"elks" poems
Prophesies of impending fall
creep stealthily over the Great Divide.
Gold-green Aspens shiver in the breeze
like leagues of fibrous wind chimes
serenading the mountain slopes
with aires of shimmering gold.
A few distant bugle calls echo
across the Big Thompson valley
as bull elks warm up for the autumn rut.
Sudden early gusts of frigid wind
bring waves of sleet and snow -
in tune with the turning polar axis.
The greater chill is soon to come.
The animals know it as do we.
Bears bulk up on grasses, roots and berries.
Elk and deer drift down from the heights
To show their young the ways
of the plains and river valleys.
We pull our sweaters on
and toss another log on the flames
and greet the harbingers of approaching fall
creeping stealthily over the Great Divide.
September, 2018
Sep 7, 2018
Sep 7, 2018 at 1:56 PM UTC
(Went out today,
Charter boat
Trinidad Bay
Limited out on rock fish
in two hours
Watching Elks Head
from the ocean,
Grandpa)
Isadore
Called him Izzy
Chewing all day
on a fat cigar
Looked at lot like Jimmy Durante
His father stowed away on a ship
Wasn't going to be a Russian military conscript
Genocidal pogroms were coming
how he knew
we'll never know.
Ended up in Philadelphia town,
Scranton Pennsylvania
Moved along to Brooklyn
Stubby Izzy
fighting it out with the Irish immigrants
Dreaming of having a chicken farm
over there in New Jersey
Izzy met Grandma Sarah at the family clothing store
they fought it out for 70 years
The 60's book
Games People Play
They were the star attraction
The friction was the glue
that kept them together
The friction was the match
that lit their passion.
Grandpa Izzy
funniest man I ever met
Drove an old 48 Ford
selling housewares in the Southern route.
In the morning far too early
Sneaking into his room
tickling his feet to the sounds
of ohhs and hoho's
At five years old
Grandpa Izzy
took me fishing
on some New Jersey pond -
Afternoon sun with yellow colors
bringing all the foliage alive
Sun setting
fish rising
a hand held in mine
defined the peace
I seek
in reoccurring dreams through out a lifetime
A troubled teen
all suicidal
the drive in the 48 Ford
with Grandpa Izzy
running down the Malibu pier
catching the half day boat before it
disappeared
Grandpa Izzy
never lived far from a race track
I don't know about those losing days
but the secret he said
Was to never lose your sense of humor
Always be able to laugh at yourself
Izzy smoked those big old chewed cigars
lived until he was 94
Ended up not knowing
Who or where he was
Maybe we all
end up
that way too
But in my memory
there is sharp focus
he remains alive in me
If heaven is there
I know I'll find
Izzy and I
on that New Jersey pond,
a fishing line
and
peace inside.
Sep 10, 2016
Sep 10, 2016 at 12:57 PM UTC
The ancient tacoma grainery,
Stands in a corner of its own now.
Tne dark tunnell still has leggs when
she lets go.
The dock street rail yard fills up the city like a
loaf of hotnsteamy bread.
Farther down our ambitious tycoon
Stacks up condos, wheat pancakes,
Is his breakfast of choice.
They demolished the old elks club.
Which sprung across the street
like a walmart super store.
Blue and yellow is workers vest
perks and all. Their members still
grase for golfballs off the ten million dollar tees.
There isnt much enjoyment, they'd rather drink.
Last month my two foot clarks walked through the sliding dorrs hospitality.
Wanting to see the high mountain of sucess,
I looked for organic oats.
My minds to random.
I inch up to the screen and see the faces of migrant workers,
Hang like meat.
After six months in america half the under employed,
Are giving up.
Deported with their children.
My hope still goes out to the college students.
And their first morgage of inflamatory dough.
They all buy up every job still hoping for change.
No marrijuana in public,
Get away while the officers turn their backs,
With their guns to pepper a face.
In the taxing store.
Im afraid we smoked heavilly.
Love to the workers,
Love to their vests.
Everythings devoliping to quick.
My new bike slices by cars of ritz crackers.
Everthings been built to last.
There nothing left to buil on,
Only a few vacent lots that wait for tresspassers.
One man dives through a trash can and isnt scared.
He picks out a hamburger bun and eats his lunch.
Oct 25, 2013
Oct 25, 2013 at 4:34 AM UTC
The glen where felled men slept
Where the creek’s deep bed trembled, reeled
Where the green ferns, restless, crept
Where the breezes blew, flew, wheeled
Where the trees, the sweet elms wept
Where the gentle red wrens nested
Where the elks, when freed, then stepped
Where the fleet, serene deer rested
Where the scented bells were kept
Where the jeweled, fresh dew met green
The glen where felled men slept,
Where men were never seen
Mar 14, 2020
Mar 14, 2020 at 1:33 PM UTC
Joyous angels an entire night spent,
singing with flutes they ceased to relent.
Shepherds lowly pitch their dusty tent.
A story indeed reminiscent
of ageless advents when we all went
to sing in churches in wintry Kent.
In fright we gazed at Santa's beard length,
in a speed sleigh drawn by the Elks' strength.
We sought more fun for an extra cent.
But after pleasure we did repent,
speaking solemn words of a good gent:
'Oh, what a pleasant time in advent,
to usher in the infant God sent.'
May 10, 2021
May 10, 2021 at 3:15 PM UTC
Mr Cutler had passed away
the room was cleared and ready
for the next resident
clean sheets
pillowcase
fresh blankets
the curtains taken down
and washed and dried
and put up again
but that didn't stop Sophia
penning you in
standing with her back
to the door
blocking your escape
he is dead now?
this Mr Cutler?
yes died the other day
you said
nice bed
she said
you looked at
the candlewick bed spread
blue and smooth
yes guess so
you replied
you gazed at her
with her blonde hair
tied in a pony tail
her ice blue eyes
focused on you
her Polish English words
harsh yet also soft
you could **** me there
she breathed
rather than said
too risky
you said
more exciting
she uttered
her Polish tongue
brutalizing
the English
who will see?
the old man dead
who else
will come in here?
some old boy might
come in by mistake
you said
an audience
will add to the fun
she breathed out
the words
you could smell
their sensuality
no I can't
I have baths to do
you uttered
looking at the door
behind her back
they can wait
she said
or you could
bath me first
she said smiling
I've got to go
you said
someone might need me
I need you
she uttered
here on the bed
I can't
you said
if you try to leave
the room I will scream
she said
I will say you try
to touch me up
as you lot say
she put one hand on a hip
and the other
against the door
they wouldn't believe you
you said
let's try
if I scream loud enough
and cry they will
she said
she mimed opening
her mouth and screaming
ok
you said
no need to scream
she smiled
good boy
I like you
she said
moving away
from the door
and unbuttoning
her blue overall coat
revealing her tight
short dress
her ******* pressing out
the top
she dropped her overall
on a chair by the window
and drew the curtains
that's better no?
it made the room darker
the shadowy light
made the moment surreal
come on
she said
mustn't waste time
and she began to undress
and you stood there
open mouthed
and doomed
when someone
called your name
down the passageway
Mr Elks needs you
where are you?
oh ****
Sophia said
dressing quickly
and standing
by the sink
out of sight
of the door way
sorry
you said
maybe another time
and you opened the door
and closed it behind you
as Matron arrived
ah there you are
Mr Elks has been
calling for you
I think he needs to go
to the bathroom
o right
you said
just been making sure
the place is ready
nodding back
at late Mr Cutler's room
ok
she nodded
and gave the door
a quick look
and then went on ahead
leaving Sophia dressing
and forsaken
no ****
for her today
and followed Matron
with no
more to say.
Nov 10, 2013
Nov 10, 2013 at 2:55 AM UTC
delighted brute flirts
diamond cutter rising ice
gloating elks haunt sick
Oct 6, 2016
Oct 6, 2016 at 2:33 PM UTC
I'm Deleted but I'm not yet depleted
Listen to my conversation getting rare ****** heated
About a strong relation being defeated
Writing line in paper sheets pleated
Its conceited
One bar for my old man my pa
Two far I pushed my luck too far
Shared knowledge was the key
His knowledge wasn't free
But was most definitely biological to me
I
Ye
Chat to me about settin it free
When factually you couldn't get on ya feet
Actually you admittin defeat
About ya life that's always set on repeat
Well get up man it won't mend its self
And I'm on the roll in upon blending the milks
I dug this hole and that I'm lining with pelts and I can see the distant vision like I'm hunting for elks
Got bars for days till the sunshine rays penetrate the depression and eradicated the
Obsession
Cursed with a blessing
Rehearsed what I'm guessing
10 years went by I haven't learnt a single lesson
Jan 29, 2016
Jan 29, 2016 at 1:44 AM UTC
He was born somewhere in the western half of the United States. He had a mother and father, but they soon divorced. He grew up. He got married and had a family. He went to college. He got a job as a manager of a division of a company. He joined the Elks Club. He told a ribald joke at a meeting and everyone laughed. He had a 9 handicap, but when he looked in the mirror, he could see nothing. When he died, he was buried, but his tombstone was blank.
TOD HOWARD HAWKS
Jan 7, 2021
Jan 7, 2021 at 2:19 PM UTC
There was a smile I found,
In the bushes of my lovers garden mound.
It broke when lifted from its place,
The pieces fed to the elks who graze.
Nibbling softly on my dreams & notions
While drinking the waterfall of my emotions.
Jun 20, 2017
Jun 20, 2017 at 11:12 AM UTC
You used to be the highest of your order
But look at you now
You are fang and claw and bone
While your prey dances around you
Just out of reach
You are only held together by glue and steel
While your prey dances around you
Squawking like the birds in your jaws
Connected by flesh and blood
That rightfully belongs in your forgotten belly
Your prey that once feared you
Raised spear and arrow at your footprints
Now brings their young within inches of
Those same claws
That gutted the great elks of Ireland
But look at you now
You are fang and claw and bone
While your prey dances around you
Connected by flesh and blood
That rightfully belongs in your forgotten belly
Jun 11, 2014
Jun 11, 2014 at 9:54 PM UTC
Amidst reality of my life two single things remain
inflection of your voice and glow of your tender eyes
held safe by this memory we become transparent rain
wild as the tidal waves of Bristol souls of no disguise
fluid as the ocean with are open inlets giving rise
sepia moments of a little cottage hidden in the cove
the scent of sweet cinnamon and the taste of your clove
the cackle sound of unseasoned wood against the brick
we ****** the flavors of our passion, and called it love,
holding on to each other, like flames on a candle wick
molten wax and liquid centers with all I hold so dear
when the moon comes into view the stars turn into glass
willful moments arching as tender reeds adhere
we spiral down the staircase, of God's Mandir
we find the miracle of us, and know that it will last
caught between two soft spots we are cloaked in silk
like two lovers in heaven or two lonesome sacred elks
amidst the reality of my life, two single things remain
the taste of a kiss and the place from whence we came
you my first love, were always right as rain.
August 27, 2021
Aug 27, 2021
Aug 27, 2021 at 6:21 PM UTC
Melting
as if dripping
off the table
silver beads rolling
across the floor
where
where have you been
all of my life
the Elks Club Toledo
Ohio
is this anything
if it is
it's all in the delivery
and timing
time they say time flies
flies
when you are having
fun
but you seem to have gone
by bus
whit howland © 2021
Oct 2, 2021
Oct 2, 2021 at 7:51 PM UTC
In a realm beyond the polar
Northern lights in vivid color
Across the frozen tundra vast
North winds bellow circling fast
Where penquins skate on ice in snow
The walrus's laugh out loud & roll
Its there the reindeer & elks do frolic
Dancing Elves are singing merry tunes
Where Santa lives yes jolly ole St Nick
Making children's wishes all come true
Dec 3, 2018
Dec 3, 2018 at 11:38 PM UTC