Today my aunt turns 98
And for her age, she’s doing great,
So we came down to celebrate,
The least that we can do.
We schmoozed a little yesterday
With snacks we picked up on the way
And brought an ice cream treat today
(Since I had craved one, too).
Then on to mah jongg in a place
Where seniors gather, face to face,
To play a game they all embrace
(The rules of which I knew).
Two hours flew by and then back where
Three huge bouquets were waiting there,
Plus cards and phone calls, all to share
Her birthday, right on cue.
Tonight, there’ll be a dinner out;
That’s what a birthday’s all about,
And at that age, there is no doubt
Best wishes sure are due.
Grandma could not wait to get her mitts
on her new grandson named Karmen Kay Kits
a first-time grandma at ninety-one
she thought this might be gobs of fun
Her son, Karmen’s first-time father was seventy-two
He hovered over her and the baby, making her feel blue
Suggesting how she should hold the baby’s neck and head
She told him and his wife to go on to bed
They were grumpy and mean, never having put the baby down
She figured they were the most sleep deprived two in town
Suggesting the baby could cry in his own bed did no good
They thought they knew everything, as only new parents could
Grandma could not wait to go home on the plane
Doubt she’ll be eager to get back there again
(With apologies to Rabindranath Tagore)
Where fear stalks the mind and the head hangs in shame;
Where knowledge is twisted,
Where the country has been broken up into fragments by
narrow walls of caste and creed;
Where words are mouthed for short–term gains;
Where insatiable lust stretches its arms towards seats of
power;
Where the clear stream of reason has dried up in the scorch-
ing heat of the forest of communal flare–ups;
Where the mind is led backward by Thine enemy into ever–
narrowing thought and action -
From this nightmare of licence, my Father, let my country awake.
It is Saturday afternoon
everybody and their uncle is in Target
buying things they will put into garage sales next summer
their red shopping carts are full
I had brought my friend here to get a shingles shot
Since she is ninety-two and has a walker, I parked her at the door
I won’t be here but a minute, she tells me.
She is right; she was there ninety minutes
I could have knit a sweater while I waited
If I had brought yarn and knitting needles
And if I remembered how to knit.
Three thousand five hundred and ninety-two fish in the sea
And I had to find a catfish who took a bite out of me
The waves were crashing, but I still felt his teeth okay.
That murderous fish bit me, then went gliding away.
Three thousand five hundred and ninety-two grains of sand
Landed in my bucket when I finally found myself back on dry land.
A frog came over to give me a little understanding and empathy.
The catfish had tried to take a bite out of him too, you see.
Three thousand five hundred and ninety-two steps to my car.
If I had known my leg was going to hurt, I would not have parked so far.
Clyde the catfish got you, eh? An old timer in a fishing hat asked me.
He’s the orneriest and oldest fish in this deep blue sea.
Am I in a dream
Only as it may seem
I am music, I am the notes
You once were the wreckage on which my soul floats
Now I am the maestro, I am also first chair
And now the crescendo (and you are not there)
And it's okay that it's not you (I've found someone new)
All colors came from three
The primary Trinity
Amaranth, Burlywood and blue
Phlox and Pesimmons to name a few
Magenta, Tawny, Zaffre and Zomp
It's bomb blast and bombast and pomp
Under pacto arco iris
We have our first kiss
The world welcomes lovers
Especially the giddiness from under the covers
And so it is an eternal dream we seek
"If I spend $2.98 on a dream
It should at least last a week"
I know these are not hidden passions that will hide
let say for instance when the country is tasting either
tik or tok-
I know even the world itself sometimes itches or
bubbles or cheers like a resournating glass or
monster?.
Since years are gone and love is beholding strong.
What then is such redress through?.
It's the ninety-eighth of January.
The month that lingers on.
It seems like Spring will never come
and Winter will never be gone.
As this longest month drags on and on
we've all come to realize
its either raining and warm or sunny and freezing .
There is no compromise.
At first we counted the days 'til Spring
but we've given up on that.
It seems we'll never get to shed
the Winter coat and hat.
The stores are tempting us with blooms
of all our favourite Spring flowers.
But of course they're all kept safe inside
or they'd all be dead within hours .
It's the ninety-eighth of January
and it just goes on and on.
I wish I could sleep this month away.
I'll be so thankful once its gone.
30/01/2024
This site is ninety-nine-point-nine percent pure
For that zero point one percent there ain't no cure
In the overall scheme
Their effect has no steam
They're as worthless as all get out, so immature
There once was a cat named Mr. Morgan
Who sipped his share of Kentucky bourbon
Sired ninety-five kittens
Said he's not forbidden
From abusing his sexual organ
Ninety percent of those I have loved are dead,
ninety percent of those I have disliked are dead also.
Ninety percent of my life has been spent
travelling to find new places.
Ninety percent of those places
I have left with no regret.
Ninety percent of my life I have wasted,
ninety percent of what’s left is now taking a nap.
A memory of anything real is ninety percent wrong.
A recollection of one thing is usually a ninety percent
reflection of something else.
I have learned that ninety percent of what I know
is ninety percent false.
I have more to tell I am ten percent sure
but ninety percent of you all don’t care anymore.
Ninety-eight point six is normal
In a human being,
Not though, on thermometers
Outdoors, which we’ve been seeing.
In people, anything above
Is fever, meaning sick,
But weather-wise, such numbers
Translate into one word – ick!
I much prefer the days in fall
Or wintertime instead,
When if my body matched
The temps outside, I would be dead.
A Psalmody of Psalm Ninety One
God is our refuge, He is our shelter
Kept safe from demons are those who’re blessed
Beneath wings of the Almighty that cares
Spared from the snares of unwanted foul quests.
Fear not nightmares or terrors of darkness
Under presence of angels we’re redeemed
Freed from toxic perils that come by day
All being as seen in heavenly dreams.
Our God sees everything below the sun
The wicked face trial before one’s eyes
What goes around comes back around it’s said
Evil ways will always be recognised.
Those who love as the Lord said we all should
Will never become trampled underfoot
By any human man, woman or beast
Daredevils who tried would land up as soot.
Our dear Lord saves those seeking salvation
Call God by His name and you will be found
The shepherd will always find his lost sheep
From that day on one shall be glory bound.
26th September 2021
If I could go back and do
things different I would.
To get a do over and make
better choices I really would.
But the truth of matter is
I can’t.
I got no time for woulda
shoulda coulda’s.
I’m done living in the land
of regret.
I gave him my ninety day
notice years ago.
Alexis Y.
05/23/2021
Her friend is in the room next door
Can't see her they won't allow it anymore
At ninety three she's considered so wise
Now tears are streaming from her eyes
The nursing home she lives follows guidelines
Doesn't want the risk of any massive fines
Keeping everyone safely two metres apart
Will break for sure a ninety three year old heart
Her family visit her maybe twice a week
Masks on their faces its difficult to speak
What will happen if I reach ninety three
Will anything be left for me to hear and see
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