Shrouded Shore: The Many Musings of Thom Singleton

  Heavy Snow on Halloween A rainy snow fell today - white as snow, wet like rain, heavy as stone. It took about a thousand half shovelfuls - or so it seemed - to clear the driveway of the wet white. Too heavy for a full shovel. An hour of shoveling got me close to the mountain at the end of the driveway made by the city snowplow. Another half hour and Snow Mountain was gone. My back tells me it was the heaviest snow ever. And on October 31st! Climate change strikes again. 

  Sky Mirrors the Great Lake The sky a vaporous pool of blue, Marbled by wispy waves of cirrus, Seems to pour itself into the lake As waves splash on the windy horizon.

  Haiku - November 1, 2023 It snowed yesterday Five inches, wet and heavy Oh, my aching back!

  It’s Halloween! Spooks, goblins, zombies! Even the Earth dons a ghostly sheet of white, As snow shivers out of the gloom. Those spooks better dress warm,  And walk carefully in the slippery stuff. Just because it’s called “fall,” you don’t want to.

  Haiku - October 31, 2023 Raked and raked and raked Maple leaves have been falling Still only half done

  The Function of Art: My Attempt      It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease      to see. The writer shakes up the familiar scene, and, as if by magic, we see a new      meaning in it.                                                                                       Anais Nin The stand of trees out back is a green wave in a windy sea of wood. A flash, a boom, a bolt strikes an old oak out front, and makes of it a dead hero who saved us from lightning. The storm moves on, the full moon winks, as a cloud like an eyelid passes before it. A blaze arises in the East as Old Solius repeats his ancient journey across the heavens. The maple lays a colorful carpet of leaves on the lawn. Animals scurrying to and fro’ to lay-in a winter larder mimic the workers commuting to their jobs. The poet pauses to shake some metaphors out of his sleepy head, like a maple shedding its colorful leaves. It is, after all, only 7 am, and the coffee is still bre

  Haiku - October 30, 2023 It's a mountain range An age-old wrinkle on Earth A crease in Earth's clothes

  Haiku - October 29, 2023 It was a shower In Watertown , Wisconsin Me, the only guy!

  Haiku - October 28, 2023 Rain showers today Baby shower tomorrow I’ll take the latter

  Haiku - October 27, 2023 Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain For sure the drought is over It’s been rain all week

  Showers of Color Rain is falling The watery kind But also a kind with color Red, golden, maroon A torrent of leaves from surrounding trees It’s why they call it Fall

  Haiku - October 26, 2023 Why is there evil? As sage Ramakrishna said, “To thicken the plot”

  A Peek at the Peak Peak colors, that is. Our maple’s colors are stunning, Except most are on the ground. A mosaic on the lawn of red, yellow, green, and orange, With an occasional deer or rabbit to add to the masterpiece. Fall is beautiful, even after the leaves are down. Think I convinced myself to rake after they all are.

  A Conversation with a Pencil Come on, Pencil. Do what you’re supposed to do! Ok, you also erase, and, for some, an item to chew. But you have a #1 purpose, #2. You know what it is, or have you forgotten? The guy wielding you is getting up in age. Maybe I should be talking to him. So he doesn’t forget what he’s supposed to do with a pencil in hand. Oh no! He’s too busy doodling. Just provide coffee, and this guy will doodle for hours, as in, !@#$%^&*()_+ What? He says he’s not doodling, he’s writing. He calls this writing - a half page of a conversation with a pencil? What’s he got in that coffee? You’ve got to speak up, #2! Before he goes off the deep end. Well. good thing he's got you in hand. You are his saving grace.

  Haiku - October 25, 2023 Two months ‘til Christmas I don’t have your presents yet You’d better be good

  A Bolt of Lightning A bolt of lightning Our old oak is hit Just a few feet from our house Soaking wet, it did not catch fire But ripped off a spiral of bark from crown to ground Perhaps boiled the sap from within to pop the bark Killed a rabbit dead at its base A loud report like a cannon shot Knocked things off shelves And startled me where I sat Some things to think over A valuable oak Quite a few board feet in it, and in the one next to it If nothing else, a few tons of firewood And, with climate change, more super storms to come Perhaps a lesson: take them down before they take our house down  

  Haiku - October 24, 2023 Flashes of lightning Drumming of rain on the roof A fast-moving storm

  Haiku - October 23, 2023 I’m stiff as a board Pine? More like oak or walnut It’s a hardwood back

  Haiku - October 22, 2023 Love is the answer Whatever be the question Love self, love neighbor

  A Wish for Earth Fall comes on gloriously, the trees like flaming candles on birthday cake Earth. But, as the north winds blow, the leafy flames are extinguished ‘til spring. Before the flames are gone, let’s make a wish for all the people of Earth, That we may live in harmony on our journey together, just as the seasons do. Their ends come about, so too, their glorious beginnings.

  Haiku - October 21, 2023 Helping move today I will loosen-up my back Then I’ll dive-in there

  Fortune and Fame A pile of money, a famous name, Are they something for real or mere games? You have the answer, look inside where the heart abides. Ask what does the true heart decide? Look as well to your relationships Who do you attract, seaworthy vessels or sinking ships? Those able to navigate safely through life’s shoals, Or those seemingly for real, but headed to rocky woes? What must you from your life glean, Riches and fame, others’ esteem? Or to look for love in the right place, At the center of the heart, yours and theirs, love’s wise face,

  Haiku - October 20, 2023 Life has big lessons What is to learn from back pain? Be understanding

  Haiku - October 19, 2023 Fall is exciting Trees are on-fire with color You can almost taste it

  What’s Next… Had a thought yesterday… Choose a physical feat to do at age 80. I’m 76 years and 8 months old now, So, 3 years and 4 months to go. What “physical feat” do I have in mind? And what do I need to do with this body before attempting it? Here’s some ideas: Paddle the Wolf River around Navarino wildlife area from Hwy. CCC to Hwy. 156 Paddle old boyhood haunts, Caldron Falls and High Falls Paddle the last 90 undammed miles of the Wisconsin River before it flows into the Mississippi, from Prairie du Sac to Prairie du Chien The first two listed are really warm-ups for the last one. Maybe yet this Fall. And “this body?” Do my PT exercises, and either treadmill or walk daily. For some canoe trips, Bruce and Keith are already interested. Aaron, likely too. Dust-off those old canoes. Wisconsin waters, here we come!  

  Haiku - October 18, 2023 Helped Keith yesterday Moved furniture to 3rd Street Slept like a baby

  Haiku - October 17, 2023 We walked Kankapot Name means “captain,” “good,” “graceful” A beautiful hike

  Haiku - October 16, 2023 Congress paralyzed There’s no Speaker of the House Snails make more progress

  Haiku - October 15, 2023 UU this morning A walk with Pat at Heckrodt Saw the refuge deer

  The Things Worth Learning      The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.                                                                                                 Harry S. Truman What’s to learn from this American president?       #1. You don’t know it all.      #2. If you think you do, you’ve got a lot to learn. So, what’s to learn that’s worth it?      Here’s one…When Patti calls me on something I said that makes me sound like I think       I’m a know-it-all, I need to take a breath, and see the situation from her viewpoint. Maybe a      discussion is in order, possibly towards a compromise. In this divided world, doesn’t       Harry’s wisdom make sense?      

  What I Know      I am not young enough to know everything.                                                       Oscar Wilde What I know… Air goes in, air goes out, The sun comes up, the sun goes down, I know enough to get out of the rain, most of the time. I clean my plate and thank the cook. I brush my teeth every night. I am a big boy and I cry. Life is good. I know the important stuff.

  Haiku - October 14, 2023 What is sleep to me? Suspended animation 'Til coffee’s been drunk

  Haiku - October 13, 2023 In truth, see yourself The elephant in the room Let your inside out

  Finding My Writer’s Niche Finding my niche. It’s definitely not going to get me rich. And not to worry about making a glitch,  Or poems that lean toward kitsch. Every writer gets caught in such a hitch, Uninspired but still trying to scratch that writer’s itch, To find a cloth of words to stitch.

  Haiku - October 12, 2023 I’m stiff as a board My back, a plank of hardwood Maybe it’s walnut

  Haiku - October 11, 2023 Haiku, a challenge Three concise, poetic lines It’s mindful writing

  We Paddle the Chain  in Fall A chain of lakes A place of spring-fed water, where visible fish lure-in the fishermen A water garden whose liquid plots connect by lazy streams A series of small lakes, safe for the new paddler, captivating to the experienced ones And, at one lake’s end, a landing to take-out and hike through colorful woods The Waupaca Chain of Lakes, a necklace of watery jewels

  Haiku - October 10, 2023 A walk on the Fox On a brisk day in autumn Blue heron keeps watch

  Haiku - October 9, 2023 Oh boy, frost warning Now the leaves will fall like rain A downpour of red

  A New Day It’s not Tuesday It’s not yesterday It’s not payday It’s not May Day It’s not a sunny day It’s like everyday It’s good thoughts day It’s be kind day It’s smile day It’s a new day

  Haiku - October 8, 2023 It’s Sunday service Next, it’s winterize the pond Whew! A busy day

  Toward a Mindful Life Be in the moment, every one a meditation. Love yourself in healing ways, not old ways that were a drain on your energy. Walk daily. Eat well, no empty calories. Before bedtime, a banana’s nutritious bite keeps you ZZZing all night. Get involved in a community project. Give a kind word to each person you meet.

  To Mend Your Shattered Heart Recognize that your heart - in pieces - can still love. Surround yourself and the other in love. Without attacking, be honest about your emotions. “Attacking” can just result in the other being defensive. Instead ask for help with your anger, your sadness. Ask this from the other with love. Without attacking, say “I am angry when you ______. Can you help me with my anger?” There can be no more committed heart than one that has been broken, and yet continues to love. As the Course on Miracles states “Love is the answer whatever the question.”

  Haiku - October 7, 2023 A cool Saturday That’s as in “cold,” not “awesome” It’s more seasonal

  Haiku - October 6, 2023 Make goals apparent Post on refrigerator And everywhere else