GREEN THINGS

Green first thing each day sees waves, the chair, armoire, overhead fixtures, you name it, waves which, you might say, things really are, but Green just lies there awhile breathing long slow breaths, in and out, through his mouth like he was maybe seasick, until in an hour or so the waves simmer down and then the trails and colors off of things, that all quiets down as well and Green starts to think of washing up, breakfast even with everything still moving around, colors, trails, and sounds, from the street and plumbing next door, vibrating of course you might say that's what sound really is, after all, vibrations but Green, he's not thinking physics at this stage, nuh-uh, our boy's only trying to get himself out of bed, get a grip, but sometimes, and this is the kicker, another party, shall we say, is in the room with Green, and Green knows this other party and they do not get along, which understates it quite a bit, quite a bit, and Green knows that this other cat is an hallucination, right, but these two have a routine that goes way back and Green starts hollering, throwing stuff until he's all shook up, whole day gone to hell, bummer . . .

Anyhow, the docs are having a look, see if they can't dream up a cocktail, but seems our boy ate quite a pile of acid one time, clinical, wow, enough juice for half a block go go go, little Greenie blew the wiring out from behind his headlights and now, no matter what, can't find the knob to turn off the show.

- August Kleinzahler

My favorite colors are green and brown. Green-leafed trees polka-dot our town. Greens the color of farm pond scum, and greens the color of green tea gum.

Copper turns green when its weathered. Some Amazon parrots are green-feathered. Green is the color Army privates wear, and greens what the young clerk dyed his hair.

The city of Oz was oh so green! Green is the color of a string bean. If you're nauseous you're green around the gills, and I'd be green with envy if you had no bills.

Green beer is drunk on St. Patrick's Day. Green is the color of newly mowed hay. A wilted green salad looks so sad, but a green stick fracture is not so bad.

Greenbacks are U.S. paper money. From green clover bees make clover honey. A green traffic light tells me to go, and a green banana ain't ripe you know.

A green-winged teal is a small duck, and a green four-leafed clover may bring you luck. I've heard of green thumb but not green nose. I wonder if green is the color of gangrened toes.

- Bri Edwards

O the green things growing, the green things growing, The faint sweet smell of the green things growing! I should like to live, whether I smile or grieve, Just to watch the happy life of my green things growing.

O the fluttering and the pattering of those green things growing! How they talk each to each, when none of us are knowing; In the wonderful white of the weird moonlight Or the dim dreamy dawn when the cocks are crowing.

I love, I love them so - my green things growing! And I think that they love me, without false showing; For by many a tender touch, they comfort me so much, With the soft mute comfort of green things growing.

And in the rich store of their blossoms glowing Ten for one I take they're on me bestowing: Oh, I should like to see, if God's will it may be, Many, many a summer of my green things growing!

But if I must be gathered for the angel's sowing, Sleep out of sight awhile, like the green things growing, Though dust to dust return, I think I'll scarcely mourn, If I may change into green things growing.

- Dinah Maria Mulock Craik