All dressed up
And no one knows
The foolishness inside.
Interim wisdom shows
But once mouth opens
And words tumble out
The ass is revealed
Stupidity, now no doubt
Inspiration from: The Ass in the Lion’s Skin and a proverb:
Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Proverbs 17:28
I’m sure I’m not the only one who
- chooses the front row at conferences
- raises my hand to be the needed volunteer
- does a double take when seeing a sunset
- cleans my plate at every meal
- doesn’t drink coffee or alcohol (that makes me the permanent designated driver)
- can be interrupted and switch gears automatically
- edits anything and everything I read or see
- can listen to one thing while reading another
- thinks some people talk too much
- lives life as a young person in an old body
I loved reading Giovanni’s “Kidnap” poem–those last lines where kid and nap are separated is fun. James Weldon Johnson is a favorite; he lifts my spirit, even with this line I chose, “God of our silent tears” from James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
God, are you there? It’s me, Denise
of endless hope, but thinking
our world teeters on the brink. Do not be
silent. Please, come and change our
tears into joyous laughter.
Another golden shovel is from Jimmy Carter’s “Considering the Void”: “an infinity of suns”
an earth of time brings an
infinity of stories–pleas
of possibility,
suns of soul
Why does this sweatshirt say Alcaraz?
It’s Alcatraz Island–the prison,
you know, in San Francisco bay.
Oh, I thought of Albert Alcaraz,
grade six, my first crush.
Nope.
Ok, that’s fine. I’ll take it.
Run,
Children,
Sense and know–
Wild and loathed things,
Turn to the sun and
Dance on the rainswept days,
Someday you’ll see those who have
No voice, they’ll need someone, and you’ll
Remember your loves, all your years of
Tending the fragile; you will be the one.
Inspired by Nicolette Sowder’s poem “Wilder Bond“
March 25, 2023 TwoWritingTeachers.org
