Caren Krutsinger Poet Free verse

Never Always Don'T

never smoke she said,
cigarette dangling from her mouth.
ashes falling into my oatmeal
I nodded my head, dutifully.

always tell the truth, he said,
he called in sick to his boss,
we went to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.

don't ever gossip, said my grandma.
before telling us all the rumors she had ever heard
about the neighbors.

never generalize people, Uncle Louie said,
unless they are Irish, English, or Swedes.
You cannot trust any of them.

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Nancy Kaufman June 17, 2021 at 1:06 PM parenting styles have hopefully improved since those days but yes Caren so many hypocrites out there. At least now they can't get away with put soap in your mouth and smacking you in the face for advocating for your self. I see you have a good long term memory also. Caren Krutsinger June 18, 2021 at 9:38 AM I sure do have a LONG memory Nancy.

L Milton Hankins June 17, 2021 at 12:19 PM Amazing...how this is true! My grandma used to rail against gossip, but she and her sister met every Tuesday afternoon to share all the neighborhood "news." Caren Krutsinger June 18, 2021 at 9:39 AM It is crazy to me this gossiping thing. Who does it help?