Still Moonlit Night

Ponce Inlet Florida  Photography by Kathy Mitro

A dog in the desert
a still moonlit night
the moon casts it's moonbeams
on different shapes of life
the stillness is brilliant 
in it a parody of peace
a beam pierces a den yawning with life 
then recedes
as the dust roils and covers sentinels once knowing life,
but now can never again see

if I talk to you in this night of beauty and hope
will it float on the air
will it rise up in tribute, in a bubble of care
the stillness falling so heavy this night with cloying sweetness 
in just  memory-
able to bring me back to that still moonlit night.
-Mitro

Red Car

Red Car Red Car - Mitro

Careening down the middle the road
the car looked like it was drunk
I've never seen a drunk car but there I was face to face with one
the car churned up little windmills of grit and dirt as it sped on it's merry way
back and forth and over the lines
it made me quite dizzy to look
reminding me of a mad Bea I reached for my iPhone to record it
I shall call it voyage of a bumble bee
it cut into the cluster of lilies on the side of the road
it spit out chunks of grass foolish enough to get in it's way
a pretty color of red it was quite a sporty looking car
it did not seem to be the kind of fellow to let the booze get to him so intensely
but intensely it was got
no sense of seemliness or order here
a crack of thunder and a bolt of lightning
and all was in order
and the car went merrily on it's way
-Mitro

Talking Politics With a Crab

Red Crab Woman from Mars - Mitro

Sitting on the beach sipping Orangeade
I want to talk about politics but it seems to make the pounding waves feel small
the sun beats on my shoulder and face
and makes me feel warm and good
I know things are good
I follow a crab on a short dive down his crab home
I feel for the guy
who is the guy behind the crab mask
when people look at him they see food
the crab pops out again and looks at me
trust takes time
I carry on
-Mitro

Mitro

Market Place in Cairo With a Boy a Monkey and Bananas

The Horse Jumped Over the Moon / Jay Leno on a Rocking Horse - Mitro

The turgid air felt heavy on my skin
and I was not the only one who felt it
the marketplace was filled with strange people milling about and talking nonsense
I made my way to the front of the line and asked
have you seen a small boy about this size  gesturing with my hands
I am met with disbelief  a scornful glance that burns me with its fever
and looks askance of my sanity
a boy that small all alone in this breathing heaving mass of humanity
if it was so and he was here
he would have been taken long ago
I panic I

turn
and there on top of a huge bunch of bananas
playing with a monkey
is the boy, my boy and I say it's time to go home
-Mitro 

To a Fat Toad in Deep Dark Space

A Ducks Escape From the Mundane Into The Incredible 

Way way out in deep space, talking to the stars,

my friend calls out,

come look out,

over there, there's Mars.

As we look celestial fireballs explode in the night,

filled with brilliant blazing colors and small shooting lights,

flashing around in my eyes and my head.

I shake off the colors and then, to my dread,

incredulity shoots through me. 

Do I hear a knock,

a knock at the door in deep outer space?

Mayhaps it's an alien looking for a taste.

We giggle nervously, debating the case.

The ship wafts and turns,

floating softly in space.

Blackness descends, covering over our face.

The equipment board glows a green eerie light,

really intensifying our sudden fright.

The knock on the door—did we hear it again?

Visions of green men come unbidden again.

We look at our camera and lo and behold,

what we see is amazing.

Could it be a fat toad?

His size is so tiny,

his face is so fat.

His arms raises up and then, knock knock again.

His back has a hunch,

his legs have a bend.

He calls out quite jolly,

open up, it's alright, I'm friend.

Was there ever a friend that looked so confound strange?

We hesitate and then, hear knock knock again.

He calls out, because I look different, no need to be afraid.

The world needs the difference or it would be just too plain.

From where I come, I am Emperor, I am King.

People kneel and they honor me,

but what do you see?

I think when you look at me,

you see a green thing.

But this is a big world and we must all get along,

and do much more than tolerate.

We must help each other around,

and navigate the vastness that is the being of space.

Only then we find peace, when the difference we embrace.

So now I must ask you, what would you do?

Would you open and trust,

and make a friend true blue,

a chance at a new friend who looks very different

from you?

The girls choice was easy. They pulled back the bolt,

and opened the door with a little small jolt.

See, differences don't much matter out there in space.

In fact, they should never matter in any old place.

—Mitro

A Summer Night in Kenya

Dreamer - Mitro

A summer night in Kenya
the animals standing round
I slip my boat into sea green water
silently making no sound
the water steams in oven heat
the fish too tired to swim
blood red moon hangs overhead 
too dim to light the way
but simply languishing hanging there
as if it's come to play
huge sentinels of enormous trees
come alive with living snakes
as if the night can hide their flight
from tree to tree to bank
forest sounds shatter the night
crackling and hissing with calls of the wild
then I awake 
it's only a dream
I lay in my bed and smile 
-Mitro

The Bum Poem

One Last Fly Over County Cork Before The Irish Man Signs That Final Book

In a beautiful glen in Ireland
among the golden grass
I took a jug of water but I forgot to bring a glass
the emerald valley sparkled
covered in flecks of sun
I wanted to climb a tree and did
and dirt stuck to my bum
-Mitro

Instructions on How to Love Your Mama

Mother on a Hillside - Mitro

The story begins at the beginning
and extends way far back in the past
when three little, small little orphans
had made themselves quite a pact
one was named Duffy McDuffus
one was named McGingle McGee
the other just answered to Charlie
he got the name at his blessed mamas knee
they all enjoyed sunshine and riding
and  often stumbled upon a good find
but this time it was a  bit different
this time, the find was sublime
they could not quite really believe it
so they kept rubbing and rubbing their eyes
for in a meadow with clover and daisies
they heard a sweet  babies cry
the babe was surrounded on all sides
by wildlife watching over the child
there were possums and wood mice and raccoons
everything there that was wild
the animals parted like ocean
a story that goes back to biblical times
and let the orphans have access in a motion
for they knew there was no closer tie
than the kinship between motherless children
these are ties that tie tight, and that bind
with the boys saying  this baby
would never know hardship nor pain
as long as the babe stayed in their life
as long as their wishes had gain
so the moral to learn from this is not lesson
on how to find  baby in wild
but instructions on what to do with your own mama
when you are blessed enough to have her around
the instructions are really no drama
and address strong bonds between mother and child
hold onto your mama today and hug her
kiss her and whorl her around
and bless the heavens that she's still in your life
near and dear and you can hear her sweet sound
because someday she'll be an angel
and you know that she'll go far away
so take advantage of the time while she's here
and dance with her on this fine day
cause you never know, no never, no never
what you have until it is taken away
-Mitro

This poem is dedicated to  my own dear mother Rita June Kinnee Mitro who became an angel way too soon.

Rita June Kinnee Mitro

The Preacher Says Redemption

Jesus Preaches While Kittens Reign Down - Mitro

The preacher says lift the stain of self flagellation 
off your soul
let the power of light illuminate your being
speak not of things that felt erring
bathe in light
light of immortal redemption
when all done turns immaculate clean
without this chaos in growing
things needing seen
remain forever unseen.

The Big Blue Whale Who Cried

Manatee - Mitro

Deep down below the ocean
sat a big blue whale
who cried and cried
his heart out
sighing
no one wants a big fat whale
his name was Fred
and he would dread
when people came to meet him
they would act surprised
open up their eyes, and say
but my
you're a big fellow
he though oh wow
I'm young now
and have no interest in girls
but when I decide to take a bride
who will take on such a blubber
the currents rushed and the ocean drew
and a strange little surprise revealed
why there just in front of him
before his very eyes
came a tiny little man
with tiny little feet
and of tiny little size
he rode aboard a seahorse
and tears fell from his eyes
now Fred was  intrigued and
felt so bad he wanted to help this fellow
he said to him why do you cry
you little tiny fellow
the man looked up for indeed he was
a very old old man
and said to Fred why would I not
it's all because of my size
and you of course would not understand
for I can see you are a healthy strapping young fellow
now this quite stopped our Freddy short
and he pondered deep and thought 
and then he sat and sighed
 and blurted out his heart
it seems that we are never pleased with anything we are
we want what's different than ourselves
when we are  actually five stars
if only we could see we are lovely just  the way we are
and that it takes the tiny and the large
so hold your head high with dignity
-Mitro

The Man in The Moon is Pining For You

The Man in The Moon is Pining For You -  Mitro

Blinded by the dark night 
the red wren flees the air
and makes a voyage to safety
in whatever way he dare
oh precious bird
what do you fear
why do you fear the night
why silly goose
I'll tell you why
because there is not light 
- Mitro

Allie

Christmas - Mitro

My son grows like a exquisite crystal
in magnificent paths and en pointe
his energy refracts like a rainbow 
with beautiful colors intent 
a multitude of angels sing through him in halo
in dulcet harmonious tones
intelligence seeps through his aura
surrounding all he takes on
a beautiful corona of lightness 
follows him forever around
my son eludes absolute goodness
and in growing his life becomes incredibly strong
a dazzling crystal of mankind 
my son 
not mine
but his own
-Mitro

Story of Forever Monday Morning

We walked into the room
and felt the tension immediately
an unearthly sense of doom
I put the package of beautiful cupcakes on the table
I had no taste for them anymore
in fact I felt like running out the door
but something suddenly transfixed me
I heard a tinny laugh
and heard the chair legs scrapping across the wood floor
it wasn't anything someone in my position could ignore
all of a sudden lights flashed on
and the room seemed to spin
drat it was the darn fuques again
I paced the distance between the door and me
enough to dive and run
but was I fast enough to outrun a gun
but you fool
the guns in your head
it's only Monday morning
a time you've come to dread 
-Mitro

Shadow Land

The world is full of shadows

-Mitro

sharp and clean
illuminating my soul
not the dark shadow land creatures
but a foretelling of futures of gold
I knock and now no one now answers
I know only I can open the door
to beautiful sunshine tomorrows
only I and I alone have that control 

my future is brilliant and unfolding
right now at this very minute of time
if you want to come with me just tell me
but you have to be strong and not twine
for I need no more cumbersome burdens
this is my time and my time alone
I can love you tomorrow and for always
if you just learn to leave me alone
-Mitro

Sliver Ocean Salt Life

Daytona Beach Florida  Photography by Kathy Mitro

A silver day starts at the ocean
liquid blue waves stream to kiss powdered shore
a tiny boy dropkicks a football
hard to ask for anything more
the sea gulls cry out and are quite raucous
the terns I call the boys from Japan
with their mars black flop of  a hairdo
resembling honorable oriental men
the crabs fly everywhere into hidey-holes
as we walk on the sand hand in hand
my spirit calls out to calm and reassure them
but I fear that they don't  understand
surfers in brilliant yellow and orange board shorts
imitating the sun and  wearing jubilant grins
today is their day at the ocean
and they will only let happiness in
pelican dive and then cannonball
the water shoots up in the sky
from their heavy little bodies hitting water
 in stupendous and death defying dives
dolphins cavort and then tumble
through endless wave after wave after wave
so this is what they call salt life
the joy the salt air and salt water brings
-Mitro

Ode to My Rock Star Son

Rock Star - Mitro

Rock star burn so  brightly, so brightly into  night
the crowds are patiently waiting
expecting phenomenal delight
what say you are you up
up to do the night
what a dizzying  way to make a living
black velvet voice washes over light
better guard your hearts                                            
with you and only with you
all  dims in cavernous yawn
when curtain opens
and spotlight picks out you
- Mitro

A Dusty Golden Evening and The Man Strolled Into Town

Father - Mitro

A dusty golden evening and
the man strolled into town
and set many hearts aflutter
when he so much as tipped his crown
he was a strapping fellow
and knew  how to get around
he passed through this life easily
but felt this moments war
for he was not just a wanderer
oh no he was so  much more
so he tiptoed in the shadow
and knocked upon the door
who answered did not matter
he knew that it was right                    
to find what he was searching for
and to knock back any fright
the streets were rather dusty
and the dust it stuck to his hair
but still he looked so pretty
in a devil may way care
he said I have a summons
a summons to meet my dad
they say he's on his death bed
and I've come to make him glad
to honor the man who sired me
and help him find his peace
in leaving this world early
now now please don't you weep
you'll always be my father
but why do you so much care
you abandoned me when I needed you
and now you pierce me with that stare
the stare that says you're sorry
and I really was not to blame
but why do I always feel that way
at the mention of your name
so close your eyes my papa
we'll meet in Heaven soon
lets just not make it too early
I've plans to shoot the moon
and poise myself for stardom
in a world that can be so cruel
cruelty that started with you
and now you surely rue
I'll seek the world of  compassion
I know that it is there
and when I find my compass
I'll live without a care
-Mitro

Night Creature Turning Into Forest

Night Creature Turning Into Forest - Mitro

Red orbs in forest light the way
and blaze with unremitting flame
but still I wander 
and still it's the same
to take the fire
to take the flame
amazing destiny
one travels at night
for beneath the cover of dark
one is home once again
-Mitro

Rage

Rage - Mitro

Rage oh so rageful
what ever must possess
to throw out all that ugliness
for someone else to catch
it lingers not upon the air
oh no it does much harm
it lands upon the universe
in universal alarm
rage is never pretty
so why give in
and let it overtake
and stain us with his ugliness
that is a huge mistake
 Mitro
 

Divine Dance a Tribute to Dogs and Elephants

                                      Dance of The Divine a Tribute For All Dogs and Elephants- Mitro


A band of gypsies came to town
in beautiful colors and  tattered crowns
they filled the town with their  joy and their mirth
and acted quite frankly like they  owned the earth
when in fact indeed they had
rites of ownership always go to the glad
ribbons of pleasure ran through the earth
caught unaware by this treasured birth
they danced and they sang
they honored their dead
ancestral pledges freely they rang
to the dog
to the elephant
to take to the grave
of the honored the humble
the people who gave
so for all of you elephants
and all you dogs too
enjoy this here dance
cause this dance is for you
-Mitro