August Travel Advisory

"Pack light," they advised.

packed lightly for two climates--

caught cold in first one

shivered in Copenhagen

sniffled and sneezed while in Rome

Daily Haiku Prompt: pack

Two Concrete Poems

                                                 Concrete Poem #1

MEN

    O!

P       a                      u                          

                                                         s                 

                                                                                                               e

                                                    Gridlock

                               BEEP

beepbeepbeepbeepBEEPbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep

                               BEEP

tanka for Michael

discovered some shoes

bought many years ago that

Michael never wore

your shoes fit me perfectly

you're my guardian angel

An Ill Wind

The phrase, "It's an ill wind that blows no good," didn't originate with Shakespeare. Although he used it in Henry IV, Part II, it was used as a common proverb at least a century before he was born.

Its meaning is that even the worst calamity benefits someone, somehow.

Anyway, there's been a lot of bad stuff in the air lately. 

And as, usual, Voldemort is trying to use it for  his own benefit.

If Voldemort can threaten tariffs because of Canadian wildfire smoke, I suggest that Canada tariff the U.S. for sending their hurricanes to us.

They're both a lot of misdirected hot air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld6fAO4idaI

Peter, Paul and Mary, Blowin' in the Wind

Plot Twists of Life

A  favourite one-liner I saw online:

When you don't like the way your life is going, look up at the sky and yell, "PLOT TWIST!"

Lately life has seemed like a roller coaster. But that's a terrible cliche. The editor in me wants to improve that overused phrasing.

Instead of a roller coaster, I've decided to see life as a San Francisco cable car. 

Sure, I'm still going over some steep hills and then back down them. 

But I'm hanging onto the handrail and enjoying the pretty scenery instead of just feeling nauseated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUODdPpnxcA

Paul Simon, Slip Slidin' Away

Rainy Day Owl #1

owl as a prompt

brings joy to my morning and

dispels stormy clouds

Daily Haiku Prompt: owl

Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Bob Dylan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm-po_FUmvM   

Roses Rage

Rose Garden yanked out

replaced by a patio--

Jackie's ghost rages

lacking Jackie's taste and class

a modern-day Medusa

(Daily Haiku Prompts: roses, rage)