Brownies

Different things hold a couple together.

We share a taste
For brownies
With
No frosting.
Frosting
Does not allow
True appreciation
Of the brownie
Underneath.
Powdered sugar
Is okay
But frosting
No.
Absolutely not.

Best enemies

Bad decisions, good decisions.

They took us
At our word
Exactly
No more
No less.
I suppose
We should be grateful.
They trimmed the red bud
So no branch
Touched the house.
It will touch
By June.
We are already
Almost out
Of Girl Scout cookies.
No more until
Next year.
I suppose
We should be grateful.
We are our own
Best enemies.

Peterman

Another Peterman catalog arrived in the mail this week. It is the stuff dreams are made of.

I read the catalog
From cover
To cover
When it arrives
In the mail,
Dream the dreams
It inspires.
I have bought
The dreams
Enough times,
Not many,
But enough
To keep
The catalog
In the mailbox.
When I grow up
I would like
To write copy
For Peterman.

Cemetery

In my family we all learned to drive in Lakewood Cemetery

We will drive north
Come spring,
Maybe summer,
Figure which plots
Appeal,
Walk through
The bird sanctuary
Named for
My great grandfather.
I hope to walk then.
We will see
Which birds
Have returned
Which birds
Have remained.
We all learned to drive
In the cemetery
Next door,
To park
Our wheels
Turning
In
Or out.

Oh, it's different now

I write about women because that is my experience, and I dare not generalize.

Oh, it's different now.
Women writers
Do not need to hide
Behind initials
Or even men's names
To be published
To be read.
Oh
It's different now.
Now
It hides underground
With earthworms
But still
It has to emerge
Somewhere
Like rain-soaked ground
Won't allow it
Contained
Any longer.

Mayonnaise

I remember the parish foray I called "Adventures with Catharine." It seemed a good idea. I never did learn how to make mayonnaise.

Everyone has gifts.
Mine do not include
Mayonnaise.
Years ago
I invited people
To show
Me their gifts.
The chef
Tried to teach me
Mayonnaise.
She did not
Succeed.
Still
It was
A worthy effort.

If you chose

Thinking of Billy Graham lying in state at the Capitol

Where would
You have your body
Lie in state
For those to bow
Or weep
Or perhaps
Lay lilies
Throw roses
White or red?
If you chose
Where would it be?
Who would you want
In attendance?
What flowers
Would you choose?
What words
What words
What actions
Would say
Most of it
Or even a lot of it
Echoing
Echoing
Echoing
E c h o i n g.