Category: Penny Delights

They wanted to play Quidditch.
She cut out six paper hoops.
Taped three each on opposite walls.

We watched the rules on youtube.
From the movies and in real life.
Pulled up stadium noise.

I was a bludger throwing plush cakes at the girl.
She threw a red ball at the hoops and chased her brother.
He whirled around as the snitch, grasping a yellow ball.

Tiger and Daddy Bear were drafted as blockers.
We switched roles.
A din of creatures, projectiles, and people.

Momma called us down for lunch.
We couldn’t hear her.
She started without us.

䷩䷦

wind and thunder
the image of increase
witches flying on paper tubes

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

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

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

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.

䷽

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

Instant amphitheater.

䷦䷑

obstructions
a stage
friends come

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

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

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