A Poem For A Tuesday

Face to Face in Rome

by Constance Brewer

I wander Via Flaminia,

weave my way deep into

the guts of Bella Roma,

turn at random until I leave

this idle March behind.

Citizens vanish, fading two

by one until I am alone

on a narrow-cobble street

receding into ancient alley.

I stretch my hands apart

as if crucified, brush white-

washed stone left and right,

trail my fingers over

the persistence of centuries.

A final turn. The path dead

ends. Grimy brick towers

over head high enough

to enforce my insignificance.

Before me, in the center

of the oft-mortared wall,

three bullet holes.

.

Big Horn Expedition

Because I'm too lazy to actually write something this week, I thought I'd inflict some pictures from my Sunday hike in the Big Horn National Forest on you. This was me time, no dogs, just the mountains, the lake, the trees, and one brain-numb city escapee.


The goal - Tie Hack Reservoir. One of numerous little lakes tucked in the Big Horns, and easily accessible after a small hike. Good for when you need some nature, but don't want to actually work real hard at it. Since putting one foot in front of the other was all I was capable of that day, it was the ideal destination.


I intended to sketch and paint, but just hanging out was far more attractive, and required little brain power. Note to self: Self, remember to find a lighter sketchbook, preferably one without a hardcover so the day pack doesn't gain weight with every step...


Water. Lots of water. Pretty blue water, with lots of fish in it, at least where I was sitting. I could see the trout pop to the surface to snatch bugs. The fisherman a few hundred yards to my right wasn't having much luck. Maybe he should have used granola instead of worms.

The rock on top looked interestingly enough like a mountain lion head. The chipmunks that came around to beg for some trail mix didn't seem very intimidated though...


I heard elk somewhere in the vicinity, but never saw any. There was a lot of tracks and droppings everywhere, which lead to the Corgis sniffing my boots thoroughly once I got home, and giving me dirty looks for not taking them to smell the smells firsthand.


A nice piece of level ground to traverse. I enjoyed it while it lasted, which wasn't long.


I forgot one thing about hiking. When you hike in, you also have to hike out again. I don't remember a big downhill on the way in, but the uphill on the way out about kicked my butt. I was glad to see my poor car waiting patiently for me at the end of the trail, not to mention my extra water and my "No service in this area" cell phone.


Yes, that's snow on the mountains. I didn't go that far up into the Big Horns, I was only at 7500 feet (2286m), it was warm with just a bit of a nip in the air, a promise of things to come. Hopefully, I can get a few more hikes in before what's on the mountains ends up on the roads, and my communing with nature comes to an end - for a while.

.

A Walk In The Park

One thing the Corgi crew and I like to do is go for a walk in the big park after work. Since it's getting dark earlier, we have to tailor our walk to the terrain. The park has several wide open areas, an experimental tree farm, and some grassy paths that wind around under other trees and alongside a Frisbee golf course.

Max at the start point of our walk, patiently waiting for me to get my act together.

Merlin see, Merlin do. If it's good enough for big brother, it's good enough for him. Besides, maybe there's a treat involved...


The big, open field has lots of interesting smells. We have to keep a look out, because antelope like to hide behind the little swells in the ground, and don't take kindly on being disturbed. Max and Merlin saw the antelope chasing an Irish Wolfhound the other day. Luckily, the Corgis have no desire to chase anything bigger than a squirrel.


Speaking of squirrels, Max knows exactly where the dividing line between the open field and the tree farm starts. He goes into squirrel alert mode, poised for action.

Merlin, on the other hand, prefers to stick close to me for the moment... and the treats.


The heck with that. Squirrel Alert!



The Corgis tree an Evil Demon Plot Squirrel, who laughed at them, and threw nuts and bark down on my head, but no story ideas.



Max's favorite squirrel watching bench.


Recall to the car. Time to head home before the sun sets.

New Poetry Magazine - Looking For Submissions

Every Day Poets

http://www.everydaypoets.com

Every Day Poets is a magazine that specializes in bringing you fine, short poetry.

Starting on 1^st November 2008, and every day at 12:01am Pacific Time (8am GMT), we will be publishing a new poem of up to 60 lines/500 words or fewer that can be read during your lunch hour, on transit, or even over breakfast.

Feel free to browse around the site, check out our archives as they grow, or even sign up to receive a poem in your inbox... every day!

And if you are a poet, why not send us your best work? We are open for submissions now.