Shrouded Shore: The Many Musings of Thom Singleton

  Haiku - September 30, 2023 Lest we forget it Humans are part of Nature Protect it or perish

  The Earth is Our Castle As the saying goes, our home is our castle. The castles of old were fortresses, built to protect against those who would do harm. But our castles nowadays can divide us from Nature, of which we are but a part. In our comfortable castle, we think we can change the weather simply by turning a switch. It’s cold, we turn up the thermostat. It’s hot, we turn on the air conditioner. It’s one reason we’re so reluctant - dare I say, spoiled - to change our ways as climate changes. It’s all in our use/misuse of energy. Our use/misuse of energy has caused numerous destructive climate changes: oceans warming to record levels which power super hurricanes and floods; lack of snow in northern climes which cause vast wild fires, and poison the air; and crop-killing drought, among others. It’s all in our use/misuse of energy: the gasoline car, the coal-fired power plant, the over-sized houses still being built. All must stop if we are to survive.  What can we do in the face o

  Haiku - September 29, 2023 Cut the grass today Maybe winterize the pond  Summer is over

  Haiku - September 28, 2023 A disciplined life It’s rehabilitation It’s time for healing

  Blank A blank page is staring at me.      After what seems like hours, Blank says, “I have an itch. Can you scratch it with your pencil?” “Where?” I ask him.      “Upper left…but wait, it’s moving!” “How about here?”      “No, more in the middle.” “Okay, did I get it this time?”      “No, scratch harder.” “Will this do it?”      “This itch isn’t stopping!”  “Why?”      “It’s your itch to write. It never stops!”

  Nature Inspires When I’m indoors? Unlikely. When I’m in my head? No way. To connect with Nature, get out there.  Take a walk in the woods. Be in the moment. Open up to the sights, the sounds, the smells, the feel. Be the Nature that you are a part of. Be the all-seeing eye of the Owl, The alert ear of the Deer, The aroma of the Pine, The mystery of the Forest. Your Nature and Theirs are One. 

  Haiku - September 27, 2023 Pat’s doctor visit I will go to support her Help the best helper

  A Smile on Your Face You are so real Nothing phony about you Emotionally honest If one is as attuned as you, one cannot see anyone but the real you If a smile, it is heartfelt  If a smile, despite bodily pain, it inspires If a smile, despite one’s own distractions, it is love One is graced by your smile

  What Inspires A smile on your face A connection with the natural world A selfless act of love A mindful life A waterfall Paddling a waterway A Great Lake A connection with a new friend An inkling that we’re all one A meditative act A prayer Being with an old friend A beautiful painting The mystery of life The mystery of afterlife Being emotionally honest True friendship Grandchildren The sun rise and sun set Gazing into the eyes of an owl Sharing one’s writing with others Memories of National Parks and Lakeshores The antics of little kids Finding a beautiful stone Our backyard family of deer      

  Haiku - September 26, 2023 Talk to the doctor To translate my MRI It doesn’t sound good

  Haiku - September 25, 2023 Coffee in the pot Poetic pencil in hand Good start for the day

  How Did This Happen So Quick? Summer’s over. I am 76. I might get in trouble with Patti, Amy, and Lydia if I mention their ages. Keith is 53. Aaron is 47. The grass needs to be cut? I just cut it a month ago. Kai is 13. Connor is almost 12. Patti and I have been together for over 47 years. George is 7. August is almost 4. We’ve been in our new house in Fox Crossing almost 4 years. Did I mention that I’m 76? 

  Haiku - September 24, 2023 Poets for Change today One hundred thousand of them All around the world

  Haiku - September 23, 2023 Early start today !00,000 Poets for Change And Poet Laureate

  Haiku - September 22, 2023 Our lawn is pasture For one doe and three yearlings They like our clover

  Haiku - September 21, 2023 MRI today To see what is causing pain In my lower back

  UP 2023, with Donna and Steve Stambaugh…A silent prayer at the early 20th century unmarked gravesite of our family's two still-born babies. May they be born into eternal life. Houghton…A walk along the Portage Lake Ship Canal, departure point for Isle Royale, and home to a unique restaurant, The Ambassador. Mmmm, good. Lac La Belle…Near the tip of the Keweenaw, the peninsula on the Upper Peninsula. Our cabin there, the departure point for scenic and historical trips… Fort Wilkins…a restored mid-19th century fort on Lake Fannie Hooe, the end of the good road. Copper Harbor…formed by a hook of land and barrier islands protecting the harbor and town from the fury of Lake Superior. Brockway Mountain Drive…a miles-long scenic drive along the backbone ridge of the Keweenaw,with grand views of Lake Superior, Lake Fannie Hooe, Copper Harbor, and environs. Jam Pot…where an order of Greek Catholic monks make and sell bakery and jam. Calumet…historical site of copper mines, explained by a N

  Yoopenese, Exaggerated Just a Bit Da Yoopers (residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula), dey speek diffurnt, doncha no. Do, I dunt no vat dey mean ’diffurnt’. Dey say dey speek Yoopenese by us up Nort, Not da strange talk dey speek in da Banana Belt, Wisconsin. Holy Wha! Anyone dat made it tru ate grate (8th grade) nose dat! Pick up yer copy of Da Yoopers Glossary at Da Yooper's Tourist Trap, if ya can't understand it.

  Memories of Grand Island, 1999 Patti and I paddled miles of the shining waters of Lake Superior off Munising, Michigan in our two-person kayak to Grand Island. We were equipped for a week of camping on the Island. Along the way, we beached our boat and took a cooling “natural shower” in a waterfall that poured off an Island cliff to the water below. We rounded what is known as “The Thumb” of the Island, and discovered a beautiful, secluded beach that circled the shore of Trout Bay. There we camped. From our camp, on succeeding days, we hiked the Island, and were able to procure bicycles from the ranger to transport us over rough roads to the distant north end of the Island and the lighthouse there. We learned later that we had shared the Island with a bear who broke into one of the very few cabins on the Island down the way from our camp, and raided the refrigerator. We were careful to hang our food in air-tight bags in a tree out of reach of bears.  One night it rained, but we staye

  Haiku - September 20, 2023 Kai’s team won again Then, with sombrero on Kai’s head, Wait staff sang to him

  Haiku - September 19, 2023 Motion lights turned on Who is up at 5 AM? Probably raccoons

  Haiku - September 18, 2023 To the post office To collect our pile of mail I hope not just junk

  Haiku - September 17, 2023 Today, home again Goodbye, Upper Peninsula See you again some day

  Haiku - September 16, 2023 The Mineral Falls Deep in the wilderness woods A high waterfall

  Haiku - September 15, 2023 The Pictured Rocks cliffs Mineral seepage through stone A beautiful cruise

  Haiku - September 14, 2023 UP peninsula Keweenaw Peninsula UP of the UP

  Haiku - September 13, 2023 Michigan’s UP Vast forests, shining waters Nearby wilderness

  Haiku - September 12, 2023 Visited Jam Pot Monks who make sweets for sale on Lake Superior

  Fox Jazz Fest 2023 On Winnebago’s north shore, a wave of music wafted o’er. Ripples of jazz riffs rolled over the crowd,  Fulfilled their deep love of music to the core. The hard rain of piano chords, The lightning crash of cymbals, The rumbling thunder of the bass, The dancing rivulets of the sax… All conjured the drama of a rainstorm, even on this sky-blue day. A fountain of musical freshets flew from musicians to fans, With heads bobbing in the airwaves, and smiles breaking. Cool jazz on this very hot day. 

  Haiku - September 11, 2023 We’re going places An Upper Michigan trip With Donna and Steve

  Haiku - September 10, 2023 Church at 10AM Birthday party for Aaron Donna and Steve here!

  Haiku - September 9, 2023 Packing for the trip To U.P. of Michigan Lake Superior!

  Haiku - September 8, 2023 No alarm clock here Heard a familiar sound The hooting of owls

  Sounds of a Bowling Alley A rolling roar down the alley A flash of light? A crash, a strike! A game of bowling? No, unless the angels are having one On a bowling alley in the sky Really, a rolling roar down the Valley A thunderstorm coming on

  Haiku - September 7, 2023 Cool, in the sixties Also windy and gusty More like September

  Haiku - September 6, 2023 Up at 5AM Flashes of light in the night Distant thunderstorms

  Haiku - September 5, 2023 The first day of school Kindergardeners, seniors Young birds spread their wings

  Haiku - September 4, 2023 Labor Day today Celebrate the labor force Rest your weary back

  Haiku - September 3, 2023 We hied then arrived Then we cooed with the music A Jazz Fest haiku

  Window Weather Report Windows face a maple, drapes closed Rising sun makes maple leaf patterns through the drapes Shaky shadow patterns flutter in the wind Leaf shadows blow north, say wind’s from the south South wind brings warmth Today’s window weather report: warm, sunny, breezy day

  Haiku - September 2, 2023 Four deer on the lawn Glad they’re grazing on clover Sharing with rabbits

  Deer Friends That’s “deer” and “dear,” as well, for, as they emerge from where they dwell, They cavort on the lawn, a doe and three fawns. Haven’t enjoyed them for awhile, but, many times, they’ve made us smile, Baby deer without suspicion or guile. Older now, they’ve grown, some baby spots now gone, Still they graze on clover with their mother. I’m glad I planted clover, for these fawns on the lawn For sure they are lovers of clover.