
Climate Change
winter rollerblades
spray-bottle paths formed by girls
with no snow in sight
a sunny walk home
January thaws… nothing
worried hidden joy
oh but their smiles!
the earth is dying, but them?
they’re just having fun
i skate after them
till the sun escapes the day
tuck sorrow to bed
we all have our paths
formed by small hands and big hearts
climate changes us
Chemical Wordfare
for liberty’s sake
chemicals dropped from the sky
burn the communists
our government saves
the young boys it sent to war
now dying old men
but in Viet Nam?
cancer, deformities, death
are all we offer
Monday’s lesson stings
the words of a war veteran
burn like Agent Orange
IMAX, Museum, Lunch
Madagascar morn
biology sugar test
St. Louis pizza?
endangered lemurs
whine-free museum musings
provelle, cracker crust?
let’s not burn forests
enjoy easy-going friends
eat under the arch
saved on raft from storm
evolution miracle
lemurs, 3D, life
Savings and Loans
technically backed up
saving docs or wasting class?
back up and reboot
user unfriendly
tech for all, yet all are lost
digital natives?
native arrogance
in a web filled with details
that they overlook
login password failed
because of singular dot
Horton hears us all
little minions shriek
megaphones set, point taken
we are here, save us!
technicality:
life simpler, yet more complex
back up and reboot
Hidden Joys
should have known better
taught the oldest to shave legs
sis shaved off eyebrow
parenthood surprise
mushroom tag and night riding
her shame forgotten
watching them grow up
better than the science fair
lab filled with laughter
Step Write Up 