The pow-wow at the U.N. has
Affected many roads,
With inconvenienced travel
By both car and other modes.
I tried to take the ferry down
To meet some friends for lunch.
A police boat in the river, though,
Confirmed my ticked-off hunch –
My ferry route suspended,
But no answer to how long.
Security is vital, though
To me it just felt wrong.
I hoofed it to the subway
Where I waited for a train,
Which was crowded and unpleasant
And deserving of disdain.
Yet I got where I was going
And when I was headed back,
The suspension had been lifted,
With the ferry back on track.
Categories:
inconvenienced, new york,
Form: Rhyme
I had not seen my former neighbor Mindy for a long time.
Out of politeness I asked about her son, who never had a chance.
She had him on anxiety meds at the age of three,
Always taking him from doctor to doctor, to prove something was wrong.
She complained constantly about how much work he was for her.
How much screaming he did, his diagnoses, and his medications.
I have not seen him for three years since I kicked him out, she told me.
He was getting scary. He is on fentanyl now.
On fentanyl at age twenty-two.
Sadly this drug is twenty to forty times more addictive than heroine.
Becoming his mother was her decision, but I never felt she took care of him.
She was always “thinking of herself” – how much his behaviors inconvenienced her.
How much work he was.
She is now talking about his labor, and how horrible it had been.
Mothers of six children rarely talk about labor;
but Mindy is dwelling on that now.
I am thankful she only had the one child.
Categories:
inconvenienced, mother,
Form: Narrative
Lisa and I got our emails the same day.
She read hers first. She made a small
sighing sound, the faintest of protests.
Then broke the news, with a scowl,
“They’re moving classes online “temporarily.”
I don’t want to talk about Corona any more
- I want to scream about it. Maybe we’ll
graduate, in three years, without knowing
what most of our classmates look like -
antithetical to “networking” at university.
I’m lucky, I know - I’m only inconvenienced.
I roam, safely, indoors, impatiently untouched by
adult, real world concerns, like jobs and money.
So I’ll keep my head up and smile like those
glamorous, happy girls in tampon commercials.
Categories:
inconvenienced, cheer up, education, emotions,
Form: Free verse
She calls me on the weekend when there’s something that she needs,
Like I might be inclined to do a favor.
I know she’ll only use me till she’s gotten what she wants
Then spit me out like gum that’s lost its flavor.
But what the hell, it’s no big deal,
Just drop the phone and let her pitch a fit. I quit!
She’s got a brutal temper when she’s hanging on the line
And tries to twist the facts to her advantage.
She fashions her PR campaigns of rhetoric and lies,
Intending to inflict some mortal damage.
But they’re just words, not sticks and stones.
Her ranting doesn’t bother me a bit. I quit!
Her diamond’s on her right hand like a trophy that she’s earned
For twenty years of being inconvenienced,
Symbolic of accomplishments in anything but love,
With my distress among her great achievements.
But I don’t care, it’s just a ring.
And I can say I’ve gotten over it. I quit!
Categories:
inconvenienced, break up,
Form: Lyric
We haven’t been asked to give up everything, dress for war, leave our homes and take up arms. For our own safety, we’ve been told to fight this pandemic with social distancing by staying indoors in the midst of our comforts and luxuries. We’re only slightly inconvenienced while brave folk providing health care and essential services willingly take immeasurable risks. This is no time to be self-centered when gratitude is due. It's not healthy to feel like a victim and compassion is empowering. If I hear one more ‘I’m bored’ I’ll scream.
for god’s sake ~
find something useful to do
stop navel gazing
Posted on May 3, 2020
Categories:
inconvenienced, appreciation, hope, perspective, stress,
Form: Haibun
On an eve in February,
As I placed my gears I peruse
What words I have lying around,
What comes to me so heavily
Is the memory of my old crushed car.
So why did my foot go forward not backward
And why did the flivver slap the old telephone pole,
And throw me against my face.
Just why did I do that,
Just why did Son 2 think he must put down his mighty foot?
I (almost unconsciously) lie against my back,
What is the next step, I am vilified, shattered,
Fingers pointing, she is old as I
How long, how inconvenienced will I be?
How dependent am I, am I?
Categories:
inconvenienced, 9th grade, february,
Form: Free verse
Got married on Thanksgiving Day;
A backyard was the venue.
Extended family gathered;
There was turkey on the menu.
It inconvenienced everyone
Yet those who loved us made it.
The traffic was horrendous
And the stress did thus pervade it.
But now, 44 years later,
Here we are and still together.
Looking back, we couldn’t know
The many storms we’d have to weather.
Still, we did it as a team
And it’s kept us both from sinking
So we’ll head out for a meal
And a toast with what we’re drinking.
Categories:
inconvenienced, anniversary,
Form: Rhyme
Serendipity be the waves of my actions.
Endless beginnings overtaking the constant desire to quite,
responding to the cries of joy did the smiles speak while
entering a trance swaying the chances of unexpected motion:
Neverland be the destination where dreams are always welcome.
Dedicated is the heart as the burning nectar trickles down the apple,
inconvenienced are those who shall not allow the fortunate serendipity triumph!
Perplexed by the beauty, but not concerned with matters not seen.
Independent is the heart from the mind for "it just happened" without thought.
titillating is the rush of a moment not planned, do I love my chance?
Yes indeed I do.
Categories:
inconvenienced, appreciation, feelings, growth, happiness,
Form: Acrostic
This fact seemed pretty damn self-evident from just about birth on.
I seemed to inconvenience my family, especially my mother.
So with my multitudes of half-sisters
that refused to see me as anything more than just that,
half,
my mother, who was exhausted and
inconvenienced at the sight of me, my will and
my troubled path,
I was a real life Cinderella,
From The Start.
Since I was just there,
my mother figured she might as well use me,
to do her bidding.
I wouldn't be home for weeks and would arrive to an empty,
messy house and a two-page list
of things to do.
Sound familiar?
Just like a fairytale, huh?
So I ask, where's my fairy godmother,
and my glass slipper along with the Prince Charming,
to make sure it fits?
And my mouse helpers,
to make cakes and dresses with me?
Well I might not have a fairy godmother or a glass slipper,
and I'm still missing the damn mice,
but I just might have found,
My Prince...
Categories:
inconvenienced, 11th grade
, 2nd grade
,
Form: Ballade
to whom it may concern
but are you really concerned
because I am
I have called
left messages
and with your trained voice
you say you’re out of the office
an you will get back with me later
but later never comes
what if I have great news
what if I were a relative
what if it was life or death
because I have used those lines
then I am left with compassion
and say to myself you might have had an
emergency and really can’t get back to me
so I say I am sorry for your inconvenience
then I think wait how could he be inconvenienced
I’m the one that has the emergency
to whom it may concern
Categories:
inconvenienced, business,
Form: Free verse
GREET PRISCA AND AQUILA, MY CO-WORKERS IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO RISKED THEIR NECKS FOR MY LIFE ROMANS 16:3-4
PRISCA (ALSO CALLED PRISCILLA) and Aquila
Were first-century lay missionaries who accompanied Paul on his travels
His praise of these two indicates that their dedication was exceptional
I wonder if I am ready to risk my neck for the sake of another
Could I be that other-centered?
These questions lead meto ponder what my motivation
For what I do
How ready I am to tend to those in need
I must constantly consider these things
My society pulls me toward individualism and self self-orientation
Placing others’ concerns before my own
Going the extra mile
Doing without something I enjoy
Allowing myself to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced
These are tiny but significant actions
Enable me to risk my neck for the sake of another
Readings and Gospel
Romans 16:3-9, 22-27
Psalm 145:2-5, 10-11
Luke 16:9-15
Categories:
inconvenienced, caregiving, childhood, education, faith,
Form: I do not know?
If I have inconvenienced you
My sorrow knows no bound
Trust I had the best intention
Yet knew not what to do
To rest your feet on solid ground
Now I cringe in mortal fear
Awaiting your inspection
Punishment for payment due
Secrets to be found
Destroy me with your final strike
Drown me in our tears
Surface glares upon reflection
Will destroy you too
In silence our solution's sound
Categories:
inconvenienced, warme,
Form: I do not know?