DANCE THE PLUMBAGO













AMONG THE ZENIAS
AND MARIGOLDS
THE LILIES AND
DAISIES, POPPA WAS
CRAZY FOR THE
BLUE PLUMBAGO,
DANCING IN LIMBO
ON SPICY GREEN
STALKS, WE SNATCHED
IT ALONG OUR
EMERALD BAY WALKS,
WHAT CAN YOU SAY
ABOUT A GAME WITH
ROBIN HOOD AND
HIS MAID, FOUR
KIDS PLAYING ROLES
IN ANTIQUE POSES,
WITH MARION IN
A FROTHY BLUE DRESS
AND A HALO OF
PLUMBAGO TO
MATCH, SURELY
THE SOUL OF MY
FAVORITE CATCH,
FOR OFTEN IN
YEARS FORTHCOMING
THE FRAGRANT BLUE
FLOWERS ADORNED
MY VIEW, FROM CRYSTAL
COVE TO HOLLYWOOD,
AQUA VISTA, THE
MARRIAGE PAD,
ABOUNDING FLOWERS
AT THE HOME OF MY DAD,
THE RIVERS OF MILBANK
WERE FULL OF MUSIC
AND FERNS AND GARDENIAS
AND MORE GIANT
ZENIAS, BUT I ALWAYS
HAD A PLUMBAGO BLUE
FOR THE FAMILY ZOO,
SURROUNDING THE
FRAGRANT ROSES,
BEAUTIFUL POSES
WEDDINGS AND ENDS,
CHANGING OF GUARDS
AND LOST BOYFRIENDS,
I ONCE PUT A SLIVER
OF PLUMBAGO BLUE
INTO THE POCKET
OF A MAN THAT I KNEW,
AND WHAT DO YOU
KNOW, HE MARRIED ME,
OUT ON THE CLIFFS
ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
SO WHEN I WAS
LOOKING
FOR JUST THE RIGHT
PRIZE, A PLANT
FOR MY GARDEN
A WINK OF THE EYE,
WHAT SHOULD I FIND
AT THE VERY FIRST
GLANCE, YOU KNOW
THIS JUST HAPPENED
NOT EVEN BY CHANCE,
A BIG FAT GREEN BUSH
WAITING FOR ME,
TO CARRY IT HOME
AND PLANT CAREFULLY
FULL OF BLUE FLOWERS
ALL IN BLOOM, A SCENTED
REMINDER IN SPRINGLIKE
PERFUME, I DANCED
AROUND THE NEWEST
ADDITION, WHILE THE
BUCKS AND THE DOES
DID THEIR RUNNING
RENDITION, IT CAME
ALONG IN THE MATING
SEASON, DO YOU THINK
PERHAPS THERE IS
A REASON,
WE WILL DANCE
THE PLUMBAGO
AT MY TV PARTY,
THE GUESTS WILL
KICK UP THEIR HEELS,
AND EVERYONE PRESENT
AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT
ARE NOW BLESSED
WITH THE BLUE, AND
THAT INCLUDES YOU,
CELEBRATE MEMORIES
BRING THEM TO LIFE
CARRY THE LOVES
AND THE PASSIONATE
STRIFE, IT ALL COMES
TOGETHER IN THE WORLD
OF ROMANCE, SO
MAKE THE PLUMBAGO
YOUR FAVORITE DANCE!
 
 
©J.W. WINSLOW 11/1/14

ANOTHER WING

I SEE HER THROUGH
THE WINDOW PANE
CAUGHT IN A
WEB OF MASSIVE
SIZE, WONDERING
HOW TO SURVIVE,
ANGLING
STRUGGLING
STUCK BY ONE WING
SHE TRIES
OVER AND OVER
TO RELEASE THE
STICKY HELL
FROM HER LIMB
AS I WATCH
AND WONDER
HOW TO BEGIN,
SHALL I HELP
OR OBSERVE
LET NATURE
TAKE ITS COURSE
OR IS THIS
FATE’S WAY OF
OFFERING ME THE
CHANCE TO SAVE
HER, I CHOOSE
THE SECOND –
AS THE SUNLIGHT
BEAMS ON A
DAY WHICH SHOULD
BE WONDROUS,
PUSHING OPEN
THE ANCIENT GLASS
I WRAP A SOFT
TISSUE AROUND
HER AND PULL AWAY,
KNOWING SHE IS
DREADING THE END,
GENTLY RELEASING
THE COVERING
AS IT FLOATS TO
THE GROUND,
INSIDE SHE IS STILL
BUT ONLY FOR A MOMENT
(THEN WIGGLING
AND CRAWLING AROUND)
I KNOW SHE WILL
BE OUTWARD BOUND,
ONCE THE SHOCK OF
ANOTHER LIFE
FINDS A TAP
FROM MOTHER EARTH,
SHE WILL MAKE
HER WAY AND FLY
MINUS THE
TORN WING
LEFT IN THE TRAP
OF A SPIDER,
HE WILL NOT BE
HAPPY WITH A
FAILED DINNER,
I SMILE AS
I CLOSE THE
WINDOW AGAINST
THE WIND,
WAITING TO SEE
SOME ACTION,
IT MAY TAKE SOME
TIME AND TRACTION,
I WONDER IF SHE
WILL SURVIVE,
GROW ANOTHER WING
AS SOME DO,
OR LIMP ALONG
REGARDLESS
BRAVELY GRABBING A
BREEZE, SHE WILL
BE AT EASE IN
A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET,
AND FIND A POD
WAITING IN THE IVY,
HOME FOR THE
DURATION, THE
FIRST AID STATION
OF THE HEART,
WHILE I KNOW
I HAVE DONE SOMETHING
GOOD TODAY,
A TINY SPARK IN THE
SCHEME OF THINGS,
MAY WE ALL HELP
TO FIND ANOTHER WING
FOR THE CREATURES
WE CHERISH,
SURROUNDING US IN
THE BRILLIANCE OF
A PLANET TORN ASUNDER,
THE WONDER OF LOVE
REMAINS.
©J.W. WINSLOW 10/1/14

Gone Fishing

Pink Art

 

IT STARTED THE
MOMENT WE
ENTERED THE STREET:
THE SMILING AND
WAVING,
THE STRONG STEADY
BEAT,
SOON WE WERE
FILMING AND
DOING THE THING
WHERE I ASK THE
QUESTIONS AND
YOU ARE THE KING,
THE BEST OF THE BLUES
KEPT US GLUED TO
OUR SEATS
WHILE I WOULD
SNEAK OFF TO FILM
A REPEAT: THIS TIME
THE CASUAL MAN IN
THE STREET,
CAREFREE AND FUN
BORN TO RUN
PLAY HIDE AND SEEK
THE LADIES IN STILTS
MADE THE PICTURE COMPLETE,
AND THEN IN A FLASH
WE MADE THE WILD DASH
TO THE NEXT BIG FEST
FIRST CITY/THE BEST
WHERE THE BASS
WAS THUMPING
AND HEARTS WERE PUMPING
EVERYONE DRESSED
TO KILL, LOTS OF
ELECTRONIC MASTER
SKILLS, LOVERS
AND STRANGERS ALL
PACKED IN, DOZENS OF
BANDS TRYING TO WIN
THE HEARTS OF NEW
FANS, IN IMAGINELAND,
WHERE ROCK STARS
ABIDE AND THERE’S
NO PLACE TO HIDE,
THE STANDS WERE
PACKED FOR THE
FINAL ATTACK,
THE PRESENCE OF BECK
PLAYING NECK AND NECK
WITH THE SWAYING DIRT
CROWD, AND EVER SO LOUD
THAT IN THE END HE
BURNED OUR EARS
AND FANS DEPARTED WITH
SAVVY AND TEARS,
SO NOT TO SAY
THAT HE LOVED THE TOWN
OR THE FABULOUS MUSIC
THAT SEEMED TO ABOUND,
OR THE TV SHOW
WHERE HE WATCHED
ME WORK, IN THAT
CALM LITTLE WAY
WHICH DRIVES ME
BERZERK,
BUT WHEN IT WAS
FINISHED,
AND THE LIGHTS
WENT DOWN
WE HEADED HOME
TO THE HIGHER
GROUND,
AND IN THE END
HE DID WHAT
HE WAS WISHING,
HE PACKED UP
HIS BAGS
AND JUST
WENT FISHING!

©J.W. WINSLOW 9/1/14

 

Crash!

Crash Image

 

 

ONE MINUTE YOU’RE THERE
AND THE NEXT
YOU’RE NOT
FROZEN OUT
THROWN ABOUT
IN A WILD TANGLE
OF CURSIVES
AND CURSE WORDS
THE SCREEN HAS
GONE BLANK, AND
THAT TERRIBLE SOUND
THAT ALMOST SIGH,
THE TRAGIC GOODBYE
OF ALL YOUR WORDS,
THE DOCS
THE POEMS
THE BOOKS
UNHEARD OF,
NOT REALLY BUT TRUE
(NEVER BELIEVE IT
WILL HAPPEN TO YOU)
UNTIL THE FINAL GROAN,
AND THAT’S WHAT IT IS,
A GRINDING HALT
THAT MAKES YOU SCREAM
“IT’S NOT MY FAULT”
TO THE FRIENDLY GENIUS
WHO COMES TO CALL
AND CARRIES AWAY THE
REMAINS,
HE CLAIMS IT
WILL ALL
BE FINE,
YOU’RE BACKED UP
YOU’RE COVERED
SCARED SHITLESS
YOU HOVER
AND PACE,
THE NINETEEN NEW
CHAPTERS, WRITTEN
WITH LOVE,
THE HUNDREDS OF
OF PAGES
AND SLOVENLY
RAGES,
THE CHARACTERS
NEW AND OLD,
SEXY, SILLY
STRONG AND BOLD,
AND WHAT ABOUT
THE TV GUESTS
ALL THE WORDS
AT YOUR BEHEST,
THEIR ANSWERS STORED
IN THIS DEAD MACHINE
THE TECH GRAVEYARD
OF BROKEN DREAMS,
YOU WAIT, YOU SWEAT
YOU CRY, YOU BET
THAT EVERYONE IS WRONG
IT WILL BE
THE WORST SAD SONG,
WHEN FINALLY THE LIGHT
SHINES FLASHING AND BRIGHT,
THERE WILL BE A WAY
TO SAVE THE DAY,
IT’S NOT THE END OF
THE WORLD,
I CRAWL FROM MY CRISIS
AND SLOWLY UNCURL
A BRAIN THAT HAS SEEMINGLY
DEVELOPED A YEN
FOR THAT CRAZY MACHINE
INSTEAD OF A PEN,
SO IF I HAVE TO
I’LL START AGAIN,
OH, MY GOD,
PLEASE TELL ME,
WHEN?©J.W. WINSLOW 8/1/14

Linen and Lace

JW with her mother

 

Behind the heavy
wooden doors
lies a treasure
of linen and lace
hidden away………LINEN AND LACE
from spying eyes
waiting with
charm and grace,
while put asunder
in careless disorder
piled in stacks
pushed into cracks
shoved together
in multiple colors
unable to tell
one from another
the job was
beyond the pale,
a shameless romance
with a terrible
dance of dismay,
I hastened to
catch my breath,
and then I dove in
and followed the
whims, the textures
in shades of white,
deep purple ribbons
wound in mats of straw
it was hard to decipher
the mess that I saw,
but soon in the fertile
bloom of my mind
the pictures of times
became a prime and
motivating rhyme,
sorting the napkins,
pink and blue, aqua
and scarlett and
polka dot too,
pile after pile of tiny
white squares, sewn
in bright colors
often prepared
in a matching set,
lest we forget the
parties and teas, under
fragrant flowering trees,
the dinners and lunches
and meetings,
each intricate cloth
was ruffled with froth
and folded away
in the season,
I saw Nana’s tables
with flowers and lace,
my mother and father
married in grace,
sexy black napkins
from a dinner of love
ornate rings, turtle doves,
tassles bound with
formal patterns
and tiny napkins
slightly tattered,
all with a scent
of lavender, saved
for my eyes to see,
Christmas in shiny red
and green squares
bound up and waiting
for the next family,
I had carried this home
unable to part
with a glorious show
and piece of my heart,
so I fondled the soft
rows of tablecloths,
Starchy old pieces
Set in a bundle
of soft ancient
creases, the morning
grew long and slipped
away, while I finished
my song of memory play,
and now it is done, all
neat and preserved,
I open the door and smile,
and it will be there
for me to share, my
very own family tree
the ecstacy of
wondrous care,
behind the door
right before
you reach the top
of the stairs!
©J.W. WINSLOW 6/1/14

 

Easter/Beck

Uneasy
Offbeat
where has
the old EASTER/BECK
game gone,
and what
is the new,
just a few
licks of promise
laying back
on the foundation
of joyful
creation,
suddenly it
has disappeared,
familiar faces
comfy places
the same channel
theme songs
replays
reviews, who’s who,
even the daily
rag is skewed,Release
things change
shit happens
I get that,
but all at once,
leaves me
skewed like
a dunce:
head swirling
the cameras
have switched
over to hi def,
low light on
the theater stage
broken guitar
strings, my
heart brings it
home, alone,
butterball fluffs
on the trees
months early,
no stress,
all access to
everyone, but
nobody’s home,
they are out
searching for
themselves
too,
the HUMAN
ZOO
comes to order,
south of the
border: RELEASE.
©J.W. WINSLOW 5/1/14

 

Sherry Cake

Scrumptious
sensual
SHERRY CAKE
the memories
of such
are so sweet,
SHERRY CAKE
back to moments
of no great worries
nothing to fear
nowhere to hurry,
jump forward
to now:
the blast and
the prime
a schedule that
angles to
wild and sublime
but mostly requires
the utmost of care
time/love/energy
buyer beware,
we traveled to
FANCY for my
special day
and found the
Fab restaurant
in sorry decay,
but life has
taken such
hairpin turns
it makes me
wonder and
truly yearn
for the times
of simplicity
no eithnic diversity
not polictially correct
a détente to connect
all the dotted lines,
humans who talk
from both sides
of their mouth,
pretend to go north
when they really
head south,
I long to refine
the falsetto taste
bittersweet alcolades
the life made
in haste,
fill empty pages
with heaven
and lace,
just savor the
SHERRY CAKE
down to the crumbs
live life in
harmony
where loving
is plumb,
bring back
the caramel
and my mother’s
good care,
spoon feed a fantasy
but still, be aware
the stakes are
changing
the world
rearranging,
take time
for yourself,
slash the roses
of strife:
be free and sure,
and hang on
to your life!

JWWinslow:4/1/14

Queen of Sherry Cake