About Lying
My mother used to say it
When I was growing up
But I never really understood it
Until I was, say, about thirteen
Or so.
And what she used to say was
“I hate liars,
A liar and a thief are the same.”
Like I say, it sounded good
Though I didn’t really understand it
For years,
That a liar and a thief are the same
Because they both steal something from you.
How true, and I try to live it
Even though it puts me
At a disadvantage.
Silicon
Janet Kuypers
from the “ Periodic Table of Poetry” series
I knew that Silicon is good for plant metabolism,
which should make me be happy as a vegetarian
and a woman with I don’t know how many plants
potted and taking over my home.
But Silicon is barely ever needed for animal life…
In nature, Silicon seems to be better suited
for sea sponges. And although I love the sea,
the last thing I want to be called is a sponge.
And you know, if Silicon is used by anyone in the
animal kingdom, you can believe that I really dislike
breast implants made out of Silicon (or made out of
anything unnatural to the human body, for that latter).
And after my Lasik eye surgery, I even heard
they use Silicon for some contact lenses —
which makes me glad I don’t need contacts anymore.
So if Silicon doesn’t have a use organically for humans,
I guess it makes sense then that Silicon is actually
used by humans in explosives and pyroptechnics.
But really, for the abundant element, Silicon
has to have some better uses for us humans,
like in semiconductors, or even intregrated circuits…
But whenever I go out and walk on the beach,
feel the sand work it’s way between my toes,
I should remember that Silicon Dioxide
is pretty much sand.
Then again, I heard that people were suing Taco Bell
a few years back, because their “Taco Meat Filling”,
was only one third meat, plus flavorings, and a bit of
Silicon Dioxide.
So yeah, people wondered, and were asking
if Taco Bell “meat” was actually made with sand.
I know, I know, Taco Bell had to explain that Silica —
or Silicon Dioxide — is commonly used for foods,
and Taco Bell was just using the harmless oxide
to absorb water and keep the meat from clumping.
Hmmm… So if Silicon is common enough
to be under our feet on beaches around the world,
and if this vegetarian should be pleased
that Silicon is used during plant metabolism,
then I guess I’ll have to expect us humans
to use Silicon (even if we don’t need it)
to help us see better with eye contacts,
or comically exaggerate our breast size,
or even use integrated circuits
to help set off some cool fireworks,
because Silicon has to be cooler
than just the beauty of the beach at sunset.
 Download this poem in the free chapbook the 7/22/12 Beach Poets chapbook, w/ the Periodic Table of Poetry poems. |
  See YouTube video of Kuypers reading this poem at her Beach Poets feature 7/22/12 in Chicago (from the Canon) |
 See YouTube video of Kuypers reading 7 poems from her series “Periodic Table of Poetry” at her Beach Poets feature 7/22/12 in Chicago, including this poem (from the Canon) |
ODE TO COBRA
I didn’t notice
my wrinkles,
or the gray,
or the gravity,
much,
but young Cobra
noticed
and with sympathy
and kindness
showing in his
pretty eyes
pretty boy eyes
he smiled with all
the radience of
a toothpaste commercial.
I can take the stress
from your lovely face
he murmured
brushing the silver
gently from my brow
for a reasonable fee
because I like you
so much.
Does this mean
I’ve reached
“a certain age?”
Have I reached the age
of advertising smiles
and deference
on the beach
from friendly young men
with guileless eyes
and open hands?
I have always been
curious.
I have always wanted
to meet a gigolo.
I didn’t expect a gigolo
to want to meet me.
– Daisy Sidewinder
.
I climb the hills and mountains of my heart
Where the echos of spirits sound.
On my way I search for happiness–
Happiness, solid as a stone.
Now My happiness is with you–right now–here–
There’s no power in yesterdays–tomarrows–nothing–
Their voice speaks in the wind.
So pour me your tea–
Make it warm this night–
Come close–
And old spirits won’t find me home.
***
Peace Comes Dropping Slow
glacially
when bloody Christians
aren’t looking
incrementally
when red Imams
aren’t listening
inexorably
inevitably
when wall building Zionists
and bomb laden Palestinians
are sleeping
God must be laughing
at this horror
because my prayer
“dear God
protect me from
your beleivers”
may not be enough
while I wait for glaciers, trees and rivers
to replane this terra
into Eden– Ken Peters