October 1, 2024 by drkottaway

Star gaze

I am a nighthawk, but my time is the second half of the night, not the first. I wake early, many mornings at 4:00 am. I am up and I am watching the stars because it is clear so often. I am learning new constellations: working out from Cassiopeia, I know Perseus and Aries, Taurus and Gemini. I have a street light at the south west corner of the house, so Pisces is very faint next to Pegasus. I’ve know the Big and Little Dipper and the North Star since I was a kid, and Orion, with the belt and sword. Jupiter and Mars have been out and Saturn as well.

I want to camp up on the Monument so I can really see the stars, where it is really dark.

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: Astrology!

August 14, 2024 by drkottaway

the pale reflections of our bitter selves

they are neglected, you know, by most
the worse self, the worst self, the dark
the impulse to yank the moon from the sky
when she slides down the stair, to see who’s there

there are few poems written to the dark
impulses, the demons, the underside of our hopes
and dreams, the nastiness, the grief, the anger
we are kept in the dungeons below the basement

below the belt we band together huddle
in a pile of claws and unfeathered wings and teeth
wishing for a blanket, to be held, rocked
loved, wishing for the mothers who left us

the fathers who denied us, pushed us away
so that we knew and know what to hide
what to deny, what part of ourselves to kill
we try and try but few do

and then they are mourned, people say
they don’t understand but ask the demons below
and oh, they do, they do! maybe the next plane
will be kinder and love the demons

the bitter self, the dark self,
that longs so badly to be loved
that longs forever to be loved
that is not loved this round

this round

written 11/24/2023

April 22, 2024 by drkottaway

Nocturnal music

Taken at the Anchor as dark falls in September 2023.

This is Jean Lenke, George Radebaugh and others. Wonderful jazz and blues.

Now, if only I could stay up past dark.

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: nocturnal.

October 12, 2023 by drkottaway

Port at night

I took these at the Port party last month, with the band playing on a stage beneath nested cranes and a full moon.

Earlier, in the light.

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: port.

September 29, 2023 by drkottaway

Port of Port Townsend party

What is this strange picture you ask?

Party last night, Barbecue at the Port of Port Townsend, and it was lots of fun. I missed the first couple of bands, but arrived for this one.

The stage is not one but two nested travellifts! How cool is that? Full moon, there was a rainbow and beautiful sunset that I missed, and there was food with three choices. They were out by the time I got there. It got prettier and prettier in the dark.

And heading home, many boats are lit up and beautiful.

And one more moon picture.

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: moon.

December 3, 2022 by drkottaway

sonnet 3

I have neither roots nor wings nor love.
I lie: friends gather round to talk each day.
The early dark slides over from above.
No one to warm my bed, for no one stays.
The dark creeps up a sickening horrid thief.
I have no heart to stay awake at night.
It’s barely five; why this flood of grief?
It’s only in the morning I’m alight
before the morning is even close to dawn.
Wide awake I clamber from my bed.
I stretch, the teapot sings and I just yawn
and wonder why the night brings on such dread.
I tell my friends that now I’ll date a tree.
He never leaves and he will stay with me.

__________________

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: roots.