Arabica
Robusta
Liberica
Excelsa
as the sun rises
caffeine surprises
the sleepy senses
with bold and subtle
scents
rich and intense
some complex
others fruity
and tart
it’s the best way
for your day
to start
-30-
Coffee in the Morning
Dancing Dory
there’s a tale about a young girl
in the early 19th century
in the state of Tennessee
her name was Dory
and she could dance
all day
according to the story
old men would say
watching her whirl
made their day
Dory could dance anywhere
keeping rhythm to any tune
with flowing long hair
whisking through the air
it’s no wonder
the old boys would stare!
To this very day
some people say
Dancing Dory
never went away
-30-
Hillbilly Junkyard Blues
got me a 1934 ford coupe
that doesn’t run anymore
and an early 19th century mower
and a whole lot more
in my junkyard
grass grows over rusted engine blocks
and broken grandfather clocks
got me rolls of razor wires
and hundreds of old tires
and a whole lot more
in my junkyard
got me rows of metal bins
and a bunch of broken manikins
there’s a collection of old signs
and a scarecrow that’s seen hard times
and a whole lot more
in my junkyard
got me the junkyard blues
full of used shoes
yeah…
tell your friends the news
there’s nothing like
the junkyard blues
-30-
One More Time
there are moments I’d like to live again
like the day when I turned ten
and got a Daniel Boone racoon hat
that made me the envy of the neighborhood
or
the time I fell headlong in love
something I always dreamed of
or
when I made my first game winning goal
in a basketball game I stole
or
seeing my first son born
one early morn
and
the list goes on and on
from memories drawn
by an old man
that still can
recall
them all
-30-
A Serene Scene
by midday the fog burned away
exposing lush emerald fields of grass
among jagged hills
drawn with an artist’s skills
truth be known
it’s a secret valley
where an old man dwells
alone in peace
among the animals
like the first man
in the sacred garden
known as serenity
-30-
Ageless Advice
when you reach a CERTAIN age
people either think you’re a sage
or a doddering old fool
who’s not doing well
frankly sometimes
it’s hard to tell
-30-
Dionysus Walked Away One Day
the revelers watched in disbelief
as Dionysus walked away one day
the satyrs and the Maenads
had come to play
but the god of wine
didn’t have anything to say
while the grapes withered on the vine
Dionysus took his time
stripping away
ritual madness
festivity
and religious ecstasy
until there was nothing else to see
-30-
Why the Tears?
my beloved cat Tommy passed away today
we had 20 great years together
and now I don’t know what to say
if there’s a heaven it’s for animals
who are nature’s apostles
earth’s archangels
whose love for you is tangible
and real
goodbye Tommy
you’ve been a great buddy
-30-
A Brain Garden
a wise person cultivates their brain
like a lush victory garden
to maintain
some semblances
of being sane
-30-
Night Life in the Swamp
as the day comes to a close in the swamp
streaks of orange, yellow and purple
streak by in the sky
that is rapidly
descending into night
alive with creatures
some are hunters
some are prey
most hide
during the day
but
the night life
in the swamp
reveals
animals ordeals
and victories
a tableau
of primitive
survival
a peepshow
into nature’s version
of the Hunger Games
blow-by-blow
-30-
The Creative Chronicles of Dave Stancliff 