Doodling in the winter - Shakespeare's Monkeys

doodling in the winter

December brought disappointment
and rain,
which continued until
two o'clock in the morning
on the twenty-fourth day,
when i finally heard the leaves quake
in the current of an indifferent wind.

Now, I am determined to scrape the moss off
and carve something
worth reading
on the north side of the trees.

ShannonV on Feb. 15 2007 - #

Ah man, everytime I read something of yours I'm reminded how you don't give yourself nearly enough credit. You're really kinda brilliant, Puggifer McPuglyerson-ness.

Without TOO much ass kissery I will say this: your line breaks are flawless, the phrasings are cool (indifferent wind, disappointment and rain, north side of the trees), and this is completely...unpretentious. Just good. SRSLY YOU KNOW I DONT LIE.

Envisioning the north side of a tree is kind of hard, but I like it anyway.

Leanne on Apr. 10 2007 - #

Oh yeah, it's the north side in your messed up hemisphere...

I keep wanting to read "December brought disappointment with the rain" but I may have an aneurysm.

Hearing the leaves quake actually makes me shiver a bit. Particularly since it's indifference that shifts them. That's horribly sad.

I hope your knife is sharp and lasts through many trees.

Kath on May 11 2007 - #

this poem does strongly give the feeling of doodling through December. it's interesting-- the exact timing... the 2.am. on the twenty fourth day, an unusual expression of the time... and adds to the lengthy feeling of the rains and winter doodling on... there's no sign of the holiday having anything to do with any optimism...although it is brought to mind because of the date. I checked to be sure that you were not leading me astray, and found "13 ways to find north if you're lost in the woods" (which I often am) and sure enough, you're right...

"Look for moss; it usually grows on the north (i.e., least sunny) side of trees and rocks—or at least, grows most plentifully there. "

http://senselist.com/2006/10/0...t-in-the-woods/

the fact that you'd be transforming (or replacing actually) the moss (on the least sunny side) with something "worth reading" is a sunny plan. (I also like the thought of scraping the moss off...I admire it, rather, but I'd never do it, I love moss so much). However I think you've done it well here,

So there are 12 other ways to get out of the woods... I like #2...it sounds like another poem...

"2. Look for spider webs, which tend to appear on the south sides of trees."