Poet, Essayist, Photographer, Naturalist

Month: November 2016

Watching A Curious George Cartoon

Maybe there’s a message here

If so, what is it?

Curious George climbs, snoops,

And gets into everything he comes in contact with

Oops, he just stick his nose in a pot of glue

I can learn from this.

Is the Curious George show just a coincidence

When I turned on the TV?

Was this meant to be?

I was looking for the NYC Marathon

And you popped up

I wondered. is this a prompt for some poetry?

I am tempted and curious myself

What will happen next?

What’s your “big picture” message?

Be curious like me?

Everybody’s curious, I think

Perhaps to be more curious

I went to college and passed

I put my hand on the remote

To change the channel

“No. no, no Tom, don’t surf

Stay with me” Curious George begs

Look at him. adorable and charming

A furry little monkey

Oh my gosh, he’s opened a desk

In an elementary classroom looking at books

 

Wow, he is curious

So I decide to buy a scratch-off card

Because I’m curious to find out

What’s behind those little covered windows

So I scratch. YIKES I won! I won! A dollar

Being curious has paid off

Hey, this might be the big picture message

OK, Tom, get curious about

Something more important

Turn off the TV, get busy

Use my five senses

Start asking questions

I know I’ll find something

Let my curiosity grow.

Thanks Curious George

Baldwin Elementary Kids at the Hempstead Plains

November 4, 2016

I spent part of the afternoon with some children on the plains. The 19 acre site never looked better not only because of the beauty of grasses.  I watched the colorful jackets of children bounce and dodge in the distance as they made their way along the trail. I was glad to see this. This is what the place is for. This is the kind of playground I’d like to see for all children.

I was asked by Nomi to work with these 9 children to draw them out and try writing poetry. We started with a scavenger hunt.

Trapped In Suburbia: The Poem

A wrong turn into a Cul de sac. I’ll figure it out.

Where am I ?

How do I get out of here?

Trapped in a one way in/way out suburban development

Surrounded by cookie cutter houses that all look the same

Hey, wait A minute, I was just on Elm Street.

Streets with names of the trees that used to live here.

At least residents can live with the NAMES OF TREES

Oops another wild goose chase. Calm down Tom. Stay calm.

Looking for a remnant of Pine Barrens forest

In Medford. Yes, that’s right little ole Medford

I said Medford –  a hamlet with five huge get-lost-in developments

Holiday decorations already up and it’s the first of November

Where am I ? Where the fuck am I?

Another blind alley and I’ll shoot myself. Now I’m breaking a sweat

All it took was one wrong turn. I’m actually getting scared..really!

I’m stressed, trapped in a maze.  LET ME FREE. I shout

In a labyrinth of u-turns with one ways, always the wrong way for me

I’m lost in a wilderness of houses and driveways

I’m trapped in Medford. Oh my god, somebody please help me.

Let me out of here! Should I call 911?  Cops would laugh at me.

As far as I’m concerned, this is an emergency.

I pull over and ask a resident. “Sorry, can’t help you. I’m just visiting”

Lead me out of this development somebody please

I just want to go home

Is that so wrong?

Tom Stock                                          November 3, 2016

Page 2 of 2

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén