December (a Pantoum)

December 17, 2022 By Carrie RadnaLeave a comment

O gentle followers,

put down your heavy-laden, colorful bags

& sing songs, & say inspirational words

in your chosen place of worship.

Put down your heavy-laden, colorful bags!

Send forth good thoughts of generosity 

in your chosen place of worship.

Provide love & care for your family.

Send forth good thoughts of generosity 

& give to those who need.

Provide love & care for your family.

Try to do good this holiday season,

& give to those who need,

& sing songs, & say inspirational words.

Try to do good this holiday season,

O gentle followers!

Bird arena

December 11, 2022 By Carrie RadnaLeave a comment

Third time today,

uptown on Broadway,

I saw flocks of pigeons 

gearing up for an orgy,

but this time,

they crowded onto the roof

of the 96th Street 

Broadway Mall Community Center,

(its roof is still dripping),

gazing out, keeping warm,

heads bobbing in-time,

watching the ongoing traffic

as if their crowd was listening 

to the music of the city,

an invisible rock show.

Afterwords,

when the music died down,

they exited in droves,

wings cutting the sky

of the Upper West Side 

all at once,

shaking the heavens.