Blog Archives
Blue Monday: Stars
Detail of a patriotic wreath for sale in a New Mexico gift shop
Photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Blue Monday: Banderas
A street festooned with blue banderas, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, México
What’s a celebration without a flag or two?
It really doesn’t matter if they’re red or blue,
As long as they can flutter high above the street,
While the people down below laugh and drink and eat.
Poem and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Blue Monday: Hungry Mallard
Part of a sign promoting clean lakes and streams, Yuma Conservation Garden, Yuma, Arizona
One day a hungry mallard
Was looking for a snack;
He looked both up- and downstream,
He looked both front and back.
He settled for a minnow,
While hungering for more,
Then swam back reluctantly
To the distant shore.
Poem and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Blue Monday: Trail Marker
Trail marker at Willow Lake, Prescott, Arizona
Off we go on the mile-high trail,
Off we go with a shout!
Following signs marking the way,
We know what we’re about.
Perhaps we will glimpse a hobbit,
Or maybe soaring hawks—
These are the hopes that sustain us
On long and winding walks.
Poem and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Blue Monday: Desert Family
Detail from a mosaic on a community wall, Ajo, Arizona
We’re a desert family,
We know the ways of stones,
Cactus wrens and rattlesnakes—
The desert’s in our bones.
To snatch us from the desert
Would make our poor hearts ache,
For desert-dwellers cannot thrive
Beside an azure lake.
Poem and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Poetry Pantry #362 at Poets United
Blue Monday: Tattered Garment
Immigrants crossing illegally into the U.S. from Mexico often abandon clothing in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
Someone left a garment,
Left in the sand,
As she fled to safety
In a foreign land.
The garment’s torn and tattered,
And faded by the sun,
Yet bears the haunting beauty
Of someone on the run.
Poem and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Blue Monday: Footprint
A simulated dinosaur footprint, Prescott Public Library, Prescott, Arizona
Something left a footprint,
Left it in the dirt;
Something left a footprint,
Something that can hurt;
Something that is bigger
Than a dog or cat;
Something that is stronger
Than a rabid rat.
I’ll avoid that something,
So no harm will come
To my toes, knees or nose,
Neither to my bum!
Poem and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Blue Monday: Courthouse Lawn
A man watches passersby from his perch on the courthouse lawn, Prescott, Arizona
Sitting on the courthouse lawn
Sunday afternoon,
Hoping that my love will come,
Hoping she’ll come soon.
Sitting on the courthouse lawn,
Counting passersby;
Here she comes, my lovely one—
Can you hear me sigh?
Poem and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Blue Monday: Books
Detail from a mural at the Prescott Public Library, Prescott, Arizona
A stack of good books by your bed
Is better than any old med.
So, here’s to your health,
Vim, vigor, and wealth—
Make sure that you get them all read!
Limerick and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Blue Monday: Mosaic
Detail from a community wall covered with mosaics, Ajo, Arizona
Telling a story can mean lots of things:
Crosses, and cacti, and birds with long wings;
Photos, and artwork that’s hung on the fridge;
Our very first kiss down under the bridge.
We need to tell stories, tell them a lot—
They tell who we are, and who we are not.
And this is the thing that stories do best:
They help us belong, and show we are blest.
Poem and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
