adventure

(x = space)

The Tower Treasure

I live on the second floor,

No great height

Up from me is Tower Hill,

A name from history

Since there is no tower

That I know of

Wouldn’t it be romantic,

An adventure?

And for the Hardy Boys

And Nancy Drew,

Cherry Ames

And the Bobbsey Twins

(maybe somewhat

grown up

maybe)

Robbers hiding out

In said high place

With those who always

Want to find the ancient

Loot breaking in

From time to time

So that now everyone

Wants jewels of differing

Centuries

And there are flashlights

There are yet-to-be passages

To find;

There are guns

Because good stories

Mention risks

There are old stairs

And so much dust

And colonies of cobwebs

And in the nearly final act,

There is confrontation

Of all parties

With nearly everything

Discovered

Until the final trick

The heroes get to throw,

Distraction that gives

Time enough

For law enforcement

Then all friends

Meet in peace

Have snacks

At the place in town

Where all the young ones

Meet

To read the story

Above the fold and farther in

And we close the covers

(books and beds),

Pining for our treasures

Never

The end

C L Couch

If you would like to read about a treasure in one’s own town (a novel, I’m afraid), there is for children (of all ages) The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn by John Bellairs. And many more such stories, I’m sure. Or you could write such a tale.

Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash

An Excuse Not to Ask Directions

(x = space)

An Excuse Not to Ask Directions

(you know electrics fail from time to time)

Back roads are best

They still need

Paving

Until I get

My Jeep or an ATV

State routes are

Good

Try Route 8 in

Western Pennsylvania or

Route 22, across

Or any road

Inviting small adventure

Maybe there are

Trees

Or a turn,

The end of which

We cannot espy

C L Couch

Photo by Adam Thomas on Unsplash

Utah, USA

April 30, 2021 2

Pirated Life

(x = space)

Pirated Life

Several hours later,

I meet with my band

In the woods

We go to the cave

That is our hideout

And headquarters

Time (past time)

For another adventure

You check out the dragon

Take dimensions

Find out if he must be foe

Or would it come on

As an ally

You and you

Find out who has jewels

In town

And if the jewels are fair

And are the owners fair

There’s precedence

To take them,

Re-reward them to

Those who have the need

I’ll spy out the rest

All the possibilities

Then draw out

A fine, nefarious campaign

Out best yet and

More profitable

Than the Hood or Ali Baba

Edward Teach,

Anne Bonny,

All the rest in the unformed

Guild of thieves

C L Couch

Photo by Bas Glaap on Unsplash

Fremantle WA, Australia

February 17, 2021 3

g is for gallop

g is for gallop

(verse at work)

galloping

I remember not directly the old radio show featuring the masked man Lone Ranger whose mask was made from the clothing of his dead brother a Texas Ranger ambushed in a gully by a criminal gang led by Butch Cavendish I think the companion for the Lone Ranger was Tonto an American Indian with many skills though doubtlessly not treated with the respect he was due I’m not sure who played the Ranger and Tonto on radio but certainly on television still before my time it was Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels respectively and isn’t that a great name for the Native American companion well Clayton Moore tended to live the part which wasn’t all that bad because in public he reinforced a message to children that justice was good and fair a win even if the winning went hard there was more silver than simply in the name of the actor for the Ranger shot silver bullets from two guns he had wrapped around his waist silver bullets shooting straighter and true so went the lore I think and his horse was named Silver too which led to the famous expression “Hi-ho, Silver!” that the Lone Ranger called usually while his horse reared on its two hind legs and that cry was followed by “Away!” and I swear in reruns and rebroadcasts I think it was maybe Tonto who shouted “Away!” though I suppose I’m only romanticizing to give him more stature when saluting their own show and Tonto’s horse was named Scout but after all the calling set in the saddles of their chargers you know what they did they galloped away from the warm radio brocade panel or the cathode-ray lit television screen and where did they gallop but into their next adventure and should not we do the same