Dancing in the Parking Lot

Cornerstone Gardens, Sonoma

—Photo by Cynthia Linville, Sacramento

AT THE BUS STOP
—Michael Cluff, Corona
 
The black lady in a twenty-month-old blanket
bespattered by San Bernardino smog
nearly touches knees
with the British three-piece pin-stripe-suited businessman
who has had his license revoked
just two too many times.
She is richer than he
because she is a bit more free
in anticipation, but not money.

______________________

THE BOREDOM OF REPEATED LIFE
—Michael Cluff

Deidre adds the sugar to Herman's coffee
and Hannah washes Edwin's filthiest socks
the underwear she leaves for Stacy
after she has lubed up Kirk's truck.

By the bus stop
Carla is cleaning
George's dress shoes
since he has to look reasonable
for his sexist new boss
Loretta.

In the alley,
Vicki works on Amos
hoping
just hoping
he will pay half
as well as Trevor does
but she could live so easily
just listening to his Aberdeen accent
so very well
so very full.

_____________________

2011 SPRING CARNIVAL: NORCO
—Michael Cluff

Spring and summer are so near, nearby
professors love them too, ain't no lie
but students worship them, there is no doubt
and wish those days were a larger amount.

In choir, the search for the perfect note
should be balanced later riding a Disneyland boat.
After learning the length of the Congo
expend that gathered energy on the bongo
after learning the latest thoughts on Alexander Putin
go to the beach, enjoy that juicy fig newton
before the rave, read Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile
after the anatomy final covering things like phlegm and bile
remember the crowded parking lot
while camping out on a fold-up cot
while waiting at the bus stop
plan your trip to Nether Wallop
go to India, maybe Bangalore
forget the pricey campus bookstore
Visit Europe, see an actual Titian
yet be very sure, you've paid your fall tuition.

 Cornerstone Gardens, Sonoma

—Photo by Cynthia Linville

MORENO VALLEY COLLEGE URBAN SCHOOL LEGEND #1
—Michael Cluff

The school intrudes too much
into the habitat
nature is disturbed
native diets are replaced
by what is available.

The elder mountain lion
still marauds the pathway
from the Humanities Building
down to the parking lot
bus stop,
displaces the mocking crows
that never feared
its mighty form.

Yet now they laugh
at the apparition
ever more lean
and with lolling tongue
pacing the concrete
in sad, never-
ending discontent.

Lost terrain
equates to lost lives
animal can haunt man
like pumas were hunted
before
the earth
received their feline bones
with a
grace
mankind never shows

_______________________

Dancing in the parking lot
just at the spot when the sun
dropped off the face of the sky,
I began to dwell
in my own realm
not others.

And the Down Syndrome girl
did jibe with me
as she
and her mother and aunt
I surmise
in my universe
and so walked to the SUV.

She just glanced
in my direction
smiles form our eyes
to became one
at that small intersection
of sky, rust-tinted pavement
and murmurs under the cement
surrounding us.

_______________________

Today's LittleNip:

OBEDIENCE TRAINING FOR WAYWARD THOUGHTS
—Cynthia Linville

Down! Get down!
Out.
O-u-t.
Out out out out out!
Good dog.

_______________________

—Medusa

Cornerstone Gardens, Sonoma

—Photo by Cynthia Linville