Above Bangor

Above Bangor the air refreshes
trees extend
releasing pungent vapors
of spruce and balsam fir

Katahdin shows itself
behind a bluish veil
reminder of rocky spine
running deep beneath

white daisies dance
decorate the roadsides
in mixed bouquets
with buttercups and purple vetch

above Bangor real Maine returns
unravaged by concrete
offering once again
a plush, green-carpet welcome.

Neighbor's Legacy

My nonagenarian neighbor
died one decade ago
leaving behind seventy years
of relishing this environ

each day I gaze in her behalf
at nature’s seasonal faces
familiar signs of time passing
in most beauteous parade

perhaps some current neighbor
beyond my earthly tenure
will gather these same views
in my remembered name, too.

Dinosaur Redux

One pterodactyl flew over
two T. Rexes roared by
three brontosauri grazed beyond

deep in hallucinatory sleep
dreaming tall, prehistoric tales
consorting with these fossil beasts

I quickly conceal myself
in luxuriant, marshy grass
eager not to be eaten

just as suddenly awakened
confidently reassured
of relative corporeal safety

transported back to familiar mazes
populated with houses and cars
except for neighborhood bog

mallards and geese swarming upon
gentle reservoir waters
watched over by one dinosauric heron.

Medical Allergy

Preferred avoidance
of medical venues
with advancing age

older specimen
viewed with parts
needing frequent repair

easy target
for this test and that
though asymptomatic

appointment queues
elongated waits
inexact results

more blood extracted
x-rays taken
biopsies sliced

finally released
from invisible cage
with wings still unclipped.

Morpheus's Seductions

Haunting the bedroom
setting soft, lush traps

seeking intimacy
with Venuses reclining

unconscious surrender
succumbing to his advances

suspended physicality
during nightly rendezvous

dreaming perfect union
within forgetful sleep

unremembered comfort
in Morpheus’s arms.

Plumped Up

Not necessary for raisins
although done

not for prunes
shrunk from plums

certainly corn kernels
sweeter to eat

tomatoes especially
stuffed with quintessence

definitely grapes
for Bacchanalian tastes

babies absolutely
made edibly delicious!

What I See in Early Morning Outside My Bedroom Window

Pillar of the sky
half gothic arch
giant beanstalk
white pine trunk

cosmos connector
gravity’s opposite
vertical adventure
grounded presence

golden-rose glow
streaming brilliance
darkening shadow
mundane gray-brown

time to get up and climb again
the illusivemythicwishfulreal tree of life.