Fred Odom

There I was sitting on bed's edge
following strenuous stretching mandated by
my 5th lumbar to avoid surgery. It will come to pass
anyway in time, I think.
...

Into the woods I traveled
Where a divergence of road has been reported
Requiring a decision be made
Knowing ahead lays deepening snow,
...

In the nightmare,
The pool party invite said clothing optional
But meant ‘casual’ or ‘California casual.’
I wore neither. Things went downhill from there.
...

My meditations led me to a pool of water
So still and clear it mirrored the clouds and sky
And surrounding trees in perfect form.
At its edge I carved my name in its water with my finger
...

Sails billowed on the tall ship's double masts
Propelling the schooner out from the harbor's mouth at sunset-
Its filled canvases, a reflected glowing palette
Of sunset sky's explosive reds and pinks and yellows and oranges.
...

I, I fear...
I fear my vehicle is on its last ‘legs.'
It has a terrible cough when prompted to life in the morning,
When it deigns to turn over at all.
...

In the nightmare,
The pool party invite said clothing optional
But meant ‘casual’ or ‘California casual.’
I wore neither. Things went downhill from there.
...

In mourning she came as from the night
her garb revealing sadnesses borne
from absent loves, entangled lives
from time and times before
...

I sit on my garden glider
On the north end of my yard
Under an open lattice roof overhead
On a small meditation deck
...

Despite internet search engines reports to the contrary
And without heed to the "No Vacancy" sign clearly lit
And flashing to advise all travelers,
Shiva checked in to my life
...

I've been invaded by crabgrass.
It was totally unexpected and by reputation,
I fear the worst.
...

In the event of the arrival of an unexpected and acclaimed person
(Acclaimed, that is, by both modern and historic standards alike)
Who has deigned to honor this environ with stories and verbal accounts
Of travels, contacts with the wealthy, powerful, beautiful,
...

it is a bittered cold at the end of winter
and outside along the banks of the potomac
the cherry blossoms freeze in place by the last grasp
of a desperate season chased out of town
...

There once were trapezists

Named Ned and Sue Pound,
...

The background picture on my computer screen
Is the vista from our view overlooking Maui’s beach and sea from the rented condo
On our last visit.
It captures the wind through the palms’ fronds that framed the Pacific’s chopped surface
...

Falling down hard is not difficult…
When you least expect it.
Some time ago if memory serves,
I was attempting a demonstration how easy
...