negotiate with ourselves first

the system is confused
the orthodox get money
the secular get used
no one cares the land is g-d’s
and not to be abused

i wish my people thought more first
and acted later on
intead of rushing into deals
that should be left undone

and giving in to enemies
should never be excused

hesitate to negotiate

when the way is clear for peace
and mutual prosperity
muslims will refuse the deal
preferring to kill you and me

that's the way they've always been
among themselves as well
their culture leads to war on earth
and after life, to hell

they aren't even shy about
proclaiming this in mosque and souk
delighting in their own destruction
islam is its own rebuke

believe their lies and you will find
they just pretend that you won't mind

wildlife mildlife maybe even childlife

he wasn't old he wasn't grim
i wish that i could be like him

i saw a skunk
& that's no bunk
we both were out for a walk

it was late at night
involved no fright
but we didn't stay around to talk

he ducked behind an airconditioner
by the coffee shop
then he ran around a barrel
past the back of the pizza shop

I think he was out to look for scraps
like my friends the rats in new york
i laughed and flicked my flashlight
so he knew i wasn't sneaking up

then we both went on our separate ways
as people do in these uncaring days

da weatherman sed

let it rain in june
let the lightning flash
let the thunder roar
it will end real soon

let the clouds blot out
the blue of the sky
as the gray storm blast
knocks the power lines down

the computers are out
and the radio dies
and i sit outside
as the wet winds rise

now the storm arrives
to drown our town
but it won't last long
as the sky turns blue

let the sun bake the dust
for the birds to bathe
as they flap and scuffle
in the heat in the shade

let it rain in june
it will end real soon

softly screaming

screaming from an empty sky
the hawk descends to outfly its hapless prey
which might decide to flee or hide
but still is doomed to die

* ****** **** ****** *

we love the little creatures of the world
we worship their place in nature's scheme
we pray our neighbors will respect the life around us
but when they make a mess we want to scream

* ****** **** ****** *

I guess today's my day for screaming,
so well it fits into each tiny poem.
Perhaps a calmer word tomorrow
will help me write about the flowers, fluff, or foam.

As crowded stalks of cattails mark my passage,
brushed aside and shedding fluff to every breeze,
the birds disturbed as I invade their nesting grounds
fly out above the foam as I approach the sea.