Go Nuts For Acorns!

 —Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

* * *

—Poetry by Claire J. Baker, Stephen Kingsnorth,
Caschwa, Joe Nolan, and Nolcha Fox

—Original Artwork by Shirley Smothers
—Public Domain Visuals Courtesy
of Stephen Kingsnorth, and Medusa

 

 

FIRST ACORNS
—Claire J. Baker, Pinole, CA

They wear a crusted beanie cap
that only healthy oaks can make.
We walk the oak-tree trail, enrapt:
they wear a rugged beanie cap,
even when they take a nap
that all of nature needs to take.
Ah, that snuggy beanie cap
that only healthy oaks can make. 

 

 

 

 —Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Stephen Kingsnorth

SANCTUARY
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales

Sow—are we back to chicken, egg—
as what’s first, seed, or by whom laid?
Or more prosaic, seasonal?
Is teleology implied,
or stores grown, as by squirrels sown
that offspring’s borne both bark and bite?

The acorn stands for English oak,
as native rodent, being red;
though grey more common, dominant,
invasive species from the States,
and now the subject of a cull—
a project with widespread support.

As dusty kicks search conker streets,
we stoop to conquer foreign rats,
those bushy-tailed that fancy selves
as smugglers on a pirate ship.
Forgetting horde they buried last,
yet want more, bury future’s gold.

Beneath brass laid meridian
set tarmac of Observatory—
the strip at zero, me astride
(a Time Lord, then but Dr Who)—
as boy I did it, Greenwich Park,
still, fed those bead-eyed greys by hand.

Before the urban fox arrived
in London streets of neon lights,
I crouched, Mean Time, a spellbound child;
what titbits I do not recall—
confection, not an acorn, sure,
for fall fruit would not fool my mark.

This symbol speaks, the nation’s trust,
set way of life, our calling holm,
fixed, sessile, part of British plot
so deeply rooted in our soil;
a people knowing well their place,
but welcome abroad refugees.

 

 

 

 No acorns here~
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

MISSED OUT
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA

We lived in a suburb of Los Angeles
where we didn’t have a first acorn
we had palm trees, a peach tree, a
grapefruit tree, a Chinese Elm, but
no oaks.

We didn’t have snow, either,
except a barely measurable
speck on rare occasions

And I learned later that some
of us had never seen the ocean

We had movie companies, car
dealers, coffee shops, cemeteries,
libraries, rental yards, and places
or worship

I don’t believe I have ever held
an acorn in my hand, or felt one
underfoot

went on backpacking excursions
where I probably encountered one
or another oak tree, but the recognition
was not there, so no kiss-and-tell
experience 

 

 

 

—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

ALWAYS RESETTING THE CLOCKS
—Caschwa

That foul smell in the air is not me. No way.
I bought a very special bar of bath soap that
offers the fortunate owner a medusal veil of
immunity, so don’t look my way, wasn’t me.
I’m covered.

A duende, with only 4 fingers and no thumb
could easily blend in with a fine orchestra,
sitting in the back row playing tuba and
counting rests, and counting rests…

During the daytime I was very busy getting
lots of stuff done. Now that night has fallen,
“The Dues of Night Arise” using all its powers
of multiplication to convey an infinitely long
scroll listing the tasks that were left undone,
revealing an exponentially large gap in today’s
To Do List.

***

My Dad used to drive our family to visit cousins
who lived in Long Beach. Once there, we’d
walk a few blocks over to the Colorado Lagoon
to take a dip and cool off, come back to the
house and enjoy a round of Flying Saucers for
dinner.

On one occasion we decided to go to the Pike
and ride its wooden roller coaster. I was a child
of diminutive size and my cousin an adult of
much larger proportions. We were both properly
strapped in and the fun began. Motion up, down,
sideways, and visions of the ocean blue which
was considerably greater depth and stronger
currents than found at the Lagoon.

After getting moved in all directions we finally
rode straight ahead and ascended the last peak,
until we could see our awesome future: the car
was going to drop downhill, gain speed, and come
to a sharp turn! Terrible scenarios danced in
our heads, remembering news accounts of
motor vehicles going too fast to negotiate a
turn, or aircraft veering off-course, which
resulted in gruesome outcomes. But here,
our coaster car gradually slowed until we
could hear the structure of the roller coaster
moan as if stressed, as we successfully made
a safe turn, then stopped and exited. Been
there, done that. Not a repeater. 

 

 

 

—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

PROTECTED
—Caschwa

I have teeth missing,
so “Don’t eat with your mouth full”
doesn’t work on me.

 

 

 

—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

 

WORDS THAT BIND
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA

Super Glue, of all
things, is Trademark protected
Ya’ think that will stick? 

 

 

 

 —Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

GAMES TRILOGY
—Caschwa

(Growing up in a movie town, I saw
endless stretch limos driving around
local streets)

 
        I. The Piñata Game

The target was sweet treats
bagged and hung from a tree
contestants were blind-folded,
handed a stick and set free

some lucky young one
would release all the treats
and everyone would celebrate
indulging on the eats

        II. The Limo Game

Try and spot the celebrity
through a window with dark tint
parades of limos, lots of chances
windows closed, not one hint

sometimes a fanatic
would posit who it was
and the power of suggestion
would set the crowd abuzz

        III. The Combination

Kids of all ages
blinded by star lust
thankfully no sticks
for windows to bust

the limo could be empty
just the driver and thin air
imagination filled the void
your favorite star was sitting there

 

 

 

—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

 

 

STILL MINE?
—Joe Nolan, Stockton, CA

It’s all right.
It’s just a major
Issue in the night—

How love is
Left in blight
And you are not
Here with me
Through the night.

Slumber leaves its message,
Gray, then somewhat bright,
As dreams
Course their realm of time
And every overnight is
Calling,

“Please!
I need you,
But not
All the time.

I’ll call you
And tell you
And see
If you’re still mine.”

 

 

 

 —Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

TRANSPARENT ICING
—Joe Nolan

Transparent
Is the icing on the cake.

Most of us don’t see it,
We think there’s only cake,
But the sweetness of the icing
Is what makes the cake
So delicious!

We keep coming back for more,
But fail to understand
Just why.

It’s because of things
We cannot see
But taste.

 

 

 

 —Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

EXPLODING PAGERS
—Joe Nolan

A world of grave
Ambivalence,
Painted in
Various shades of gray,
Slumbers in Jerusalem
Within a veil of hate,
That sends exploding pagers
Into Lebanon,
To blow the faces
Off those
Who respond.

How did we get here?
Tiny bombs
In pagers,
Like exploding cigars
The CIA sent
Into Cuba
To kill Castro
To kill his Communist ass? 

 

 

 

 —Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

FLOWER TO TREE
—Joe Nolan

What a flower
Says unto a tree, is,
“Dancing in
Kabuki majesty,
Internally,
May set you free,
If you can let go
Of roots
In all the ways
You used to know
Or thought you, so.”

____________________

Today’s LittleNip:

TIME FOR A WARDROBE CHANGE
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY

First acorn falls and tips its hat
When fall is in the air.
A kind reminder that it’s time
to get our sweaters out.

____________________

Don’t go nuts over acorns, our Seed of the Week (“The First Acorn”), even if they are starting to appear here and there! Many thanks to today’s contributors, some of whom did write about the seed of the mighty oak.

The fine artwork you see down below is from Newcomer Shirley Smothers of San Antonio, TX. Shirley says she is an amateur Artist, Writer and Poet who mostly writes short stories, some of which can be viewed at Shirleysmothersf@storystar.com/. Last year, Shirley self-published her second book, which can be found at ShirleysmothersSolasta@pothi.com/, and she was named Artist of the Month, June 2025, for Glomag submissions, Facebook. Welcome to the Kitchen, Shirley, and don’t be a stranger!

____________________

 

—Medusa

 

 

 

 Medusa

—Original Art by Shirley Smothers

of San Antonio, TX

 

 

 

 

 

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