Pets and Predicaments

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101118

COUNTER POINT

"Tick-tock," goes the clock
that hangs on the wall.

"Tock-tick," claims another
just down the hall.

"Ding-dong, both wrong!"
a third chimes in.
"I am music; you're just din."


101117

ESCAPEES

There's a mouse in the house,
I suspect—just look how
this bedroom is wrecked.

A chipmunk’s misplaced—
this I know—brought in by the cat.
Where'd it go?


101116

COUNTING THE MINUTES

Muse, it's 5:19 a.m.
That's awfully late.
Was I stood up?
I thought we had a date.


101115

PERCHANCE TO DREAM

Things get precious,
just by being rare—
like that thing that knits
the raveled sleeve of care.


101114

MEDITATION
DIRECTIONS

“Breathe—slow—in,
through the nose,
to a count of seven;
hold another count,
then let it out—
through the mouth—
at that same pace.”

(Then pass out?
Nothing was given
about when
to breathe again.)


101113

LOVE TAKES A TOLL (for Emma)

A year of your pet's life
equals seven of yours.
(About.)
(Depending.)

Life with a cat or dog
(a typical choice)
can be heart-rending
as it grows up—
for how it acts up
and what it gets into.

On a cat, you cain't
impose restraint
or, on a cur, a curfew.

Pets take a toll.

This formula occurs:
For every year of your pet’s life,
take off one of yours.


101112

DOUBLE DOWN

I thought “depressed”
meant sad and bad,
but now I know—
it just means low
and oh… so… slow.


101111

QUESTIONS
OF TALENT

Did I—do I—
have a gift?
Did I lose it?
Am I hiding it
even from myself?


101110

IN POEM COUNTRY

Up with the chickens,
then up with the owls;
I’m not one
to throw in the towel.

A poem is something
to not postpone;
I could write ‘em
till the cows come home.


101109

SIMPLE MINDED

You are there.
I am not.
That's the thought
I just thought.


101108

SORCERER’S APPRENTICE

Leonard Cohen, for a poem,
used a book of rhymes.
I use one for mine; that’s the scoop.

Here’s my favorite group:
aquatic, chaotic, despotic,
erotic, exotic, hypnotic,
narcotic, neurotic,
psychotic, quixotic, robotic

Building blocks, rhyme-words are—
keys-and-locks, gears for clocks,
ingredients for a cake;
myriad combinations
for myriad things to make—
including exotic spells to cast
and chaotic spells to break.


101107

IT WASN’T MUCH

“A walk in the park,”
that’s what they say—
and that’s what it was:
an easy cliché.

It wasn’t much—
nothing arduous,
explosive or clutched;
nothing that transcends.

It wasn’t much—
a casual outing
by two casual friends.
It wasn't much—

before our fingers touched.


101106

HEY, SANTA! (for Trevor)

This, for you,
should be a breeze—
put brake pads
in my stocking, please.


101105

I GIVE UP

Clothes, money, attention,
opinions, encouragement, advice,
aggravation…

It doesn’t seem to matter;
no matter what I give,
I get more than double in return.
What gives?


101104

EMPATHY NO MORE

I know you’re
upset about something
and I know you want me
to get upset along with you.
But I don’t want to.
Getting upset
makes me upset.


101103

OPERATIONAL LIMITS

Medicine, what is your tonic,
your remedy for grief?
What can you offer as relief
for pain, intense and chronic,
in bodies already half-bionic?


101102

CLOCKING OUT

Summer birds are seen no more;
sky is emptiness galore;
northern winds grow whippy;
days turn short and nippy;
jewel-toned leaves
that crowned the trees
have browned or blown away—
the year is calling it a day.


101101

BARGAINING WITH MY CAT

“Give me some inspiration,
Scout—to write about;
I’m in the mood.”

“Hmm. Well, don’t be rude;
give me something in return.
I’m in the mood for food.”


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