Unexpected Blessings

—Poetry by Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
—Public Domain Photos Courtesy
of Nolcha Fox

 

 

A TUNE I CAN’T CARRY

I’d sing a song to summer
if it wasn’t for the heat.
My brain is melted ice cream.
My vocal cords are crispy critters
on the barbeque.
Birds and bees and butterflies
and flowers shout instead
in brilliant reds and yellows,
in oranges and purples.
Thunderstorms and rain are drum
beats to this cacophony
until autumn cools its heels
and leaves of red and gold blow in
to sweep away the chorus.

 

 

 

 

ON A ROLL

I rattle through my broken vows
in this barrel of regrets.

I pray for rain to wash away
my excuses and pretensions.

I pray that I can roll away
before I’m followed by a mob

of disappointed sorrows
armed with matches and a rope.

SLOUGHING MY SKIN

If only fear was makeup,
I could wipe it off my face.

Instead I shudder, stuck in the shadows.
Fear is the skin I cannot slough.

 

 

 

 

SERIOUSLY DISGUSTING
(to the tune of “My Favorite Things”)

Braunschweiger smears
march on handles and faucets.
Food grows and hardens
on microwave innards.
Stovetop was white,
but it’s crusted with crud.
House Beautiful would vamoose from
this mess.

 

 

 

EYE SPY

He spies on me
beneath the bed,
on top a shelf,
or from a drawer.
I have to check
the washing machine
for secret agent kitty.

 

 

 

 

I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND

You tried to tell me
that the other dog left
poop inside the closet.
I thought you were annoying
and I didn’t understand
until I went to change clothes
and found out for myself.

 

 

 

 

YARROW

You pick yellow yarrow
for the bottle
in your window.
When the rain clouds
darken love to sorrow,
yarrow is the sunlight
in the sky.

 

 

 

 

PROVIDENCE

I must have known
you in a past life,
so familiar is your touch.
I find comfort in your presence.
Unexpected blessing
when I thought I’d never
have a second chance.

 

 

 

 

Today’s LittleNip:

UPSIDE DOWN
—Nolcha Fox

The rainbow in the puddle
is your upside-down smile
the rain brought
to remind me
that nothing
can wash
away love.

___________________

—Medusa, with thanks to Nolcha Fox for today’s fine poetry and pix!

 

 

 

—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Medusa

 

 

 

 

 

For future poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
 during the week.

Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.

Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column; or find previous poets
by typing the name of the poet or poem
 into the little beige box at the top
left-hand side of today’s post; or go to
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom of
the blue column at the right
 to find the date you want.

Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
send poetry and/or photos and artwork
to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!