Umbrellas with Legs

They have no faces,

these legs that walk up and down the sidewalks.

Just one dripping shell after another.

On occasion a gust of brisk wind will grab one,

and turn it inside out

revealing the face beneath.

The unhappy faces,

exposed to the rain,

braving the dull clouds and the rain

that drips from the leaden skies.

Rain in every form

from a drizzle

to a downpour.

Rain that gives birth

to a multicolored monster.

Thousands of legs,

going every which way.

Sometimes both ways at once.

Who would not want to banish this monster,

this umbrella snake with legs?

Bring out the faces beneath,

give smiles back to them?

Tessa E Reeve (all rights reserved 10-13-2005)

Okay, I need to get this thing updated.

I have been fighting a battle with Breast Cancer for the last year and a half and just simply did not have time or energy to keep my Xanga up to date. I will try to get some updated poems posted and let everyone one know how it's going.

Clichés

The clichés of seasons passing

Are on each tongue this week

“The Dog Days of Summer” and

“Let’s go see the changing of the Leaves”

The kids are back in school now

To learn each lesson taught

They look out on the campus

And wish for one more month.

The horse is getting fuzzy

Her coat will keep her warm

When winter steps into our lives

With winds and snow and charm.

‘Fall Back, Spring Forward!”

Are the time clichés to heed

To be on time, re-set your clock

And get yourself some sleep.

No more frogs to sing summer’s song

No more the grass is green

For fall has taken all the leaves

And stripped them from the trees.

“The days are shorter now,” they say

“The dew has turned to frost.”

So pumpkins ripe and apples crisp

The time for growing lost.

‘Put the garden to bed it’s getting late”

“Make sure your tools are in”

Get the snow tires aired up good

And anchor tarps against the wind.

Clichés are good if you use them right

“Check the furnace so it will warm,”

“Be sure to get some firewood stacked

To weather winter’s storms”

Tessa E Reeve (all rights reserved 09-18-2005)

I lost a friend today....

I don’t have flowers to bring

or songs to sing.

I don’t have words to say

or prayers to pray.

I don’t have donations to give

to the cause she loved.

All I have is me alone,

my heart, my soul,

to say goodbye Louise,

my friend.

Tessa E Reeve 03-18-06

Transportation

I just want a car that runs

No combos or technical puns

A seatbelt that fits

No coughing or spits

I just want a car that runs.

I just want a car that works

No shimmies or clutches that jerk.

No balding tires

Or dangling wires

I just want a car that works.

I just want a car that starts

No millions of dollars in parts

Is that too much to ask?

For no pain in the ass?

I just want a car that starts.

I just want a car that goes

A heater that warms my cold toes.

No transmission troubles

Or brake lines with bubbles

I just want a car that goes

I just want a car that transports

Not one that speeds or cavorts

No stuck window handles

Or mirrors that dangle 

I just want a car that transports.

Tessa E Reeve (all right reserved 12-02-2005)

My cousin Joe Dooling forwarded the following 6 lines to everyone in his address book. There were some who took exception, including my father and brother. I feel so strongly about the subject and the responses that I have posted them here. Please take the time to read and comment.

George Bush

To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears

To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool 

To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen 

To be led by a liar is to ask to be lied to

To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery

My Father's (a 22 year veteran of the Air Force) response:

I wonder who or what was leading Paul Revere? Geo Washington?

My Brother's (a 4 year veteran of the Army during Vietnam) response:

Principals and faith are what lead Paul Revere and George Washington.  A burning desire for fairness and a government of the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE and for the PEOPLE were the motivators for their heroism.  Without the collective will of the PEOPLE, the strength of character, the courage and commitment of her leaders and heroes, there would be no United States of America.  The world would be a very different place today without the leadership of the USA.  The world is full of people who would love nothing better than to sully this nation and her leaders down through history.  I hope you are not one of them.  We have been able to continue to gather strength and become a resource that is counted on by every other nation in the world (including our least best friends) because we have been able to hold most terror and war away from the face of our fair land.  Look at some of the oldest civilizations on the face of the earth and how little their people have compared to the average American.  We could quickly and easily be their equals in poverty if we could just be nice guys and wait for terror to strike our home again with ever increasing force.

On this day, thank God that we have the freedom to choose our leaders regardless of their skills or abilities.  Thank God for those who are willing to be led and that defend the freedom of choice and the often over-used freedom of speech that we cherish.  Thank God for a military that does not believe that it has better answers as to where and how we should be led than the leaders that the people have elected.  Our leaders may be human and may even be making errors, but they are still THE LEADERS of the greatest nation on the face of the earth.  They deserve some degree of respect for having the intelligence to rise to their position and the office they hold certainly deserves to be respected even if the man does not.  If they really screw it up, thank God for the collective intelligence of the American People who can and will vote them out of power.  Thank God for the right of the PEOPLE to impeach and remove leaders that are unfit.  In recent decades we have had a few that nearly were impeached, but even they were not able to damage the good of this nation and PEOPLE to any large degree.  The rest of the world may have a good chuckle or a few grumpy moments at our expense, but overall, Americans are envied and respected… because of and in spite of our leaders.

Hey Joe, you could have been born in CUBA where it might cost you your life to say what you have said in this forum.  Compared to Cuba’s leader (just to name one), President George Bush or President Bill Clinton or any other President look like saints to me.  President George Bush.  My President.  Your President as well, unless you are not an American.  I voted for him.  You didn’t.  I think you are wrong, and you think I am wrong.  Either way we are family and both (Thank God) are American citizens.  I could be wrong about my choice, but the good news is that we will get to choose again in a few years.  Have a little faith in the people and the system of government that our fore fathers so elegantly designed.  Spend a little time being thankful to the veterans who put their lives at risk to protect that system and our way of life.  Respect those who defended our freedom at the risk and sometimes the cost of life and limb.  Try spending a little more of your energy working with those Damned Republicans to root out and prosecute fraud and corruption using our legal system.  Be really concerned when the legal system is used as the pawn of non-citizens to assert their whim over the will of those who were born here and rightfully call this land home.  Work together as an American to improve the system rather than being a self-righteous Democrat condemning those damned Republicans (who are also Americans).  Stop trying to further divide the nation and its peoples by spewing this kind of crap. And stop trying to tell others and me that if I happen to believe that this President is doing more good than bad that I am somehow mentally deficient.  I am not and neither are you. It causes people to loose sight of the fact that we are FIRST AMERICAN and that we secondly have a system of beliefs that might be labeled Democrat, Republican, or Other.  Republicans are Americans, not terrorists.  Have faith in our system of government and it system of checks and balances.  The President is only one part of that system and does not have the powers of a dictator.  We, the People are not stupid nor are we stupefied.  We will make whatever changes need made to satisfy the collective will of the majority of the people.  They call it democracy.  Have an opinion Joe, but don’t discount the opposing opinion.  You never know, it might be right.  God forbid, you could be wrong.  Do us both a favor; don’t put this kind of crap in my face anymore.  I don’t appreciate it and it makes it hard for me to enjoy a chat with you.  When it is all said and done, I love you very much and really want to enjoy our time together.  Saying your point louder or more often or even behind my back will not change my stand on this issue, but it might change my desire to listen to you.  Because my opinion is different does not make me dumb.  I have a brain and I use it.  Have faith in that.  I love you because I say so and there is nothing you can do to change that.  Have faith in that.  Disagree with me, that’s fine...  But don’t disrespect or disregard me… we will both regret that.

Love to all friends and family.  Thank you to every veteran who has and will protect America... especially you Deadeye Dooling!  Renew your patriotism and renew your faith in the PEOPLE of this great nation.   

Respectfully,

Your Cuz

Jim