Pennypack Creek Cleanup - Poem: Pennypack Creek Cleanup

 "Linda," I said over the phone.

"Are you coming to the Creek Cleanup?"

I had just woken her up.

"No," she said, "I've gotta work on my short story for the Writing Group."

"I haven't written anything either," I said. "Well, use your judgment. I'd love to see you at the Creek Cleanup."

Linda is one of my favorite people. She did, in fact, drive up as we were piling into Chris Dartley's truck.

"Oh, I remember you," I said. "You helped us with Tony's Tree." 

He said it's one of his favorite trees.

He dropped us off and we began collecting trash, taking time to view the beauties of the Pennypack on this gorgeous sunshiny warm day.

 Don't trip when going from one huge boulder to another. NOW you tell me.

 Lesser celandine above.

Linda is one of our prolific writers at our Coffeeshop Writers' Group.... and yes, she did finish a short story for the group.

 Am wearing a shirt I wear to my Acrylics Class, given to me by Ellen Rosenberg.

 What are these lovely purple plants? I'll email either Chris or David who will know. Why this need to know? That's how homo sapiens are:  Wise man.

 Brett Lear (distant relative of the King), Linda Barrett, Eileen from Cinnaminson, NJ and her son Kevin, who works at Pennypack, Renu Sagreiya, and Allie.

 Huge uprooted tree. Why do they tumble over? They're old, diseased, or hit by Hurricane Sandy. Pennypack lost dozens of trees from the hurricane in October, 2012.  I wrote a poem called "Death of a Tree" which I submitted to the Montco College Writer's Contest. BTW, it one third place and a cash prize. My fantastic short story "The Unlikely Psychiatrist" won nuffin.

My BF Scott couldn't attend the Cleanup as his back is killing him. Right now, he's online looking up natural remedies to help him.

 Here's Kevin's car.

Who's on his bumper sticker? As I moved closer, I knew. YOU think about it. I'll let you know at blog's end... if I remember.

 We were rewarded by .... eating.

I had half a macadamian nut cookie and half a tuna cheese hoagie. And water.

Second course was a hot dog, no bun, and another tuna hoagies. Delish!

Whole Foods didn't sponsor the lunch.

Brett said I ate as much as he did. I have a huge appetite. We sat and talked a few and got to know each other better.

He told me the BILL MURRAY movie St. Vincent is excellent. I reserved the film in March from my library.

PENNYPACK CREEK CLEAN-UP

Lugging black Hefty Trash Bags

we follow the course of the

Pennypack Creek where in

days past, the sure-footed

Lenni-Lenape dwelt on these

banks, preparing acorn stew

and wild turkey meat

from their bark-built

wigwams. Their spirit

lingers tall as we clean the

creek on their behalf. We

are no longer one with

Mother Earth.

Brett finds men’s briefs

Renu two Lite Beers

Linda a flip-flop

Ally another flip-flop

Ruth a water-logged sock

Brett the matching one

Plastic, aluminum, cigarette butts

were unknown to the

Lenape, who told stories

by the campfire while

chomping on corn nuts.

In the Hefty Trash Bag

the flip-flops join together

and embrace

the water-logged socks

twine themselves together

… at last!....

while the thousand bits of

Styrofoam shake and rattle

with applause.

Heavens! What will

the Lenapes think?

Lenape-Lenapis were members of the Delaware Tribe.

What tribe to YOU belong to?