Guiberson

Dark
fallow
field
with new mulch.
Lone barn
gaping face
graffiti-tagged
open door.
But
dignified and
solid.

Bardsdale turkeys

Fat little men
and women
on the side of the road
arrogant and insolent
let the cars get
too close
cross the road
and come to roost.

Breakfast

It's a beautiful morning in Fillmore with
blue skies
no clouds
orange trees
sunshine.
Fresh-squeezed orange juice and a
hot German pancake and
coffee.
Divine.
Little dog curled up.
Kids bickering.
Sunday paper.
Laundry going.
A nice way to start the day.

The Middle School Band

Mr. G lines them up and they begin
to play
first the drums
then the rest
a city-block long
march down
Central
stop in front of the old
movie theater
and play.

Piru

Piru gravel
oranges
tangelos
Ramona
Arco
windy
honey
dry
dust
tarot cards
palms
cactus
palms read
eggs
rental truck
more gravel
beef jerky
old restaurant
old honky tonk
old tavern
old mansion
old motels
coffee shop
lake
Piru.

Avocados

The avocado-laden tree
is heavy this year
with
riches
and
richness,
buttery fruit
dangling dangerously overhead.
A swift wind may
topple the
tree
as the large
orbs
swing
and the long leaves
flutter.
The dog
is
fat and glossy
and the
lawn mower
carves
the avos
into
guacamole
Ole!

The Fillmore and Western Railway

A trip to Santa Paula takes hours
(it's ten miles away)
but I'm glad it's there.
I've only ridden it to the
Island of Sodor with a
two year old
and a baby
but it took me farther than that.

It took me to a land where
travel was elegant and genteel
with beautiful wooden windows
looking out to graffiti
and metal shipping containers.

The iron detailing matters
on the seats
and the lights glow
and the world goes by at a leisurely
pace.

Valencia season

Hurray! the pickers have come again
with their ladders and their
zip-bottom satchels
slung over strong shoulders
singing songs and
calling through the trees.

Light a small fire and cook lunch.
Gracias.

Ay Chihuahua

The polka music starts
and, Pavlov's dog,
I salivate.
I'm hungry.
I always order the same thing
(why monkey with success)
a meal under three bucks
while pictures of
Mexican legends
stare at me
from the walls
and truckdrivers
try not to stare
It's worth the wait on Sundays.

The PG&E Camp

To those who didn't know
to zip
up
their tents
because San Francisquito
was undermined
and to those who did
and floated
to safety
miles down the Valley,
each Eucalyptus planted
(including those removed by
those who have forgotten)
is a warning and a celebration.
Go in peace.
You were just doing your job.

The Bardsdale Methodist Church

I.
The Bardsdale Church bells
ring every Sunday
at ten a.m.

Cars park in
orchards and fields
and by the old school.

Basement rummage sale
ten dollar chair
Score!

Ring the bells
it's Sunday.

II.

At Christmas the
bell choir rings
the bells
and the old
bones quiver
and come to life.
Comfortable
incense and
stone-smell.

There's cookies
and punch in the
basement.

Colored
light
warm
glow

Christmas.