ON BEING THE SAME AGE AS
Jane Fonda
Yes, that Jane Fonda
A similar arrival time
And geography of activity
Led to some sharing
The waning years of the great depression
World War II
Watching the soldiers return
Then, for me
One school after another
And Jane became famous
The sharing stopped
Never any glamour here or requests to entertain
I promoted no one’s health
Moral outrage, I could never sustain
And was never invited to hobnob with wealth
Today, no star allure
Tempts me to reprise a public career
As for the future
Developments have occurred
Among the cohort we share
That suggest to me
A reason to rendezvous
I recently saw on TV
Jane, a model of coherence
No evidence of senescence
Or problems with balance
No muscles cramped, arthritic or stiff
Certainly no shortness of breath
Did we really share the same years?
Ms. Fonda
Some of us have moved beyond you
Someday, should your heart announce
“It’s time”
Or other parts chime
In and you begin to imagine
Life’s slower lanes
I’m an early-arriver
And would have time
For palaver
DRK
1/26/16
I must fondly acknowledge Kenneth Boulding, an inspiring economist, social scientist and philosopher, whose insightful writings were laced with British wit. If you were lucky enough to hear one of his presentations, you may want to join me. He may be the only person I remember who used the term, “palaver.”
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
A WALKER’S LITANY
Doesn’t it seem that walking should be
A perfect opportunity to compose a litany?
The repetition, the rhythm
You, nature, in communion
Life moves on
Lord, walk beside me
That sort of thing
Let’s start by choosing a pace
Lord, wait. Time to stretch?
Then stride out
Lord, can we pause? My thighs have cramped
Concentrate, feel the rhythm
Lord, make my hamstrings relax
Put one step in front of the other
Lord, must it always hurt?
Resume and repeat
Lord, my legs, another rest
How far have we gone?
Lord, don’t you need to catch your breath?
Are we there yet?
Lord, would you consider . . . a miracle?
Uncle!! Uncle!! I am willing to give this “walking litany”
More time for scrutiny
Moving, uplifting thoughts may have to be younger thoughts
Lord, help me crawl
DRK
2/11/16
Doesn’t it seem that walking should be
A perfect opportunity to compose a litany?
The repetition, the rhythm
You, nature, in communion
Life moves on
Lord, walk beside me
That sort of thing
Let’s start by choosing a pace
Lord, wait. Time to stretch?
Then stride out
Lord, can we pause? My thighs have cramped
Concentrate, feel the rhythm
Lord, make my hamstrings relax
Put one step in front of the other
Lord, must it always hurt?
Resume and repeat
Lord, my legs, another rest
How far have we gone?
Lord, don’t you need to catch your breath?
Are we there yet?
Lord, would you consider . . . a miracle?
Uncle!! Uncle!! I am willing to give this “walking litany”
More time for scrutiny
Moving, uplifting thoughts may have to be younger thoughts
Lord, help me crawl
DRK
2/11/16
Friday, November 6, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
THE MIDDLE CLASS IS ALIVE AND WELL
Winter in Michigan
Set my wife and me on our way to get away
Paying the costs up front
As far as we could see
Of sailing the Caribbean Sea
I knew financial matters
That tough master
Would prevent some from joining this cruise
But as I logged the events below I missed the others
Those who could afford to play more easily than we
I suspect they found an easier way
Day 1, Thursday, 2/12/15
“The bus leaves at five a. m.
Park your car in the ramp across the street, level four
Pick up a white ticket
You will be issued a green one to redeem your car
Meet the bus here when you return”
“Detroit luggage drop lines are up one flight
Are your tickets in order?
Security lines start the next floor up”
Security, actually a snap and breakfast, relaxed
Our vacation flight an hour away
Easy day
Easy prey!
The Delta Gang
Across the tarmac, riding hard, caught us unawares
Herded us into corral 34-A
For three hours of flogging
Our plane, impounded
Deltannouncement!
We have an equipment downgrade
Who will travel?
Who remain?
“Everyone move back four steps
We need room to board”
Our vacation, four months to plan
Gone with a Delta yawn?
Good news — seats, new — assigned on boarding
Bad news — What did those upgrades cost?
A February Florida beach afternoon lost
“Your luggage is at carousel 12
Meet your tour rep there and follow her to your bus
That’s bus number two
See a porter to register
Tomorrow, meet in the lobby to board your shuttle
9:00 to 11:00”
Day 2, Friday the 13th
Note to Pogo: on a Friday this month
That pushy woman with her unconvincing naivete’ took my chair
Her husband, caned and showing his age
Would get this chair here
“Isn’t it better this way?”
In a crowd, advantage Northeast
Two days later, same Northeast accent
Same woman
Cut into our buffet line
Bus trip to the port
We, the infirm, salute you
You, the few, who board today
Sans fuss
Or clumsy tote-bag delays
On the way, wait to watch a drawbridge raise
And honor 4 sailboats
The usual . . . Rigamarole
Public health forms
Complete and take into the line and join a snake
“Even numbered staterooms, here, odds over there”
We wound our way, inch by inch, to the check-in desk
Finally able to leave the snake
After one last wiggle, boarding pics
“Meet your luggage in your room
At three, an emergency drill
Your assembly area, Ten
Room keys will be scanned”
Are we there yet?
Take a breath
Leaving port
My day-one favorite
Are we moving yet?
Veranda anticipation
Recreation boats in the channel
Return their waves
Beautiful homes
A Coast Guard base
Gaining perspective
The receding waterfront gradually reveals its hotels
Up and down Atlantic's beach
The decision to go back inside, not so favorite
Good news:
The ride on a big ship
Three promenade laps to a mile
Slick
Bad news:
Everywhere, crowded locations
And the intrusion of conversations
We, the largely worn, salute you,
You who remember
Beautiful people
Day 3, Saturday, First Day Out
Another perfect day at Holland America’s Halfmoon Cay
The Bahamas, just to our west
Clear water, blue
And white sand, the best
Oh ye of little faith
This Michigander dragging his jacket
It’s winter, for heaven’s sake
Welcome to a gorgeous Caribbean Valentine’s Day
We walked the beach and its surround
To the sounds of steel pans
Serenade one
From our resident musician
The water, still interpreting the memo
Was four degrees cooler than the lap pool back home
Back on board we walked the promenade, then
Dined Italian at Canaletto
An Aperol spritz preceded antipasto, pasta
Sea bass and, of course, dessert
Day 4, 2/15, Sunday at sea
Coffee in the room
Early Mass, too early
At breakfast, one of many at Lido’s extensive buffet
A couple with a 50 state bucket list
North Carolinians planning to visit Michigan
Love to help you if we can
The promenade again
A lee side deck chair in the sun
Lured Carole
Here’s what you do on a cruise for fun
Read, relax and mix in a lap or two
Later, The Atrium bar, deck one
Enticed Dennis with the promise of Martini Madness
Their special martini of the day
One of those not-really-martinis
Skipped the two-for-one
Formal dinner, dining room
An opportunity for dress-up pictures
Day 5, Monday, 2/16
Crowded Oranjestad with traffic creep
Jewelry shops, high end retailers, Prada, Rolex
Both sides of the street
We walked to Queen Wilhelmina Park
Enjoying its shade, a bench and Aruba Iguanas
Sunning, posing, begging,
Fighting over a chicken bone
Could that be their lunch?
Returned early for top-to-toe massages
Day 6, Tuesday
Dawn at Willemstad
Docked to the opening and closing of the Swinging Gate Bridge
Carole’s comment, “They have cute-ed up Curacao even more”
There were many new red tile roofs and ice cream color paint jobs
“The line for the land-and-sea excursion starts here
Show your ticket to get a sticker
Follow that woman to the bus”
We toured the city then stepped down
Into a mini submarine
For a rock and roll cruise over coral
And colorful fish
Rewarded for swimming up close
With our captain
Day 7, Wednesday
At sea
Next stop, Panama
Do not wait until
Your fourth cruise with HAL to try
The Pinnacle Grill
For starters,
Soup bowl presentation, crumbled lobster
The soup poured table side
Bisque
Day 8, Thursday, 2/19/15
Emily's 17th birthday
Panama
We traversed the first of three sets of locks
Then docked
At Gatun Lake
One of three
Water reservoirs and canal passageways
There the ship would stay
While we spent our day with Rosalba
On a railroad trek 47 miles south to the Pacific
Paralleling the canal, lots of trees
Some ship traffic
And construction
Enlarging the canal for your next trip
Panama City, modern, upscale
Marina shopping on the Pacific
Then back to the Caribbean side to re-board at Colon
For us, an off limits zone
Once a vacation destination
Now collapsed into urban squalor
From some colossal ignore
Its residents sharing trash, destitution, fear
And razor wire
That evening we left through a harbor filled with ships
Day 9, Friday, 2/20
Costa Rica
A long bus ride from Limon west
Through banana and pineapple plantations
Into the rain forest mountains
Where a private park promised tram rides through the canopy
Bad news, broken tram, and minor calamity
Our highlight, after all, gone
Damn!
Good news, we were not one of those stuck on the tram
In the rain
For forty five minutes
A short hike and a delightful lunch would suffice for fun
Fresh foods, green flora, none of the fabled Costa Rican fauna
Our memento, a nifty poncho
And, to be fair about it, a prompt HAL refund
“Puro Vida!”
Day 10
Saturday, 2/21/15, back at sea.
Skipped the Mariners' champagne brunch
Late breakfast and walk
Formal dinner tonight
Formal pictures, take two
Day 11
Sunday, 2/22, Last day at sea
Finally made it to a Sunday morning service
Evangelical minister and Episcopal priest
Crowded but something for everybody
Last call at the Lido pool
Carole, a mango smoothie
Dennis, an Irish coffee
Steel drums setting up one last time
Giving lessons today while poolside golfers chip
Plastic balls at a life saver target
By midnight, bags in the hallway
Monday, 2/23
Off the ship by 9 a. m.
Revisit the snakes and add one — customs
As for news about the demise of the middle class
I take note of those not among our company this time
Those with enough money to avoid fun en masse
And those who barely dare to dream
Plane departure, 2:00 p. m.
DRK
8/3/15
Winter in Michigan
Set my wife and me on our way to get away
Paying the costs up front
As far as we could see
Of sailing the Caribbean Sea
I knew financial matters
That tough master
Would prevent some from joining this cruise
But as I logged the events below I missed the others
Those who could afford to play more easily than we
I suspect they found an easier way
Day 1, Thursday, 2/12/15
“The bus leaves at five a. m.
Park your car in the ramp across the street, level four
Pick up a white ticket
You will be issued a green one to redeem your car
Meet the bus here when you return”
“Detroit luggage drop lines are up one flight
Are your tickets in order?
Security lines start the next floor up”
Security, actually a snap and breakfast, relaxed
Our vacation flight an hour away
Easy day
Easy prey!
The Delta Gang
Across the tarmac, riding hard, caught us unawares
Herded us into corral 34-A
For three hours of flogging
Our plane, impounded
Deltannouncement!
We have an equipment downgrade
Who will travel?
Who remain?
“Everyone move back four steps
We need room to board”
Our vacation, four months to plan
Gone with a Delta yawn?
Good news — seats, new — assigned on boarding
Bad news — What did those upgrades cost?
A February Florida beach afternoon lost
“Your luggage is at carousel 12
Meet your tour rep there and follow her to your bus
That’s bus number two
See a porter to register
Tomorrow, meet in the lobby to board your shuttle
9:00 to 11:00”
Day 2, Friday the 13th
Note to Pogo: on a Friday this month
That pushy woman with her unconvincing naivete’ took my chair
Her husband, caned and showing his age
Would get this chair here
“Isn’t it better this way?”
In a crowd, advantage Northeast
Two days later, same Northeast accent
Same woman
Cut into our buffet line
Bus trip to the port
We, the infirm, salute you
You, the few, who board today
Sans fuss
Or clumsy tote-bag delays
On the way, wait to watch a drawbridge raise
And honor 4 sailboats
The usual . . . Rigamarole
Public health forms
Complete and take into the line and join a snake
“Even numbered staterooms, here, odds over there”
We wound our way, inch by inch, to the check-in desk
Finally able to leave the snake
After one last wiggle, boarding pics
“Meet your luggage in your room
At three, an emergency drill
Your assembly area, Ten
Room keys will be scanned”
Are we there yet?
Take a breath
Leaving port
My day-one favorite
Are we moving yet?
Veranda anticipation
Recreation boats in the channel
Return their waves
Beautiful homes
A Coast Guard base
Gaining perspective
The receding waterfront gradually reveals its hotels
Up and down Atlantic's beach
The decision to go back inside, not so favorite
Good news:
The ride on a big ship
Three promenade laps to a mile
Slick
Bad news:
Everywhere, crowded locations
And the intrusion of conversations
We, the largely worn, salute you,
You who remember
Beautiful people
Day 3, Saturday, First Day Out
Another perfect day at Holland America’s Halfmoon Cay
The Bahamas, just to our west
Clear water, blue
And white sand, the best
Oh ye of little faith
This Michigander dragging his jacket
It’s winter, for heaven’s sake
Welcome to a gorgeous Caribbean Valentine’s Day
We walked the beach and its surround
To the sounds of steel pans
Serenade one
From our resident musician
The water, still interpreting the memo
Was four degrees cooler than the lap pool back home
Back on board we walked the promenade, then
Dined Italian at Canaletto
An Aperol spritz preceded antipasto, pasta
Sea bass and, of course, dessert
Day 4, 2/15, Sunday at sea
Coffee in the room
Early Mass, too early
At breakfast, one of many at Lido’s extensive buffet
A couple with a 50 state bucket list
North Carolinians planning to visit Michigan
Love to help you if we can
The promenade again
A lee side deck chair in the sun
Lured Carole
Here’s what you do on a cruise for fun
Read, relax and mix in a lap or two
Later, The Atrium bar, deck one
Enticed Dennis with the promise of Martini Madness
Their special martini of the day
One of those not-really-martinis
Skipped the two-for-one
Formal dinner, dining room
An opportunity for dress-up pictures
Day 5, Monday, 2/16
Crowded Oranjestad with traffic creep
Jewelry shops, high end retailers, Prada, Rolex
Both sides of the street
We walked to Queen Wilhelmina Park
Enjoying its shade, a bench and Aruba Iguanas
Sunning, posing, begging,
Fighting over a chicken bone
Could that be their lunch?
Returned early for top-to-toe massages
Day 6, Tuesday
Dawn at Willemstad
Docked to the opening and closing of the Swinging Gate Bridge
Carole’s comment, “They have cute-ed up Curacao even more”
There were many new red tile roofs and ice cream color paint jobs
“The line for the land-and-sea excursion starts here
Show your ticket to get a sticker
Follow that woman to the bus”
We toured the city then stepped down
Into a mini submarine
For a rock and roll cruise over coral
And colorful fish
Rewarded for swimming up close
With our captain
Day 7, Wednesday
At sea
Next stop, Panama
Do not wait until
Your fourth cruise with HAL to try
The Pinnacle Grill
For starters,
Soup bowl presentation, crumbled lobster
The soup poured table side
Bisque
Day 8, Thursday, 2/19/15
Emily's 17th birthday
Panama
We traversed the first of three sets of locks
Then docked
At Gatun Lake
One of three
Water reservoirs and canal passageways
There the ship would stay
While we spent our day with Rosalba
On a railroad trek 47 miles south to the Pacific
Paralleling the canal, lots of trees
Some ship traffic
And construction
Enlarging the canal for your next trip
Panama City, modern, upscale
Marina shopping on the Pacific
Then back to the Caribbean side to re-board at Colon
For us, an off limits zone
Once a vacation destination
Now collapsed into urban squalor
From some colossal ignore
Its residents sharing trash, destitution, fear
And razor wire
That evening we left through a harbor filled with ships
Day 9, Friday, 2/20
Costa Rica
A long bus ride from Limon west
Through banana and pineapple plantations
Into the rain forest mountains
Where a private park promised tram rides through the canopy
Bad news, broken tram, and minor calamity
Our highlight, after all, gone
Damn!
Good news, we were not one of those stuck on the tram
In the rain
For forty five minutes
A short hike and a delightful lunch would suffice for fun
Fresh foods, green flora, none of the fabled Costa Rican fauna
Our memento, a nifty poncho
And, to be fair about it, a prompt HAL refund
“Puro Vida!”
Day 10
Saturday, 2/21/15, back at sea.
Skipped the Mariners' champagne brunch
Late breakfast and walk
Formal dinner tonight
Formal pictures, take two
Day 11
Sunday, 2/22, Last day at sea
Finally made it to a Sunday morning service
Evangelical minister and Episcopal priest
Crowded but something for everybody
Last call at the Lido pool
Carole, a mango smoothie
Dennis, an Irish coffee
Steel drums setting up one last time
Giving lessons today while poolside golfers chip
Plastic balls at a life saver target
By midnight, bags in the hallway
Monday, 2/23
Off the ship by 9 a. m.
Revisit the snakes and add one — customs
As for news about the demise of the middle class
I take note of those not among our company this time
Those with enough money to avoid fun en masse
And those who barely dare to dream
Plane departure, 2:00 p. m.
DRK
8/3/15
Friday, June 19, 2015
LAUDS
Some can do it on the spot
For the rest of us it takes more thought
Jazzing their tunes, rapping their words
Rumbling and ricocheting like trains down rails
I wonder how it comes about
And if it ever fails.
You may be one who can do it anywhere
Cameras, brushes, pencils, easels
Creating new images out of empty air
With marble, clay, part of a tree
Shaping things only you can see
My favorites, those who build and repair
Kids
Creative, patient, slow to anger
Comforting arms, attentive ears
And laps accustomed to children’s fears
New lives, year after year
Are these just skills to teach?
Or does a special muse infuse --
A holy spirit anoint each --
With gifts beyond my reach?
For me, sufficient it may have to be
To honor, make the fuss
Over those whose gifts
Grace the lives of you and me
Dennis R. Keefe
6/20/03, 3/13/18
Some can do it on the spot
For the rest of us it takes more thought
Jazzing their tunes, rapping their words
Rumbling and ricocheting like trains down rails
I wonder how it comes about
And if it ever fails.
You may be one who can do it anywhere
Cameras, brushes, pencils, easels
Creating new images out of empty air
With marble, clay, part of a tree
Shaping things only you can see
My favorites, those who build and repair
Kids
Creative, patient, slow to anger
Comforting arms, attentive ears
And laps accustomed to children’s fears
New lives, year after year
Are these just skills to teach?
Or does a special muse infuse --
A holy spirit anoint each --
With gifts beyond my reach?
For me, sufficient it may have to be
To honor, make the fuss
Over those whose gifts
Grace the lives of you and me
Dennis R. Keefe
6/20/03, 3/13/18
Friday, May 1, 2015
SCIENCE OF THE JAMBS
I spent years pursuing truth
Tracking facts down lineal paths
Logic
Inter-subjective testability
Now I turn to beauty
And telling lies
Ideas, odd
To jog thoughts
Or dialog
My two cultures in contact
Rub
Dollars drive our words!
Poets do whatever to survive
Their words? Usually a surprise
Society's heavy weight
Dictates adaptivity!
Until an artist's gene pokes through
To disrupt history
Find that best environment
To help you write!
I am equally awed
By the road
And by my own backyard
Rub
A genie's mist
Creativity's subtleties
The many ways we interact
The terse power of economy
And how the words I evolve
Once ensconced out there
Evolve me
In here.
DRK
8/26/12
5/1/15
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