Roadside Poppies

Roadside poppies
Made adamantine
By last night’s rain
Shone in this morning’s sun
Like Maureen’s fresh-painted toenails.

Busted!

Mister skateboarder, thinking you’re cool;
Flexing and posing on the way to school.
You think you’re so hot. You think you’re really cooking
But I saw you hitch your shorts up when you thought no one was looking.

184

Morning brain works hard-
Is that door open or closed?
Then a cat walks through.

Road Noise

Swish of cars passing on the street
Squadron of geese arriving from the North
A can of RockStar hisses open
Ricercar del sesto tuono
Tick tick tick of a turn signal
Seagulls and running boys screaming on wet grass

7 A.M. 23 Degrees

I am Smaug and you are some other dragon.
We are wondering who has disturbed our rest,
Luring us to this wild and desolate spot-
At the end of the driveway-
Where we consume passing cars with our steaming breath.