winter in a tea cup

that's not rain dancing
in the sky

only October snow 

 News from a small town 39, Oct 2011

again

we thought we might miss it
this is the week the larch pops
yellow on the hillsides, just
before frost bites the valley
just before the second snow
and just after that fake winter
that somehow lasted a week,
that second day of hunting season

 News from a small town 38, Oct 2011

Explanations and resolutions

Aug. 15

Unsecure business reported.

Aren’t they all?

Possible wolf kill.
Possible hooraw to come.

Aug. 16
Horse running loose on Highway 82 in rural town mid valley.
Ticketed for speeding.

Alarm reported at the Lake.
Oh gasp!

Aug. 17
Alarm at business reported.
There, there, dear. Nothing to fear.

Aug. 18

Suspicious circumstances in rural town up valley.
Aren’t they always?

Tractor fire reported from rural town up valley.

You’ve got to be kidding.

Revolver reported lost.

At least it works.

Dark-colored water reported from resident.
Too much vitamin B, perhaps.

Aug. 19
Dog complaint in town.

Cat therapist summoned.
 

Aug. 20

Road hazard up valley.

Three cars that morning.

Aug. 21

Horse on Imnaha Highway in city limits, owner located.
Horsing around in progress.

Motorcycle accident on the 39 Road.

Oh ouch.

Civil dispute up valley, noise complaint down.
Civil but loud.

 News from a small town 37, Oct 2011

applesauce season

little fresh apples
bubbling on
the electric hob,
a few leaves in
the sink; modern
homesteading
in Wallowa country

News from a small town 36, Oct 2011

     

personals (who would dare?)

rattling open the page

of my local paper, I see

so many options for life:

love-adoption-lots-of-love

allied health care, all on line

$135 divorce, 1-5 weeks -

and multiple anonymous meetings

the answer is in there somewhere

I dare you to find it

 news from a small town 35, September 2011

the conviction was eventually reversed (found poem)

Ancient curse:

may you live
in an
interesting
county.

news from a small town 34, September 2011

applications available (soul optional)

so you want to be

a rodeo princess

maybe the queen -

to ride down the

main streets of

grubby little towns

(just like home).
and you can be
in the grand entry

at every rodeo
grinding fairground
dirt to fairy powder.

all we ask is this:
don’t be too different, too

chubby, too intellectual - oh!

and you must promise to 
keep out of trouble while
you're representing us...

so no one can point
and snicker. here's how
we’ll know you’re good enough:

you won’t fall off, you will sell
tickets like hell, and you will

buy the company line.

news from a small town 33, August 2011