Sunday, March 15, 2015

 
12 miles from home
THE POWER GRABBED by BLADES or HARNESSED by WIRES

I AM WEARY of COWS

Number 5. Is she crying? 

AND WHEN THE RIVER RISES

The PORTAGE RIVER rises when spring warm the earth. When you drive 12 miles from home you see the river wind. People build dream houses to enjoy the humble view. They load in their top soil and fill the flood plain. Brilliant move for dry feet. But the neighbor is left to wonder where will it go this year. Your house is high and dry but mine's at risk I fear. The locals laugh as the wee town of Pemberville prepares with all their bags. They need a water LORAX, "I speak for the banks. Don't fill your land with soil. The river, it WILL RISE." Pack your things and head away. Insurance pays the bill. No need to toil this time the river will always spill.
POTAGE RIVER
IT widens on its path. It offered secret hiding places when I was small. Turtles, frogs, and crawfish swam freely. In the spring you can walk across the grass growing on its once free flowing river bed. A local nursery allows the run off to fertilize the river bottom creating water grasses I have never seen before in my life. Farm run off chimes in to pump up the intensity of the foliage.  Of course. Headed straight to Maumee Bay. Walk the miles close to home and find out where it all begins and ends. One tiny brush and a painting is created to relieve the stress of a long winter. Did not need to go to a fancy gallery or the Pottery Barn to find art for my home. Drive the roads close to home and find there is talent at an affordable price.

LAMP 

Furniture store going out of business. Old display. Free. Made from an IV stand, conduit, and work lights. Image titled KITCHEN LAMP.

SO Many go SO far to find what lies 12 miles from HOME

No video games.  Cousins who were neighbors and friends.  Grandma's, aunts, and uncles around the corner.  Work on an engine go to uncle mark's. Trim bushes and learn lawn care,  go see bumpa.  Look at art and play on the Remington typewriter,  go to grandma Campbell's. All on a bike.  No electricity required. No need to ask jeeves,  the library in the house had the answer.