‘Don’t judge a man ‘til you walk a mile in his shoes’
Great advice we can all surely use
An earlier version
may also apply to every person
‘Don’t judge your friend ‘till you’ve been in his place.’*
pertains as well to a different case
If you witness questionable behavior at work
don’t jump to label the person a jerk
Follow him home, to 'his place:' Watch how he treats his loved ones
~ Perhaps he’s devoted to his wife, daughters and sons
___________________
*Talmud - Avos 2:5
There.
third row, second seat
hair over eyes, red-rimmed
tired maybe?
shirt buttoned wrong
laces untied
broken hearted
last row, right at the back
a young couple
giggling
not watching
love
how long will it last
the movie starts
theatre darkens
eyes front
focused on the screen
engrossed, distracted
popcorn, drinks, spilt
front row
now on the floor
children
necks tilted up
vibrating in excitement
can't look away
middle aisle
near the exit
new parents
on the edge of their seat
waiting for the call
desperate for a night off
movie ends
lights rise
people stand, stretch
slowly trickle out
leaving behind spilt drinks, popcorn
the floor a mosaic of people
netflix
stan
prime
hulu
peacock
disney
empty now
darkness lingers
screen unused
velvet seats grow dusty
stale popcorn permeates
I am empty now
No one there.
The heat is overwhelming here,
So we’ve been trapped inside,
Except for walking to the car,
Where cool air does preside.
With time to kill, my husband found
Old movies on TV,
Some Groucho films without his sibs,
Not known to him or me.
We still found him hilarious,
A genius at his craft.
I’d be suspicious of a soul
Who watched and never laughed.
The film that followed had the other
Brothers, which just means
More chances to crack up
In many other crazy scenes.
Though people go to Florida
To loll around a beach,
I’m glad, when weather’s Venus-like,
These films are in our reach.
the rhythm changed before the ending came
not with thunder, but with delay.
not with cruelty, but with absence.
calls that once carried warmth became quiet corridors.
Messages arrived like late rain, thin and uncertain.
replies lost their color, their reach, their want.
the distance entered first, then made itself at home.
Sometimes the deepest ache is not betrayal.
It is watching something fade while still holding it gently.
Season of death
Told to fear
Before bitter cold
Making everyone scream
For some warmth
And loving touch
Stay in touch
After the death
With some warmth
And no fear
Morbid many scream
Awaiting the cold
Decide embrace cold
With forceful touch
Hear the scream
Proclaiming the death
Eyes express fear
Needing some warmth
Getting the warmth
Fighting the cold
And the fear
With caring touch
Defeating ugly death
That creates a scream
Why a scream?
All filled warmth
Body shell death
Purple silver cold
Ghosts need touch
Soothe the Fear
Dispense the fear
Memories laughing scream
Everyone seems touch
Words igniting warmth
Melting the cold
Celebrating the death
Conquering fear death
Instead scream warmth
When touch cold
barefoot she's running
all wet across the meadow
blouse full of flowers…
and excited boys whisper
she will scare our deer away!
did she see me watching in wonder
above the head of her pin
as her companion
strummed his mandolin
each whirl and twirl
her every pirouette
coaxing from her toes
a tiny jet of sweat
I’d heard of angels dancing
on the head of a pin
yet always had dismissed it
as just so much spin
I have never seen clouds move this fast.
as if they are in a death to the loser race.
If today was a movie I would suspect someone used A.I.
but this is mother nature, the elements, God’s hand.
These clouds are purposefully moving to the northeast.
in clusters of grays and pristine whites, a tinge of pink.
working my imagination into a frenzy.
Daisy Bee Faerie had the curliest brown hair
Light and lithe, she could zoom easily in the air
She loved her honey, and she loved her daisies too
She was a joy to watch, catching up with the butterflies two.
I did not think she could catch us, said the monarch fair.
He was impressed with her flying prowess in the air.
I thought those daisies might slow her down said his side kick Vee.
But then I remembered her ancestry, she has a little bee.
In the course of the events of man,
a boy grown old could never understand.
There was no more light, no more curl
in the events of an insect and a girl -
the boy, now gone, and the tot he couldn't save,
forgotten like a lonely firefly grave.
The Knicks parade was on TV
And that was close enough for me.
I cannot even blame my age;
I’ve hated crowds at any stage.
Yet for the celebrants, most young,
They loved it all, to be among
Their fellow fans, all there to cheer
Their favorite moment of the year.
To see their heroes and unite,
No politics, which might incite
Divisiveness, so very wrong
When fans all seem to get along.
The festive spirit will not last,
For from examples in the past,
We know it isn’t “if” but “when”
Hostilities will rise again.
Growing up with older adults was not always fun,
but I learned many valuable things.
I saw how health was important,
in what they ate and their activities.
The church goers had faith,
faith to get them through the tough times.
Once retired they kept going,
no sitting and watching TV all day.
Sitting was not good for them,
so they died way too early.
Longevity may come from family genes,
but one can always improve their own life.
So here is to Longevity,
may we all live to be one hundred and ten.
I'm watching your every move.
Over your shoulder when you least expect.
You won't sneak past me.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Is Earth just Trump’s orange bubble
That he can fashion to rubble?
Let’s anticipate
Don's schemes oh so great
That quickly make his wealth double!
what is he rolling up the road? a child asked them.
We snickered and hollered and hooted, said his Uncle Clem
What do you think it is? Aunt Marta threw in with a bit of glee
For of course it was poo, him being a dung-beetle see.
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