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Celebration

This is the poem that Mom wrote for me on the occasion of my ordination.  I love you, Mom!

June 1999 is momentous
June ’99 is fine
Someone is being ordained
He is that son of mine

Thru winters, summers
Springs and falls,
John studied away
In those hallowed halls

Now, at last, he’s on his way
Got his vestments, Bible and gear
So we’re off to NYC
You can bet we’re gonna cheer

I hope that I remember
My trusty camera to bring along
And I solemnly do promise
Tho I want to — I will not sing

But I will rejoice
’cause I am so proud
Why I might
Shout right out loud

Three cheers for God
Three cheers for John
We are so thrilled
That your schooling is done.

Mom

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Only a Few Moments Left Till Christmas

Only a few moments left till
Christmas
Is your shopping done & wrapped?
Did you start out with good intentions
That lasted just till your
nerves went snap?

Is it any wonder
This season seems to try us”
With stores & TV assaulting
us
Ads SCREAMING out
to “BUY US!”

I think I’ll just ignore
All these blatant pleas
And stroll down to the
nearest church and
There fall down upon my
knees.

I am tired of all the worry
The hurry and the waste
When just a little
kindness
Can be the saving grace.

 

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I Wanted Not To Get Up This Morning

I wanted not to get up this morning
I wanted to snooze in my bed
I wanted to dream lovely Hudson things
Of days when there was nothing to dread.
But I had to get up this morning
I had to get out of my bed
So when I got up this morning
I wished I were in bed instead.
But wishes weren’t fishes
And morning’s not night, no matter how we pray
So here I am, up this morning
Getting ready to stay up all day.

May 1999

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Early in April

Early in April
Guess what I saw
A couple I felt sorry for
’cause the weather, it was raw.

Yet here they appeared
Both lady and gent
All dressed in shorts, I tell you
The chills up my spine they sent.

She was on crutches
Luckily he was not
And in those shorts they dined
Even though ‘was not hot.

I noticed as I had to
The goose bumps on their knees
Till finally I quit looking
Before I did freeze.

May 1999

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Rose’s Corset Shop

There is no under-garment store
Not in our town, not anymore
I’ve searched until my eyes were sore
But there is just no such store.

Gigantic malls erupt here and there
I’m sure they sell ladies underwear
But malls are large, I feel despair
When I am in need of foundation care.

We used to have Rose’s Corset Shop
It was a discreet, quiet place to stop.
And Rose could fit you bottom or top
I recall days when to her place I’d hop.

But Rose is gone and so is her store
Rose is not here, not anymore
There’s nothing left but malls, you see
So I guess I’ll stay under-garment free.

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A Bad Hair Day

A bad hair day
You’ve heard of this
A bad hair day
Causes me to hiss.
A bad hair day
Is bad enough
When it occurs.
It makes all else rough.
A bad hair day
Screws up the rest
Whatever you do
is a sorry test
***A bad hair day***
Oh woe is me
Maybe bald is better
What say ye?

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“BUY NOW — PAY LATER”

One of the best cons I’ve ever heard
Is legit all the way
“Send no money now”
That’s what they all say

Sure, you get these
Every day of the week
Those wonderful offers
I can barely speak.

OH! So lofty
These books they send
Till your house is all filled
And mega dollars you spend.

Spare me the culture
Save me the time
“BUY NOW — PAY LATER”
Just another darn crime.

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Quick Draw is Dead!

The sightless eyes are dark
There at the edge of the room
QUICK DRAW IS DEAD
You can feel the gloom.

They look like sentinels
Thos dark TV screens
How could the legislators
Be so darn mean.

So now, how we gonna pay
For this, this and that?
‘Cause Quck Draw done did it
OOOOH – Legislators, you dirty rats.

 

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I don’t know where I am going
Long since forgotten where I’ve been
So obviously I must win the race
You can bet it’s a sure-fire thing.

Because whenever I get there
I’ll have beaten everyone again
’cause no one knew where I was going
And no one knew where I’ve been.