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Author Archives: Paul Camarata
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LAW OF THE INSTRUMENT, FIRST DRAFT
LEAPS and GROUNDS
The tulips are up.
Why? What do they know?
That the Groundhog was right?
That we’re done with snow?!?
It’s still February,
They’re shaking my nerves.
It’s been warm this week
But March weather curves!
Suppose they keep rising
Up out of the yard
And one night a frost
Descends on them hard.
The head start each bulb
Will have by then got
Could in one cold flash
Become all for not.
Which leaves me to wonder ….
About flower brains,
And the speed and direction of
Flower thought trains….
Are my tulips digging
Toward their own demise?
Or are they well informed
As they reach for the skies?
I’ve watched and I’ve listened,
My ear to the ground,
But so far there’s been
Not from them one sound.
Loose lips may sink ships
But these tulips don’t speak,
Except by the rise
Of their eager green beaks,
Out of the dirt
Propelled maybe by knowing:
This year’s nearer to flowers
Than it is to snowing.
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They Write Stories About This Time of Year: Gift of the Chiefs
BIRD BRAINS
It’s great to be a bird in a town
where the lawns are always mowed
Whenever I want an earthborn snack
there’s never a long way to go.
While my country cousins
love their cornfield
I say, all those tall stalks
keep the good stuff concealed.
Here the grass stays short
so the worms can’t hide,
There’s so much to choose
I can hardly decide.
So complain if you want
of the noise from the mower,
And its belches of smoke
with their grassy odor,
I’ll stand by relaxing
while all down the street
My lawn obsessed friends
find me something to eat.
ARM CONFLICT
A new snow-ski Vest
I got from my mom
I’ve heard nice things about it
Except from my arms.
“We just bet,” they both say,
“That thing is the best,
If you’re a belly,
A back or a chest,
“Sealed in from the chill
Inside puffy armor,
Not two nude kazoos in
Full vibrato arm-brrrr.
“While you think it’s real smart
a ‘lightweight sleeveless jacket,’
we brothers-in-arms say:
Vests are a racket!”
“I guess,” said the Vest,
“About as much as gloves,
And long johns, wool socks and
Those things ears call ‘Muffs.’
“Pipe down out there, Arms,
Save your noise for the beach.
The value of vests
Seems well past your reach.”
When my snow-ski vest’s on now,
My Arms roll their eyes,
The chips on their shoulders
Big and undisguised.
All they talk about’s summer
And how it’s the best.
Wonder how they’ll like
My new water-ski vest.
THE INSIDE STUFF
A jar that says PRUNES
Is full of dried plums,
A can of crushed toast bits
Is labeled BREAD CRUMBS.
A box of dried meat
Will be labeled JERKY,
A can of ground up beans
Is chock full of COFFEE.
While a containers contents
Are not always clear as day,
Before cracking a can of words
Best to know what they say.
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DISTANT COUSINS
THE GRAY SHAKE EXPRESS
On every other ride
of the Nantucket Rail
the caboose is the front
and the engine the tail,
When in a straight line it goes
then backs up straight,
Club cars of sightseers
and seafood, its freight.
So much saved steel!
All those safe dunes!
All the time saved to ‘Sconset
AND back by noon!
See Lighthouses, Windmills,
Cisco in your pail,
on the Commonwealth’s finest
The Nantucket Rail,
Like no other train,
it drives forward and back:
A steam-powered pendulum
Criss-crossing ACK.
KID WARNING
Caution: children
Are out on the loose
Boiling up ways
To deep fry your goose,
Everywhere lurking
Hiding scheming
Believing they’re harmless
Is crazytalk dreaming.
Caution: children
Prowling about
Quiet at songtime
At bedtime they shout,
Listening always
Except when you ask
Too busy plot hatching
To complete your task.
Caution: children
Don’t think they’re not smart
They’ll come for your wallet
And leave with your heart,
You cannot afford
to ignore the sign
Not if there’s 1 out there,
Let alone 9.
Whatever the number
They’re all worthy foes
How many are watching
Nobody knows,
So caution: children
When your spirit they’ve torn
Your body they’ve wearied
Don’t say you weren’t warned.
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LONERCYCLE
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WALKAFELLER PLAZA
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METTLE MOUTH
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HOUSTON on the HUDSON
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GLOWTERPILLAR
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FAVORITE TIME RHYME
THE ZEN HEN: On Staying Focused
In a weaving race
against three-thumbed pigs,
even a spider can finish last
if he over multi-tasks.
YOUR DAY
This day may be like
None ever before,
When a who-knows-what ceiling
For you is in store,
When a leap in the bay
From a motor boat side
Is only the start
Of your who-knows-where ride,
Today may be when
You write your first song,
A number so good it sounds good
On a gong!
You might tour a city,
Paint portraits pretty,
Learn who-knows-what game,
Write jokes that are witty,
Cook from a new page of your recipe book,
Decode that mistake you feared would stay mistook.
Just after that where next this day may go,
If you play your cards right, who-could-possibly know?
Maybe fishing with brother,
Or soccer with sis,
Or the last chapter of
“The Great Adventuress.”
Today’s who-knows-what ceiling
Is … well … who can say?
Only you because this
Is going to be your day.
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WAVE THAT FLAG
FISHY STORY
In the crick by our house
It shimmers like glass
We’re gawn off to catch
Some Chilean Sea Bass
We swear that we’ve seen them
Sunning with koi
How reeling one in
Would be such a joy!
We’ll watch and we’ll wait
Prepared for the battle
With hand-crafted sea bass
Bait hooks and tackle
We’ll stay still and silent
So our bass won’t be scared
As he moseys up crick from
Far down the Delaware.
Then once he’s netted…
Can you picture it:
Our beautiful full color
Trophy portrait?!?
The whole gang all smiling
With our new pal from Chile
We’ll send a framed copy
To Mum-Mum in Philly
Or we’ll bring her some
When we’re back from the crick
When she tastes those filets
She’ll be so proud she’ll frick.
Don’t think we can’t do it
You take back your laughs.
We’re off on our bikes now
For Chilean Sea Bass.
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FROM PHILA, WITH LOVE
RED ALERT
Money does not grow on trees,
No circus truly features fleas,
But believe this: for giving flack
This little box lets you talkback!
To your mother, to your dad,
Aunt Petunia, Uncle Thad.
Press this button and you’ll see
Talkback happens easily!
It fits in almost any pocket,
Wireless models need no socket,
Have super-charged rebuttal lips
Right there at your fingertips.
Just 19.95 it costs,
Such a steal to be the boss!
Get yours now, do not dare chintz:
Make the world your audience!
Will folks be angry, will they care?
Grow loud, throw hands, or sternly stare?
Well if your top speed is not HARE,
Let’s just say: buyer beware.
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DON’T STAIR NOWHERE
JOHNNY CORKFORBRAINS’ LOST CUP OF TEA
This morning Johnny Corkforbrains
Lost a cup of tea
He hasn’t got a clue
Where on Earth that it might be.
“It was so piping hot,” he thought,
“I had to set it down.
“I wouldn’t go and call it LOST.
“At the moment, it’s just unfound.”
He scoured the garage
Re-traced steps through den and potty,
In the office, in the kitchen,
Attic, bedroom, basement, pantry.
“I’m stumped,” John thought while wandering,
“Just where that cup might be —
“Wait.
“What’s this here?”
(He took a sip.)
“What luck!
I found iced tea!”
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