I walked for errands till this house arrest
removed most business from my every day.
I chose my route deliberately, for best
in garden sights and local tree array.
But when I crossed a busy street, my way
was quite pedestrian-appropriate –
where traffic lights and crosswalks had a say.
I found this week a street by forest lit –
I never jaywalked Ashby till the virus hit.
What is this tendency to not attempt?
My mom and BFF both seem the same,
the way they fling, as if they were exempt
from trying harder. Each will make the claim
of age. It’s like she has by now outgrown
the hero’s obligation to press on:
too old to learn, too antsy to be shown
a way, as if the will to learn were gone.
Impatient and impulsive as they are,
the elder doesn’t stand a chance to change,
but my old friend deserves a silver star
in reconsideration – she has range
and wisdom – given time she might not quit,
on seventh thought, succeeding hissy fit.
I’ve dealt with worse incursions in the past –
mosquito scouts and rodent mites and ants.
Perhaps my irritation should be classed
a side effect of house arrest, but I’m
annoyed by common houseflies neither fast
nor big: each easy to eliminate.
Diptera buzzing makes me feel harassed
of late, with darting dark in sideways glance.
These tiny irksome bugs have me aghast.
His new book features folks of varied hues
among race heroes in our history,
appealing to adults, less to amuse
than educate (or wake?) a viewer 3
years old or so. But 3 thinks he’s to choose
his favorite color in that company!
Attempts to lecture toddlers tend to fail;
like us, they best learn lessons from a tale.
When I encounter an idea that tacks
some sense into phenomena observed,
and isn’t contradicted by the facts,
I think that clear attention is deserved.
About this virus, all we know for sure
(besides the absence of vaccine or cure)
is we don’t know. The news is simplified,
and access to good data is denied.
The situation’s wretched, but the deaths
are not increasing exponentially.
A few examine T-cells in controlled
environments, and postulate in depth
that more than half may have immunity
to some degree, we built from common colds.
I’m hearing commentators voice surprise
at stupid lack of strategy from Barr.
Did they forget that chiefs just supervise?
I’m hearing commentators voice surprise,
but rainmakers are neither sharp nor wise
(their loss of will and skill to work is par).
I’m hearing commentators voice surprise
at stupid lack of strategy from Barr.
We both feel anxious
about being together
after months at home
but as we start to amble
we recollect our humor
I didn’t mean to carry on so long.
I started this for one and twenty days,
intending to employ new verse arrays.
I didn’t mean to carry on so long.
I started this for one and twenty days.
The metrics were a challenge to my mind,
distracting me from worry while confined.
I started this for one and twenty days.
The metrics were a challenge to my mind,
and day by day they mounted with arrest
to inventory neither planned nor guessed.
The metrics were a challenge to my mind.
And day by day they mounted with arrest;
the hills ahead look steeper till we climb.
One hundred days produced a wealth of rhyme.
And day by day they mounted with arrest.
The hills ahead look steeper till we climb
(I didn’t mean to carry on so long).
Now mass anxiety is running strong –
the hills ahead look steeper till we climb.
I didn’t mean to carry on so long.
I started this for one and twenty days,
intending to employ new verse arrays.
I didn’t mean to carry on so long.
Two incidents surprised me recently.
A couple of the people I love most
(one lifelong friend and one close family)
asserted they need words as speech or post.
They want to hear “I love you,” “You’re the best,”
“I’m sorry,” “I’ll admit that I was wrong.”
Behavior’s insufficient, they both stressed.
They claimed their stance was popular and strong.
I don’t agree. Although I’d have preferred
the pen to be the weapon beyond all,
I’ve spent my life devoted to the word,
and know the true effect of talk is small.
I’ve pondered why our species learned to speak.
I always wanted language to be clear
and used for truth (like all the Houyhnhnms seek),
but life has taught me action is what’s dear.
I wearied with too many “I love you”s.
Assertions smothered me and sucked my air.
Repetitive apologies abuse –
I want to see offenders learn to care.
I need to watch your means to learn your ends,
so save the tropes and bromides for my friends.
I used the toilet paper I preferred
until I couldn’t find it anywhere,
when panic/hoarding mounted to absurd
degrees, amid coronavirus scare.
I bought what roles I found among the rare,
more quilted than I like and with more ply.
Now TP lint pollutes my bathroom air.
I’m dusting more, but worse than that’s when I
don’t notice pocket tissue till I wash-and-dry.
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