Shrouded Shore: The Many Musings of Thom Singleton

                                                                       Art Drum                                                            A drum sculpted of clay                                                        With undulating decorations                                                       Scored into it, and drum head                                                    Affixed seamlessly, glued perhaps,                                                   And bulbous, inviting anyone to be a                                                    Drummer by its very shape. The                                                        Drum curves down and down                                                           Following its wavy shape                                                                 And beautifully                                                                  Scored lines                                                                  That form a                 

  February 28th End of February. Kind of snowed- and iced-in. The time my mind wanders down the road. Thinking of all the magnificent national parks Patti and I have visited in the past. And where to go this summer. Wisconsin, that’s where! Don’t need to go a thousand miles to experience “cool.” We have it right here. Great Lakes, small ones, rivers, and falls. We have water, the most of any state. I know we’ll be on it again soon, once it melts. Floating and emoting about its liquid grandeur. Am I a water sign or what?

  Today’s People Grocery - The check-out lady had tattoos on her arms of flowers and butterflies. I said, I bet that’s nice to look at during these cold winter days. She said, yes, and pretty soon the real ones will return. Grocery parking lot - A lady groaned getting out of her car. I said, that doesn’t sound good. She just laughed. At UU - Two people acknowledged the humorous poetry that I read during the variety show, one, the organizer of the show, the other, a self-described stand-up comic. I thanked them, and gave them my card so they could check-out the blog. On the river walk - An elderly lady sat on a park bench surrounded by snow and ice - she said she likes to sit here and watch on the river when her son is fishing, but her family is out of town today. Patti offered to give her an arm to help her walk in the snow, but she said she could manage with her cane On the trestle bridge walk - A conservation warden was checking the fishing licenses of people coming off the ice from

  Haiku - February 28, 2023 It’s a snowy day The last day of a cold month I and deer happy!

  Haiku - February 27, 2023 Anticipation They say snow, sleet, ice today Also, shoveling

  Haiku - February 26, 2023 Live-edge furniture They retain their live contours The way the tree grew

  Our Live-Edge Tables The table tops are made of wood slabs, smooth and beautifully grained. Their outer edges retain the undulations of the tree’s growth. The dining and end tables have wrought iron legs, substantial enough to carry the weight of the two-inch thick table tops. The coffee table is supported by two end pieces, the ends cut from the same slab as the table top. It is a construction technique known as “waterfall.” It is so named because the grain of the table top aligns with that of the end pieces as it “falls” over the edge. All tables were built by my son, Keith Singleton, of Singleton Woodworks, Kimberly, Wisconsin.

  Grandkids at Grandma and Grandpa’s Gus, age 3, ran around the table twenty times - played hug monster (that’s right, “hug” not” huge”) - lined up trucks and crashed them into the wall - watched on PBS Kids: Colors in Spanish: verde, roja, amarillo repeated dozens of times, then Blippi, talking about snakes and salamanders - Gus and Grandma worked ten puzzles and reworked them about a dozen times - playdough cut-outs - water color pictures - hid under a pile of stuffies - hug monster appeared again - lined-up and knocked-down Star Wars guys: good guys and bad guys both - Games: Kid’s Monopoly, There’s a Yeti in My Spaghetti - then George, age 6,  got out of school at 2, and joined us - their Daddy, Aaron, came over after work and brought pizza - we had a drum parade around the house using Grandpa’s collection of big boomers - everyone sang Happy Birthday to Grandpa - George gave him a t-shirt and two mugs with George’s original art on them - Daddy took the boys home around 8PM - Gran

  Haiku - February 25, 2023 Grandkids at Grandma’s Gus all day, George after two Gramps asleep by 8

Tom Singleton on You Tube As the winner of the Sejong Cultural Society’s First Annual Wisconsin Sijo Competition in 2021, I was interviewed regarding sijo, a Korean poetry form. To see the interview, go to YouTube, and type-in “Susanna Song interviews Tom Singleton.”  

  Haiku - February 24, 2023 We have Gus today Chasing him will keep us warm It is a cold day

  After the Storm The spruce put on a white gown today to match the maple’s coat. Glowing snow covers the meadow and the little pines, now pyramids of pearl. Cottontail tracks lead to shelter under the deck, which itself is a vanilla layer cake. The pond takes on new contours as it too is engulfed in icy white. After the blizzard, there is a new allure, the comeliness of winter.

Haiku - February 23, 2023 Snow again today I think I’ll make a lawn sign “Snow For Sale Here, Cheap”  

  Who Paints the Stars Who paints the stars sparkling in the sky Who lights the sun, earth’s lantern flying high Who turns on the moon to enlighten the night Who makes winter white, spring green, and fall bright Who roils up the clouds and brings down the rain Who waters the flowers on mountain and plain Who makes carpenters, teachers, and poets Who makes farmers who take seed and sow it Who is this anyway who sets this world in motion It is not just anyone who had this great notion It is the Great Mother of worlds,  the Great Mother of worlds and all nations

  Snow and More Snow will fall all day A foot or so they say School kids are off today But for adults all work no play

  Haiku - February 22, 2023 Snow falls, blows, and drifts Swirls, tumbles, heaps-up, and flits Crystal acrobats

  Winter Morning A dimness in the East lights the night Then a still-muted lantern appears through the trees Later an unshaded blaze reaches my squinted eyes It’s a day to walk under blue and bright before the blizzard hits tonight

  Ant Loses Its Head Over Mushrooms Mycologist Thomas Hartung tells this bizarre tale about ants and a certain mushroom that grows in the forests of Appalachia and Asia… The spore of the mushroom - a parasitic one - attaches itself to the head of an ant. The ant then grows a mushroom through its head. As it moves about and climbs trees, the ant might then  spread the mushroom’s spores far and wide in the wind. Though it marks the demise of the ant, which turns zombie-like and dies, this process ensures the survival of the mushroom species.  

  Haiku - February 21, 2023 Tossing and turning I had very little sleep But then,,,ah, caffeine!

  Haiku - February 20, 2023 An exciting day Today I’m seventy-six That’s “years old,” my friend

  Haiku - February 19, 2023 It’s a warm winter Will the planet survive this Or will we be toast?

  Surprise in a Box Hand delivered today, a box. A box from Florida.  A box from my sister, Jeannie. I hesitated for a second or two. My birthday isn’t for three more days. But, heh, maybe it’s wrapped inside.  Inside, yes,! That’s where I’ll go.  I ripped it open, and found two eyes staring at me. Surprised, I quickly closed the cover. Then carefully peeled it back. A frog! A frog looking up at me. A frog, I was sure, created by Jeannie. It was a frog of shells, gathered on Florida Beaches. My birthday frog sits on a throne of driftwood and shells. The frog himself is of shells as well, And a bowtie of shark’s teeth. He’s holding a pen in one hand and a book in the other, A book of poetry by Thom Singleton. He is a frog who has good taste in literature, and, most likely, flies. 

  Haiku - February 18, 2023 A frog in our house A frog of shells and driftwood A birthday present

  Haiku - February 17, 2023 White flakes swirl in wind Shawl of crystalline beauty Drapes over the pines

  Haiku - February 16, 2023 Rising sun peeks out A bright torch in tangled wood Day’s beautiful birth

  Haiku - February 15, 2023 A proud mother cat She’s perky, almost smiling Just like all mothers

  Second-Hand Humor Bought a t-shirt today in a second-hand shop. On it, in bold print: “IN MY DEFENSE, I WAS LEFT UNSUPERVISED.” Poor guy. Whatever behavior he needed to defend, it didn’t hinder his humor. The check-out lady agreed. She said, ”I like your shirt.” I responded, “You can borrow it, if you want.” She laughed. Humor, still good even though second-hand. 

  Everyone Knows The Sun is a reflection of all the smiles on the faces of Earth’s children. The Moon is a wheel of cheese imported from somewhere far. Stars are little openings to Heaven. Clouds are scoops of low-cal ice cream so fat-free they float. Trees are broccoli on steroids. Wind is Earth breathing. Earth is a pizza stretching to Italy and beyond. Water is wine waiting to happen.

  A Heavenly Melange Blueberry marmalade  Swirled with cream  Tinted raspberry red A delectable confection In the sky A treat for the eye Prepared by noted breakfast chef Rising Sun

  Haiku - February 14, 2023 It’s Valentines Day Chocolates for sweethearts day To make them sweeter

  Birds What’s fake and what’s real? Who’s a pathological liar, and who’s legitimate? That’s, increasingly, our political options these days. A bird, the killdeer, builds its nest on the ground. When danger approaches, it cries loudly, feigning injury, to distract from its vulnerable nest. The birds in government lately attempt the same thing, tweeting and twittering of the injustices, they say, are heaped on them to distract from their own vulnerabilities. Come on. Be real. You’re a higher life form than a bird. Or are you? 

  Haiku - February 13, 2023 Six turkeys appear What next will come from the woods? A half-dozen bear?

  Haiku - February 12, 2023 I’m awakening Coffee is percolating And likewise am I

  Haiku - February 11, 2023 Tiny tracks in snow Lead under our backyard deck  Haven for rabbits

  Night Drama The dim light of the clouded moon in the gloom of night served little to make things bright, Just cast shadow and masked the dark world in veiled silhouette. It was a winter night when the glow of snow was muted, the stars hidden,  And the outlines of all things obscured. It was a night made for the eye of the owl. A walk in next day’s light uncovered evidence of the drama. Discovered were wisps of fur on bushes no rabbit could ascend, Unless in the talons of a winged predator. 

  Haiku - February 10, 2023 Hold on to your hats! George, age six, is here today Mister Energy

  Haiku - February 9, 2023 Roiling clouds of snow Quick-hitting blizzard ahead Anticipation 

  Haiku - February 8, 2023 Sunlight glints on trees Changes gray to something gold Transforms the landscape

  Haiku - February 7, 2023 Sun rises slowly So slow it seems reluctant To challenge the cold

  Haiku - February 6, 2023 Cardinals, finches There’s much red at the feeder Even red squirrels

  By Any Other Name A shooting star A firework blaze A sign of love A vermillion haze A luminescence A fragrant essence A dreamy noctilucence A sweet sense A crimson blush A perfumed rush An unmistakable aroma That every loved one knows A red rose

  Maternal Instinct Five turkeys below the feeder today - no toms just a mom and her brood. Small chase small for fallen seed, until Mom, fed-up not with seed herself, But with the antics of her kids acting like a bunch of turkeys, struts away, Followed by her rambunctious brood. Later five deer appear in the forest opening. Yearlings prance toward our house, regardless of danger. Meanwhile the Moms keep alert with wary eyes and perked ears. They’re drawn by the scent of corn laid there by another Mom. That other Mom - my wife - goes out to offer them another treat, cut apples. They appreciate her motherly largesse.  

  Haiku - February 5, 2023 Birds peck, squirrels fight Competitive animals Just like humans are

  In the Fog in February Earth does not want to get out of bed today to greet the sun’s rays. Earth wants to stay in its nightgown of fog despite those who jog or walk the dog. Do you blame Earth for ghosting humans? After all, we’ve driven Earth to wrack and ruin. Earth is telling us. “Give me a break for my own sake. And yours as well, for you are part of me, and, as I be, you be.”

  Retired? Not I I’m working toward Limberman to be flexible for health. I’m working toward Nutritionman to feed my body well. I’m working toward Strongman to do the lifting things. I’m working toward Good-Husbandman to be the best mate for her. I’m working toward Friendlyman to be a force for good. I’m working toward Everyman to look beyond myself. I’m working toward Earthman to save the planet from disaster. I’m working toward Wordman to send messages from the heart. I’m working toward Spiritman to get why I’m here. I’m working toward World-Beyond the-Worldman when I leave. I’ll need no super hero costumes for each of these me’s, for, while I’m working toward it, my actions will say it.    

  Haiku - February 4, 2023 A cherry-red bird Lands on a sundae of snow Now I want ice cream

  Northern Seasons The frosting of snow in the deep freeze of winter… I’ll take it over the raging hurricanes in warmer climes. The migration of birds away from the cold… I’ll take it because they always return, a welcome sight in spring. The greening of spring, the splash of summer, the blaze of autumn, and the cold of winter… I’ll take them all for their glorious variety, the northern change in seasons.