Libby Weber's Blog, page 15

September 20: Steps in the Right Direction

I so look forward to each Saturday

Not just since sleepings in the days enhance,

But also since I plan two hours to play

And sweat with those who also love to dance.

We work the choreography, then drill

The basics, stretch, and run the dances slated

For upcoming performances, instill

The staging so we might be coordinated.

But oh the joy of frolicking in time

Within a motely group who finds expression

In rhythm, strength, and gracefulness sublime,

And equally anticipate each lesson.

Our pleasure in the w...

September 19: Dead Men Tell No Whatsits

West County be me dialect, me gait

Is not unlike the rolling of the swells,

And this wide world I’d circumnavigate

To take a richly laden caravel.

I give no quarter, nor expect I none

From vessels I attack, and I’d be blowed

To see me salty crew mates thus undone

By craven coves who keep not to the code.

So if me Jolly Roger should ye see

Surrender, and for my great mercy thank

Your gods that ye had little chance to flee,

Or else ye and your crew would walk the plank.

And if me cadences I overplay,

I blam...

September 18: Boast With the Most, or In the Mead Hall

The hallowed land of Lincoln was my home,

My father’s house of mighty logs was built

With watchful eye the acres I did roam

Preventing blameless blood from being spilt.

Each day as I would tread the twisting trails,

I sent a dozen songs out on the breeze-

My merry music made the wicked quail

And charmed the very squirrels from their trees.

From forest to great lake ambition spurred,

And finally, a kingdom by the sea.

My wit, my melodies, and winsome words,

Shall everlasting glory guarantee.

Here in the l...

September 18: Mead Hall Boast

The hallowed land of Lincoln was my home,

My father’s house of mighty logs was built

With watchful eye the acres I did roam

Preventing blameless blood from being spilt.

Each day as I would tread the twisting trails,

I sent a dozen songs out on the breeze-

My merry music made the wicked quail

And charmed the very squirrels from their trees.

From forest to great lake ambition spurred,

And finally, a kingdom by the sea.

My wit, my melodies, and winsome words,

Shall everlasting glory guarantee.

Here in the l...

September 17: Solve for X

Ten years ago today we two were wed,

And seventeen last June was our first date.

And fifteen years in August our homestead

We made on my arrival in your state.

Next year will be the equinox of years

Spent with you and without you in my life,

The next year’s yours, and if we persevere,

Our future will with multiples be rife.

But when I cast the net of reverie

Into the past, no numbers can describe

The depth of love, nor its immensity-

In formulas it cannot be inscribed.

For digits can’t describe how love...

September 16: A Brave Front

I spoke a dare aloud while raindrops fell

In golden straws and gentle sidewalk spots,

And as the shower waned, I might have yelled

Unto the thunder Is that all you’ve got?

But then a blast of wind flung dust and leaves

And banged recycling bin lids in defiance.

As residents crouched underneath their eaves,

On courtesy we could have no reliance.

And when the heavens opened, washing all

The grit and listlessness from noontime swelter,

Refreshed and by the glorious storm enthralled,

I laughed and didn’t ru...

September 15: Skimmers

To purchase shorts is summer is a task

Best suited to the patient and the mad,

For store employees shrug whenever asked,

And point you at the clearance racks. Too bad

Your choices there are generally restricted

To Daisy Dukes with with rhinestone snaps in sizes

Too small and large and with odd flaws afflicted-

Predicting fit’s a futile exercise.

Attempting your size guesstimates in styles

That actually expose a bit of knee,

And finding one -hooray!- that isn’t vile,

Means plunking plastic down in victor...

September 14: Take the Heat

September has a sickness and has laid

Upon the air, which moves but won’t abate

The listlessness and weakness that pervade

As heat and heaviness on all conflate.

The evening cool and morning dew imply

The fever may have broken in the night,

But as the sun ascends the morning sky,

Pernicious sickness manifests its might.

No balm may blunt its incandescent force,

No cure delirium alleviates,

One can but let the ailment run its course

While one’s own symptoms one self-medicates:

With water and umbrella repo...

September 13: Name That Tune

Once, fifteen years ago, I heard a tale

Of how a classic song had been conceived,

Which sprang to mind today in some detail,

While bits of music I sought to retrieve.

For as I pondered how tunes are constructed,

And sang the ones that I thought found success,

A novel one appeared quite unobstructed

By thoughts I had the good sense to suppress.

But having written down in messy hand

The notes, the tune, though crude, can now live on,

The vagaries of memory withstand,

And new ideas for other ditties spawn....

September 12: A Spoonful of Sugar

A drink of water didn’t do the trick,

Nor hic did holding breath and swallowing,

And scaring me won’t happen, trust me. hic

Rather, hic I’m self-pity-wallowing.

I’ll suck hic lemon, breathe into a bag,

Though by these remedies I can’t be cured-

I can’t go back a meal and this time lag,

So to these tiresome tics I’m hic inured.

And yet, declining “this” in ancient tongue

Entices me to truly go for broke

Ensuring classics scholars I’m among

When I make puns involving hic haec hoc.

The vagus nerve is hard h...