The Golden Globes

I watched the Golden Globes
And learned who everybody wore.
I wonder who that information
Might be stated for.

It’s not like most of us will run
To find a matching dress.
If it’s couture, it costs much more
That most folks earn, I guess.

Yet still, it’s fun to criticize
Or ogle and admire
And try to picture being dressed
In similar attire:

The gown, the make-up, jewels and hair;
The shoes and corsets – ouch!
I’m grateful that I watched it from
The comfort of my couch.

Brand Loyalty

The toothpaste that I use is Crest.
I cannot tell if Crest is best;
But it’s the brand I’ve always used.
A change would get my teeth confused.

For laundry, what I buy is All;
A prior brand I can’t recall.
My clothes get clean; I like the smell.
A switch would not serve quite as well.

My ketchup’s Heinz, my dressing’s Ken’s.
Purdue’s the brand I like for hens.
My soap is Yardley; Listerine
Is what insures my breath is clean.

What advertisers understand
Is how much power they command;
But customers they love to see
Are loyal sticklers, just like me!

Recommendations

I hesitate to recommend
A show or restaurant to a friend.
What I may like, my pal may not;
I’m sure that happens quite a lot.

For taste is most particular
And some are so nitpickular.
The better answer, if they ask,
Is that you’re not up for the task.

But sometimes, though, you slip and tell
And luckily, it works out well.
You’re happy that you chose to share,
But those exceptions can be rare.

‘Cause if the opposite takes place,
You’re left with egg upon your face.
It’s better not to recommend,
Despite the good that you intend.

Down for the Count

A boxer in the ring may think
He’s getting all the breaks;
Then bam! he’s down, for just like that,
One punch is all it takes.

I know exactly how he feels
For suddenly, today,
Whatever energy I had
Quite quickly drained away.

It happened as I headed home
From taking in a movie.
The walk was twenty-seven blocks,
But I was feeling groovy.

The last few streets seemed very long
And man, I sure was sweating.
I hoped that it was not the flu
That somehow I was getting.

I made it home and hit the couch
And fell into a sleep;
My dinner plans for later on
I knew I couldn’t keep.

Whatever hit me, from left field,
Was surely tantamount
To reeling from a punch that sent me
Flat out for the count.

Joining

People join together to be part of something bigger;
Working next to others can infuse our veins with vigor.
Keeping to yourself is fine, but then you are deprived
Of camaraderie, which gets our eagerness revived.

A book club or a quilting class, the army or marines,
The P.T.A. or Rotary or pool league that convenes,
A dating site or any place our numbers make us strong;
It’s fun to flock with others, well-aware we do belong.

We sign our names or pay our dues or even make a pledge
That we will follow all the rules; our bets we will not hedge.
And then we proudly claim to be a member of the tribe,
Adherent of the practices to which they do subscribe.

Though lots of folks fly solo, many more link with a group,
Becoming an ingredient in some delicious soup;
For adding to the broth, we each bestow our special spice
And often, that’s a recipe for something mighty nice.

Loudmouth on the Train

The train was packed; I had a seat.
I read my magazine.
The car was fairly quiet,
Though you’d never say serene.

Still, I was in the middle of
A story quite engrossing,
When someone with the biggest mouth
Began with his verbosing.

He made up songs with lyrics lame
And he was so annoying
That every sentence that I read
Turned bothersome and cloying.

I couldn’t tune him out and then
Of course, he asked for money,
Apologizing to the folks
Who didn’t find him funny.

I wish someone had shut him up
But on and on he yapped.
He had the perfect audience –
For all of us were trapped.

Having a View

Some people are lucky,
A relative few,
‘Cause the place they reside
Is bedecked with a view.

Be it ocean or river
Or mountains or trees,
They have something to gawk at
Whenever they please.

They pay for the privilege.
Such views don’t come cheap;
But there’s beauty that waits for
Their vision to sweep.

My windows look out on
Tall buildings and sky.
Magnificent vistas
Are in short supply.

Despite what I’m lacking,
I like where I dwell.
It’s cozy and comfy
And fits me quite well.

Would I turn down a view?
I’d be nuts to refuse,
But reality reigns –
So this view’s what I choose.