Bear Claw

Bear Claw

By Mark Easley

I open my eyes for the first time.

My first thought, the brightness of the sun.

Then my hunger kicks in

We gather around mama

She lies there with her feeders.

As one of the stronger males I plow in

And claim my own.

Some are not so lucky, becoming outcasts

Later the weaklings do not make it.

I grow and grow.

My jaw aches as my teeth come in.

Big bear gives me some fish.

The red meat is succulent in my mouth

My teeth have purpose.

The winter has come and cold is evil.

My fur keeps me warm

But some of the cold punches through like a needle.

Our clan of five shrinks to an even number

When my brother is hunted down by the two-legged menace.

Shaved of his coat, the smell of his flesh

Lingers near the fire of the humans.

Big bear fought and killed three wolves

Their meat more juicy than fish.

I learned to hunt my own fish

Using my razor claws.

I Swipe at the water

Until the hook finds its mark.

Then I pull in my catch

Sucking on its juices

Eat it whole, no problem.

And then find another victim to feed on.

I learn to chase the caribou

Through the tundra.

Tracking their movement

Delivering the final blow.

All my skills completed.

I am ready to be

Unleashed, at large, free.

I can survive on my own

And teach my cubs the ways of the wild.

El Cheapo 

by Mark Easley

My father’s brother

Lives in New Mexico desert

Unshaved, hairy

Looks like an old sea salt

Beginning to gray

Hearty appetite

Belly sticks out like a full moon

In the afternoon he asks, “What’s for Dinner?”

We chuckle, “Just a few more hours ‘till dinner.”

Laughs and Jokes

Classics and computer jokes

Booming laugh fills the room with joyous warmth

Always a pleasure to visit him even though on my birthday he only gives me cake

Family man

Two daughters

Outnumbered

Three to one

Talks fast

Words dart out like a cheetah after its prey

Meaning sometimes gets muddled

But I don’t mind

Political man

Works for the governor

Maybe he’ll make a living being a senator

I hope so

Cheapest guy I know

Never picks up the tab in a restaurant

Obviously professors in a small town in New Mexico don’t get paid much

I bet when he was young he was pretty weird, but…

He’s my father’s brother

Lives in the New Mexico desert

And I love him

Cadiz, 1492

By Mark Easley
 

Sailors call out

Trumpets blaze

The murmur of crowds

Too many for me

Supplies are being loaded

Aboard my three great ships

The swarms of activity

Feels like a madhouse

Dogs bark and fight for scraps

The swishing of anchors dropping

The clank of money in pockets

Seagulls sing

Worn docks creak

Smoke dances in the wind

Royalty looks on from atop a tower

Church bells strike the time

We are ready to leave

History is changed

Restless Port

By Mark Easley
 

With the Star of David around my neck

I travel to Cadiz with haste

Refugees run about

All they have, on their backs

All they want, far away

Sailors shout and hustle around

Loading up horses and unloading slaves

All going every which way

Merchants shout their prices

Forming a rhythmic music

Horse droppings litter the ground

The smell of bad fish and salt-water loom

Where is the boat?

Our bags grow heavy with each step

I see our ship ahead

Only a few paces now

Away from this place

Far, far away

Why Baseball is better than socc

Why Baseball is better than Soccer

By Mark Easley
 

Only the purest athletes

can step out onto the diamond

everyday, all the time

I can hear the huff and puff

of players constantly running

on a grassy plain with a pair of gaping, netted holes

The crack of the bat and ball resonate

past second, short, right, left, and center

back towards the stands, the coach, and the catcher

Pass, run, steal, run, pass

pant, puff, pant, puff, pant

the half time whistle blows

Leather, dirt, metal, and plastic

embrace together in a matter of seconds

leaving a speeding fury toward the batter’s fate

The checkered ball is suspended in air

header, turnover, shot, score!

only three more goals to win

Strike, ball, strike, out

the pitcher continues his game

it is cat and mouse, only one will prevail

Coming on the 72 mark of the clock
the team is down by two

pass, shoot, block, steal, pass

Down by one, and two on

9 innings in, 2 outs, full count

the ball flies over the big 360 in left center

the scorekeeper puts an HR in the book

Stoppage time and tied up

Penalty kick is given, the silence hang in the cold air

only to be disturbed by the clank of the post

as the shot misses its mark

hand shaking, crying, disbelief, and equipment gathering

two sports ended that night

one a winner, the other a little more modest