Salty and Sweet

Sometimes I crave something salty

And other times yearn for a sweet.

It’s not that my circuits are faulty,

The cycle needs both to complete.

 

So after a bowl full of cherries,

Some pretzels come into the mix.

Inside of me, both hop on ferries,

Awaiting the next of my picks.

 

Pistachio nuts or some gummies?

Fresh popcorn? A licorice bite?

All species of salt or sweet yummies

May travel within by tonight.

 

I’m sure that my sugar-sweet cravings

Are not all that strange or unique,

Just one of those stuck-home behavings

That help us survive week to week.

Hither and Yon

The life I was living has gone

Off to hither and thither and yon,

Though I’m trying my best to make do

With whatever it takes to get through.

 

So I read and I read and I read,

Which provides some escape that I need

And I FaceTime or chat with my friends,

Which I’ll do ‘til this craziness ends.

 

And I walk, play some games, watch TV -

Keeping busy to me is the key –

But I hope that as time marches on,

Life comes back here from hither and yon.

Young and Old

 When you’re young, there’s a gap for a missing tooth

But when old, there’s no map for your missing youth.

Like a Magnet

The sunshine, like a magnet,

Tries to draw me back outside

Though after my pre-sunrise walk,

My preference is to hide.

 

Within these walls I’ve made my place

And, in relaxing wear,

I’ve found enough to do so I

Don’t need to go out there.

 

Yet when the sunlight dapples

All the buildings ‘cross the street,

That old familiar tug begins

And brings me to my feet.

 

I find some socks and bundle up,

My mask from eyes to chin,

And head outdoors to feel the sun

On just an inch of skin.

Food Delivery

Our fridge is full to bursting –

The food arrived today.

It’s always nice to see so much

Just waiting, on display.

 

The staples we rely on

Plus, of course, a little splurge –

Today it was a key lime pie

For which I had the urge.

 

The fruit and veggie bins are stuffed;

The shelves are crammed as well.

We’ve not forgotten anything,

As far as I can tell.

 

So now we can begin the job,

Which I cannot resist,

Of digging in, until it’s time

For our next shopping list.

The In-Between Stuff

In life before, we did each chore

Before we headed out the door

Or in-between what was routine,

We’d clean or check our iPhone screen.

 

The major stuff, which was enough

To sometimes make us huff and puff,

Took up our days, with shops, cafés,

Museums, plays and hotel stays.

 

But by default, we’ve had to halt

What we exalt and somersault

Into a space where we’ve replaced

What we embraced. Ah, what a waste!

Loose Tooth

My grandson has his first loose tooth

And he is so excited

As I am, if you want the truth,

For we are both united

 

In knowing it’s a real big deal;

It means he is maturing.

Such milestones do have great appeal

And so, are reassuring.

 

Of course, he wants the fairy’s cash

And, like friends, recognition.

For me, though, there’s a little flash

Of nana intuition.

 

He’s growing up so fast and soon,

His teeth one way to show it,

He’ll soar in life up to the moon

And in my heart, I’ll know it.

Disillusioned

While living a life in seclusion

Some folks may react in confusion

When speaking with those,

Far more brave, I suppose,

Who have plans for a Covid conclusion.

 

The optimists feel the inclusion

Of travel plans, like a transfusion,

Will fill them with hope

And will help them to cope

But it’s possible that’s a delusion.

 

We pessimists think the collusion

Of those who fight Fauci’s “intrusion”

Will keep us in chains

Until all the remains

Of what’s “normal” is just an illusion.

Cracking Windows

We always keep the windows cracked

To get a little air.

Of course, we may then be attacked

By winter’s frigid fare.

 

But that’s okay – some extra clothes

Provide a counter point

So we will never, I suppose,

Be very out of joint.

 

Apartments get a lot of heat

Which often seems extreme,

Though window-cracking helps us beat

The dominance of steam.

In My Mind

 I sometimes travel in my mind

To visit places left behind

When taking trips was something I

Did often in the years gone by.

I’ll flash upon a certain street

Or small cafe where we would eat

Or a museum or hotel

Or ferry, park or carousel.

A wisp of mem’ry’s all I need

To help my brain to quickly lead

Me back to destinations that

Once warmed me with a welcome mat.

Celebrating America

In a regular year, there’d be galas and balls

And we’d watch little snips on the news,

But since things are on hold and all protocol falls,

One big party was set for our views.

 

On a virtual stage, with Tom Hanks the M.C.,

It was concert and feel-good event;

Meant to unify all, it was, we’d all agree,

A warm welcome to our president.

 

Jon Bon Jovi, John Legend, Foo Fighters and Bruce,

Tim McGraw, Katy Perry and more

Sang with passion and joy, quite enough to produce

All the hope we need Joe to restore.

 

Former presidents banded together and spoke.

There were excerpts from speeches and poems

And a focus on all of those everyday folk

Who allowed us to stay in our homes.

 

At the end there were fireworks lighting the sky

While the mask-wearing Bidens looked on,

So symbolic and moving no one could deny

Such relief the old tenants were gone.

Inauguration Day

It all went off without a hitch

To everyone’s relief,

With unity throughout the land

The overall motif.

 

The swearings-in both made me cry,

The tears a sweet release,

The opposite of those brought on

By rioters and police.

 

The musical performances

Did more than just uplift,

So powerful, each one was like

A sorely-needed gift.

 

And how about the poet?

Poised and passionate, a thrill

To hear someone so eloquent

And young, with so much skill.

 

At last, the speech we’d waited for –

He spoke of how his soul

Would help respect democracy

And make our nation whole.

 

The past four years have brought us down –

So many couldn’t cope,

But now today, I think we can

Allow ourselves to hope.

Amtrak

Amtrak was his ride of choice

For oh, so many years

But Biden can’t ride Amtrak now

Because of growing fears.

 

I read he’d planned to take the train

Before his swearing-in.

That plan was scratched, though, just in case

Disruptions might begin.

 

For who knows what the whackos plan

To fire up their cause?

Apparently they’re not deterred

By conscience, fear or laws.

 

So somehow Biden will arrive

In total secrecy

While, fingers crossed, we watch

The ceremony in D.C.

MLK Day

On MLK Day, let’s reflect

On protests made in peace,

For choosing who we would elect

Should not require police.

 

Remember marching through the streets?

Our weapons were our chants.

We had no Facebook, had no tweets

And yet we took a stance.

 

When Martin Luther King was here,

We listened as a crowd

Within a civil atmosphere;

No violence allowed.

 

If King were somehow back today

To see what is at stake –

The future of the USA –

I think his heart would break.

I Got My Shot

I got my shot and now I’m not

Afraid of waiting for a slot

Like all of those who lost their spot

Since many sites have diddly-squat.

 

The current scene for the vaccine

Needs government to intervene

For hordes of people who convene

Join lines both long and serpentine.

 

It isn’t great that every state

Has rules that simply don’t equate

So many wait until the date

Their gov's have shots to allocate.

 

It seems a crime that those who climb

To the tops of lists which make them prime

For vaccinations might, big-time,

Decline, their reasons lacking rhyme.

Attention Smokers

Attention smokers – come on down!

We’ve got vaccines for you!

Just push those older folk aside

And front-line workers, too.

 

Like cancer patients, you deserve

To jump the Pfizer lines;

Ignore those teachers waiting,

With their “We should come first” whines.

 

So what if you brought on yourselves

The damage to your lungs?

You need the shots because of it –

Ignore those wagging tongues.

 

Please thank New Jersey’s leader

For he’s moved you up the list

Despite so many left behind

Who are, quite rightly, pissed.

Appointment

 I have an appointment 

To get the vaccine.

I chose it from several 

Up there on the screen.

But now there’s a scramble

And many are stuck

With no chance to get one;

They’re plain out of luck.

I’ve gotten 3 texts

And a call to confirm.

It’s not reassuring;

It’s making me squirm.

Suppose they run out

Or my paperwork’s wrong?

If I name my worries, 

The list will be long.

Tomorrow will get here;

I’m stressed to the max.

If I get the shot, though,

I’ll start to relax.

Confrontation at Trader Joe's

A video was on the news

In front of Trader Joe’s

Where anti-maskers want to shop

And this is how it goes:

 

The manager and other staff

Stay calm but do not budge,

Repeating that for all beliefs

They aren’t there to judge.

 

However, as a private store

They get to make the rules

With wearing masks required,

Which each anti- ridicules.

 

The store is well within its rights

But still the group won’t leave,

Convinced the law is on their side;

The truth they can’t perceive.

 

At Trader Joe’s, employees

Have been noted for displays

Of friendliness and patience;

Someone give these guys a raise!

Mr. Printer

My son prints out his kids’ assignments

Since there’s lots on Zoom

And Hadley’s job is getting them

From the computer room.

 

But in addition, she now gets,

And showed us on the phone,

Some notes from “Mr. Printer”

As the signer’s name is known.

 

In kindergarten, Hadley’s just

Beginning now to read

So little notes addressed to her

Are wonderful, indeed.

 

She needs a little help with words

But promptly writes him back,

Not knowing that of Daddy’s voice

The writing sure does smack.

 

It’s very sweet and soon enough,

She’ll figure it all out.

For now, though, both are having fun,

Of that there is no doubt.

Advantageous

It is sometimes advantageous

To be getting on in years,

For it qualifies you to be

Vaccinated, it appears.

 

The flip side, though, is obvious –

The experts all have said

That the older folk with Covid

Will more often end up dead.

 

The conclusion, then – in some respects

It’s better to be young.

Though you can’t get the vaccine,

The fearful you won’t be among.

Shipping Fees

My Shutterfly order was 48 bucks

But shipping was just under 30.

To charge such a fee for a space on the trucks

Is ridiculous and downright dirty.

 

I waited on hold for a live support chat

And was told there was naught they’d be doing

Except for a 5 dollar gift card, if that

Would suffice, an idea worth pooh-poohing.

 

Since they usually offer some deals I will wait

For I’m not in that much of a hurry

But if lots of their customers choose the same fate

Maybe corporate should start to worry.

Waiting for the Vaccine

I’m waiting to get the vaccine

But the info I’ve managed to glean

Tells me I am too young

To be counted among

Those who’ll pass the requirement screen.

 

Of course health care employees go first

With the rest of the shots then dispersed

To those residents of

Nursing homes, hand in glove

With wherever the germs are immersed.

 

Distribution’s a problem because

People fear that the shot has its flaws

So some outright refuse

Causing others to lose

Opportunities stopped by the laws.

 

In the meantime, the virus will spread

With more joining the list of the dead.

If we roll up our sleeves

There will be some reprieves

But we’re waiting for full steam ahead. 

Twitter-Free

The word that Trump is Twitter-free

Is wonderful for you and me

For now we’ll never have to hear

The lies that daily would appear.

 

The put-downs, insults, lowlife rants

Will not, from now on, have a chance

To hurt or damage someone’s name

Or set his followers aflame.

 

They say that karma is a bitch

So this is news that’s really rich

To know the muzzle’s permanent –

Those missing tweets we won’t lament.

When Life Gives You Lemons

 A neighbor got a lovely gift

Of lemons, but too much

For her to use, so, neighborly,

She chose to get in touch.

She emailed with an offer 

That her bounty she would share

Since even after using some,

She still had lots to spare.

I told her I would take a few 

And thanked her, just to find

She’d left an overflowing bag,

By my front door, behind.

With way too many, I did try

To send a big bunch back

But she declined, quite sure I’d use

Each lemon in the sack.

A recipe for lemon cookies,

Using juice and zest,

Appealed to me; I made a batch

But truth be told, at best

They were so mediocre

They were barely fit to eat,

Not lemony enough and yet

Too far from being sweet.

You might suspect this failure 

Left me saddened and dismayed

But I’ll follow that old saying

And just make some lemonade!

Chaos at the Capitol

We watched in horror, fury, shock

As everything we knew

Was ravaged right before our eyes

And all was left askew.

 

Sedition! Insurrection! Coup!

Those words were tossed about

As Trump-incited chaos

Left democracy in doubt.

 

To see the U.S. Capitol

Invaded, stormed, defiled,

With law enforcement lacking,

Finally got some people riled.

 

But what did Trump supporters think

Would happen? After all,

He’d stood before his crowds and, oh,

They’d heard his clarion call.

 

Though Congress finished up the count,

The rule of law reclaimed,

I wonder if, at last, some members

Finally felt ashamed.

Georgia on my Mind

A special election – the red and the blue

But people in Georgia knew just what to do.

They got out and voted, each making a choice

As half of America gets to rejoice.

 

Our country’s been split; it’s an even divide.

Who knows if the hatred will ever subside?

We have to be patient and hope against hope

That those newly elected will help us to cope.

 

When Georgia has counted its votes, I’ll relax

Just a bit, for I’m sure there’ll be tweeting attacks

But at least at the top there will be a good chance

That some progress will hopefully start to advance.

Make-Up

I put a little make-up on

To see my friends on Zoom

‘Cause magnified, my wrinkles,

Baggy eyes and neck do loom.

 

Though months have passed since I have felt

The need to line my eyes,

Some recent photos woke me up

To not a nice surprise.

 

I think mascara helps a bit,

As does a little blush.

Believe me – “You look fabulous!”

No one’s about to gush.

 

My husband took one look, though

And exclaimed, “What did you do?”

But when Zoom began, I smiled to see

My friends with make-up, too!

Balancing Out

The streets were slightly puddled

In the early morning air.

My thoughts were dark and muddled

‘Neath the street lights’ golden glare.

 

I thought of all the hours

Stretched before me yet to fill

Then remembered new white flowers

Sprouting on my windowsill.

 

Though the day ahead was waiting

With some boredom or some stress,

There’d be coffee percolating

And some breakfast nonetheless.

 

Every negative presented

Had a plus to balance out

So my gloomy mood relented;

That’s what hope is all about.

The Fridge

If you’d compare my fridge and yours

You’d marvel at the food each stores

For everybody’s taste’s unique,

So open up – let’s have a peek.

 

I’ve orange juice and lots of cheese

And coffee (Starbuck’s, if you please).

Butter, berries, veggies, beer,

Salad stuff and never fear…

 

My favorite cookies, hummus, fruit

And eggs and condiments, to boot.

There might be olives, whitefish spread

And in the freezer, bags of bread

 

(Including bagels) and, for sure,

More ice cream than you’d know what for.

There’s frozen chicken, a knish

And meatballs, eggplant, but no fish.

 

I’m sure there’s more, but look around –

Organic products won’t be found.

Still, we should all relate a smidge

‘Cause we all like what’s in our fridge!

Beanbag Chair

 I’m sitting on a beanbag chair;

It’s perfect for my derrière.

My back is leaning on the bed,

Supporting both my neck and head.

My first apartment had one, too.

My roommate bought it, for we knew

That friends would always pop on by

And need a place to sit or lie.

My current seat’s in Henry’s room;

He’s 7 and I would assume

He won’t outgrow it for a while, 

No matter if it’s out of style.

To me, it is a favorite perch

To read or write when I’m in search

Of someplace I can solo sit -

This beanbag chair’s the perfect fit.

Nothing to Say

I talk on the phone with a friend

And although we might try to pretend,

There’s not much we can say

For there’s nothing each day

That’s of interest for us to extend.

 

Yes, we read and we watch some TV,

Keeping busy, for that is the key

With our lives so confined

To not wake up and find

That our spirits have chosen to flee.

 

Now the new year’s begun, but so what?

Though we’ll hopefully get the new shot

Life won’t suddenly change

And what strikes me most strange

Is to “normal” I’m not hot to trot.