in the fourth edition
of the american heritage dictionary
I'm not sure how kerouac would feel
about being wedged between
"kerosene" and "kestrel"

a ride to school
in a taxi
dad flips on the meter
to let me know how much
this trip is costing him


In 1907, the first taxicab started on the streets of New York City.


After serving in the military, my father worked for Laclede Cab Company and retired in the early 1980s. Thankfully, he retired before the rise of Uber.

in a place
that reminds me
of a football field
the goalposts of woodhenge
tracking the sun

http://cahokiamounds.org/explore/cahokia-mounds/woodhenge

This photo was taken before a thunderstorm.  It's unfortunate that the view surrounding woodhenge contains busy roadways and a fenced-off area that looked like a school bus repair yard.

Woodhenge

"Parents were invented to make children happy by giving them something to ignore." 

~ Ogden Nash

as if that part
of me still existed
a social security card
in an envelope sent
to my childhood address

greenland
real estate
cracking up faster than
late-night comedians
can joke about it

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/07/petermann-glacier-giant-i_n_674326.html

mom waits
with her camera
expecting great things
         from a young boy's
                            first trip
                                 down the slide

In the past few days, I've added several more tanka to the Marjorie Content tribute.  I plan on writing poems for at least three additional photos. I wish more of her images were available on the internet.

the yellow butterfly
not settling
on any flower
until it reaches the one
nearest the drinking fountain