March 30: Z

Photo: First University of California, Irvine building under construction, 1963

Zot Zot

It's the sound of

anteater, zapping ants

as it moves along the

cells of B.C. comic.

Captured for the unknowing

at a beer-laced party,

Peter the Anteater

who's spent almost

fifty years at university

and still zotting along.

Inspired by the mascot at the University of California, Irvine. It was deemed somewhat scandalous when it was chosen in 1965 by a vote of the 1,200 or so students. It was though in keeping with the spirit of the times.

March 29: Y

Photo: Corona del Mar, California

Glimpse of Yesterday

Yesterday was still young, 

on a sunny afternoon

we stretched on bluff

watching the yachts

float by, strains of Beatles

and laughter in the distance, 

ground squirrels alert to passing

dog. You yawn and we bask 

as if the day would never end. 

March 27: X

Photo: Zebra, Hluhluwe Game Preserve, South Africa

Xebras

They dance across the plains 

with their mauve stripes in the

day's first sunset, radiant golden.

Who remembers their foremothers

of Earth, millennia ago, with it's

single sun, zebras then. But for

our world spelled xebra, with a

silver horn and rippling flanks,

able to hear vibrations of the

moons and the planet's rumblings

and communicate warnings 

of quakes and monster tides. 

Their image graces our coins

and stand marble in city squares.

They have saved us more

times than we can count,

our guardian xebras.

March 26: W

Photo: Convent and church of Maria Ratschitz is located in a remote part of South Africa.

Wild Winds

Wanton woman wings west

with wild winds winding warm,

waving, willowy wisteria. We 

want, we will, we wobble,

we wonder when, where, why 

wander with the wind.

March 24: V

Photo: Close-up of a vest I knit for my sister, 2012

Knit Your Congressman a Vagina

I first thought, oh no, they've gone

too far. Then I thought about the laws

and women's health care. I decided

to download a pattern, picked up my yarn.

In case you have not seen this in "Mother Jones,"  here is the link to my inspiration for this poem:  Knit Your Congressman a Vagina | Mother Jones

March 23: U

Photo: Watts Towers, Los Angeles, California, March 2012

Until

A great excuse, until.

I'll wait until

it's not time until

not possible until

not needed until

not wanted until

impossible unitil

unimportant until

until

   until

      until

A great excuse until

it's not.

March 22: T

Photo: Argentina, 2012

Take and Give

Sometimes help is hard

to accept. There is the human

drive to be independent, strong,

and able. But sometimes it is

a gift to let people help too.

March 20: S

Photo: San Juan Capistrano, California

Slipping

No footing, no control,

direction uncertain,

landing unknown.

She's slipping.

Poem: Release

Photo: Northern Patagonia, Argentina, January 2012

Release

Release, release

It whispers in the breeze

ruffling new spring leaves

Release

    release, release

In the cool air refreshing

the hospital room

Release

   release, release

In the rustle of sheets

and clothing passing by

Release

   release, yes please

   release, release

 It's God's time. 

March 17: Q

Photo: Guatemala, 2011

Just Cain't Win

Ain't quaint, she said.

But you are, said the other,

you're cute and unique.

No, no. I'm a crotchety

old woman wearing old

clothes I love, doing 

whatever strikes me,

being just as I want to be,

she sputtered stamping

her foot. Oh yes, you 

definitely are quaint,

no one's like you.