It’s President’s Day.
Why should I care?
The current one
didn’t show up for
the last
transfer of power
because of pouting
and now look
at what we’ve got!
We’re ruled by new math
that removes us
from the equation.


Those who forget the past
are doomed to repeat it.
I remember it
and I’m doomed.

If you forget it
how do you know
when you’re repeating it?


Forget you!
I’ve tried.
I can’t.


It only hurts
when you think.
I’m in constant pain.


If I don’t think,
I become a pain.


More and more I see
driving on the freeway
the left arm of the other drivers
covered in tattoos.
Has the call gone out?
“Show me your tattoos.”
Are they trying
to tell me something?
Must be, because
I get the message.


President’s Day?
It used to be
I would know
who’s the President.
Now I know
nothing.


These California roads
and highways
have signs
that more and more
relate to fire
as if someone has
put a target
on the state.


Night and day
I used to teach
everyone
within my reach.
Now I’m still teaching
but sounds like I’m preaching.


They talk about
preaching to the choir.
Why don’t they just
sing along?
Doesn’t the preacher
know the song?


If the blind
are leading the blind,
how do we know
where we’re going?
Maybe we’re already there.
Or maybe not.


I love women in general
and one in particular.


I can no longer complain.
They’ve shut down my department.
I can’t tell
what’s going on.
I can’t tell anybody anything.
Things are faster
falling apart.
That I can tell.


I remember when
they called you stupid
if you were
below average.
Now they’ve lowered
the average
and you’re still stupid.


The smartest President
is the one
who was never elected
and nobody knows his name.


Even when people
read the Bible to him,
he still doesn’t get it.


I’ll slow down
writing this stuff
if they’d only let me
but even the hills
are blackened by fire
the air filled with smoke


Look at the cloud
stretched out
on the ground.
It’s a sci-fi movie
I hope we can
drive through.


This is one of
those experiences
accelerating
coming faster
why must so many things
rhyme with disaster?


Now I have to pee.
It’s the coffee.
I think I can hold it until
we stop for gas.


I’ll distract myself
by watching
the cars and trucks
and the road signs
and landscape.
It might work
for awhile
long enough.
I surely hope so.
I don’t want an accident.


ahh
ahh
the orchard
is in bloom
I had almost forgotten
such beauty
on both sides
of the road


the new orchard management
flat tops the trees
like AI
does with us


the whole world
needs a Rest Stop
as badly as me


that’s a very lonely looking
gas station
over on the right
in the middle of nowhere