GRIZZLY PEAR

written snapshots

Category: Penny Delights

  • The democracy was evenly split, but all four humans swung towards Pizza.

    Frozen Pizza or
    Frozen Spanakopita?
    (to accompany congee for dinner)

    We couldn’t decide, so we asked the kids.
    They couldn’t decide either, so they called an election.

    Cut out forty-five little squares.
    On each square she drew two boxes with “S” and “P”.
    They converted an empty kleenex box into a ballot box.

    The stuffed animals lined up to vote.
    They polled the transformers downstairs.

    25 for Pizza.
    21 for Spanakopita.

    Pizza for dinner.

    ䷘

    of the people
    rich in virtue
    by the people
    in harmony with the time
    for the people

  • The architect’s son shall compromise egress.

    He placed toys at the foot of the stairs.

    Transformers
    Lincoln Logs
    A family of bears
    Building blocks

    “It’s unsafe. Clean it up.”

    He wanted to photograph his Shop.
    I unlocked my phone.

    Twenty minutes later, they were taking photos around the house.
    The stair — still a hazard.

    ䷲䷘

    shock goes hither and thither
    watch your step

  • Two witches chased the little dragon through the dinosaur bones.

    Our girl met a classmate at the park.

    They climb the play structures.
    Our boy is an evil dragon, scared of the sands.
    They keep him at bay with magic wands.

    He follows them.
    They chase him.

    As the sun sets, they bury the wands beneath a bush.
    The little dragon heads home.

    ䷭

    within the earth wood grows
    the image of pushing upward

  • The tree picked up letters from the children.

    Mommy went out for groceries.
    We put up the tree.

    I set up the base as they dug through the ornaments.
    She stacked the sections.
    I wrapped lights — stars, birds, and bulbs.
    They hung the ornaments.

    I fussed with the timer and batteries.
    They drew at their desk.
    Sheets of paper, markers, and a scissor.
    New original 8.5 x 11 ornaments.

    Snowmen in our desert.

    ䷯

    the well is being lined
    a month of revelry
    no blame.

    ䷽

  • The play was a rambling drama about Daddy Bear forgetting his name.

    Stuffed animals filled the stairs.
    A dark blanket hung at the bottom.

    Instant amphitheater.

    ䷦䷑

    obstructions
    a stage
    friends come

  • He surgically ate the meat and rice.

    Skipping veggies cost him a week of snacks.
    Sister cheered him up.

    Momma was still angry.
    She cheered him down.

    ䷷䷢

    the wanderer’s inn burns down
    ice cream seven days away

  • We walked among the masses.

    Monday night makes for a quieter halloween.
    We masked up and strolled through the neighborhood.

    Three years after the last time, bitterly cold then.
    Pleasant tonight.

    Re-entering the land of the living.
    On a night for the dead.

    ䷁

    the earth’s condition is receptive devotion
    ghosts of dogs, rabbits, and carrots spring out of pumpkins

  • I voted!

    Yesterday, I dropped off our mail-in ballots at an early voting station.
    At my building!
    In the double sized classroom with an operable partition.
    So cool to partake in its civic life.
    There.

    But life doesn’t just hand out W’s.
    I was only there to diagnose lingering problems.
    I’ve learned to savor the little victories.
    Whatever reason why I’m there.

    One day, I’ll visit just to visit.
    No ballots; no problems.

    ䷙䷊

    one attains the way of heaven
    slogging through the swamp

  • Puppy Dog Pals (with Olivia) watch Toy Story 2, Lasseter, Branon, Unkrich, 1999.

    He finished his mask for Halloween.
    I cut the paper.
    He insisted that she draw and color.

    She drew more characters, taped to popsicle sticks.
    They held up their new friends so they could watch a movie.

    Later that night, he asked me to add a cat for their collection.
    She said it was the strangest drawing ever.

    ䷱䷴

    The movie was fun.
    Not an absolute classic like the first one, but still very good.
    It was ambitious of them to push into the wider world with more human characters.
    The Cleaner scene and the Jessie montage are top-notch.

  • Blue plastic containers meandered down the hill.

    The great Saturday wind swept our trash cans away.
    (Fortunately they had already been emptied!)
    I spent half an hour peeking into dislocated receptacles around the neighborhood.

    No luck.

    Sunday, our trash can showed up in a side yard around the corner.
    It was paired with a second trash can with a blue lid.
    (the spot had been occupied by a trash can with a black lid.)

    Monday, I grabbed a recycling bin at the bottom of the hill.
    It wasn’t ours, but the markings were unclear.
    After two days, I guess its owners preferred our old recycling bin.

    ䷬䷁

    sublime and enduring perseverance is needed
    but any box will do the job