353/365 - Heaven (bonus poem)

 

You don't know how good it is

to walk on a rainy day

when your a pup like me

I may be afraid of every dog around

but on rainy days

this is my town

I stride up the sidewalk

confidently

skipping over puddles

with glee

I can linger as I like

sniffing every tree

because I don't have to worry

about what I may see

all the other pups

are trapped inside

but I am finally free

352/365 - Thick

 

It's the wettest day

of the year

possibly the wettest day

ever

here

The air is thick with moister

not just outside

but in the house

on the walls

the ground

the windows

the damp penetrates

inside and out

but it's not the water

I fear

it's the treat of mold

from damp air clothes

the ones in my closet

I keep (for some reason)

but never wear

351/365 - Communicate (bonus poem)

 

My voice is calling to me

from the other room

but how can that be?

Because we gave the cat

a voice

and he uses it

quite proficiently

Of course he really only

has one thing to say

and while the buttons

(programmed by me)

are for water, or cuddles, or play

for him

they all mean

the same exact thing

that he wants interaction

and he'll do anything

Now we were warned

it could get annoying

but honestly

it's quite allaying

that he asks for attention

before resorting to breaking things

350/365 - Literally

 

I'll see you next year I said

chuckling to myself at my cleverness

as I shut my computer down 

for the last workday of 2022

But who was I talking to?

Well no one of course

because my boss

sent a group chat at 1:41

wishing everyone

a happy new year

so at 1:42 she was

probably out for the year

But I still had 18 minutes

until my last meeting

which was over

at 2:15

The last 45 minutes

until our official early out

at three

dragged on for a million minutes

or so it seemed

until finally

the clock  rung

the day was done

I was free!

Happy New Year everybody

I'll see you next year

literally!

349/365 - Bonus (bonus poem)

 

A bonus word

for a bonus poem

on this bonus

sort of day

With hard work

and bad luck

both needing repaid

things seem to be

finally

going my way

72 hours until New Year's Eve

but I'm celebrating early

348/365 - Element

 

It's raining again

I heard it move in at 3 AM

Not that I'm complaining

We need it

you know

And the smell of petrichor

And the air, cleared of fireplace smoke

And all the green things

starting to grow

So what

if my feet get wet

and the dog

smells a bit

because together

down the wet streets

we skip

We're in our element

347/365 - Unlikely (bonus poem)

 

If I were to ask

if the candy

could last

until next year

I'm sure you'd say

NO WAY!

But

If I were to admit

it's only 3 days

away

Well?

Still

not likely

346/365 - Exert

 

I breathe deep

and savor

that I can

My exhale

a cloud of white

in the chilled December air

despite the warm

mid-day sun

My throat is dry

a threatening cough

my nose is cold

and threatening to run

but I don't care

because I'm out

I'm on a walk

and though 

I'm getting tired

and though

I've only gone a few blocks

still

my illness

is waning

though not yet gone

best not push it

too far

I think I'll head home

345/365 - Request (bonus poem)

 

Can I ask you a question?

A simple favor please?

Can you not look so cute

Its quite distracting to me

The way your paws

flop out your bed

and your little

sleepy snores

Its making it hard

for me to work

so please stop

I implore

And I know

that you'll say

you can't help it

and

its my problem

not yours

But if you keep it up

I'll have to move your bed

and then you'll be sleeping

on the floor

344/365 - Meanwhile

 

Its 8 AM

its cold outside

and the rain is coming down

I want to be

back in bed

but I'm at my keyboard

with a frown

This dead week

between holidays

I should be

eating cheese

and loosing track of days

I watch families

go outside and play

while every email I send

gets bounce back messages

that say

see you after

New Years Day

343/365 - Example

 

It's like sandpaper

on my skin

I cannot stand

to blow my nose again

It's like inhaling ice cubes

when I'm breathing in

My sinuses are

completely done-in

It's like I've been lifting weights

for an hour or more

My muscles have never

been so sore

It's like my head

is filled with cotton fluff

I can't seem to remember

even simple stuff

But my bed's

like a cloud

at the end of the day

which is good

'cause I need sleep

if this cold's

gonna go away

342/365 (version one) - Wire

I heard it on

the news today

Sant Claus

is coming our way

It's the one thing

that seems to unite the world

The joy Santa brings

to all the boys and girls

No matter what you do

or do not believe

this is Santa's holiday

we've all agreed

 

342/365 (version two) - Wire

 

It's okay if you eat the tree

just please don't nibble the wire

You don't want to be like the kitty

in that National Lampoon's movie

Well it's not great

that you're chewing

on our holiday tree

But your fate

if you bite the lights

will be quick and extra crispy

341/365 - Fortunate

 

Somehow the tree has stayed up

for twenty-nine days

despite being covered

in so many "toys"

and the constant attention

of a mischievous orange kitty

the good news is

it only needs to make it one more

and if we're very fortunate

it won't end up

smashed on the floor

340/365 (version two) - Sleigh Ride to Sac Town

 

On the 23rd December day

we were supposed to be

on our way

to Sacramento

to see family

But instead

I lay in bed

with OJ

and Kleenex

and a stuffy head

But at least I got

a second poem

posted

Oh yea

and so far

it doesn't seem

to be COVID

340/365 - Careful

 

But I wore my mask

I say

The double thick

N-95 one

And I washed my hands

as soon as

I got home

I didn't even touch my face

until I was done

Well it doesn't seem to have mattered

so much

Because here you are

with your lotion infused keenex

and your seltzer infused OJ

and your xmas plans

that are now in flux

But at least the COVID test

is negative

(so that's nice)

Look on the bright side

you'll get to celebrate

the holidays

twice

339/365 - Colorful

 

I'm on the wrong side

of 4 AM

feeling sick

waiting for sleep to begin

But at least I have

the Christmas lights

their warm glow

reminds me of those nights

spent in the dorm

When I was a freshman

When our relationship

became more than friends

And just for a moment

it's almost like

were back there again

on one of those nights

just you, and me

and the snow outside

338/365 - Idea (bonus poem)

I didn't know

a week ago

there'd be a mountain of Kleenex

instead

of a mountain of snow

I had no idea

my nose would be so red

it nearly glows

(and can guide Santa's sled)

This wasn't the gift

I wanted

but

even if I can't go

visit my family

this year

at least I know

that I'm loved

and 

that I love them so

 

337/365 - Germinate

 

How do you think

it feels

to be the plant in my

new neighbor's house

The one sitting

in the window

behind the boxes

she's forgotten about

While outside

the winter rains

fall

making all

the green things grow greener

and tall

But inside

the plant wastes away

it's leaves brown

wither

and fall

336/365 - Island

 

My warm bubble

I don't want to leave

snuggly cocoon

a glowing orange island of light

floating

in the long black night

335/365 - Expectation (bonus poem)

 

Everyone

gets to sleep

how they want

but me

I've got a dog

at my feet

a cat

in the small

of my back

and a spouse

who is freakin'

breathing on me

(Am I the only one

who

can't stand to

have others breath

on their skin?

Seriously

keep your lung filtered air

to yourself

my darlin')

Anyway

despite all this shit

with which tonight

I'm dealing

I thought

I'd be out

in a minute or few

with how tired

I'm feeling

BUT

Here I am

twisted like a pretzel

again

wondering

if sleep

will ever begin

334/365 - Security

 

Allow me to

recreate for you

the scene this morning

at 2:32

That's in the AM

just so you know

crouched 

under the table

waiting for the earth

to swallow us whole

But the ground

didn't rock

no it did not roll

Well, it did

200 miles away

but not here so

I guess it's back

to bed I'll go

333/365 - Beckon

 

If you have a sweet tooth

and difficulty with self-discipline

If y our affected

by seasonal affective disorder

and have a tendency

to self-sooth

Then to See's Candy

you must (not) go

Because the smell of chocolate

is no match

for your N-95 mask

Even if you go

armed with an impenetrable mantra

I'm just buying presents for family

Those clever folks

at See's

will lob

free sample chocolate bombs

your way

and before you know it

your fridge will be filled

with boxes of candy

meant for nobody

but your own

chocolate craving

tummy

332/365 - Lumber

 

It feels like

I'm going nowhere

slowly

like there is something

in the way

a blockade

in the road

I creep along

a millimeter

a minute

because there's a cat

in front of me

who has nowhere

to go

331/365 - Becket

 

I found my tether

I'm feeling better

the sunlight

has finally cast upon me

It's long low rays

create cold shadows

through

bare-branched trees

and onto the walls of my kitchen

where I stand

realizing

fuck,

my window is dirty!

330/365 - Ideal

 

It's too much

lights and tinsel and

ornaments and hats and

red and green and

glittering

clutter and cheer

everywhere

It's not enough

to keep the darkness 

at bay

To keep the darkness

from creeping in

anywhere

There are not enough

lights

to warm the night

To warm cold hearts

To make everything alright

and every year

as I fear

more of that cheer

seems to drift away

and there's not enough

of too much

to fix it today

I'm not doing okay

329/365 - Tiger

 

Find your inner

predator they say

Be the top

of the food chain

Don't be weak

Don't be prey

But knowing when

to walk away

takes more guts

then putting up

a fight

any day

328/365 - Trouble

 

Ringle jingle shake

the tree does

quiver and quake

the orange cat tornado

and the trouble that

he makes

Broken glass

shredded tinsel

and the pine needles in his wake

327/365 - Hoopla

 

There's a lot of talk

going around

about the (lack of)

holiday cheer

in our little town

I walked blocks

tonight

with out one single

twinkling light

and when finally

I got to city hall

there was not one tree

not one menorah

not one yule-time

display at all

in this season of darkness

I want to be overwhelmed

with lights

but instead

we're succumbing

to the endless night

326/365 - Warmth

 

This isn't a poem

about the awesomeness

of kolache

A time honored

time tested

beloved family recipe

enjoyed generation

after generation

around the holidays

This is a poem

about the oven

I baked it in

that until recently

had been quite finicky

but with one cheap part

and my handy hubby

is now working

perfectly

just in time

to enjoy kolache

(now if only

I could get

that seem to stop splitting

but that problem

is also a part of the tradition

for everyone)

325/365 - Speak

 

It's not that I'm

terribly concerned

or don't care about

what

you have to say

It's just that

your bark

is bigger

than your bite

and you scare people

when you yell

that way

324/365 - Loose-end

 

Little details

left undone

might be picked-up

by someone

and taken away

and taken to play

and taken to use

in some other way

but hey

as long as they're

having fun

then perhaps that use

was a better one

323/365 - Night Owl

 

On Friday night

we party right

in this house

First the gym

then the grocery

and back home

to snuggle

on the couch

322/365 - Time

 

Some math was required

an hourly rate

what's it worth

for one hour saved

I guess it depends

on when you ask

Near the end

it's infinite

but that's not

(hopefully)

where I am today

So here I am 

at the airport

where I will sit and wait

321/365 - Cloud 9

 

The day drags on

drags down

drags

When

all I want

is to fly high

Soar above the ground

above the trees

higher and higher

a weightless being

moisture evaporating

into the cool blue sky

winter chill desert air

where all at once

I can be everywhere

looking down

on people like me

trapped in their

corporeal bodies

in big buildings

under florescent lights

while I frolic on

the prevailing breeze

320/365 - Elbow Grease

 

First candy

for the energy

to keep me awake

then doodles

in the margins

to tame the sugar shakes

ten-thousand steps

before dawn breaks

a compromise

for sitting all day

and as many 

as I can squeeze in

during 15 minute breaks

The material's important

this I know

but the dissemination

is brutal

It will take

a small arsenal

plus some elbow grease

but I'll survive

somehow

319/365 - Eager

 

The clock is ticking

but the minute hand

doesn't seem to go

The clock is ticking

but it may be moving

backward

I don't know

And the minutes

feel like hours

And there are

a million left

or so

And so

I conserve my meager

rations

a sugar rush

to get me through

the hours today

and tomorrow

and the next

until finally

I'm back with you

318/365 - Forgiveness

 

I want to apologize

to my introverted self

for getting you

in this mess again

It seemed like a good idea

however long ago

and now we're committed

Airplanes and cabs

and travel fun

then four long days

of schmoozing

and when it's over

I can't promise

that it won't happen again

when the memory

runs thin

and the opportunity

is once more at hand

317/365 - Focus

I've got

seven things to do today

It's raining out

but that's okay

my feet

will get wet

and my hair

will be crazy

but

I've got

seven things to do today

 

316/365 - Appetite

 

Have four simple letters

strung together

ever brought such joy

as the four letters

which spell out a word

that's the favorite of this boy

Now even favorites

have their limits

of a good thing

there can be too much

But when it comes

to going for walks

I haven't found as such

Because I could exhaust him

Yes I could walk him

for an hour or more

I could tucker him out

until he passes out

into a sleepy heap

on the floor

But I guarantee

if I say the word walk

he'll spring right up

and want more