“Red Rover”

"Red Rover”

Alone on a First Friday, this poet peruses

the galleries casually and at a

leisurely pace

And then a tall, white haired artist peers

into my eyes and advises:

There’s a raffle at the Slocum House!

Hearing, but not paying any particular

attention, I believe

Somehow, I end up at the Slocum House

Just before eight

As I stroll in, somebody announces:

Drawing in five minutes

I amble over to a counter and

ask: How much?

I am told: Raffle tickets are free

as a woman presses one in my palm

Shortly, a number is read off out loud

I look at my ticket and

my number matches!

I show the speaker and am told:

You have won!

What sweet words to my ears!

I have not won anything in decades

Then, they show me what I have won:

“Red Rover,” a water color of a red,

wooden boat, moored by a pier,

bridge and sunrise in the backdrop

My heart bursts with enthusiasm!

I feel my luck pivot on its axis

The darkness of the evening is showered with

diamond starlight- my glass is again half full

The previous rue has faded- it is gone

Deep gratitude wells up my being

I have received so much more than

the painting I have won!

Yes! “Red Rover” I will come on over

I whisper as I do my little happy dance

RMK, November 2016. 

November 9, 2016,the day after

All kinds of choices swim around in my brain
I could decide to be depressed over this election

-or-

I could galvanize my creativity and imagination and brainstorm
what to do--Let's see, I could:

• organize a group of likeminded souls and have a seance to bring in Che Guevara-he probably knows what to do
• start a movement to write an amendment to eradicate the electoral college, so this never happens again!
• gather an army of poets and other artists to create a love happening.
• write a damn good letter to Mr. Trump threatening his (rumored) wee package, if he doesn't get it right
• actually put pen to paper and make some sound suggestions about how to bring the American people together
• make an Internet appeal for making the best of a bad situation
• suggest you jettison your dread. Give the guy a chance to unite us
• if he fails, we can always chop him into teeny weenie pieces and feed him to Mr. Putin
• a little poetic justice if I do say so myself!
• Your turn...

RMK on the current state of the Union.