Three Poems by Roger G. Singer: Thorns, Newspaper Pillows, Blue Moon County

Thorns

Wrapping the fence
With snaking curves
A thorny vine
With a mouthful
Of sharpened teeth
Ominously smiles.

The smooth beauty
Of waxen green
Satin leaves
Suggests comfort
To curious fingers
Probing nearby.

Fast in the ground
Red drops set
Soaked in the soil
Rich into roots
The sacrifice given,
A payment in blood.

Settled in shadows,
Resting in peace,
Around slender barbs
Patiently wait
Like sleeping cats
Hiding their claws.

Newspaper Pillows

Moss fallen eyes
In wavy thoughts
Whisper coolly
While branches scatter
In his head,
Though his lips
Remain quiet.

Solid hands
Scarred with thickness
Push eagerly
At newspapers
Under his head,
Fluffing the headlines
Into a pillow.

Crawling clouds
Roughen a black sky
To chalky grey,
While scampering
Light breezes
Brush on his face
In the alley.

Blue Moon County

Blue Moon County
Sleeps heavy under
Thick mossy trees
Where savannahs
Sit flat and weedy
On moist brown soil.

Green blinking frogs
With morning eyes
Breath hard
On creek side runs
Where cicadas rub
Deep in the night.

Long stiff screens
Stand wearied
Sifting river bottom
Sweet lilac air
As if coughed up
By spinning angels.

Long gowned women
With honey rich hair
Lounge with brandy,
Speaking with smoke
From cigarettes
Touched with lipstick.

Copyright 2008, Roger G. Singer. © This work is protected under the U.S. copyright laws. It may not be reproduced, reprinted, reused, or altered without the expressed written permission of the author.

Roger G. Singer served as a med-tech at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida, for three in half years during the Vietnam era. While stationed at MacDill he attended evening classes through the University of Tampa. When discharged he began studies at the University of South Florida attaining his Associate and Bachelor degrees. In 1977, Singer attained his doctorate in chiropractic from Logan College of Chiropractic, St. Louis, Missouri. He has authored over 50 articles pertaining to chiropractic management and legal guidelines for associates. He has maintained a solo practice for the past 30 years.