Orientations: Ways And Means

Left to its own means, 

The world will follow 

Your meanderings 

 

To the ends of the Earth 

And back if you let it, 

Or leave you forever 

 

Facing true north 

If you won’t. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Betcha Haven't Heard This One

In reply 

To the butcher’s 

Question about how 

 

Much lamb to cut, 

The village 

Priest raised his 

 

Pudgy right 

Hand high, as if getting 

Ready to bring an imaginary 

 

Cleaver down 

To halve that fantastic 

Looking carcass hanging up- 

 

Side down 

In front of him, 

When he was cut 

 

Short at the apex 

By the first peal 

Of lugubrious church 

 

Bells prompting him 

To blurt out—“Oops, 

In that case, let’s go 

 

Whole hog with it,” 

As he followed through with his 

Stroke of good luck

 

In one deliciously executed 

Priceless swoop. 

 

 

 

Starstruck And Fanciful Fairytale Spinster Muse

Impetuous and prone to become

Smitten with every hack-acting 

Syrupy Tom, Dick, and Harry 

Who threw you the slightest 

Askance glance, thank 

Your lucky stars you managed 

To come this far and never 

Once fell head-over-heels 

For that cheesy, pock-marked 

Man in the moon or even worse, 

Ended up wart-bespangled 

And hitched to a croaking, 

Ludicrous toad in drag. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haiku: Thistles

Waves of mauve silver

Rippling in the slightest wind— 

Itch to go elsewhere.

 

 

Haiku: Breakfast With Sea View

sipping jasmine tea 

eyes fasted on bay windows 

cliffs slipping away

 

 

 

Acme Life Preserver Loans, Inc.

Washed out and dead 

Tired of trying to keep 

Your head above troubled waters 

In a sea flush with sharks? Why not 

 

Drop in and float 

An exclusive Lifesaver Loan™ 

With us? Once you decide to 

Take the plunge, we’ll have you 

 

High and dry, head over heels 

And walking on water straight 

To the Promised Land no

Strings attached. 

 

 

 

Haiku: Don't Look Now But

A well’s planted here 

Between two thin cypresses— 

It’s full of eels' eyes.