All Weather Friends,

Mid Winter

Hello Woody, glad to see

You surviving the winter.

Where’s Woodine?

Haven’t seen her around.

How are those offspring of yours?

Saw one of them, two days back.

Proud to call you neighbors.

Did you see the three deer

On the lawn earlier?

Three years now, we’ve enjoyed

Having your family around.

Say, what’s up with the pecking

On the north side of our house?

And do you hear echoes of gossip,

From pecking on the porcelain

Insulators, on the electric pole?

Bugs don’t hide there, do they?

I’m told you are downies.

How did you come by that name?

You are quite the entertainers.

Been nice talking with you.

Coming by tomorrow?

Same time?

See you then.

Carlton Rollins, New Sharon    

No Voices, Just Choices

Do you remember the old telephone?

It had a “voice” (not a dial tone)

But that is not the modern way

(“Number please,” an operator does not say.)

No human voice do you hear,

Just a “buzzing” sound in your ear.

Push numbered buttons, get connected real quick.

So many options from which to pick.

With “caller ID” you can see who

Hopes they can “converse” with you.

An “answering machine” you can always use.

It “screens” the calls you might refuse.

The older phone hung on the wall.

The newer version is compact and small.

The modern phone might have more choices,

But I sure miss those “human voices.”

Arlene Wells, Farmington    

SEAGULL

SOARING

effortlessly dictated by

the wind.

Floating

like a slow signature signed.

Circling

up high rubbing a fluffy, lofty

white cloud.

Squawking

a secret harmony cry aloud.

Hovering

majesty casting a moving

dark shadow.

Cutting

through the winds that

gently blow.

Gliding

wingtips kindly kiss the

ocean’s rollers

Swooping

down like deep sea scouting

fishing patrollers.

Diving

with an eagle eye for a wee

morsel of food.

Waiting

quietly ever so carefully

unnoticeable shrewd.

Shrieking

gloriously throughout its

symphony flight.

Flying

proudly owning the bright

sunny daylight.

Greg Zemlansky, Farmington