Caroline Gerardo's Blog, page 19

Heat Crashes Planes Poem

Heat crashes planeshappiness memorySister's wedding in backyardnuptial, all present responsible.
Fog hides wrinkleshappiness memorySon rides Christmas bikedown the road no trike.
Wind steals petalshappiness memorySwim team relay winvomit from the exertion.
 Storm fells treeshappiness memoryShe poops on toiletgrainy no diaper smile.
Heat crashes planessurvive 



poem and images copyright Caroline Gerardo July 8, 2017

Kill Bill Church Road Trip

Road trip to the Kill Bill Church.We loaded the car with cameras, a vegan picnic and water. Double check the coolant it's 100 degrees this morning in Lancaster. The owner has a website, tripadvisor, local bloggers post the address and there's a google page for the location which is no longer an active "church." 
What we didn't know is the owner has the website to get film companies to rent. There's a hostile element with locals who suffered in the 2008 downturn and abandoned property is vandalized, graffiti'ed, bones picked and sometimes burned to the ground for sport. There's a reason why houses out among Joshua Trees have bars on the windows - locals see visitors as roving  tranchulas.
A wildfire scarred and took a number of Joshua trees along the road. The black against blue sky and white heat is an eerie greeting to rural Lancaster. 

This abandoned garage across the street has an open door. It's an example of what happens when people leave a building. The windows are stolen. Old glazing is sought after for greenhouses in wetter, richer counties.
On the road was this adobe house. It stands open to the desert
I'm glad you read down this far because now here's the story. 
The Kill Bill Church has numerous No Trespassing signs. There's a wire and posts that remove to allow the frontage to appear empty when staging photographs but up as barrier to prevent visitors from parking close. The owner parks a open frame junk truck in front to block photographers. There are signs about no photography. When we arrive, we respectfully park down the street, not in front of houses and walk back in the heat across the street. We were interested in the garage directly across the street. Three people: two men and a woman were on the porch inside the no trespassing signs. They were taking cell phone images and shouting. The woman is messing with one of the posters tacked on the stucco. The building has motion detectors and cameras as an old silver mercedes speeds to the side of the building. A man jumps out and begins yelling at them to "get outta here, can't you read the signs?" 
The three some stand their ground with hand son hips. The behemoth black guy charges forward to the Mercedes guy, while the other one pulls out a 22 behind his back. Bravery from numbers and a gun.
Daughter and I run for our car, leaving a tripod across the street. Once in the vehicle, we watch the drama of small figures a block away unfold. I don't have any bars for cell service. "If I call 911 will it go?" I say."Leave it alone a minute Mom."
The threesome backs down. They get into their Mazda and slowly drive south, and away from our viewpoint. We sit and wait. 
The Mercedes guy goes into the church. He's inspects, if they broke in.
We wait longer, while the tripod sits in front of the garage in the sun. I realize that on the ground also is a camera bag with film. I tell daughter, I'm turning the car around but she is to wait in the driver's seat and start beeping the horn if anything happens.
Knowing the Mercedes guy is inside and angry, I quietly walk back to pick up the tripod. A car passes. Wind blows as it slows in front to stop and take a picture of the #KillBillChurch as they say on instagram. 
I fold the legs of the tripod. It makes a clicking sound; but no, it's the Mercedes guy with metal in his hands across the street. 
"Sir, we weren't with those people."
"You have to pay $500.00 to take pictures."
"I don't have that kind of money, I'm sorry." I bow my head and step backwards with the tripod in hands.
"I apologize those people weren't kind, but I don't know them."
He says nothing, turns his back to me. I grab the film bag and hustle, acting calm to the car.
Once inside the air conditioning I sigh. It's tough to live in the desert.
We drive on in silence and drink our bottled water.

Caroline Gerardo Copyright  © 7/3/2017

Goodbye Poem

Loaded car, didn't shed a tear.Everything seems small.Drove by our old house.Ammie heals from bunion surgery.Twenty four hour care costs dear.Wheelchair doesn't fit the hall.Taste of plaque in teeth cloudsmemories, wish you lived near.
Cooler holds two days meals.Everything seems small.Fig jam in blue Kerr jars.Jalapeno, rose lavender flavors in calico fabric bees wax seals.Sauce you love with meatballpacked on ice for the drive. Waved bye to backs of wheels.
Everything seems smallMiss you, that's all.

Poem copyright 6/25/2017 Caroline Gerardophotos Rodney Mississippi

Coming and Going

 Coming and going
Days in a high riseNights on the ranchBefore sun breaks fogBefore Big Red crowsThere is melody dance
Ignore egg becomes toadSalvation in an $18 crossBefore you fall to kneesBefore you miss motherThere's bagpipes for loss
coming and going
Kitsch red rose Cliche emoji tearBefore step on crackBefore pass over pennyThere's grateful fear.


poem 6/23/2017 copyright Caroline Gerardo

Heat Wave Poem

Burn wave

Heat pricks scorpionssearch swimming holesNo place for guardiansprotect Salton Sea scrolls
Burn wave

Spontaneous firesnot quelled by fogflap power line wiresmelt hot lung smog
Burn wave
Climate isn't changingnay Sayers are certaingraphs always rangingEarth begs shade curtain
Heat wave

copyright 6/21/2017 Caroline Gerardo 

Dovey Dee Reverence for White

Hold nature in your handsCup fingers to allow light.White hot sky and landsCerulean memory at night.
Trekked to see an old friend's work,  Dovey Dee's art delivers her lifelong passion for landscape. The paintings seem covered in mist and sand from being too close to the sky, but no they are dry. 
Returning to Pomona was a pleasant surprise. I once owned a building on Holt (it had ghosts but that's another story).  The town has a lively Arts Community with live music, food vendors, many crafts and booths. I wandered for an hour and kept the joy of Dovey's work in my heart all night. 
Reverence for whites in nature. 






Swans perhaps my favorite image of her show


Da Gallery 252 S Main St # D, Pomona, CA 

Abandon Divorce

Abandon Divorce with Joy
Attorney fee equals money in bank Cheaters take each dimeExercise, yourself to thank Friends reveal in time
Meaningful stuff is in photographsGhost meals shared upon wedding dishesAnger wasted on pews of collapseCrummy parent focuses child's wishes
Fill this empty church with joyMuscles of your heart endurePlan future of gold coin alloyFreedom ahead is the cure.

May Flies for May Day

May flies float for love ~ find joy that drives destiny ~ work to be great now. #haiku

A post shared by Caroline Gerardo (@carolinegerardo) on May 1, 2017 at 8:03am PDT

Bayou T shirt

Bayou T shirt
I stole your t shirtSearch the crossroadsSmell ashes and dirt memory causes hurt
Never giving it backNever looking backNever givin it back
I'm wearing bluesNot sad - singing againNylon bags of boozeSet sail the Bayou
Never givin it back
Poem and images copyright 4/25/2017 Caroline Gerardo

Fog

Touch the mountain top tell no secrets of your pasttoday name your star.

HaikuCaroline Gerardocopyright April 17, 2017