Octopus L. A.

I’m trying out the metaphor
to see if it works
because
in some ways
L. A.
really is
(like)
an octopus
tentacle arms
reaching out
in all directions
a row of
underside suckers
like stomata
or individual
communities
one after
the other after
the other
all writhing around
the center
mouth open
big brain
and endless
throbbing
heart
pulsing through it all

There are many
metaphors for L. A.
This is just one

And anyway octopus
beaten against a rock
tenderized
segmented
a little oil
lemon
salt
makes
an excellent
hors d’oeuvre
but here
I think
the metaphor
breaks down
as metaphors always do
comparing describing
anything
when even the
actual original
description
can’t do
full
justice
to
the
real
thing
that
is



Headin’ down the freeway
not in my Chevrolet
that was years ago
my very first car
now it’s Volvo
how things change!



These lengthy
Travel blogs
let me say
and post
many things
at once


Count my blessings
One
One and a half
One and three quarters


Doing it again
riding and writing
and stopping for gas


Chaz will keep driving, Dad.
Ok.
Then I won’t
put my notebook
away


Because there’s always more


That gives me great
contentment
I can live
on that
sustained


now
Kristina and Chaz
are arguing
over which lane
to get in
for the best
available gas pump
it’s just like
everything in life
as everything
always is


now the employee
in the green vest
motions toward
an opening
in the line
he’s
earning
his pay


sometimes
I always
take the
opportunity
to write
a little more
and stretch
my mind


checked
the tire pressure
said optional
is thirty
didn’t say
what that’s
good for
every info always
leaves something out


Frank Lloyd Wright house
In Los Banos
says the internet
one of these times
we should stop
to see
another one


Chaz and Kristina
are arguing over
the tire pressure
just like
a long time
married couple
which they are
discovering
that all is well


It’s a bright
sunny day
in January
I had enough sleep
so it’s going
to be
another
good day


My friend says,
“How do you write
so much positive?”
I say,
“Look around.”


When people say
“How you doing?”
and you say
“Still breathing,
thank you”
I say,
“What’s the
thank you
for?”
pretending
I don’t know.

I’m in a good mood
partly because
we’re going down
to claim my Christmas
present too lavish
tickets at the Ahmanson
for “Once upon a Mattress”
they know the show
seen it
know the songs
can sing along
all I know is
hearing the one
with Carol Burnett
which resonates with me
because I too myself
am SHY!


why would anyone
want to ban
windmills
when all they do
is turn the air
into energy


I’ll never get used to
what’s going on
and I hope
I never do


I’m a simple machine
you feed me bits
and out the other end
comes the ticker tape message
appropriately worded
tear it off
and hand it over




Moles out there, Dad
making holes
looks like
our back yard


horses are
especially beautiful
on the grassy hills
drinking water
from the pond


just checked
the maps
the words are used
but not used up


How do you do it
so on and on?
Easy.
I had breakfast.


That’s me
without my hat
I’m finding it
found it
now it’s me
with my hat


Everything
anybody says
I could write down
if I could write
fast enough


Just turned the page
Can’t you tell?
No?
Me neither.


More gopher holes
just like the other ones
back there
boy,
are they fast!


cows
all in a line
as if herded by aliens
for extraterrestrial food


flashing across on the right

get over to the left
it’s as easy as that


Why can’t people see
what I see?
Are they driving blind?


sputum
phlegm
microbial cytological investigations
for respiratory infections
pulmonary congestion
croup
spasmodic hack
why are there
such awfully
similar words
for something
so awful

and now the street lights
come automatically on
so it must be
getting dark


a gobbet of light
spooned from
a brimming bowl
of darkness