MIM’s the Word

lindastudleyLeave a comment

I am drawn to the strings.
They reach out like musical staffs of cob web strands.
It’s a living thing;
this obsession with plucked notes and the sleight of hand
that makes them sing.
hundreds of years, thousands of songs lost to time.
Hear the ring
of the rhythm and the reason to the rhyme.
I am drawn to the strings
at the MIM.

#186

MIM stands for Musical Instrument Museum, which is located in Phoenix, Arizona. I strongly recommend a visit if you’re ever in the area. (I got to play a theremon!)

 

Tombstone

lindastudleyLeave a comment

Superstition sunrise bleeds

between the jagged rocks,

the road rolls on into the desert.

Walking the hilltop, cactus and thorns adorn

wooden crosses and markers,

‘Killed by indians’, ‘gunshot’,

‘unknown’, ‘hung

by mistake.’

Into the town and along the main street,

wind whips the sand, blasting

tired paint, leather faces, and faded signs.

Dusters billow and flap, revealing

weathered holsters, well oiled six-guns.

A shot rings out.

Buy a postcard of the town too tough to die.

#185

 

Arizona

lindastudleyLeave a comment

Doves croon in the courtyard.

Desert blue pales to the horizon.

Palms, all smooth and shaggy;

all graceful and gawky,

sentinel the sky in silhouette.

Cacti bristle from sand and gravel.

Paddle and rod and barrel.

Green and red and yellow.

Quill and needle and barb.

Plump paddles, prickly pear pile-up.

Firestick tumble – fire crackers suspended in mid explosion.

Massive, ruinous saguaro – viejo – venerable one.

Arizona.

 

#184

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That One Small Thing You Leave Behind

lindastudley9 Comments

Pack the toothbrush, paste, and floss
Pack the tablet (it takes less space)
and all the things you grab and toss
into the rucksack just in case.

What’s the weather like? Do I
need sweaters or a bathing suit?
Sandals, dress shoes, hikers, slippers,
maybe even rubber boots?

How many pairs of pants and shirts?
(Short sleeve, long sleeve, no sleeve, tanks.)
Shorts or slacks, jeans or skirts?
Good grief my mind has just gone blank.

At some point you just have to stop,
assume you’ve got all you should bring
you zip the zip – slap on the lock,
and leave behind that one small thing.

#178

Kindness Addiction

lindastudley2 Comments

It’s addictive.
Using your powers of observation,
not to find fault, or problems, or
reasons why something won’t work,
but to find success.
To find success,
not just in your own life,
but in the lives of those around you,
and then to speak up and tell them.
Tell them that you see the things they do,
admire their talent and passion, appreciate
their kindness and compassion.
It’s addictive I tell you.
It makes people smile, it liberates you
from thinking everything needs to revolve
around yourself.
It’s contagious too.
Observe – appreciate – then actually say something nice.
Get hooked.

#177