If Dirt Could Talk

8/7/2019 If Dirt Could Talk

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I I f f DDiir r t t CCoouulldd T T aa llkk A Collection of Verses for Children

Poetry & Illustrations

by

RRoonn aalldd LL.. OO lliivveerr



2

DD eedd iiccaatt iioonn

This collection of children’s verse is dedicated tomy grand daughter, Avery Raeanne Oliver, on

her 7th birthday - November 1, 2007. May your life be long, and filled with joy and

love.



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FFOO RREEWWOO RRDD

How did this book come to be? Poetry was first nourished by both my mother, Vivian Lea, and my older brother, CharlesBraden. This book reflects twenty years of time. First, in the lateeighties I wrote two short stories and about a half dozen simpleverses under the title of “Stories of Near and Far”. The versesincluded in this collection were “Bubba the Bee”, “CactusFriends”, and “Tree Sky.” The two stories were named: “TheSunfishes” and “The Dog Gone Family”. I can no longer put myhands on them or would likely have included them. Regardless,the intent of the verses and stories was to illustrate two hazards ofdevelopment, i.e. either smothering or being too distant. At thetime, I briefly sketched out some illustrations with pastels andsubmitted them to perhaps a dozen different publishing houses ---all without success, except for managing to get “Bubba the Bee”published in a newsletter by the Humanistic Counseling andEducation Association. So, I put them all away and forgot aboutthem for about six years.

Then in the early nineties while living in Washington and feelingquite dismayed, I pulled them out of hiding most for the sake ofthe comfort I found. Several more verses sprang out, including“Dear Time”, “Dear Eyes”, “Gooses Loose”, “Squirrel Will”, “At

Last to Rest” and “If Dirt Could Talk.” The only thought was tolook for delight while feeling most resigned. They had noparticular point to make. I added new illustrations and sent themoff to publishing houses. Nothing came of it, again.

Another six or so years passed before I once again dug them up.New verses flowed, like “Mayfly”, “Tumbleweed”, “Twitches”,“Hopper Popper”, “Brother Ant” and “They are Just”. At thattime I was living in the mountains of Colorado and my first

grandchild was born, Avery. I hoped she might like them some



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SSiisstteerr SSeeaa

Brother windAnd sister sea,Take me toThe meant to be.

Where there’s lifeTo deeply breathe

Where dreams yet fly,Aside the sea.

Where life is moreThan looking glass,Than mill to grindThan fling to pass …

Where light will play

Atop the crest,



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And wind will comb,To soothe the rest.

With brother wind,And sister sail,It’s off to whereThe calm will tell.

Off to whereThe calm may see,How brother wind,Loves sister sea.

So sail away …It’s off to seaWhere stars do steer,Where winds run free.



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Bubba the Bee

Bubba the bee simply loves ...To be free,To loop-i-ty loop…Even buzz out of key.

.

He'll surge through the skyIn that grand sort of way,That takes seeming workAnd turns it to play.

He can join with the othersAnd buzz in a line,Then spin out in circlesMuch shaped like a vine.

He tries out new buzzes,



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That spin from his head,That rouse up the lifeIn the seemingly dead.

But his Poppa explained,When really quite wee,"There's only three songsThat are known to the bee..

There's the song of the hunt,And the song of the fight,And the song of the hive ...That's all that is right."

But Bubba was puzzledFor he knew there was more:“There's the song of the sea,There’s the drum of the shore.

There’s the song of the wind,And the song of the tree,And the song meant for you,There’s a song just for me.”

“Just think about honey!Think only of it,”His Pop snarled slowly,Quite ready to spit.

So Bubba flew straightAnd kept to his work,Thought only of honey,

While losing its’ perk.



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Then Grandpoppa said,“We must let Bubba be.He’s fit to be tied,Cause he’s born to be free.

We need Bubba’s circlesTo show us what’s straight,Yes, we need all his songsTo lighten the weight.

You must know what is wild,To learn what is tame,And keep all that’s differentTo like all that’s same.”

Now his friends stop to watchBubba’s daring and graceAnd the fun broadly writtenAll over his face.

Today they all smile,While they’re filling the hive,It’s so good to see a bee,

That so loves to be alive.



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BBrrootthh eerr AAnn tt

Wrapped in brown burlap,Round Brother Ant smiles,With a look that’s gone fishing,

With a face that looks wild.

He lifts his book of psalms,The words echo out:

“There’s a way to your cell,There are paths here to mine,We loosen the earthEach other to find.



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All sisters,All brothers we be,As much as it’s so,Is how much we are free.

So as it is …We’re here for a time,A moment of fizz,From a kiss that’s sublime.

We’re bottled together,Climb so untethered,And when we encircle,We close out the weather.

Brother Ant takes a pause.“It’s all too hard to see…Too many clouds.So many weeds.

Yet Mother now bless us,With knitting you left us,And let us not rest,Till together we’re blessed.

With eyes on forever,Envisioned, enwrapped,Let’s pray for our anthood,For wisdom untapped.”

He asks that our dreams,May soar to the sky,Unfold in great wings,

That forever will fly.



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BBrrootthh eerr AAnn tt’’ss AAnn ssww eerr

“But dear Brother Ant, Just how can that be?That I am but you?That you are but me?

I can see we’re all busy,So much time we are,We dig in the dirt,We long for the star.

We take it back home,And store it away,To keep us all warm,When cold comes to stay.

But I am you?And you are me?I simply don’t see it,It simply can’t be.”

Brother ant looked away,No more for him was left to say,But mumbled some wordsAs he left on his way,

“Just think of snowflakes,We all fall one day …And so much is like anthood,

We all crawl away.



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CCaaccttuu ss FFrr iieenn dd ss

Being a cactus ...Means standing alone,

Just drinking up sun, Just reaching for home.

It means wearing a coatOf long, sticky pinsAnd standing as tallIn the storm, in the winds.

But standing apart,

Well, it might make you think,



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"It hasn't a heart,It must really stink."

But the moon saw a timeIn days now of oldWhen cacti grew close,Even had hands to hold.

They would stand hand-in-handstretch for miles and for miles,And nothing could cross,Neither tame, nor wild.

They would block off the deer,Even bear, and such.

It seemed all was lost,It seemed all were stuck.

Their closeness, you see,Kept others apart.So they threw up their arms,Though it tore at their hearts.

They let everyone pass,And everyone see,What all they did miss,What all they could be.

So the gift of the cactusIs really quite dear ...It stands far apartSo we may be near.

In the love of the cactus

There's a lesson to teach,



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About leaving some roomFor others to reach.

To my cactus friendsI just wish to say,"Here, take my hat ...

Just rest in the shade."

TTrreeee SSkk yy

When trees grow too closely,Too closely in shade,Losing their cheer,They weaken and fade.

But if they had wings,Amid all the wrapping,If strangled for space,



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They could start them to flapping.

Or if they had legs,Like you or like me,They’d need not sit idlyAnd wait for a breeze.

This cramp should not happenTo one such as you.So take up your light,Your lantern of blue.

For you, my friend,Have a place in the sun,To strengthen and stretch out,To lengthen and run.

And if friends way up high,Soak up light like a sponge,

Just forgive them their glory,We all rise to the sun.

And the wind is a brother.Who will play you a song,

Through days of night,And nights of dawn.

So stretch out your glory,Don’t shy in the gray,There are pastures of plenty,And patterns to sway.

Here, please take now

The room that you need.



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Soar upward to skylightTo flow with the free.

GG oooosseess LLoooossee

We’re headed South,To flap away.And catch the drift,It’s geese we’ll stay…

And honk all outAnd wish on stars,

Then fly awayTo where we are.

We’ll do a “V”,And cut the wind,And barrel roll,Then sail and bend…

We are now wings,

We know the way,



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FFiirreeww aatteerr PPaaww ss Moon-loving coyote,Where do you go?When not on the watch,What’s there to know?

With eyes of the night,And nose of the wind,The ears of the earth…That’s where to begin.

Firewater paws,And lover of moon,Run out to the edge,To growl at the gloom.

Firewater paws,They tell me of doom.We’re out at the edge,



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We howl at the gloom.

On a whiff of a scent,On a pass, on a whirl,You’re here now on springsYou’re all of a curl.

On a whiff of a scent,On a pass, on a whirl,We’re all now on springs,We’ve turned to a curl.

But nod it all off,There are others to tend,There are others to tuck,And lovers that bend.

So point to the moon,And show us the way,To howl at the night,As long as it stays.



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HH oopp pp eerr PPoopp pp eerr

Hopper popper,There you go,In buzzing bursts,You’re off to the show.

I want you forMy treble hook,To catch the fish

In mountain brook.

I’ll hunt you down Just like a beast,With cupping hands,With swifter feet.

Just give it up,You’ve met your match,

There’s fat to fry,



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There’s fish to catch.You eat a leaf,You drool out brown,Then stare at meWith hammered frown.

And pivot backOn springing kneeTo burst in flight…No more to see.

And off to flingIn winged ways,Your curving pathYour arching splay.

Hopper popper,There you go,Your buzzing bursts,Tell me I’m slow.

You’re but a hareOf air and wings,A mouth that flies,

A chirp that springs.

You’re an ever-chew,That always flies,You flash away,You’re all good-byes.

Hopper popper,There you go,

In buzzing bursts,



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I’m left below.

Hopper, popper,Help me see,What it is to fly,What it is when free.

SSqquu iirr rreell WWiillll

Squirrel WillThe squirrel does,All whateverThe squirrel was.

Ever in theAcorn tree,Home in heaven,Prone to breeze.



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Quick as blink,With courage raw,It makes its move,No room for flaw.

On a lineUp a limb,Resting back,Sitting prim.

Owning all the worldThat’s tree,Nesting high,Swaying free.

Chewing on someNuts and corn,Darting eyes,Ever warned.

Make your feetTo hands and paws,Nibble quick,Quibble long.

Like a shadowPlaying high,Dancing leaps,Scurried flies.

Reaching for theAll to be,Ever-quick means

Always free.



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Ever with thePouchy cheeks,Stored delights,At easy reach.

Up a trunkAnd round about,Ever sly,Never doubt.

Ever dart,Like arrowhead,Off to chat,And then to bed.



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UUmm bb rreell llaa TTaaii ll

The swinging brush,With flash of fur,With ticking tail,Sits quite unheard.

The squirrel roostsAll hunkered down,Then rests its tailUpon its crown,

Anoints itselfThe king of trees,The lord of leavesAnd acorn thieves.And rules the trees,And branches there,



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In tans and redsIt streaks the air.

And nibbles nuts,And watches long,Alert for jaysWith shrieks of song.

When last at home,It’s known to chatter,“Umbrella tailsAre all that matter.”



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TTww iittcchh eess

Rabbits are twitches,And itches of hair,And goners and springers,And wishers of there.

All ready to bolt,Like shotguns of fur,

Ever a twitch,Always astir.

They’re cousin to shadow,Wound up like a top,

Just ready to burst,Most eager to pop!

Rabbits are runners,And whiskers away,Here but for a moment,



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In hole for a stay.

And lovers of denAnd tucking away,At home in the hollow,At rest on the hay.

With a foot that is lucky,And ears that are long,A nose ever-busy,A calm ever-strong.

Pure teasers of dogs,And scorners of fox,With ever an eye,On circling of hawks.

A lover of babes,And tucking away,

Just home in the hollow,Asleep on the hay.



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YYoouu MM aayyff llyy

Your heart has wingsAnd whispered yellow,In glints of light,In shades of mellow…

So spread your wingsAs silken sail,And float away.Beyond the pale.

You’ve come to show…You’re out to wing,Now out to findYour favored thing.



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So stretch your arms,And catch your breath,So is your hope…The best is left.

Now launch and reachAnd throw your wingsAnd show your truth,And have your fling.

You’ve kissed the earth,You’ve danced away,All is let go,It’s now on your way.

With grace you’re blessed,With wind a guide,The stars will lead,To answers flied.

Your shape of soul,Must be as wings,And always off,For favored things.

You may fly.



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II ff DD iirr tt CCoouu lldd TTaallkk

If dirt could talk,Its tales to tell,Of what it did,Of whom it held,

You would be called,With measures rhymed,

In tunes to hum,With words refined.

For you are lovedIn many ways,By all your kin,By paths of clay.

“I love your toes”,



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It’s tickles say,“To comb the sand,To knead the clay.

To swoosh the mud,To stir the rain,To kick the rock,To stay the same.

It seems near endI need so muchWhen shadows fall,With evenings touch.

To know you care,To hold when still,To share the sun,To climb the hill.

Let’s rest the nightAnd dream the day,For here we are,And here we’ll stay.



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You’re back again.

You burrow in bush,Skulk ever away,You cracker of seeds,You maker of play.

With the head of a bobber,And eyes all a dart,You’re already gone,Soon after you start.

A light bulb with feathers,A scanner at rest,A leaper of limbs,With cup for a nest.

You’re no doubt a pipsqueak, Just scuttling around,But I’m glad that you cameTo this part of town.

DD oooorr BBiirrdd

How a tweeter,What a fly,Perched by the backdoor

Just whistling why.

Why not seed?The sunflower kind?Why no feed?

Think I’m blind?



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I’m coming hereTo brighten day,To sky and windTo show the way.

And all I getIs pickings slim,Twouldn’t treat my dogTo such poor whim.

I sing delightWith notes so fine,And empty trays,Are all I find?

Now in disgustI turn away,But try againAnother day.



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DD eeeerr TTiimm ee

Let’s go down to the water,The settling has come,The hush is upon us,

The day is near done.

Let’s go down to the stream,Drink deep in the shade,And listen to frogsTheir bass serenade.

We’ve stood here on guard,Steadfast on toes,

We’re weary of watch



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For ornery foes.

Let’s go down to the water,The settling has come,The hush is upon us,The day is near done.

The wind is a-dying,Its stirrings but done,It’s time for a drink …Fond toast to the sun.

The colors are muffled,Fast fading away,They’re shedding the bright,For duller array.

And later, star showers,The sprinkles above,To crown it all asSome notion of love.

DD eeeerr EEyyeess

In the quiet of the momentYour deer eyes I see,As orbits of lusterSwim circles of sea.

Both copper and crystalThat dream of the night,Are there in your deer eyes,My evening’s delight.



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Now I dream of your deer eyes,And hunger to see,A home where to dwell,A heaven to be.

At the end of the day,At the end of it all,To the depths of your deer eyes,I’m wanting to fall.

FFlluu tt tteerr ooff FFllooaatt

There once was a duck,That flutter of float,Out with some ducklings,That nuzzled her coat.

And stuck close beside her,As measure to note,

Like shadows that quacked,



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Her rudder, their boat.

She showed them about,Round meadow and pond,Being ever so proud,And ever so fond,

With ever such strut,And chin to the cloud,She led the parade,She led it out loud.

Then weasel slunk in,And weazled about,And grinned at the feast,And licked wet its snout.

His claws and his teethThey struck in a snap.Sharp pointed at ducks,He sprang like a trap.

And struck in a snapOf claws and of teeth,

All aimed at the ducks.As something to eat.

But ducklings are quickAnd ducklings may fly,And so they all did,Without a good-bye.

Away they all flew,

In a moment they learned,



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Yet angel wingsDare to attend.

And lead us allTo livelong dayWhen last to bed,Where last to stay.

No choice for me,I choose the sky,If all’s the same,Forget good-bye.

AA RRoocckk JJuu sstt TToolldd

A rock just toldOf suns and moons,Of blistered days,Of frozen noons.

Of cracks that formedThen broke away,That fell to earth,Then turned to clay.

A rock just toldOf eagle’s rest,Of squirrel’s flight,Of coyote’s jest.

Of all it’s seenAnd weathered through,



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From nights of black,To days of blue.

A rock just toldOf holding tight,Of shedding rain,Of soaking light.

Of getting old,And cracking deep,At last to restAt children’s feet.



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CClliimm bb iinn gg LLiimm bb ss

The best of me staysPerched in tree ---Played by gust,

Bent by breeze.

Aloft away,In swing of leaves,While yet a child,Still much a tree.

The winds do comb,The heavens clear,I share with birdsThat swoop so near.

By climbing limbs,With hug of breeze,I scale at lastAll of this tree.

Above the roofs,Beyond the streetThe world’s away…It’s at my feet.

Just feel the flow,And tread the breeze,Forget the restLife is this tree.



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SSiidd eeww aallkk DD aann ccee

Call it hopscotch,A square, a jump,A point to dodge,

A place to plump.

The sidewalk dance,The share of glee,A game of dare,With scrape of knee.

And then she bowed,Before she spunAnd danced delightHad all such fun!

With colored chalkAnd mind that dancedWe painted spaceWe skipped our chance,

That life could beSo filled, so free,As sidewalks dancedAnd played with me.



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ZZoorrrroo

My bike was black,A sleek-like stead,

As skinny wheelsLoosed blinding speed.

The target soughtWith furies might …Impale unfair,Subdue unright.

Tear off all chains

In dungeons deepDare free the wronged,Show light to see.

Just make the worldAll right againAll justly placedStill left to grin.

For I was Zorro …So fast, so free,



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Who waved good-byeTo all less grieved.

HH ooww IIss II tt SSoo??

How is it so?So much alive,There on your swing,That swoops and dives.

To swing and kickAnd point with toes,Then flinging backTo fly in flow.

How does it feel?When so alive,When moments buzzRound joyous hive.

I want to beThat child againUp on that swing

Just wide with grin.



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TTuu mm bb lleeww eeeedd

To ever move,

Yet never hurt,And takes the blasts,With scoots in spurts.

A wheeling bush, Just balled up branch,For trips acrossOne endless ranch.

A fence a damThat holds them backAnd piles them up,To stall in pack.

With tumbled turnsThey lift away,To ride the wind,To coast the way.



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A nest of spin,A rolled up home,With gift of wind,A world to roam.

AAvveerryy SSoocccceerr

Chasing, racingFollowing ball,

Dancing, prancingDodging a fall.

I’ll tell you of soccer:It goes just like this,You run like the windYou try not to miss.

Scoring, ruling …Imagining wins,

Skipping, dipping,



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Until it’s the end.

You see, it’s just dance,They call it a game,Winning or losing,It’s really the same.

It’s all about funAnd racing like windThey say it’s a game,But there’s never an end.

T T hh ee EE nn dd

If Dirt Could Talk

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