Rats and Roses

 

Dishes on the table, crumbs on the floor;

Oliver impromptu scene triggered - someone wanted more!

Hamburger Helper, Tuna Casserole, Sloppy Joes,

Running through a sprinkler or drinking from a hose.

 

Dutch Cleanser on all the table tops;

Frosted Flakes, cinnamon toast, Sugar Pops.

Cockroaches, those big bugs - eww they disgust;

Birthday Cake, May through August. In God We Trust.

 

Beauty in the blooms, but every rose has its thorn;

This is the Camelot into which we were born.

Rats will find their way into the side yard trash;

Murphy will give chase, but they’re gone in a flash.

 

In spite of dead fish washing up onto the beach,

Make way for our water rafts, we beseech.

Leprechaun jacket will keep us dry and warm;

On the flying bridge, the chicken of the sea watches out for the storm.

 

Flies around dog manure and potato salad;

Picnic lunches and s’mores not so bad.

Viet Nam body count on the nightly news.

Parochial or Public School - Do we get to choose?

 

With a disposable razor, don’t cut yourself shaving;

Gone are the newspaper clippings you were saving;

Gemini orbit and man on the moon;

It will happen, maybe not now, but soon.

 

Dad keeps replacing screws in the kitchen table chairs.

The squall line we see coming in from our picture-window upstairs.

Plain Dealer money in the front hall.

Rotary dial and just one more call.

 

Where is the party tonight? What are we gonna do?

Funny, that’s exactly what I was about to ask you.

Keep it on the down low. Be as quiet as a mouse.

The party tonight, dude? Tonight it’s at your house.

 

6-22

 

6-22, It’s all about you.

As a matter of fact, dear brother, you are like no other.

You show up, with boys in tow at at a time that could have been an all-time low

A twin headache, make no mistake, you show up and step up. You are no flake.

Rocking Chair becomes clean fill. On to the next place - to just chill.

Safety Patrolman, Alter Boy, in the Choir and Crusader at St. Luke.

Your good eye (in High School) caught an instant moment of puke.

Mahoney Hall overhang takes the collision of your bus.

“Valdosta incident” proved that you belong at the wheel, when it’s the two of us.

Have a cup of coffee with the Cosmic Wheel;

You will quickly feel, the little things, that are so very real

Another spectacular catch on an imagined highlight reel is just fine;

Underhand free throw wins with the confident intramural on the line.

Abieshire Circle, the ice at Lakewood Park, or grade school recess;

You believe you can and take command at best.

You give me props and praise my way;

The information dirt road and so many laughs along the way.

Here’s to the memories. May there be many more coming your way.

I remember things and so will you. Lord knows, more than a few.