POEM - Pizza and Serendipity

We had been up since 2 AM
From the passenger seat I filmed the sun
Zoomed in and distorted
Bouncing along the horizon
Deepening orange ball
Floating through ombré purple sky
Nightfall eminent but not the journey
The reason for stopping was supplies
Something only the mega-mart could provide
The sign being the reason for exiting the freeway
In the dusky grime
Of the seedy side of Oklahoma City
A quick stop then back on the road to find dinner
Dinner found us
Gleaming new sign lighting the way
To an old and beloved favorite
The Peter Piper Pizza beckoned
And we heeded the Piper’s call
There was never a question we would
Quickly we retrieved supplies
Beneath thick swirling clouds
Of ominous migratory flocks
Perched like skid row thugs
A fowl collection
Of murders, tidings, and quarrels
Depending on taxonomy
Amid the disquieting stares we departed
Soon warmed by comforting familiarity
Order placed
Table procured
Enveloped in peaceful nostalgia
We ordered two pizzas
They messed up one
Gave it to us and corrected the order
What is more perfect than finding an old friend?
When that old friend gives you extra free pizza
We could have just stopped there
Never driven further
Been at peace with the decisions that lead us there
But duty and time beat the beckoning drum
And with full bellies
And still two full pizzas
We left overly satisfied and encouraged
Searching for Amarillo
Riding off into the fallen night

POEM - Chicago to LA and Donuts All the Way

The mother road begins
At the corner of Michigan and Adams
The front steps of the Art institute
A breeze coming off the lake
Carrying sounds of commotion
As traffic and pedestrians
And a massive city of busy
All clamour about
It just starts
No fanfare
And heads west yearning
A deep exhausting yearning
A building hunger within
A longing for deep enrichment
An empty hole
A hole only filled
By doughy deep fried greasy sweet delight
For here in the grand temple of architecture
The pilgrimage is fueled by donuts
In myriad variety
Each more memorable than the last
An aroma surely laden with pure ambrosia
Leaves the city awash
In a comforting blanket of caloric perfection
Just the perfect circle of joy
To carry a weary traveller on
Leaving the security
Of the ominous metropolis
And another bite
Can offer solace
In the desolation of the great plains
Or screw your courage to the sticking spot
Through twisting desert mountains
And even calm the nerves
When engulfed
By the endless expanse of LA
It is donuts that will see you through
One delicious dozen at a time

POEM - Snake Boats on Turtle World

If I had been a little more awake
I might have seen the obvious direction
Known where the river of conversation
Was eventually leading me
Gently flowing with an easy calm
Lulling me into a false sense of security
I knew enough to know something was up
I knew enough to know I didn’t care what was up
I was up for it all
But I had become familiar with the approach
A slow reveal when the outcome is uncertain
When the audience might not be completely familiar
And I knew sometimes you row the boat
And sometimes the boat rows you
And sometimes you end up half naked
Barefoot
In a river in India
Rowing a snake boat
With a hundred other half naked barefoot men
Heading to the temple
In anticipation of a feast
In support of the celebration
And in those moments my smile can’t be stopped
My joy knows no ends
My gratitude for the generosity
Of complete strangers
Is endless as the backwater river
I jump into waist deep
Before climbing the steps
Ascending to holy ground
Waiting to be beckoned forth
Join the throng
Chant along in a beautiful rhythm
Adorn my forehead with sandalwood
A sign of respect for the turtle
Who carries us all as one on his back