February's End

It isn’t a leap year

So this is the end;

The month now has drawn to a close.

The winter has started

Its winding-down time

Depending on how the wind blows.

 

Tomorrow the calendar

Gets a new page

Since this one has used up its dates.

Now Lincoln and Washington

Get to relax;

The month filled with shamrocks awaits.

Eating

Sometimes we eat when we’re hungry

Or else when we’re just in the mood,

But everyone’s habits are different

In how we relate to our food.

 

There are 3 meals-a-day folk as well as

The ones who skip breakfast or lunch

And grazers who nibble for most of the day

Or snackers who in-between munch.

 

There are people with junk food addictions

And those who shun pork, beef or fish,

While the gluten or carb-free among us

Pay attention to what’s in each dish.

 

As for sweets, that’s a whole other story –

When you think about ice cream or pie

Or the various candies and chocolates

Without which some could never get by.

 

Just consider your own way of eating

With the foods you enjoy or you sneak

And you’ll realize, if you broach the subject,

That our diets are all most unique!

Better Than a Pill

I’m out on a bench in the sun;

It’s cold, so my time’s almost done

But to be here’s important to me –

I’m getting my Vitamin D!

A Sheet of Ice

The streets and cars are covered

In a solid sheet of ice.

I will not take a step outside;

No need for thinking twice.

Considering my aging bones,

I’ll take my own advice

And wait until things melt a bit

Or else I’ll pay the price.

Mindset

I grew up middle class, so I

Was far from being poor

And maybe that is why I never

Yearned for having more.

 

That mindset is the reason

I can blame or I can thank

For how I spend, no matter

How much I have in the bank.

 

An upscale store or restaurant

Just makes me feel uptight.

I’d rather spend much less

On every item, every bite.

 

Our habits may be set for life

Though circumstances change,

Which some may understand

And many others might find strange.

Perps on Planes

Passengers on planes who balk

At following the rules

Should not be seen as harmless,

Merely acting out like fools.

 

For disobeying mandates,

Flying trapped up in the air,

Is a risky proposition,

Which to seatmates is unfair.

 

A threat to flight attendants,

Fellow passengers or crew

Should make flying, for the perpetrators,

Totally taboo.

 

Arresting those offenders

Who cause on-board stress and strife

Isn’t punishment enough – they should

Be cuffed, then banned for life.

Where I Live

My granddaughter asked

Why I live where I do,

With no yard or upstairs;

She did not have a clue.

 

And the wait to go up

To the 9^th floor, she asked,

Why do I want to do it,

Especially masked?

 

At 6 years of age,

A suburban-raised kid,

She wanted to know

Why I lived like I did.

 

I tried to explain

How the city, to me,

Is the place I’ve decided

That I want to be.

 

Then we went for a walk

So that I got to show

Her the river, my favorite

Place that I go.

 

When she looked at the view,

I think she understood

Why I live where I live,

As I’d hoped that she would.

A Little Pluck

There’s nothing like a little pluck

To somehow get things going

For you can’t simply count on luck

To grow the seeds you’re sowing.

 

A gentle push, a subtle poke

Can change the day’s direction

And hopes you thought went up in smoke

Can have a resurrection.

 

Of course, there is no guarantee –

Some efforts may be thwarted –

But if your wishes come to be,

Your pluck will be rewarded.

We Can't Expect

We can’t expect that things will be

Like they were long ago,

When what we thought would happen

Was the way we’d come to know.

 

For life has changed and norms today

Are not what they once were,

So sometimes disappointments,

Based on old times, will occur.

 

We have to suck it up or else

Be faced with feeling hurt,

Comparing now with days to which

We never can revert.

An Alert

On my phone I just got an alert

To be careful so I don’t get hurt.

They’re expecting a squall

So if snow starts to fall

Some disaster I might just avert.

 

Yet I haven’t seen more than a flake.

Maybe somebody made a mistake

But I’m home just in case

With supplies all in place

Though to me, nothing much is at stake.

 

Since I really have no place to go,

I’m not bothered too much by the snow.

From my window I’ll see

What the weather will be

And that’s all that I’m needing to know.

Emptiness Inside

Standing all alone, we watched

The winner of the gold,*

Who’d skated quite amazingly,

Her elegance extolled.

 

Her teammates sobbed and ranted

And the cameras caught it all

While the winner clutched a teddy bear

And listened to them bawl.

 

What should have been her moment

By her teammates was denied

And when asked her feelings, she described

“An emptiness inside.”

 

Disappointment in athletics

Is quite common to report,

But both doping and sore losing

Cast a shadow on the sport.

 

*In the women’s Olympic figure skating event

Jeans or Leggings

Out for a walk to get some air

Some folks dress up but most don’t care.

The jeans or leggings people wear

Are hardly worth a mention.

 

Fancy clothes out here are rare,

Deserve a glance but not a stare

For even those who do prepare

Don’t get that much attention.

 

I don’t think that I’m alone

In stating lately I am prone

To dress in ways I’d not condone

When following convention.

Impressionistic

While out walking, my surroundings

Seemed a bit impressionistic

And I wondered why I thought so

Since I’m really not artistic.

 

But the scenery and people

Looked like paintings by Monet

And I knew I never noticed

Things appearing quite that way.

 

All at once I had the reason

And there was no hocus-pocus.

I forgot to wear my glasses

And the world was out of focus!

Vital Signs

To E.M.T.’s a vital sign

Is something they can measure –

Your pressure, pulse rate, temperature –

Not data we can treasure.

 

But I would add one to the list

That I believe’s worthwhile;

To me, the most important sign

Has got to be the smile.

 

For when we’re feeling happy –

With no sickness, grief or stress,

Our face reflects that knowledge

With a grin we can’t suppress.

 

It isn’t fair that joy is something

Life cannot entitle

Yet I would say it manifests

In signs that sure seem vital.

A Valentine Treat

Bundled for the weather

Was an old man on the street.

He pushed along a shopping cart,

His purchases complete.

 

I’ve no idea what things he bought

Except for, one supposes,

A treat meant for his Valentine –

A dozen bright red roses.

 

For love and its expressions,

Sometimes difficult to gauge,

On this date make folks affectionate,

Regardless of their age. 

UL 6 - 2955

If you’re a certain age, I’ll bet

That stuck inside your brain

The numbers of your telephone

From youth must still remain.

 

For way back when you memorized

That sequence, it did stick,

Like Velcro, to your brain cells;

You can summon it real quick.

 

There once was lots of room in there

For things we learned by heart –

Addresses, passwords, ID codes

And credit cards, to start.

 

But over time, the Velcro wears

And things will not adhere

Yet strangely, numbers from the past

Still stand out, loud and clear.

 

For all who may have dialed

UL 6 – 2955,

That number’s out of service

But in me it did survive.

Bumped His Head

An old man walking up the steps

Fell down and hit his head.

We ran to help him, fearing he

Was hurt or maybe dead.

 

This happened leading to the park,

The ground as hard as stone,

Material to crack your skull

Or maybe break a bone.

 

The man sat up quite slowly;

There was blood upon his hair.

We said we’d call an ambulance;

He’d suffered quite a scare.

 

But he refused; we helped him up,

Repeating we could call,

For he should see a doctor

After such a nasty fall.

 

He shook his head; I’m 86

And I will be okay.

We watched him as he climbed the stairs

And slowly walked away.

 

He might have a concussion

And perhaps made a mistake

But the ultimate decision

Wasn’t one for us to make.

Roomba Escape

A Roomba* in England went AWOL;

It disappeared from a hotel.

They searched high and low

All the spots it might go

With no help from the whole clientele.

The word got around as expected 

As well-wishers cheered its escape

But employees allege

It was found ‘neath a hedge,

None the worse for its trip, not a scrape.

Now it’s back with its friends in a closet,

Consigned to the rooms on the floor;

Yet it will not forget

What it did, but I’ll bet

It’s the vacuum that Nature’d abhor.

*a robot vacuum 

Where in the World (Did My Free Covid Tests Go?)

(sung to the tune of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"

Well, when Biden said that we could get some Covid tests delivered

We ran right to our computer and we filled out all the forms.

Got a confirmation number so my heart strings really quivered…

Tell me – where in the world did my free Covid tests go?

 

Days went past and I heard rumors there were tracking numbers given

So I checked my email daily but I didn’t have much luck

And I wondered where those packages with Covid tests were driven…

Tell me – where in the world did my free Covid tests go?

 

There were some not believin’ that we’d be receivin’

Those tests that the government told us were free!

 

I began to ask around to each acquaintance or connection

But nobody that I know got any test kits in the mail.

Everybody started feeling both annoyance and dejection…

Tell me – where in the world did my free Covid tests go?

 

There were many not trustin’ the P.O. was bustin’

Its backside to get out those tests – even me!

 

Maybe if and when the test kits got on trucks and started rollin’

Somehow word got out and there were some with devious intent.

It would not be very hard for those test kits to be stolen…

Tell me – where in the world did my free Covid tests go?

 

Where in the world did my free Covid tests go? (Repeat)

How Times Have Changed

A professor of mine told a story

Of a litterbug caught in the act

So the witness retrieved

What the litterbug heaved

With the thought that with guilt he’d be wracked.

 

He caught up with the guy and returned it

And the man was embarrassed indeed.

This took place long ago

And the times, as you know,

Have few niceties people do heed.

 

So today, I observed someone drinking.

Once his bottle of hootch emptied out,

It got tossed through a fence

Where I’m sure it will hence

Be a permanent fixture, no doubt.

 

Though a garbage pail stood on the corner

Any effort was not worth a damn.

But did I interfere?

No, the years have made clear

Caution makes me the coward I am.

Wash Before Wearing

If you’re feeling daring

Just ignore the tag’s advice

And don’t wash it before wearing;

Let your common sense suffice.

 

For, when new, it looks amazing –

Nice and crisp right from the store.

The condition that you’re praising,

Once it’s washed, will be no more.

 

Yes, I know that you can press it

To get rid of every crease,

But, in trying to finesse it,

You might never be at peace.

 

So just go ahead and chance it;

Snip the tags and then get dressed.

In the mirror, take a glance; it

Will leave everyone impressed.

Watching Olympic Figure Skating

The skaters glide across the ice,

Perform a triple axel, twice!

But sometimes fall and pay the price;

I don’t know how they do it.

 

For if a slip is somehow made,

Perhaps by tripping on a blade,

A beaming face is still displayed

As if they never knew it.

 

Until the point the music ends

When each performer comprehends

He’ll earn no medal dividends

Because he somehow blew it.

Beelines from Felines

My brother has a mountain lion

Prowling near his street,

A cat that on a morning walk

You wouldn’t want to meet.

 

He lives up in the mountains, though,

So people understand

That animals like that will roam

All over on that land.

 

My son received a police alert

A bobcat has been seen

In his suburban neighborhood

Where bobcats don’t convene.

 

The warning said to check that your

Garage door’s not ajar

Or you may find a huge surprise

When climbing in your car.

 

It’s strange my son and brother

In such different habitats

Have been linked by sudden sightings

Of these most unwelcome cats.

When Brownies are Baking

You needn’t be hungry

Or have a sweet tooth.

You might be a senior

Or still in your youth…

No matter your habits

Or lifestyle or bent,

You cannot resist 

That incredible scent.

When brownies are baking 

That upcoming taste

Makes it hard to refute

It will all go to waist.

Zoom to the Rescue

The morning was rainy 

And warm but they said

That temps would be dropping

To freezing instead.

Thus, out in the suburbs

An email was sent 

That school would be closed;

Safety was their intent.

So, Zoom to the rescue!

The kids are prepared.

From travel on icy roads

All would be spared.

Back when I was teaching

When there was no tech,

We drove and hoped not to

End up in a wreck.

The Doorman

I pass a doorman daily

When I’m finishing my walk.

He calls out, “How you doing, ma’am?”

But we don’t really talk.

 

Of course, I say good morning

And perhaps a word or two

Is exchanged about the weather;

More than that, we don’t pursue.

 

In December, he went missing,

A replacement at the door.

Was he sick or maybe fired?

Those sweet greetings were no more.

 

Then a week or two ago, voila!

He waited with a smile

And the friendliest hello I’ve heard

In much too long a while.

 

Where’ve you been? I had to ask him

With no explanation owed me

But he grabbed his phone and pictures

Of his newborn daughter showed me.

 

I was touched and wished him all the best

And he was all a’glow

As we shared a special moment

Though our names we do not know.

Twos

Today, on 2/2/22

The snow is melting fast.

The river’s rushing southward

As some police boats hurry past.

 

My bench is dry; I’m sitting

In a little patch of sun,

A respite I’ll enjoy until

The cold’s once more begun.

 

A date with all those 2’s occurs

Just once, but some will see

A matching one with 3’s, but oh,

How ancient I will be!

My Coffee Cup

My husband got a coffee cup

Two decades plus ago,

A birthday gift from neighbors

That we didn’t really know.

 

It had a saying which implied

That getting older’s good.

My husband wouldn’t use it

And I knew he never would.

 

So it became the one I used

Though it was not my style.

I figured I’d replace it

With a new one in a while.

 

But years went by and every day

I used that coffee cup

Until this morning when, at last,

Its time on earth was up.

 

For somehow as I stretched my arm

To grab it from its hook,

I knocked it down and noticed

Smithereens with just one look.

 

I swept the shards and smiled,

Wond’ring why it took so long

To get rid of something in my life

Which didn’t quite belong.