When Tornadic Winds Blow

 

and trees whip around throwing leaves,

papers crawl and hop down city streets.

Standing water ripples out a dance,

stray droplets fly everywhere.

The warning sirens sound a mourning moaning,

that permeates walls and A/C or TV noise;

Coincides with alerts that flash on screens.

Local creeks swell and rivers begin a rampage.

This is going to be one of the wet years,

not like the last few dry ones, no way.

More reminiscent of 2008 or even 1993,

when metaphors for “river” were death and destruction.

How bad will it get this year?

It is only May, and there’s already too much

water everywhere, tornadoes and floods.

Only time will tell, but one can hope

to make it through this year too, like those

disastrous years long before this one.

Might be a good time to invest in a raft.

Dear Dad

 

He smiled at me that day,

“Someday I’ll be pushing up daisies.”

“Oh dad,” I said, “not for a long time.”

His gentle love shone through as usual.

So many memories,

kindness and thoughtfulness,

toughness at times, always wrapped

in a skin of love and concern.

Now so many years later,

he is a memory, like a long dream.

Yet still a part of me completely.

A good day to honor his memory,

this anniversary of his death years ago.

How did I get here, perched on top

of so many decades of days, thinking

of parents and loved ones long deceased?

Those relatives asked the same questions,

but I was just not aware back in my youth.

Youth is to be savored while we have it,

since old age lasts so much longer,

filled with regrets as well as joys.

But Dad, I’ll never forget you,

what you did for us all, every single day

of your life, a gift to humanity.

Thank You!

Am I Asking Too Much

 

Build me a home on the Moon,

a sturdy clear-bubble abode.

Three feet thick and solidly anchored,

springs in place to ameliorate quakes.

Give me a view of the stars at night,

some clear area to let in sunlight.

Build me a greenhouse in a separate room,

so I can grow flowers and enjoy the blooms.

Connect me to solar and nuclear power,

give me supplies of oxygen from a tower.

Be sure to situate a trading post nearby,

to go visit neighbors and buy fresh pastry.

Then I can live out my remaining days

enjoying retirement on the edge of space.

A “front-seat” view of human expansion

outward as we build systemwide connections.

I’ll raise a glass and give a cheer,

“Go human race, the way forth is clear,

take possession of new worlds multiplicity."

then turn on my video and record the activity.

Build me a house and neighborhood on the Moon,

a new economy – and high tech to make me swoon

with delight as Earth shows it’s continuing creative might.

Then one day as I take my last breaths, all will be right.

They can bury me there, while our civilization takes flight.