Interlopers
The little dog sleeps nestled.
No elbow room, even though
just two of us in this big bed.
A truck’s roar from the road
a mile away. Last night’s near
partiers now gone to bed, but
at 5 AM, the strains of music
from below, Sounds lifting up the mountains
like clouds to float above my bed.
For 15 years, I surrendered
my side of the bed to you.
23 years after, I still
sleep on
the
other side.
DNA
A piece of you came enclosed in your letter.
Not your heart but still a part of you,
concealed as usual,
this time between the envelope and stamp—
trapped forever as the rest of you departs,
taking all of you except
for that remainder—one last kiss of tongue
before you sealed the stamp upon the envelope.
“Poor man’s Galapagos” is a nickname for the Ballestas Islands in Peru, which are a good alternative to visiting the Galapagos Islands. The islands are smaller than the Galapagos Islands, and are located in the Paracas District of the Pisco Province in the Ica Region of Peru. They are known for their arches and rock formations, thousands of birds, sea lions, and other wildlife. The islands are also home to a variety of mammals, marine species, and birdlife, including: Humboldt penguins, Sea stars, Fur seals, and Sea lions.
The last two photos show the Paracas Candelabra which we passed on the way out to the islands. It is a giant, mysterious marker etched in the earth and lined in large rocks. Similar to the Nazca lines but believed to have been created by a different group of people, due to its size (595 feet long) and visibility, (you can see it 12 miles out at sea) one theory is that it was created centuries ago as a sign for sailers to reference for landfall. Another theory is that it is a depiction of the Mesoamerican Tree of Life.
I took these photos in 2008 on a trip that also included an Amazon River trip, a flight over the Nazca Lines, Villa Salvador and Lima. A wonderful trip.
The Paracas Peninsula is a desert peninsula within the boundaries of the Paracas National Reserve, a marine reserve that extends south along the coast of Peru. The only marine reserve in the country, it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is to mark and preserve the archeological sites of the Paracas culture, in addition to the marine habitat. [citation needed]
The peninsula is located within the Paracas District of Pisco Province . This unusual peninsula may be best known for the Paracas Candelabra, a prehistoric geoglyph nearly 600 feet (183 m) tall that was created on the north face of the peninsula ridge. Pottery nearby was dated to 200 BCE, placing it within the Paracas culture.
Rooting around in old photos, I found another favorite. This was a friend’s dog. I was staying in the guest casita behind their house and every morning her sweet dog would bring me a gift.
If you have a favorite photo you’d like to share, please give a link in comments.
This is a poster from a show four years ago in Tabasco. The poster hasn’t been made for this year’s show yet, but I will be participating. I sent in two of my poems translated into Spanish by Mario Puglisi. They will be given to a painter who will paint a painting inspired by one of them. I hope to attend the show in Tabasco in June! Possibly, we will have it here next year. It is an itinerant event that travels to various cities for 2 years. You can see the different countries above.
For Cee’s CWWC, any type of road, path, step, bridge or sign on the theme of Which Way? It seems like this qualifies! There is a sign and who knows which way the locks of this lovely twisty head of hair is going to go next??? Click on photos to enlarge.
Click on Photos to Enlarge.
Cold Comfort
This thermal cup was different. Things stayed cold all night through.
I liked the one that I had first, so then I bought a few.
Four cups grew to six and then finally to eight.
When I misplaced one of them, it always had a mate
waiting in my kitchen drawer, or three or four or five.
There were always one or two remaining in their hive
when one was left out in my car, the other by my bed,
another in some restaurant where I had been fed.
One loaned to a friend and one gone to who knows where?
Yet almost everywhere I looked, there was at least one there.
Each time I went to Walmart, I bought all that were left.
When they were discontinued, you can bet I felt bereft.
Now I’m down to six of them from ten that I have bought,
so I need to keep good track of them—(all of them I’ve got.)
Precious dear containers that keep my ice intact—
my most dear possessions? Yes. It is a fact!!!!
NaPoWriMo, Day 9: Write a poem celebrating an everyday object.
For Fibbing Friday, the subject is “Truth,” but these are definitely not the true definitions of the provided words.
Groak: Comment by a frog with (ironically) a frog in its throat
Nefelibata: Cake mixture made by a recent addition to the cooking staff at the bakery.
Paranymph: Identical twin sisters with equally loose morals.
Flummery: Insincere flattery.
Sirenize: The part of a seductive woman located between the thigh and calf.
Carker: A dog who loves riding in automobiles.
Smatchet: The unsharp side of the axe used for smacking naughty kids.
Shivviness: An unordinary fondness for Chevrolets.
Sprauncy: What I said to Celia, my Australian friend, when she asked me what that shrimp cocktail was.
Druxy: Beth and Jo’s pet name for Nancy Drew.
Sorry this is late! My sister just tipped me off that I’d forgotten to do it. Done in 12 min. while waiting for company to arrive!!! Phew!!!! A new speed record.
Python Pariah
The root of all his problems is a bad mood he can’t shake.
Spooning with a garden hose? A horrible mistake!
Returning now to his old den is not within the cards.
Too humiliating to face his former pards.
Outside it is both cold and wet and ice stands up in slivers.
It’s the sort of weather that can give a snake the shivers.
Hard to move through ice and snow with neither arm nor limb
and all those constellations of shards of ice on him.
He’s gobbled down a lizard and nibbled on a squirrel,
then lay rigid on the platform until ready to unfurl.
He negotiated train tracks after descending a stair.
Zipped right down the train aisle without paying his fare.
Slipped into the baggage room and curled up in a coil,
rocking with the movement as the train began to roil.
He then passed a dreary spell while digesting his food.
It’s hard to enjoy traveling when in an iffy mood.
When he is finished shivering, then he begins to cough.
He knows not his destination, knows not where he’ll get off.
He only asks that it is warm with places he can hide
and curl up somewhere safe with a real girl snake at his side!
The Sunday Whirl Wordle 649 prompt words are: nibbles slithers spoon platform shards root constellations limbs dreary spell shake wet
Midday Trialogue
You follow me wherever I go
or walk in front of me.
At day’s middle, I trip over you.
Never am I free.
I have no light inside me,
I’m your dark side. You’re my cue.
I have no choice in where I go.
I’m always here with you.
I send them both where they must go,
The power is all mine.
I am their master painter.
I keep them both in line.
Without me, neither one would be.
Shadows are borne by sun,
and the entire world would cease
if my light were done.
I grow every living thing,
body and silhouette.
So you can see that both of you
are purely in my debt.
For NaPoWriMo 2024, Day 5
