Memory Lane

I thought today, of time passing,

I visited you on Memory Lane…

Convinced it is now or never;

Soon the street may no longer remain.

I remembered all the joy we had,

The dreams wished upon every star…

Tonight I’ll be very honest though,

I can no longer recollect who you are.

Ominous Signs

Something is wrong at Sea World,

The Orca acts still pay the bills,

Though lately drowning their trainers,

The “Tamed” Killer Whale kills.

Adopted chimps turning violent,

Maiming their mother’s friends;

Elephants now turn on their trainers

Creating animal murder trends.

(Polar bears and villages

Disappear as the ice cap melts;

Rhinos succumb to chain saws,

Baby Harp Seals clubbed for their pelts.)

What is this animal anger,

Interrupting the nature show?

Could it be an ominous warning,

Maybe something the animals know?

We Were Hemingways

Most of my friends are dead now,

We lived just like Hemingway;

Thinking all intellectuals smoked,

Living shit-faced every day.

We weren’t the products of parents,

Or the meanest grade school nun,

Trading instead, the theatrical hit,

For a thrill packed, short lived run.

None of my friends were famous,

Or even published when they died,

Yet each of them carried volumes

Detailing one hell of a ride.

Otis' Three Plaid Winter

Independent for Life

As far back as I remember,

I never followed the crowd.

Voting for the fairest man,

Always loving to laugh out loud.

I dreamed of being famous,

Yet I was happiest alone…

A terrific dog, a friend or two,

The main ingredients of my home.

My proudest life accomplishment:

Remaining true unto myself…

Until the day SSI kicked in

When I retired on the shelf.

Irrational Onsets

August 17^th, nineteen seventy-seven,

Flying in a Hughes’ yellow plane…

Seatmates sobbing over the paper,

One woman cried out Elvis’ name.

Sudden hydraulic problems,

While learning all legends die…

I landed safely  in the perfect storm

Yet from then on, afraid to fly.

I had a second leg to go,
But so happy to kiss the ground...
I sought safety in a Hertz Ford Pinto, 
The most dangerous car all around.