CAR WARS

It was a topless day in the summer in the city
Sun raining shine on the streets

Classic cars on parade

No issues with rain or leaks

My favorite,

Two old buddies in an army Jeep
Three restored warriors from a pre Hummer era
Seeking one more skirmish
With Jags and Corvettes
Nissans and Mercedes
 

These seasoned vets 
Sported summer shorts

Hats and posture in a slouch

Tanned legs, sandaled feet

And white socks to match their hair
                                                     

Their Jeep

Olive drab color

From a long ago war

White stars and an army logo

Narrow knobby tires

Spare on the back, perched proudly

Advanced one stop light at a time

Winning one more war, hearts and minds.

Dennis R. Keefe

7/20/04
8/5/16

  CAROLE’S YARD

Would tempt any bard

Energy, retired from pay
Now transforms our yard

Say hey, Willie Mays
Here’s a workout to start your day
Dress, yes, but not until
You put the yard at bay

Damn the mosquitoes
Full weeding ahead
Attack with hoes and spades
Whack the heck out of what invades

Find the potting soil, peat moss and Miracle Gro
What’s on sale?  Who’s got coupons?
Got gloves?  Hat, sunscreen, spray?

Transplant, sow, whatever it takes
Distribute each flower to its perfect place
Hanging baskets?
Get the ladder
Hang ‘em higher

Water, water everywhere
Hoses, cans, sprinklers
We'll need again tomorrow

Planting, potting
Digging, mulching
Annuals, perennials
And to start
Choose a color scheme.

What does gardening mean?
A lot more than picking flowers 

Come, bring that chair to the deck
Raise your glass,
Let's toast

To Carole's hard work and good taste
All it took to orchestrate
A long aromatic summer 
Filled with color

I know that woman
And am not afraid to boast

DRK
6/7/12
9/27/16

  HURON SHORELINE


Welcome to the waterfront
neither sandy, preened nor beachy keen;
only the hardy need apply
for this Upper Peninsula hospitality.

A rocks nest monster
bone yard of
craggy stones strewn
to wrench sandaled feet
and keep us at bay,
away from Huron summer play.

A promised roast
daunted by gulls taunting the children there
tossing marshmallows
out to share. 
                                         
Returning, we
watched our steps
to miss
the grass geese messed
and guessed with guarded thanks
the best was yet ahead.


Dennis R. Keefe                      
November 19, 2008

  A BEACH NIGHT PLUG

Lines of lanterns weave       
tropical paths,  
    manicured
    as only Florida condos can,
and beckon me
on the balcony
looking down

at footbridge shadows
    framing air;
arches
lifting away
from the day
toward waves,
sounding in the dark.      

Flood-lighted
palm fronds
undulating in the breeze
teasing me –
exercising octopi ,
    knees up, on their backs 
    playing keep-away                       
    with a beach ball,          

while
through the door . . .  left ajar
Reality TV intrudes.

Descend?  Leave the other three?
Rude?  Or
opportunities to explore
for poetry?

Dennis R. Keefe
May 25, 2009

May 18, 2006

  PICNIC IN THE PARK

Kids freed
and aired,
an early July
Oak Park breeze. 

On Sundays, music.
Today a nine piece band
playing The Doors and other covers
from that era.
A local guy, lead singer,
Jagger-dancing
to blaring horns, 
urges the crowd to join. 

Boomers respond with moves
resurrected by bodies
50 years removed.

Excited kids,
their faces, legs and arms
swirling through our picnic clusters
on the lawn,
stir us to -- be amused,
not flustered.

Senja cart-wheels in front of the stage
while Blake, dancing to the beat and feeling bold,
tries to engage
another three-year-old.

Dad keeps track
to bring them back.

DRK
8/27/13

 

DINNER ON THE LAWN WITH THEATER

                                                          

One of the bunnies was munching the yard

Nibbling, nosing, twitching the air

Its senses attuned to the dog straining hard
To breech the porch and chase

Its movable feast.

There were birds nearby perched on a feeder

Seed eaters enjoying dinner with theater.

November 9, 2014
Dennis R. Keefe

 

 

HOSPITALITY PLUS

 

Well, I dropped the ball on this one

Our first hummingbird visitor of the year

And nothing to offer

Scurry, find the gear

 

         Now, hooked for the summer

                  Waiting, watching, refilling

                           My kitchen views now captured

 

Did its mama arrange this?

Or did the baby manage on its own?

A perfect speckled fawn in our flower bed

 

Where is the mama?

Our neighbor says she’s eating her garden

Will it come get this thing?

 

Next day’s report, across the street

 

                  Whew.  Good job, Mother Nature

                           Be a good neighbor, little one  

                                    And return next year

                                             I’m thinking a first birthday photo

                                                      For the refrigerator

 

Duck drama near the porch

Clutch bunched to brood

We marveled, oohed

Checked daily

Tried not to disturb 

But, alas, awry

One at a time

The eggs went astray

Other guests, it seems

Found their way to a meal

Ms. Hen may think twice

Before home-sharing again

 

And now this

Cooper's Hawks nesting in our tree

Songbirds taking note

and disappear

Bees love our anemones -- easy eco bit

Until Carole’s arms and hands discovered them

Nesting ‘neath the peonies

 

         Pained gardener

                  Engaged an eradicator

                           Don’t tell the wrong people

 

Bird feeding hobbyist

Other critters, opportunists

Mice, chipmunks, voles,

Share our feeders

And household warmth

 

         Trapped 18 this year

                  I hope there is a critter heaven

                           Way over yonder

 

And, of course, the flowers

Hours arranging

These go here

Those go there

 

         They get picky

                  Before picking

                           Thirsty, mostly

         Just,

                  Constant care

                           Carole, the enabler

                                    Can’t wander 

 

DRK

6/16/22