Perspective 05/18/11

he watched the anthill
for hours
on hot, sunny, summer's day
he marveled at them
the neat, orderly lines
moving in and out
of their colony
what should have
to his mind
been chaos
was order instead

hearing his mother call
he finally got up to leave
raising his sneakered foot
to cast a dark shadow
on what he had so long observed

before he could bring his foot down
on the helpless insects below
the sun was obscured
by a gigantic black cloud
casting the boy inure dark shadow

he looked up
and put his foot down
carefully
far from the anthill

and
as the sun began to shine on him again
he hurried himself home

©2011-Art Belliveau

tanka 05/17/11

all the trees and birds
so what if i don't know their names?
they're still beautiful
to me their names' mystery
only adds to their wonder

©2011-Art Belliveau

haiku 05/16/11

can't sit here too long
kudzu vines are growing wild
they might cover me

©2011-Art Belliveau

haiku 05/15/11

a rusty black grill
overgrown with green kudzu
summer is starting

©2011-Art Belliveau

keep up 05/14/11

a mother
walking along the trail
young child in tow
focused
intent
a time and a place
to stop
to look
to wonder
a schedule to keep
on this beautiful day

frustrated
the child follows
seeing a new wonder
at every step
admiring the view
with every glance

but each stop he makes
is met with an irritated
"Come on! Hurry! Keep up!"

he listens
reluctantly
learns to ignore the beauty
all around
in order to get to
the end of the trail
that much faster

©2011-Art Belliveau

Who Am I? 05/13/11

Who Am I?

I am...
Sarah's almost ex
Molly's Daddy
Barbara's son
Ryk's friend
Bob's brother

I am...
a teacher
a poet
a blogger
a writer

I am...
bearded
tall
stocky

I am...
optimistic
imaginative

I am...
me


©2011-Art Belliveau

haiku 05/11/11

abandoned pickup
rusting sideways near the trail
oak growing though it

©2011-Art Belliveau

haiku 05/10/11

insects, frogs, and birds
a constant in the background--
nature's own soundtrack

©2011-Art Belliveau

haiku 05/09/11

uprooted live oak
laying against the hillside
down but still alive

©2011-Art Belliveau

when i hold you in my arms 05/08/11

when i hold you in my arms
i stop thinking about me
and all i want to do
is protect you
keep you safe
and let you know that
you are loved

©2011-Art Belliveau