Exploring the Intriguing
Category: Family
The father of my children has gone mad. He’s spent every night for the last 5 weeks putting together a boat. A giant, absurd boat. Somehow he convinced Ham and Japheth to help. Thank goodness Shem is still willing to get water for me in the evenings.
What I don’t understand is what’s gone wrong. Noah has been a good dad, a great farmer, and the best healer around. Now? He’s lost his mind. And I’m not even allowed to ask about his precious boat. Our kadosh is broken.
© Gayle Force Press 2020
The water is wide
Littered with empty bodies
Once young old weak and strong
Mingled with fish and sledge
Along with the memories of those
Who made it over the Ohio
To a new home of hope
No land but how brave
Promising to remain
North of the river
Away from pattyrollers
Somehow, finally free
Their lucky descendant
Starts driving faster
As I take a bridge
One of several I’ll cross
Just hoping for fun tonight
In Cincy or Louisville
Leaving Kentucky for Ohio
Trading South for North
Simply signs on the highway
Beneath the shining images
Pointing me to a downtown
Or a floating casino
Nothing calls to attention
The history or the bodies
Still and real below me
Trapped in the Ohio
Permanently, without memories
Somehow, finally free
© Gayle Force Press 2012
A poem by Franklin Oliver
I know you know
about God‘s beloved
shivering on the floor
Wondering how hope turned into terror
Upon arrival in the promised land
I know you know
about swaddled babies
ripped from their mothers
born at the wrong time
in the wrong place
in the wrong skin
I know you know
about free flu shots
waiting idle in boxes
while the cough begins to spread
Among the Other
Waiting idle in boxes
I know you know
about the human crossing borders
binding people into suffering
instead of protecting them from fear
I know you know
about our old lady
Standing with the lamp
Waiting for tired huddled masses
yearning to be free
needing to be White
I know you know
about the stable
Home to donkeys
A new family
And earthly bribes
For a heavenly gift
I know you know
about sanctuary in Egypt
A fearsome flight
For first time parents
hiding the light of the world
in Ill fitting clothes
begging him to stay quiet
hoping for one more miracle
I know you know
Whether Mary would be safe
In your care
Or if you’d remind her
That Jews don’t belong here
Without looking into her eyes
I know you know
This is Christmas in America
© Gayle Force Press 2019
A poem by Franklin Oliver
In a new Orbitz commercial featuring four guys on the golf
course, one of them is wearing a shirt with a Human Rights Campaign logo
visible. There’s nothing overt about the commercial, the guy is not marked as
gay, it’s just part of his outfit to support marriage equality. Good stuff.
TP
It's true. I'm recording Game 5 of the Finals because my son wants to see a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air DVD instead. I should be reminding myself that I'm happy he wants to spend time with me. Right?
The WhoDeannyPod 