National Poetry Writing Month (April)
I don’t have to go to the office.
I don’t have to read email.
I don’t have any meetings.
No projects today will fail.
I can spend time with my honey.
I can spend time with my dogs.
I would spend time with them,
But they’re all snoring like logs.
I’ve had four cups of coffee.
I had a piece of cake.
I’m trying to keep busy,
But it’s hard to stay awake.
Years of changing bosses,
Always fearing getting fired.
Six hours into retirement,
Do you think I can get rehired?
My brain is off.
I can’t restart it.
Maybe after a nap.
Maybe tomorrow.
Good-bye, Ruby Tuesday,
You’ve become an Applebee’s.
I got nothin’.
Day 3 and blank.
A new low.
I would write about money,
But that’s just depressing.
I could talk about work,
But that’s just stressing.
I could remember growing up,
But I’m still repressing.
I could talk about God,
And ask His blessing.
(I could talk about the Ranch,
But that’s just dressing.)
Maybe blank wasn’t so bad.
I don’t care what you want to do.
I don’t even care who you’re doing it to.
But if we shall remain the Land of the Free,
Then, would you please stop trying to do it to me?
For just the price
of a small Milk-Bone,
My vicious Chihuahua
Stands guard at my throne.
He stands at attention,
Looking out at my domain.
I’m not sure who’s attacking,
But he will cause them pain.
Now and then,
He turns to look at me.
I appreciate the protection,
But I would prefer some privacy.
And so begins another year,
Although my muse is not too clear.
Thirty poems are lots of fun,
And now I’ve managed thirty-one.
Editor’s Note: This was written during a series of puppy health crises in April, earlier this year. I almost deleted it when Flower rallied at that point, but sadly, I knew someday, I would need it. She crossed the bridge on August 13, 2014.
A Rose had many children.
Four girls and a boy.
But she only had one Flower,
Who was her pride and joy.
Fifteen years later,
Her Flower is feeling old.
It’s finally changing from Winter,
But it’s still a little cold.
The air is filled with pollen,
All the birds begin to sing.
A sad thing to discover,
Sometimes Flowers die in Spring.
Dear Lord,
Please keep me safe from harm.
Let me return home safely.
And please keep me from
Killing my companions.
Amen.
I’ve drunk cheap Scotch,
I’ve had bad food.
I’ve been insulted
By people who were rude.
It just made me stronger.
These problems that I met.
But then I went sailing,
And lost the Internet.
That one hurt.
A lot.