Poetry: tuesday, august 23, 2011, flint, michigan

did my point seven mile — each way — stint to the post office
this morning
through quiet city streets
lined with well coiffed end-of-summer lawns
quietly displaying pink and red and white flowers nestled in green
against white picket fences
or stone walls
or tall wooden privacy fences;

under twenty-foot tall maple and walnut trees
which shade everyone

the houses rest comfortably after the heat
and before the autumn whatever-we-get temperatures

today's underlying and overhead theme
is green
deep green
watered from the many rainy days
we've had recently
(i carried a sheet of fabric softener
to discourage the mosquitoes
and it worked — they don't do laundry)

it is a story book day
i half-expected to see a knight
in shining armor
riding his steed
across the park

or a fairy princess braiding a grass and posy wreath
in the sunshine
a gentle breeze cooled the air

the sky white with clouds
(this is michigan, after all ... )

i met a walker
we grinned about the day
and he sent me off with
"stay blessed"
i love that

another walker agreed
this is a story book day
he was cooling down after
his two-hour run
he has the day off and feels
happy

another man working on his car
looked up
and agreed it is a perfect day
lovely and quiet
no loud music; no shouting

i greeted a couple of dogs
back

and even saw a tiny princess
all in pink
standing in her driveway
she poked out her tongue
it looked like she was tasting the air
and not making a rude greeting
she didn't frown, anyway

i don't think there is a frown in the day
i don't want to turn the page