To Joe

Wish that I could buy for you a nice new lounging chair...
There's got to be a newer, nicer, softer one somewhere !
I really wanted us to take a cruise across the seas,
But that was quashed when thinking of our bad backs and weak knees.

I am sure that you would like another puppy dog,
But we can't handle what we have --- our minds are in a fog.
So, for your birthday, how about a nice big hug or two,
And promises for gifts galore sometime from me to you ?

Here's a fifty-dollar bill to buy your heart's desire...
Just think of all the "stuff" this dough would help you to acquire !
But let's get smarter, now that you are turning eighty-seven:
Let's DOWN-SIZE....you know, we can't take it to Heaven.

The Brick

To a young man who graduated from college in 1976. We gave him an old, used brick (with a nice check), and this "inspirational" poem:


The "Key to the City", given to men, shows they're admired and respected,
And indicates they might unlock some doors, which otherwise would be rejected.

But how do they get from one door to the next? With no path, that might be some trick!
So here, for the first step to that winding road, we give you the city's "first brick".

So straight and so narrow? So heavy and hard? But it's yours, to build on and grow.
Every man makes his own way in this life, one brick at a time, row by row.

So let this old brick be a symbol to you of the start of a long winding road.
It's worn and it's chipped, but has many more miles, and the strength to help carry your load.

TO A SERVICE MAN

With gift of a billfold to a young man
entering the service -- 1969

Now that you are in the Navy, everything you make is gravy.
They supply your bed and board, so all your paychecks you can hoard.

You'll never need to buy your clothes, not even toothpaste, I suppose.
You' never bet at cards? That's nice. And, of course, you'll not roll dice !

Hope you'll never need sick bay, but that won't cost you, anyway.
You sailors are so fine, I hear, you'll not waste money drinking beer.

One temptation might be gals....simply think of them as "pals".
So here's a place to keep your pay, 'til you can send it home next day !

A LIFETIME OF LOVE

Counting all the pets we've had in 50 years -- let's see---
Looking back, I can remember almost twenty-three.
A Persian cat named Bootsie was with us nineteen years,
And when she went to Kitty Heaven, we shed big cat tears.

A tiny black toy Poodle was Frenchly named, "Beaucoup",
And next a big white sweetie-pie -- he was a Poodle, too.
A loving little Dacsund was born on Christmas day. . .
He had no antlers, but we named him "Rudolph", anyway!

White mice and bunnies, parakeets, a screeching Mynah bird;
A tank-full of bright-colored fish were seldom ever heard !
"Trinket" was a silly name for our sweet, stately Collie,
But what a doll was our Pom mix --- that's why we called her "Dollie".

Lhasa Apso's stole our hearts, named "Chrissie", one and two,
And now two Shih Tzu live with us: they're Jazzy and Sweet Sue.
All our Holidays were shared with all the pets above,
And taught our kids the truly special meaning of God's Love.

50th reunion, 1992

Upon receiving notice in 1992, of my High School's 50th reunion, two years away:

When I received the notice of our meet two years away,
I thought, "They really REALLY plan ahead !"
But I decided there would be a lot to do and say,
And things we wouldn't want to leave unsaid.

This gives us time to pick our brains and pull out from the past
Some things we should have done, but were too shy;
And time to reminisce about the years that went so fast,
Remembering the fun of days gone by.

It also gives us time to do a personal up-date,
For after fifty years we've changed a bit:
A few of us along the way have gained a little weight....
This gives us time to get a bit more fit !

For those of us with greying hair, we'll try a different shade
To make us look as good as we did then
With any luck at all, we hope your memories will fade
And you'll think we were gorgeous "way back when".

Two years will give us time to exercise away some fat,
Or have a face-lift, or a tummy-tuck.
(Please, no nose jobs, or we'll all be saying "Who is that?")
We'll all know each other, with some luck !

This will be a great re-union, thanks to all of you
Who are planning things for all of us,
And we know that there will be a million things to do...
"Thanks" for all the work and all the fuss!

Ode to a Tin Can

Once there was an old tin can; his useful days were past.
He'd long ago been emptied, and stripped and tossed, and trashed.
He once had held delicious food, sat on a shiny shelf,
But now that he was tossed aside, he couldn't stand himself !

He cried & cried the whole day through, he thought his heart had busted.
The more he thought, the more he cried, 'til he completely rusted !
And then a lady came along and saved him from this fate.
She cut and curled and painted him, and placed him on a plate.

Since she had beautified him so---returned his self-esteem---
He vowed he'd never cry again and spoil his golden gleam !
For years and years he sparkled, and stuck right to his plan.
No can could be as happy the way this tin can can !

[Written January 23, 1969]

I Feel Pretty

This fifteen-minute facial works like a charm, they say,
And should be done "occasionally" ... just 3 times every day.
And then to firm the muscles, and tone the tissues, too,
Here's a list of exercises everyone should do.

They only take ten minutes, and will restore her beauty,
And for a gal who wants to please her husband, it's her duty!
He likes her with a golden tan, so each day that's an hour;
Then she'll wash and set her hair, and take a long cool shower.

No lady wants dry skin, of course, so she'll smooth on these lotions.
She can't be in a hurry, she'll use soft soothing motions.
It shouldn't take much longer now, to manicure the nails ...
So many things are to be done, so many fine details!

She must apply her makeup with most exacting care;
She'll rearrange her coiffure, and smooth out every hair.
And now that she's so tan and soft and beautiful and sweet ...
He comes home, looks at her and smiles, and says, "Dear, what's to eat?"