OYSTER BARS

Watercolor by Pat Morgan

Clams on the half shell             

Served raw,

Eviscerated crabs

Minus a claw.

Lobsters on special

With kelp slaw,

Salty drinks, but no

Fruit or straw.

Gulls feasting

Without pity,

I'll take dining

In the big city.

CONCEPTION

                                                All my life

I have celebrated

July, my birth month.

Now, I realize,

I should have reveled

In October with its potbellied

Pumpkins and chilly nights.

I imagine one evening,

My mother climbed the stairs

To her bedroom,

Shed her day clothes,

Donned a soft blue nightgown

Studied her face in the mirror, sighed

Over new lines above her brow

And slid into her side of the bed

She shared with my father.

He was not asleep

Although probably tired

From working late at the store.

Maybe simply to subdue

The feel of autumn in the air,

They came together

And were warm in each other's arms.

Something spectacular happened

That, months later, they would try to recall

What night this was.

That was my night.

I can’t conceive

A more important time,

Greater even than my birthday,

That October night

And those magnificent moments

Of parental embrace.

Fireworks and canon volley,

Tell the world.

FLEAS AND FLIES

Do fleas fly

Without saying goodbye,

Or

Do flies flee

Depending on their bravery?

I AM SEA GLASS  (Amazon.com) 

PASSOVER AND THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE

Pharaoh,

Lone survivor,

His multitudes of men,

Chariots and horses

All drowned,

Sits alone

On his gold, jeweled throne

The morning following

His defeat, robe and hair

Still damp with saltwater.

“Where is everyone?”

The chamber is deathly still.

“Where is Moses?”

The walls remain silent.

“My slaves. What’s

Happened to my slaves?”

The crickets in the corner

Do not answer.

“Where is Moses’ God?

Tell him to show his face.”

The invisible God

Does not respond.

“Wasn’t ten plagues enough?”

No answer.

“Am I to be alone till I die?”

Silence…

THE PROFESSOR, THE ASSISTANT AND BABY MAKE THREE

I’m pregnant.

   Professor, you’re not pregnant.

I think my assistant is.

   How do you know?

She’s acting funny.

   Have you asked her?

No, I’m embarrassed.

   Why?

I told her I didn’t need protection at my age.

   What were you doing in high school Biology, writing poetry?

I was writing poetry in the library when we met

And she liked what she saw.

   You or the poetry?

We went out for coffee and she invited me to her place.

   So you had to go?

I did.

   Have you ever heard of being careful at your age?

I don’t want to be.  You know how lonely I’ve been.

   You’re 65.  She’s in her 30’s.

   What are you going to do?

I’m going to ask her.

   Ask her if she’s pregnant?

No, if she’ll marry me.

   Think she’ll say yes?

I’ll ask her in a poem.

One that doesn’t rhyme.