government issues new rule:

"do not refer to H1N1 virus
as swine flu.
bad for farmers!"

woman-on-street laughs,
says, "Porcine Punk Flu!"

woman-on-street overheard
by Google spy satellite;
next day, world has new name
for swine flu.

White House has party
for woman-on-street,
gives her key
to CDC medicine cabinet.

Wal-Mart sells
woman-on-street action figure.

new hero is born.

(ji bo, 2009)

.................


poem flags on bamboo
twirl images to action
wind-drawn mandala

(carlo, 2009, magic city art connection)

1. dear Buddha:
when you attained enlightenment
what did it smell like?

2. dear Chuang-tzu:
when you dreamed
of the butterfly
had you been drinking?

3. dear Mr. Jones:
when you look in rear-view mirror
do you see the neighbors?

(neckbone, 2009)

..............

old proverb:

pure bottled water
might taste
like bottle.

.............

Kerouac never did this

leave driveway
destination Seattle, Washington -
3,231 miles.

drive 100 miles:
legs stiff, butt hurts,
back sore, head ache.

turn around
drive 100 miles
walk in house,
say, "good to be home!

(ji bo, 2009)

..............

girl turns on sewing machine
clack clack clack!
girl creates entire Universe
out of silk.

museum buys girl's creation,
announces big exhibit:
"Attention: come see new Universe!"

old Universe forgotten.

1 million years later:
archaeologist digs up museum,
discovers girl's silk design,
holds press conference:
"Big news! Scientist discovers Universe!"

(ji bo, 2009)

.................

why are roses
red?

why not?

............

man goes to doctor
waits in operating room
makes following notes:

5,000 scalpels
2 million band-aids
20 lbs gauze
100 gallons hydrogen peroxide
300 gallons alcohol
1 million Q-tips
2,500 clamps
1 big saw.

man hears patients
in next room:
"hahaha," they say.

man sneaks out back door
of doctors' office
drives down street,
says, "I feel better already!"

(ji bo, 2009)

.................

her eyes
moon round
like headlights
on wayward goose.

(neckbone, 2008)

..........

the only thing
to compete with -
Time.

............

technicolor dream,
ghost appears
says, "write this down."

dreamer wakes up
writes:

"is tree more
than collection
of leaves?"

"is cloud
more than collection
of water?"

"is human being
more than collection
of thoughts?"

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

anxiety -
a black cat
in the alley
of the soul.

.............

to be haunted
by fame -
a big mistake.

..........

today's discussion: bacteria!
("ho oh-o-o, ho oh-o-o!")

one cell splits
into two beings.
two beings make 1 billion beings.
soon there is bacteria megapolis.

big discovery: bacteria very smart!
bacteria knows "self;
bacteria knows "other"

very important fact:
human beings and bacteria are one!

simple organism = complicated system,
speaks special language,
just like computer.

recommended official plan:

use tax dollars
invent digital interface
learn bacteria syntax
talk to bacteria
ask bacteria to write poem!


(ji bo, 2009 -
thanks to Bonnie Bassler,
big scientist)



................

man throws boomerang into sky:
boomerang orbits Earth 3 times,
lands at man's feet.

girl throws boomerang into sky:
boomerang orbits galaxy 3 times,
lands at girl's feet.

zen master orbits Universe 3 times:
holds up boomerang,
shouts, "Mu!"

(ji bo, 2009)

............

warning
to mosquito -
dragonfly!

...........

man wakes up early,
walks outside for fresh air.
owl lands on limb,
says "who?"

man laughs at owl,
says, "don't know!"

(ji bo, 2009)

............

purple ice cream
on a stem -
iris.

old proverb:

the shortest route
from Point A
to Point B
might be too short.

............

famous TV actress sits at computer.
"who's the fairest of them all?" she says.
computer blinks, picture of chimpanzee appears.

famous TV actress takes computer to zoo,
hands computer to chimpanzee.
"your turn," famous TV actress says.

(ji bo, 2009)

............

bee stings dog
dog eats bee.
dog barks at mailman
mailman runs over dog.
mailman honks at bulldozer
bulldozer crushes mailman.
bulldozer digs hole
hole swallows bulldozer.
hole gets indigestion
vomits Universe.
Universe says,
"must create life,
start with bee!"

(ji bo, 2009)

............

snow in hair
snow in eyes
snow in hands
snow in feet

every year
a few more
snow flakes.

(ji bo, 2009)
..........

altitude: 75 feet;
whistle -
young hawk.

(neckbone, 2009)

..........

river of time
river of stars
river of life -

best to have good canoe.

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

young girl dials
telephone -
calls old man:
"Good morning!"

old man drifts away
on girl's voice.....
"time is cruel," he thinks.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............