Month: May 2014

Knowledge

don’t you know

what don’t you know

i know i don’t know …

that’s what i know

then you know

what you need to know

TL

Danaus Plexippus

they have

but a month

or so

to live

before

they die

and so

they fly

across

blue sky

and kiss

the forehead

of a flower

and travel trunks

to land the lofty leaf

nearest the light

that’s why their wings

get burnt

why they get thirsty

and drink all the dew

in Mexico

and if spotted

by a child

they might

linger there

for a beat

or two

less there’s a net

or the jail of a jar

or a greedy grab

then it’s like

they were never there

at all

for Monarchs know

when to stay

when to go

they live

as if they know

they only have

but a month

or so

TL

Dear Dad,

she’ll be

eight

at the end

of the month

and taller

than me

by this time

next year

she’s got big feet

and likes to part her hair

straight down the middle

like Alfalfa

she hates to brush her teeth

or be told to brush her teeth

she doesn’t like tomatoes

or putting things back where they belong

or being told to put things back where they belong

she likes to run the show

and for the most part

I let her

she makes straight As

and can comprehend

whatever she reads

and this helps her to write

her short stories, poems and letters

she takes ballet

and moves across the floor

with natural grace

and when we’re at home

I teach her karate

and we spar in the kitchen

and when we’re upstairs in the gym

she watches me lift weights

and does the same

with her weights

and we both love music

and dancing

we do a lot of dancing

and I think she’s awake now

‘cause I hear her feet

coming down the kitchen

yep

she’s awake

and reading this …

but before I go

want you to know

what an artist she is

her paintings and drawings

have such dimension

and feeling and movement

and something all her own

so for her birthday

this year

we’re going to turn a room

into an art studio

and let her paint murals

on her walls

the sun

and the clouds

the rain

and the snow

the moon

and the stars

and the green

that grows

oh, and one more thing

did I tell you she’s fearless

she has a pink go-kart

with a pink helmet

and a four wheeler

with a medal foot

and she’s pretty good

at golf

too

TL