SENIOR DELUSION

                                                There’s no fool like an old fool

I heard you say to me,

But I’d be a fool if I didn’t try

Even if I’m seventy-three.

She’s young and cute and very sharp,

But you know she laughed at my joke,

Given a chance if I get her number

I’ll invite her out for fries and a coke.

You say I’m much too overweight

And haven’t run a mile in years,

But you don’t know what I have in mind

It doesn’t involve climbing stairs.

First she’ll need some imagination

And raise her expectations a bit,

Cause when I kiss her in the dark

She’ll think she’s kissing Brad Pitt.

DEATH TAKES A NAP

Death trusted me;

I don’t know why.

Maybe he liked my poetry.

He stands 6 foot 6, 165 pounds        

Like a wire figure, but after

He shook my hand I knew,

Not wire, but steel cable.

Over time we talked.

“I don’t feel well.”

Could death be sick?

“What do you mean?”

“I have no energy – no life force.”

He must be kidding?

“What’s wrong?”

“I feel like sleeping for a century.”

“So why don’t you?”

“Are you kidding?

I have responsibilities.”

“How can I help?”

“I’ll take a nap.  Wake me

When things get bad.”

“Sure!”

He closed his eyes.

I had no intention of waking him;

I could save millions…

My scheme died

When I saw babies

Too weak to cry;

I woke him.

He rubbed his face,

Stood wobbly and then straight,

Looked me in the eye.

“Did you miss me?”

FOR DENIA ON TURNING THIRTY-NINE

YOU KID, YOU

Don’t tell me you are 39,

Only yesterday you were six,

Skinny and smiling

As you ran

Fast as you could

At the field day races

And I screaming

Loud as I could,

“Run Denia, Run!”

You probably didn’t hear me,

But the other parents

Standing next to me stared

With eyes lobster-wide.

They knew who

I was rooting for.

It’s you, kid.  It’s you.


SEA GLASS PEOPLE - 
Portraits in Words and Watercolors
(available at Amazon.com) 

WILL YOU SING TO ME

Will you sing to me

As I lay in my bed dying?

Ease my empty days?

Hold my frail hand?

Will you understand

If I’m scared and don’t

Ask how you are?

I may even turn away,

Ashamed that you are there

For me, not me for you.

Will you tell me lies:

You are fine,

Have everything you need,

The kids are all perfect,

They’re so busy now, but

Will visit soon.

Will you see

The wet corner of my eye?

Know how tired I feel?

Be aware I don’t mind leaving,

Except it hurts -

I won’t see you again.

Will you sing to me, my dear,

As I lay in my bed dying?

All I want to hear is

Your sweet voice.