A visit from Amy

 

A visit from her quietly

 shifts the poles and floods

the meadows of my mind.

You have someone like that, too.

Don't you?

If not, you've been dining on rind. 

Joseph and Hyrum.

 

Joseph and Hyrum knew mobs very well;

knew that their power came only from Hell.

No good ever came from a mob on the prowl;

they're vandals and demons and ev'rything foul.

Avoid the thick crowd if you value your soul;

membership in one leads only to Sheol.

Put on thy beautiful garments.

 

Beautiful garments one day we shall wear

when in God's mercy we all fully share.

Yet such is the self-will of men I suppose

that some will still think their old rags are fine clothes.

Save me from pride and the folly of sloth,

that keeps me immured in such obstinate cloth!

The Porch Thief.

 

Sneaking in the dead of day,

stealing all my stuff away.

Trusting to black luck and truck

with a driver prone to stray.

Footage of your depredations

shall be broadcast to all nations --

as with Cain your name is muck. 

The poet's life is quiet;

aloof yet quite serene.

His manner of greeting

is hearty, but fleeting.

And won't include treating --

for he hasn't got a bean.

Photo Essay: This Week's Postcards to President Elect Joe Biden.

 

Cancel my subscription.

 

"Why do you wish to cancel?"

the Indian gentleman queried,

but I was far too wearied

to tell a man who didn't care,

so far away in folding chair,

so said: "To build a chancel."

Our best days are ahead of us, not behind us.

 

Look ahead, and hope to gain

all the Lord for us doth deign.

Bitter as today may be,

tomorrow's possibility

holds miracles like clouds hold rain.

The welfare of my soul

 

Though I clothe myself in satin

and feed richly on risole,

what's the use of fancy living

that neglects my needy soul?

Feasting on the scriptures whole

will my spirit instead fatten!

A winter bird

 

A winter bird with stiffened wings

that found its flight too full of stings.

Pinioned in some bushes handy,

looking like a Spanish grandee.

With Spring, perhaps, surprising thaws

will help both he and I feel dandy.

Remember when we were in Calipers?

 

Remember when we were in Calipers,

and you wore a Fleischmann's Yeast ring?

Your Aqua Net hair made so many stare,

while Folgers around us did sing!

And then there was Wahpeton Station,

where we drank our Gallo in bliss;

the Glidden sprang up like some frisky pup --

we ran, but the Beech-Nut did miss.

The Felbish was never so Hamline,

the Bicycle Cards never blew

all over the decks like handfuls of Chex

when we drove down Route 42.

The Hostess and Clorox have faded.

Crayola and Culligan too.

But Dr. Scholl's patch can never detach

that London Fog that we once knew!