2018-09-25

Life Before Children





Find an old photo your parents are in,
one that was taken before you were born.
If they’re like mine, they were handsome and thin.
I had no notion before mine were gone.

Are you aware what your mother declined,
how, for the joy of her caring for you,
plans of her own had to be left behind,
scholar or writer or singing the blues?

Has it occurred to you, maybe your Dad
gave up a job that he really enjoyed,
solely because of the low wage it paid,
took something boring, to better provide?

Most of us don’t know who Mom and Dad were,
how, in their youth, they had bright hopes and dreams.
We, self-absorbed, yet remain unaware,
thinking that we were their sole lifetime schemes.





This poem is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 License.

2018-09-18

Alas, Poor Morpheus, I Knew You Well


I’m getting tired and need a nap,
just something short to fill the gap
between my brain and competence.
Today, I’ve made so little sense.

At night, it’s hard to get to sleep;
and, getting there, I cannot keep
myself in slumber, but I snooze
and wake and stew till dream ensues.

My awesome bed can’t be the cause.
Perhaps arthritis makes sleep pause,
or all the thoughts that flood my mind.
In any case, sleep lags behind.

Exhaustion daily takes a toll
and solid sleep’s beyond control.
But I’m at work, can’t take a break.
I have to try to stay awa...



This poem is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 License.

2018-09-15

Down the Hill


Jack and Jill went off to school,
but each to a different place,
Jack to be an engineer
and Jill to play string bass.

Jack has learned just how to howdy
every Aggie he may meet.
Jill on some nights may get rowdy
down on Austin’s weird Sixth Street.

Last spring break took both to Corpus,
playing in each school’s beach games.
Those broke down into a circus.
Drinking was their truer aim.

Morning sun above the sand,
soon revealed the fate of each:
Jack marooned on Orange strand,
stranded Jill on Maroon beach.



This poem is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 License.