SEAL MEAL

The sleek-skinned seal waddles up from the sea
onto the sandy beach, singing of fish—
the dish he’s just swallowed delightfully.
That salmon was delish, and now I wish
to find a dessert of equal fine fare,
the greedy seal croons, his long white whiskers
like playful guitar strings whooshing the air.
Then the wallowing walrus (a trickster
if ever a walrus was one) replies
in slickster glee, I’ve got just the candy
to satisfy your sweet tusk, make your eyes
light up, and your flippers dance! See! Dandy
licorice there on the ground! The duped seal
gulps the black stick down, then blurts a pained squeal—
shocked by a mouthful of electric eel!

Roger Armbrust
March 11, 2012

LET’S DANCE IN THE RAIN

Let’s dance in the rain like tiny elves do
to their favorite small fairy combo!
We’ll roll today’s electric boogaloo
or fast-step our rapid ’30s mambo.
Let’s 4/4 time with Cab Calloway’s jive
then swing dance to the Carolina shag.
We’ll staccato, keep Flamenco alive.
Jealous nymphs will never call us a drag
when they see us jazz the hand dance and bop.
We’ll join caterpillars and jitterbug
in the drizzle. We’ll storm the Lindy Hop.
Let’s ballet to Mozart’s fugue. Cut a rug
through a shower to Elvis’s rock ‘n’ roll.
Feel the downpour’s power as we waltz, with soul!

Roger Armbrust
March 8, 2012

SEASHELLS

Oh, what a lovely purple scallop shell
we’ve found in the sand! At first sight it seems
a heart, but with furrows like a fan. Tell
me what you see inside. Yes, a bright dream
of cloud and pearl combined, so glistening
and smooth you want to rub it on your cheek.
And look at this calico pectin sheath
spread like a turkey’s tail! Let’s go and seek
them out! Study how creatures live beneath
the sea in their domed jackets. Listening
to their bubbly conversations surely
will bring delight! We’ll sing to the curly
nautilus shaped like a cornucopia.
We’ll dance with clams clustered in utopia!

Roger Armbrust
March 7, 2012

COME LOOK!

Gaze at this garden of yellow flowers!
It’s like sunshine has filled our little field.
Lie on the ground. Green stems rise—lean towers
to laughing moons, blue sky almost concealed
by their canopy of petals. And such
wide varieties! See those daffodils
poised to trumpet spring? Let’s lean close and touch
their silky faces. Soft now! Tulips will
tickle you with their name, and make you wish
your mom would kiss you. Will those snapdragons
cause you to run away, fear you’ll vanish
in puffs of smoke? Does this flower wagon
of hawksbeard need a shave? And those yellow bells!
Hear them ring? You do? Oh feel their magic spell!

Roger Armbrust
March 5, 2012

THE STARS SO FAR

Run out in the yard! Look up at the stars!
Now start to count each one from left to right.
Whoa! I know! Such a simple task is hard!
They scatter like snowflakes throughout the night.
They zig and they zag while they blink and wink.
Wait! Are they moving or do they stand still?
They glow like diamonds and those thoughts you think
lying in bed when your little head fills
with a magic shower of tiny lights.
Then quick as crickets go clickety click,
you ask yourself, When those far stars take flight
by day, where do they go? Do they panic
and hide? Why, no! They’re too happy and wise.
Look! They laugh and play in your mother’s eyes!


Roger Armbrust
March 3, 2012

FLOWER DUET

Fulfilling Lakmé and Mallika’s wish
I drift down, I glide together as one
with you while our deepest sorrows vanish
below fleeing current, all sadness gone,
lost under soft rippling surface of those
soprano voices calling us to near
shore and flowing lace canopy of rose
and jasmine. Question why I hold you dear
and I will whisper of caring focus
and memory, of following your eyes
and hands, life’s instruments of love for us
and all. Harmonizing strings realize
honest words I doubt you even recall
writing months ago, enchanting my fall.

Roger Armbrust
March 1, 2012

FAITH BREATH

Breathe in great spirit’s faith. Breathe out all fear.
So we begin each morning, meditate
immersed in deep rhythm, voices we hear
within our lungs and heart’s voice pacing fate
through our body-mind-imagination’s
thoroughfares to universe’s endless
Yes. What is laughter but our soul’s ration
of understanding All? Our eyes profess
symbols: sky and earth encircling night’s vast
search for light. What are smiles if not brief hints
of truths we’ve learned matching senses’ near past
with memory’s vault? What do swimmers glint
from your undersea kiss if not love consumed
in Mother Earth’s flowing symbol of the womb.

Roger Armbrust
March 1, 2012